What Is Your Favorite Fitness App?

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(I do not condone riding your bicycle while using your phone or exercising at the gym while talking on your phone. Do not be that person…)

In today's post, I'm releasing an audio interview with “Fitness For Geeks” author Bruce Perry. Bruce and I geek out on how you can use technology to get a better workout and a better body.

One of the things we talk quite a bit about are smartphone apps.

So I figured I'd give you a sneak peek into exactly what I personally have on my iPhone, and how I use these apps to enhance my life…

…these are the fitness apps I have on my phone right now:

Men's Health Workout for when I'm bored and want to outsource my workout to an app. I just pick a goal, like “Crowded Gym Workout” and follow the instructions.

Nexercise for getting points and winning awards for doing workouts. I did an audio interview with the Nexercise inventor here.

PZizz iPhone app for brain training when I need to get a quick nap in (I don't like this app for long sleep sessions, though).

White Noise app for when I need to sleep in loud settings (dogs, kids, airports, etc.) or for when I need to sleep on an airplane. I like the “rain” setting.

Stress Doctor by Azumio for quick relaxation, breathing and breath control training.

Stress Check by Azumio for tracking your HRV instantly (at 0.99, affordable compared to emWave2).

SleepTime app by Azumio (kind of similar to Zeo Personal Sleep Coach system, but a more affordable alternative to Zeo)

TrainingPeaks is kind of a no-brainer for me – I use TrainingPeaks to coach all my clients and can also use it to log my own training and nutrition, and sync with my online TrainingPeaks account.

I'd love to hear which apps YOU use in the comments section below this post, but first…

…let's move on to today's audio interview with Bruce Perry (pictured right), in which we discuss which fitness apps that Bruce thinks are the best, and how to find a good balance between “geekiness” and actually enjoying your workout.

You already know about the apps I personally have on my phone. During our interview, here are the apps that Bruce recommends or personally uses:

EndoMondo Sports Tracker – Using the built-in GPS, Endomondo Sports Tracker tracks running, cycling, walking and any other distance based sport. On top, you get audio feedback on your performance during your workout and your friends can follow you live and send you peptalks in real-time.

Runtastic GPS Fitness Tracker – Track your runs and activities, improve your performance and receive live cheering during your workouts to stay motivated.

Restwise is the first system that lets athletes simply and accurately quantify their state of recovery from exercise. Track 12 easily measured inputs each day, and Restwise calculates your recovery score.

Withings – The Withings Health Companion is the simple way to take care of yourself and stay healthy. It’s free to download and is designed for anyone who wants to lose a few pounds, exercise more, keep an eye on their blood pressure, or sleep better.

Nike+ is the most popular running app on iTunes. Map your runs, track your progress and get the motivation you need to reach your goals. No sensor or additional products needed, just grab your phone and go.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy the following posts:

-A Fun Free Fitness App For Busy People

-Top Rated iPod and iPhone Fitness & Nutrition Apps

So…what is YOUR favorite self-quantification, health, fitness or nutrition app, and why? Share below.

Ask Ben a Podcast Question

14 thoughts on “What Is Your Favorite Fitness App?

  1. Holly says:

    Here are the apps I use: loseit, tracks calories and weight loss progress; Nike training center- great workouts for women; Lolo burn- syncs the beat of your music to the pace of your run.

  2. Chantal says:

    If you want to make running fun, try "Zombies, Run!". You go through a number of zombie missions with various characters in the story. You also collect supplies during your run which you can allocate to the settlement after you are finished to "level up". It's available for iOS, Android and possibly others by now. You'll have fun and be fully prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse.

  3. Robert Ancker says:

    I like the app RunKeeper. Found on iOS & Android. Great website as well. A premium annual fee also adds LIVE tracking of exercise by other such as during a race!

  4. Lance McGrew says:

    Here is what I want.

    Nutrition Scale with barcode scanner and WiFi.
    Web portal to upload my daily food journal from nutrition scale.
    Allow data from any other fitness app to be uploaded to same web portal.
    Provide detailed analysis of uploaded data.

  5. Carlos says:

    Brock or Ben, I hope you take a look at this app and if you feel inclined please share with your audience.

    There is another app I must mention that is straight up AMAZING.

    It is called SECONDS APP. This is made for interval cardio training, but I use it for strength training so I don't need to time rest periods. It has saved me hours in the gym of 'lost time' between sets.

    For example, I will do 5×5 bench press. 1 set takes me about 30 seconds. So I set one interval titled Bench Press, 30 seconds long, duplicate it 5 times for 5 sets. Then I make an interval titled Rest, 1 min long, place it between the sets.

    I can listen to music and SECONDS APP will beep at the end of each interval (so you know when rest is up!). You can even set it to make a special sound on your LAST INTERVAL for a certain exercise, so you don't even have to keep count of what set you are on!

    You can create a full custom workout. They also have preset workouts. I add in a 2 min interval between exercises.

    This app allows me to fully focus on my workout. I don't have to use a rest timer or look at the clock. Some of my biggest pet peeves at the gym, solved.

  6. Lance McGrew says:

    TrainerRoad.com has software that pairs with CompuTrainer. Like many others they have a great web interface with social media connections. Their training app runs on PC or MAC, auto uploads after a session, has downloadable data to use with other analysis software.

    1. chantal13 says:

      TrainerRoad is awesome. You don't even need a CompuTrainer to make use of their Virtual Power feature. You just need a trainer that they have power curves for, an ANT+ speed/cadence device and you're done.

  7. Mike says:

    Another Strava user here…very motivating to try and beat the local hardcore cyclists. I'm also quite addicted to Fitocracy. It's like Nexercise in that you get points for exercising. It also has quests and achievements to encourage you to try things you normally wouldn't. Great online community, too, with lots of groups to join based on specific interests (cycling, triathlon, weightlifting, paleo, etc etc).

  8. cthompson01 says:

    Ben:

    Great Podcast. I use Endomondo for running, hiking, cycling. One of the things that was a bit misleading on the show related to the Google overlay. You can switch to the Google overlay on the Endomondo site without having to export data. Its right there. Also, its a good safety tool if you run or bike alone in the woods or off the beaten path as you can allow certain people to see your live data. I'm currently thinking of getting the Polar or Wahoo Bluetooth HRM strap to tie into the app.

    Another app I want to mention is one my co-worker uses. Its called Strava. It has a cool function in that it will compare your performance to that of anyone that rides or runs the same route, or portion thereof, you do. So, if you do a 5 mile run, and another user has run just a mile of the same route, it will compare your time to theirs for that stretch.

    1. brockarm says:

      I'm on Strava too. You can follow me here http://www.strava.com/athletes/bskywalker .

  9. Laura says:

    If I had something more than the iPod Nano, I'd have the Podrunner app. I love their chimes to speed up and slow down. As it is, I use their podcasts for speed work and long runs as well as their 5K, 8K, and 10K training podcasts.

    I'm also a Nike+ user. I love the graphs and reporting by day, weeks, months, and years, plus the overall summary since starting the Nike+ account.

    Now I'm going to have to check out all the cool apps, seeing which ones are useful even without a smart phone.

  10. elhernes says:

    I've tried several running/cycling fitness apps. iSmoothRun (http://www.ismoothrun.com) is the one I use regularly. One of the best things is that you can easily set up structured workouts and the app will tell you what to do and when. At the end, you can easily see your metrics for the intervals to track your progress.

  11. D says:

    getting all 404s on the App links :(

    1. brockarm says:

      Hi D, The links have been repaired. Try again.

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