You can’t go anywhere today and not see people with their heads buried in their smartphones checking email, texting or looking up any number of things on the internet. But can your smartphones help you get in shape?
Absolutely!
If you’re counting calories, tracking mileage, following a routine or running from Zombies, your smartphone can be an integral part of your exercise routine. The following are some fitness related apps that may be useful in your exercise endeavors.
With the popularity of AMC’s The Walking Dead, how can you go wrong with this app? Zombies Run! is a fun app that places you as the sole survivor after a zombie apocalypse. As you start your run you are chased by the undead as your guide takes your through parks, urban settings and other scenes. The faster you run from the flesh eaters, the better you perform. There are several missions and you can even mix your own play lists. It’s a fun way to add speed work to your runs, but I caution you, the zombies are pretty quick so be ready for a good workout! The app is $3.99 and available for iOS, Android and Windows Phones.
Fitocracy
is an excellent motivational tool that combines the best of social media and exercise to make a great motivational tool. Fitocracy allows you to log your workouts and turn your exercise into role playing games. A key feature is the support you receive from your friends and other exercise enthusiasts, or fitocrats, as they are called. Fitocracy is free and is available for the iPhone and can be downloaded from the App Store of Fitocracy.com.
With Nexercise you combine your workouts with a video game to have the best of both worlds, working out while playing a game! The app has several different exercises to choose from then your iPhone tracks your movements. You earn points for every completed session that you can redeem for real-life rewards. For those who are really competitive, there is a leaderboard so you can have some healthy competition among friends. Nexercise is free and can be downloaded at Nexercise.com.
Eating a proper diet is just as important as exercising if you want to maximize your fitness gains and weight loss goals. If you have ever tried to count calories, enter recipe information, calculate portion sizes or log in what you ate, you know how hard it can be. The My Net Diary app makes these complicated tasks as quick and simple as possible. The app uses the latest technology like Google Instant and has a substantial food database. My Net Diary is $3.99 and available for iOS, Android, Blackberry and can be found at mynetdiary.com
Exercising smart now has a new meaning. And these apps can help you stay fit for life!
Chris is a Certified Personal Trainer and exercise and endurance enthusiast. A resident of Blythewood, he competes yearly in numerous running races, marathons, ultra marathons, triathlons and other endurance events. Chris can be reached at [email protected].
