"Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or improve your endurance, the right app can help."
As a personal trainer and gym owner, I know tracking your fitness is essential to reaching your goals. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or improve your endurance, the right app can help. Here are some of my top picks for different clients:
1. Whoop
Whoop is a wearable device that tracks your sleep and recovery. If you work hard in the gym, this app helps you see how well you’re recovering. It tells you if you need more rest or if you’re ready to push yourself again. It’s perfect for those who take their training seriously and for athletes looking to optimize their performance. Just keep in mind that it comes with a subscription, so you’ll need to be dedicated to wearing it every day to get your money’s worth and fully benefit from its features.
2. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal makes tracking calories and nutrition easy and straightforward. You can log your meals, scan barcodes, and keep an eye on your macros without any hassle. If you’re looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or just eat healthier, this app helps you stay on track and keeps you accountable for your food choices. One downside is that getting your exact calorie amounts can be tricky; there are websites that can assist with this to ensure accuracy. If you want some help figuring it all out, feel free to reach out, and we can point you in the right direction.
3. Strava
Strava is perfect for runners, cyclists, hikers, and walkers. It tracks your distance, pace, and routes, helping you see your progress clearly. If you enjoy outdoor activities and want to challenge yourself, this app keeps things fun and motivating. You can set personal goals, join community challenges, and compare your stats with friends. The free version offers great features, making it easy to stay on top of your fitness without any extra cost.
4. Fitbit
Fitbit is an all-round tracker for exercise, calories burned, and sleep. It’s simple and effective, making it great for those new to fitness or just trying to stay active. It helps you keep an eye on your daily activity without getting too complicated. The free version of the app is an excellent choice for those new to Fitbit who want to explore what the tracker has to offer. It provides the basics of fitness tracking like step count, distance, heart rate, and calorie-burn insights.
5. Garmin
Garmin devices are ideal for serious trainers and outdoor enthusiasts. They provide detailed metrics for various activities:
- Running: Tracks distance, pace, and heart rate.
- Cycling: Monitors speed, distance, elevation, and cadence.
- Swimming: Measures lap count, distance, and stroke type.
- Walking: Tracks steps, distance, and calories burned.
- Hiking: Monitors elevation gain, distance, and navigation.
- Fitness/Strength Training: Tracks repetitions and sets.
- Golfing: Provides course maps, shot tracking, and distances.
- Triathlon: Tracks multiple activities in one session, perfect for triathletes.
While they come at a higher price, if you’re committed to your training and want in-depth data, Garmin is worth it.
Using these apps is a great way to track the areas you want to improve on the most. If you’re a runner, track your pace; if you’re wanting to lose weight, keeping an eye on what you eat with MyFitnessPal is great. Want to sleep better? Learn more about your sleep with Whoop. Track your steps with Fitbit, and take your outdoor activities to another level with a Garmin watch.
Just remember, while these apps are helpful, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. Some people can get a bit obsessed with results, and while improving every day is great, don’t let it become obsessive
Written by Luke Nivison-Smith, the founder of Movement Innovation. Since 2012, I’ve coached over 500+ clients, learning exactly what works for real weight loss. I’d love for you to come meet me and my team. Inquire about our 7-day free trial here!