Look at the apps on my phone, and you’ll know me. Okay, perhaps not the entire truth, but the apps you have on your phone can tell something about you. In this post, I’ll share some of the apps on my phone that focus on better health, fitness, and well-being.
Apps For Physical Fitness
The first category of apps is focused on physical fitness. I currently have these installed, but I’ve had others in the past.
- Fitness (native Apple app)—This app comes by default on iOS devices. It connects well to my Apple Watch and helps me track movement, how much I stand, and my exercise for the day. You can set goals as you please, and there are monthly challenges with a digital badge reward!
- Intelligent Cycling – Used for your spinning classes. I haven’t tried this one out yet.
- Runkeeper – Nowadays called ASICS Runkeeper Running Tracker App, this is an app you can use to track your walks and, of course, when you run. I used this one quite a lot before, but now it’s mostly collecting digital dust. In addition, you can add your running shoes and by logging your runs the app can tell you when it’s time to change the shoes you use.
Apps For Mental Well-Being
Mental well-being is just as important as physical fitness. Sometimes even more so, and for some reason this can be harder to remember.
- Journal (native Apple app) – Another Apple native app. An app introduced in iOS 17.2 and first released on December, 11th 2023. This app can be used for journaling. You can write about your day based on prompts from photos, events, or questions or just write whatever you want. I’ve used it a few times, but I still prefer writing in my physical books.
- Insight Timer – An app mostly for meditation. This app replaced Oak – Meditation & Breathing which I used before. Insight Timer has a subscription, but it has plenty of features in the free version as well. Teachers can host live events and there are many meditation tracks to choose from. You can also customize your version of a timer with sounds you like. The subscription includes plenty of courses, challenges, and more.
Different Types of Health Apps
Then some apps are sort of for health and fitness, but that don’t quite fit in the previous categories.
- Health (native Apple app) – An app for, you guessed it, your health. The app includes counting steps, measurements, sleep tracking, and a whole lot more. Can’t say I use it that much, at least not actively. But it’s a good place to visit from time to time if you worry about your sleep, and overall movement or want to see different trends over the weeks and months.
- MyFitnessPal – A classic app that comes in a free and paid version. The app is used for tracking calories and is aimed at weight gain or weight loss depending on your goals. Can be used well in the free version, but it is ad-free and has more options and insights with the subscription.
- Local gym apps x2 – Well…I have two apps for my local gym. One for booking classes and one for when I use the e-gym, you can see a demonstration video here: Genius: Get ready for the all-new EGYM Experience The second app is connected to a wristband and used when using the e-gym. This is using machines for weights. You scan your band and the machine adjusts the settings based on your length and current progression. After seven times, you get the option to take another strength test – a challenging and more gamified way to strengthen your muscles. Highly recommend!
- Natural Cycles – For all the ladies who don’t want to rely on medical contraception methods. You can use this app to either avoid a pregnancy or help you get pregnant. You connect it to a thermometer, and you can use it with an Oura ring as well. Based on your temperature, the algorithm helps you predict where you are in your menstrual cycle and how fertile you are likely to be.
- Podcasts (native Apple app) – Listening to a good podcast brightens up your day! It’go-togo to method for making my walks just a little bit longer than usual.
- Simple: Weight Loss and Health Coaching – Again if you want to lose some weight, intermittent fasting can be one method that helps you on your way. What I like about this is that both the AI provides some feedback, but also that you’re able to take a picture of your, meal, and the AI estimates (and gives a nutrition score) for what’s on your plate. It doesn’t always get it right, but you can correct or edit the log manually.
- Smule: Sing – An app not fitting into physical or mental wellness, or? If you’re anything like me then you know that music has a way to instantly make you feel better. And singing has research backing it up as being able to make you feel better, stimulating the vagus nerve is just one of the benefits!
- Spotify – Ties back to the previous point: music can instantly boost your mood when needed!
- Way of Life – I’ve mentioned this app before in a post about habit tracking. A simple but nice app to help you build and keep up with habits you want to develop.
Honorable Mentions and iPad Apps
- Zombies Run – Renamed to ZRX: Zombies Run + Marvel Move. Combine running with playing a game. Need some encouragement to get sprints in? Running from the zombies in your earbuds can help with this! Story driven and you develop your base with the supplies you gather while running. Haven’t had it installed in a while, but remember it being fun!
- Asana Rebel – Yoga & Fitness – Does require a subscription but can help you develop a consistent fitness habit. It’s called Yoga & Fitness, and rightly so. Easy videos to follow along, some ability to adjust background, music, and sections for meditation as well. The downside is I wish they‘d add more routines.
- Fit Star and Fit Star yoga – Nowadays for Android only and are called Fitstar Apps, at least the ones I recognize. There is an iOS app with the same name, but it’s a different app. Fit Star Yoga was what got me into doing yoga in the first place. Sadly this app was discontinued on July 30th, 2021.
- Down Dog – An app for both Android and iOS users. One of the better yoga apps out there since you can customize it fairly well and choose areas you wish to focus a bit more on. Down Dog has several other apps, including one for Pilates, Barre, HIIT, and meditation.
- Seven: 7 Minute Workout – Don‘t have time to exercise? Everyone has at least seven minutes on their hands! The best part is you can use things you have around the home to get a quick exercise session in.
Conclusion
If you want to improve your physical or mental health there are plenty of apps out there. My best advice? Try some of them out, see what you like, and stick with those. Some require a subscription, others are free, freemium, or come with ads to support the development.
What are your favorite apps to get, or stay, in the best version of you?