Best Fitness Apps To Keep You On Track In 2015

January 12, 2015

[Written by Jacqueline Perreault]

Welcome to the first of our monthly wellness columns. Going forward, we hope to be able to bring you lots of ideas – and inspiration – to help to get even fitter or to put that first step forward towards getting fit.

In this first column, we look at how technology can help with some of the best fitness apps to keep you on track in 2015.

Mobile apps have revolutionized our health and fitness. They’ve helped us get stronger, run faster, sleep better and get healthier. Our health is in our hands – literally. From wearable tracking devices that help us monitor our goals and stay on course to on-line fitness communities that connect us to support networks, Fitness Apps continue to grow in popularity.

Here is a list of my top ten free fitness apps to keep you on track and motivated in 2015.

Nutrition

My Fitness Pal : This app helps you lose weight by determining optimal caloric intake for your fitness goals. Enter your food by searching or scanning the barcode to bring up one of the four million foods in their list. You may also enter your exercise by time and intensity to calculate your calories out.

Lose it! :Another app that allows you to track calories, Lose it! creates a customized weight loss plan for its users. Similar to My Fitness Pal, Lose it! also has a bar code scanner and a multitude of food choices to log.

Workout

Nike Training Club : Aimed at women, Nike training Club kicks serious butt. Users can select a number of workouts designed by Nike Club expert trainers and professional athletes, such as Maria Sharapova. Workouts range from high interval cardio drills to slim down; light weights and intervals to add definition; to increased weights to build strength. Users may also choose their fitness level (beginner, intermediate or advanced) and the duration of their workout.

Stacked : All levels of fitness can participate in these workouts, which are categorized into three groups: Basics (for beginners), FITting In (for the average person), and Stacked (body builders or want to be body builders). The app has a progressive system of easing people into their work outs with diet encouragement along the way.

Mind Body

Yoga Glo : Don’t have time to make it to yoga class? Keep your practice consistent and practice in your own home, at the office, or while traveling. Some of the top yoga instructors in the world will guide you through a practice at your own time. This app is free for a month, but requires a subscription thereafter.

Simply Being : There are many meditation apps on the market, however I personally love this one for a quick mind reset or as a sleep aid. Choose the duration (from five minutes to 30 minutes), background sound (rain, ocean or stream) and listen to a soothing voice encouraging you to let your thoughts pass over you.

Trackers

Map My Fitness : This app allows you to track over 600 types of workouts and record all GPS-based activities. It is compatible with most devices on the market, allowing you to upload and analyze everything from pace, route, distance, calories and elevation. It has the added bonus of connecting you to a community of users for motivation and sharing your progress on social media.

Sleep Cycle : A smart app that not only analyzes your sleep throughout the night but acts as an alarm, waking you up in the lightest phase of your cycle so that you wake up refreshed and feeling rested. Place your phone near you while sleeping and Sleep Cycle will monitor your movement using the accelerometer in your phone.

Motivation

Virgin Pulse : A member only platform, Virgin Pulse is used by the top companies to get their staff healthy. Virgin Pulse is compatible with most activity devices on the market and the built in reward program, challenges, and social community keeps employees motivated.

Cody : Cody is a bit of everything. A workout tracker, a fitness community and an exercise journal. Users can track their distance, locations photos and notes, search for workouts from trainers and track their progress. Users can follow their friends and share their progress on social media.

- Jacqueline Perreault [pictured] is the Corporate Wellness Director for Colonial Medical Insurance.