Apps to keep your exercise on track


Posted on 6 January 2015

Who really feels like hitting the gym during the lazy summer time? Probably not you… so we’re making it easy for you to keep your exercise routine on track with six of the best free fitness apps for your smartphone. 

LIFT
Download it for Android and iOS
Can’t be bothered to get to the gym? There’s an app for that. Lift motivates you to achieve your goals – big or small, fitness or life – with nagging from your smartphone and encouragement from your friends and peers. The step-by-step plans will help you with Step 1: getting your backside off the couch. The notifications may get annoying after a while, but remember they’re there to help you.
WE LIKE the way it lets you improve performance by measuring performance.

RUNTASTIC PUSHUPS
Download it for Android and iOS
Sometimes the best apps are the simplest – like this one by Runtastic. Launch the app, set the countdown and get into a plank position. Then place the phone under your nose and start doing push-ups. Every time your nose touches the screen, it’ll count a push-up – and it’ll keep a track of your record.
WE LIKE the fact that you can’t cheat. Only proper push-ups, where your nose goes all the way down, count for your tally. (Of course you could just sit on the couch tapping the screen with your thumb… but that’d be missing the point.)

PUMATRAC
Download it for Android and iOS
Puma’s personalised running app lets you keep track of the distance, pace and route of your daily/weekly run… but that’s just the start of it. The level of detail of information is mind-blowing, with data even telling you which day of the week is your best for recording PBs.
WE LIKE the detail in the data, which turns your sport into a science.

FITNESS BUDDY FREE
Download it for Android and iOS
Fitness Buddy comes in a paid version, which costs about R20 and offers more than 1 700 exercises… but honestly, the 300-odd moves listed in this free version will be more than enough to see you through a lazy summer. Choose the body area you want to focus on (that’ll be core, right?), then follow the illustrated instructions to burn that festive flab.
WE LIKE the body area tool, which lets you focus on getting the arms/abs/shoulders/whatever you want.

WOD GENERATOR
Download it for Android
One of the best parts of joining a CrossFit Box is the surprise factor: WOD system means you never know what to expect, and your workout sessions never get boring. This app will create WODs for you to try on your own, giving you a taste of the CrossFit experience – including the jargon (WOD means Workout Of the Day, Box means Gym, and you can look up EMOM and RFT yourself).
WE LIKE the CrossFit-style randomness.

FITOCRACY
Download for Android and iOS
The holidays may have wrecked your gym routine, but there’s safety in numbers with this community-driven app. It lets you schedule your at home or at gym workouts, choosing from an insanely broad selection of moves (all illustrated, so you get your form right) – and it draws on the expertise of a small army of trainers and the support of its users, making sure you’re never alone when you train on your own.
WE LIKE the game-like feel, with goals, points, progress and challenges along the way.

Please note: if you suffer from chronic medical problems or a previous injury, consult a healthcare provider prior to initiating a new fitness routine. 

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.