There are so many APPS available these days to help you stay on track but are they making a difference or just a distraction? From simple step counters through to cardio sessions, tracking devices and guided meditation there is something for everyone.
Tracking your food is always recommended so you can stay in control of what you eat and keep on top of your macro count. It also allows you to look back and see what worked and what didn't when you were achieving certain goals. Whether its weight loss or training for an event food is so important to your results and tracking your intake is critical. Of course, the MYVISION app is perfect for this. Not only tracking your food, it has recipes, a barcode scanner and the option to track activity and see results over time. The extra bonus of this app is it feeds directly to your trainer's session tracker and updates automatically to enable your trainer to see what you have been up to as well. SO easy, simple and reliable!
The simple pedometer is a great way of making sure you get your 10000 steps in daily. It can be as simple as checking in throughout the day and making sure the total is creeping up to the benchmark. A good reminder at the end of the day to get off the bus a few stops early to make your target.
Activity Tracker through an app such as Map My Run, Strava or Garmin provide so much information if you are looking at increasing fitness and using stats to show progress in splits, cadence, heart rates and endurance. My favourite is Relive which maps your journey and then you play back to see the actual ground covered - a great way to "relive" your ride especially if you are travelling and want this as part of your memory. You can also add in photos and notes along the way or when you get home.
Apps that have exercise programs to follow or running plans can also be engaging and motivating when you are training by yourself. There are many on the market to choose from depending on what exercise you like to do however, these are not always personalised to reflect your injuries, health issues or current fitness levels so can lead to people over training or getting injured through working beyond their capability or having poor technique.
The relaxation, mindfulness and guided meditation range of apps is also very extensive and can be enjoyable. Once again it is important to find one that reflects your level of engagement and motivation. I recommend trialling the free version before subscribing to a never ending contract. You may find it lacks the variety you like after a month and becomes another expense you don't use.
Finally, nothing beats the human interaction you have with a coach, trainer or instructor who can modify the program as you require and individualises it on a session by session basis. The encouragement and accountability are definitely part of the continued motivation to achieve a goal. These apps are useful when you're travelling, convenient for home use or tracking progress but don't let them become a distraction to your determination and dedication to your goal.
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
