3 Apps to Improve Your Health

Have you ever needed a good workout, but only had 20 minutes to spare?  Or wondered how many grams of protein and fat you’re supposed get per day? Or wanted to make more informed health decisions, but weren’t sure where to start?

Believe it or not, technology might be part of the answer!  Apps can help you identify workouts, see the nutritional value of what you’re feeding your body, and empower you to live a healthier lifestyle.

One of the questions I get most often as a trainer is what apps I use and for what. Here’s an overview of my favorite apps that keep me accountable and help me reach my goals faster:

1. Exercise – Nike Training Club
   This popular training app has more than 185 workouts ranging from 15-45 minutes. You can choose from circuit training, bodyweight training, and weight training workouts. A key feature of this app is the ability to filter workouts based on which muscle group it targets, what equipment is required, and what goal you’re trying to achieve (like building strength or endurance). The app will give you instructional videos to follow for guidance in form. If running is more your style (or you want it to become your style), this app also has guided training programs for 5k, 10k, half or full marathon trainings. After asking you questions about how much you currently run and the date of your targeted event, it builds a custom plan that will lead you through the training process at appropriate intervals. Nike offers a wealth of knowledge and training programs for free through this app.Download: AppStore. GooglePlay.
2. Nutrition – MyFitnessPal
   It’s been proven over and over again that when you track your food and water intake, you make better food choices and typically eat less. MyFitnessPal is a nutrition-tracking powerhouse! Based on  your inputs like height, weight, and goals, this app will give you recommended caloric intake along with macronutrient goals to help you choose the right foods. The built- in database of more than six million foods allows you to scan a package or search for a food by brand and be given all the nutritional facts on that particular food. This makes tracking your food intake easier than ever. The best part is that you get all of this for free.
   
   MyFitnessPal also integrates with more than 50 apps and devices to sync all of your workouts. When you track your workouts in MyFitnessPal, the app will automatically will adjust your calorie allowance to ensure you’re getting enough nutrients to fuel your body. The app becomes a comprehensive look at your overall calorie intake versus calorie burn, which empowers you to adjust your activities to impact your results.
   Download: AppStore. GooglePlay.
3. Rest & Relaxation – Daily Yoga
   Practicing mindfulness, yoga, and meditation has been proven to have significant benefits, including lowering stress, treating depression, reducing anxiety, and improving cognitive abilities. Adding rest and relaxation to your daily routine is so important, you guys! I’d argue it’s as important as getting enough exercise and the right nutrition.So many of us don’t even know how to rest and relax; isn’t that crazy? In a busy day of running the kids around, working full-time, and making sure everyone is happy and fed, it’s hard to take time for myself to rest. For a monthly or annual subscription, the Daily Yoga app has more than 100 yoga and meditation classes of varying length and focus. If you’re just beginning, take advantage of their beginner-friendly tutorials to help you get comfortable with meditation and mindfulness. Set aside time each day, whether it’s 5 minutes or 50 minutes, to slow down.
   Download: AppStore. GooglePlay.

Improving your health can be as easy as using an app. Track for yourself or get a group of friends together to keep each other accountable.

If you have questions about certain apps or how I use them with my clients, find me at the Y and let’s chat!