As 2024 begins and people start setting New Year’s Resolutions, going to the gym and exercising more usually starts to creep up to the top of the list. Some people may have no idea where to start in the gym, is cardio or lifting better? How do I use these machines and do I need to set a diet for this? Millions of questions may be swirling as a first-time gym-goer but, in fact, there are many tools for those who are starting out, such as a variety of fitness apps out there.

Apple Fitness

Firstly, a very useful app would be the Apple Fitness app. Many use their Apple watches or iPhones to track their workouts daily as well as the specific types of workouts they did. There is a range of options such as outdoor and indoor walking, stair stepper, cycling, rowing and swimming. The app then logs this onto your phone so you can see your weekly and even monthly progress and consistency.

Christie Hugget, a freshman at UM, love to use Apple Fitness to track her workouts. “I also use this to track my sleep and connect with friends to see what workouts they might be doing,” said Hugget. It is truly a multi-faceted app that is widely popular due to the ease of having access already on an Apple device.

Nike Training Club

Additionally, another popular fitness app is Nike Training Club. This app has personalized workouts, professional feedback, nutrition tips and even low intensity training. The Nike Training Club app is widely applicable to those who prefer yoga, or those who want to lift heavy; there is truly a path for every user.

These workout programs are specifically tailored to the user’s needs and their schedules. No matter where the user is at in their fitness journey, the online trainers will tailor their training to the user’s level of comfortability. There are not only workout tips, but also post-workout recommendations to continue a healthy lifestyle outside of a dedicated workout time.

Trainerize

Another popular fitness app is Trainerize; this can be especially useful for those who use a personal trainer and work with them to achieve their goals. Personal trainer and fitness professional Holly Cleckler uses Trainerize for her clients as she “can brand this to her business and upload exercise videos of herself with proper forms and cues to create workouts for her clients.”

There are many benefits to this app, as this can act as a hybrid program to use in-person as well as to follow along with workouts individually. “I can help them one-on-one with form and educate them in person so that they can integrate it into their own workouts when using the app,” said Cleckler. The app also allows for clients to track their weight, reps, sets, rest and can also sync to fitness watches.

As well, there is a food tracking feature that allows users to use this to accompany their fitness journey. Yet, there are also disadvantages as it is very important to meet with a trainer and not just use this individually. “There’s value in seeing someone’s limitations in person so that I can give them specific exercises to address those limitations when reaching their goals,” said Cleckler. There are a variety of fitness apps on the market but Trainerize provides very good programs and education.

MyFitnessPal

Lastly, another option to use is MyFitnessPal. MyFitnessPal is an app based on tracking food and fitness to reach a certain goal. This app tracks calories, BMI, types of workouts and nutrition but all of which raises a lot of concerns with many users. Freshman, Mion Smith, said that the app has features such as “under 500 calorie melas, weight tracking and caloric distribution between meals.”

This may be helpful for some who want to achieve their fitness goals, but for others this can be considered restrictive in nature. There is some apprehension with the overuse of this app as many track their calories in a negative light, restricting themselves and underestimating their caloric intake.

Many “fit-influencers” may be promoting new and trendy apps or just some may have a good following online, but necessarily may not provide the best and most helpful aid in a personal fitness journey, so it is best to choose a personal fit to achieve your health and wellness goals.

words_grace tylee. illustration_marita gavioti. design_maya armster.

This article was published in Distraction’s Spring 2024 print issue.

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