The top 5 health and fitness apps

20 Feb The top 5 health and fitness apps

Let’s face it, we love our technology. Pretty much everyone has some sort of smart phone and we probably spend more time looking at our phone and apps than our loved ones!

One of the biggest fitness trends in Australia is not surprisingly technology. There seems to be hundreds of apps for exercising, eating, sleeping, moving or just motivation. So to help you choose the best ones, here are my top 5 health and fitness apps:

1. MyFitnessPal

One of the most popular apps, my FitnessPal, lets you count the calories you consume everyday as well as tally up the calories you expend, and then see if they balance. MyFitnessPal is wonderful at helping you become more aware of your eating habits and just how much exercise it takes to burn off the food you eat.

2. AllTrails

If you love hiking as much as I do, then this is for you. Explore the most popular hiking trails in the world with hand- curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos. The free version allows you to create your own trails with GPS tracking, photos and text, and save or share them with others. An easy way to find trails near you, whether you are after a gentle hike, a bone-rattling mountain bike track, or a great spot for some fly-fishing, you’ll find it here.

3. Lose It

If your main goal is to drop kilos, this app makes it easy. Set weight and nutritional goals, track your calorie intake, and unlock mini challenges along the way to help keep you motivated. Its new Snap It! feature is also pretty cool — simply snap a picture of your meal and it’ll break down the nutritional information and calorie count.

4. Sleeping Apps

We forget just how important sleep is and how big an impact it has on our day. There are lots of sleep apps out there but I am hearing good things about Sleep Cycle. While you sleep, Sleep Cycle rests under your pillow and works to gather data. The app then uses that information to wake you up when you’ll feel the least groggy. Easy-to-read graphs help you make sense of your sleep patterns. Its newest version now has patented sound technology that can detect snoring.

From personal experience, I once used Deep Sleep which I found pretty effective when I was trying to get to sleep. Deep Sleep uses step-by-step instructions to guide you into meditation and relaxation. The app is based off of Andrew Johnson’s best-selling CDs that have helped people worldwide to cope with stress, anxiety, and addiction.

5. MapMyRun

Another very popular app, you can map every run with MapMyRun and get feedback and stats to improve your performance. Discover the best running routes, save and share your favourites, and get inspired to reach new running goals with a community of over 40 million runners. Whether you’re a beginner looking to log your first mile or a seasoned runner, you’ll find the features and tools you need to stay on track and motivated along the way.

And one extra I would love to have…

OK this is only available in the US for now but I am really hoping it comes to Australia as I think this is a great concept. This app points you in the direction of healthier, more wholesome food choices. The app scans a packaged item’s barcode and produces a letter score (A, B, C or D) based on its nutritional value. The app analyses the item and reveals information about the ingredients, such as the amounts of added sugar, preservatives, MSG and controversial food colorings. The program aims to help users learn about a product’s pros and cons in order to think about whether eating it makes sense for weight loss goals and overall health.