Having a fitness routine is one of the best habits for your health, but so often, getting started feels like it’s harder than it should be. One of the biggest barriers to fitness is the cost of joining a gym, not to mention the time it takes out of your day. For anyone with a smartphone, using apps to exercise is an easy and affordable alternative. Fitness apps are out there for every type of workout and every personality. All you have to do is pick one and give it a try!
Extras and Accessories
Technically speaking, all you need is a device like your smartphone or tablet and the app itself. However, some of these extras can help you make the most of exercising outside of a gym, whether you’re at home or on the road.
- A Smartwatch: Besides tracking steps and other everyday activities, smartwatches now have additional health features like heart rate monitoring. Plus, many fitness apps are compatible with smartwatches, which makes it easier to keep up with your workouts and reach your goals. The Apple Watch is a proven favorite, thanks to its powerful processor and water-resistant capabilities, but for Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch or Fossil Sport are also good choices, and all of these have the same general fitness features. Investing in wearable technology isn’t exactly cheap, but one way to make this purchase more affordable is to set up a payment plan.
- Earbuds or Headphones: You may not need these if you typically exercise at home, but they’re great for on the go activities like running or hiking. Wireless earbuds can get pricey, but some brands are more affordable than others, and exercise headphones can be an even more cost-conscious choice.
- Basic Fitness Gear: For activities like cross-training and running, comfortable clothes and a good pair of tennis shoes are essential. If you practice yoga, the website Engadget recommends starting with an inexpensive yoga mat and a set of foam blocks. Many app workouts require only your body-weight, but if you want to step things up, you could also add simple home workout gear like hand weights and exercise bands.
The Apps
Fitness apps are incredibly popular these days, and the options you can choose from may often seem a little overwhelming. These are some of the top choices that give you the best workouts, no matter how you prefer to break a sweat.
- For Runners: Don’t worry if you don’t consider yourself a runner yet! Running apps are perfect for everyone from beginners to marathoners. If you’re just starting, Runner’s World recommends Couch-to-5K. This app features a nine-week program that helps you build up from zero running to being able to complete a 5K. It also includes a virtual coach and a community component to help with accountability.
- For Cross-Training: If you want a workout you can do indoors or outdoors, wherever life takes you, and without the need for equipment, Freeletics Bodyweight is ideal. It’s full of workouts that target all muscle groups, and it tailors the activities to your personal fitness level and goals. And of course, these no equipment workouts require nothing but — you guessed it — your own body-weight.
- For Yogis: As with other categories, there are many yoga apps that cater to every experience level. Two affordable options we love are Daily Yoga and Simply Yoga. Very well Fit names Daily Yoga as the best yoga app for community support and Simply Yoga as the best for kids (but it’s also great for adults too). Besides being affordable, these apps are easy to follow and offer extras when you sign up for a paid account.
The great thing about these apps is that they all have plenty of features to get you started without paying extra, and even if you upgrade, the cost is still much less than joining a gym. We also love how much flexibility you get working out at home. With these barriers out of the way, there’s really no reason not to get up and start breaking a sweat today!
By Sheila Johnson
