We pretty much spend all day on our phones. And for good reason! With so many great apps out there, phones are becoming the primary way to check off all our daily to-do’s. Case in point: I have an app for my banking, one for communicating with friends, another for watching my favorite show, and even one that tells me how to get home from work the fastest.
I feel like many of the apps in my phone are the because I’m lazy. It takes the effort out of things we had to do the long way 15 years ago. I can just sit on my couch eating Cheetos on a Saturday morning, pay all my bills, email my grandma, and catch up on Mad Men without moving an inch. As you all know, this year I’m trying hard to incorporate as many healthy habits into my life as possible. To that end I’m trying to fill this little piece of plastic that rules my life, not always in the best way, with a lot of healthy resources that get me off my ass.
Here are the 9 best fitness and health apps if you…
…are really lost in front of organic produce at Whole Foods.
Superfoods HD
Ever wonder what goji berries, pomegranates or star fruits look like? Yea, me too. I see all these pretty, delicious-looking fruits and veggies at my grocery store and have NO freaking idea what they are, how to cut them, or if the skin will even get digested if I eat it. The app Superfoods HD gives you tons of actual pictures and explanations of what foods are that will really help while your scratching your head at the counter. It even comes with recipes!
…are getting ready to party, but don’t want to be all bloated on Sunday morning.
Alcohol Aware
Ever wake up wishing you had kept track of all those vodka cranberries? Well, while you’re texting your ex-boyfriend with one eye open you can also use the app Alcohol Aware to track your favorite drinks, their alcohol content, and even cals! Even if you’re having a night at home there is a scale you can change if you’re drinks keep getting stronger as the night goes on, I know mine always do, this way your actual consumption of alcohol will stay accurate.
…are feeling philanthropic/semi-lazy.
Rexona Move
This app can calculate distance for pretty much any movement you’re making. What’s the big deal, right? There are plenty of devices that can do this. What makes Rexona Move really great is it converts this distance into donations for underprivileged kids in Malaysia. You can push yourself to go further because you’ll literally be helping out the kids if you do. If you have a soft spot on your heart and on your belly, this is the app for you!
…really want everything all in one place.
Argus
This is an awesome app. The interface is really cool. Instead of having an app for every small thing you need to keep track of to keep your healthy lifestyle you can see and keep track of them all at once. You can tally your water consumption, steps taken, heart rate, caloric intake, calories burned, and even take pictures of your healthy meals to keep you inspired to make healthy choices.
…have an intense need to beat the bitches next to you in the gym.
Ghost Race Pro
This app will let you select goal times and distances for your runs and let you race against yourself when you’re out on the trail. Sometimes we all need that competitive push to keep going. This way you can be as productive as you are in the gym next to that stud on the treadmill when you’re running around the block on your own. It keeps a history of your workouts and performances, so you’ll know if your training is giving you results or if you need to step it up.
…are like a baby giraffe learning to walk when you step into the gym.
Runtastic Six-Pack
This app is geared towards training your core. The workouts are super customizable AND it gives you a lot of guidance, avatars show you how to do each move. All the reviews I read were very good, apparently some of the workouts are actually really difficult so it is best to start slowly and work your way up. You can choose a coach and they will count out your reps for you and tells you what the next exercise in your workout is. This way you can’t punk out in the middle of your tough workouts.
…are surprised of how many calories were in that asiago bagel from Panera this morning.
MyFitnessPal
I’ve been using this app for a very long time. I know it’s really popular but anyone not using it yet should really get on the bandwagon. This is a database that holds the nutritional info of pretty much anything you eat. You can add in your calorie goals and every day the app will keep track of where you’re at for calories and even things like sodium and fat. You can track your exercise too which helps with calculating your calorie deficit for the day. My favorite feature is this button to press when you’re done entering for the day and it will let you know how much you’ll approximately way within five weeks if you stay on track. It even warns you if you’re eating too few calories to keep us in check when we get a little too enthusiastic!
…travel a lot and have memorized every McD’s billboard on the road.
Food Tripping
Food Tripping is an app to use when you’re on the go and need to grab some HEALTHY food. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been an areas I don’t know so well and have to stop for a crappy McD’s salad and parfait because I don’t know where anything is. This app will let you know where all the healthy joints are at. The app focuses on local companies as well, so you’ll really get a unique experience if you’re traveling. Check this one out next time you’re flying down the interstate and only see the burger signs.
…are a little bit of a gambler.
Fitsby
Fitsby is a great app if you and your friends have competitive banter and you want to put your money where your mouth is. Users can bet money with a group of friends about completing certain workouts, and if you do not check into your gym you lose the bet. If you’re at the top of your class you win the money, but keep your ass in gear because if you lose you’re losing some money too.
I know there are TONS of fitness and health apps out there, and many more to come. Tell me which one’s you’re using below or which ones you NEED to come out right now to get your butt in gear!
[Lead image via AntonioDiaz/Shutterstock]
