Daily Yoga has a dozen workouts, its voice-over instructions are clear
and the poses are demonstrated on video.
Photos provided
Forbes had high praise for Hot5 Fitness,
free for limited use or $2.99 a month for unlimited use.
Snap a photo of your food, and MealLogger
will upload it to a journal for you.
By Linda Haase
Want to track your calories? There is an app for that. There are others that will guide you through yoga poses, count every step you take or calculate how far you pedaled. And more.
With smartphones and computers our 24/7 go-to for all things, it’s no surprise that workout tapes have joined 8-track tapes and electric typewriters in the obsolenscence pile. Taking their place: apps of all kinds.
These apps — which can be used just about anywhere — can motivate, chide and keep your health and fitness goals on track.
And if you’re too revved up to snooze after all those workouts, there are apps that will lull you to sleep.
“These apps work well for people who need an extra reminder during the day to take a few more steps or eat healthier. They can also help motivate and provide a good snapshot of what you are eating,” says fitness trainer Nicole Molin, owner of the Boynton Beach-based Dynamic Fitness Solutions.
However, the 36-year-old says, people need to remember that these technological whizzes aren’t perfect. For example, when tracking calories burned, they don’t take into account a person’s metabolic system or body composition — which both play a part. “It might be more of an estimate,” she explains.
But, says Molin, who has a master’s in exercise science and a master’s in sports management, apps do have a place — and she recommends several to her clients.
One is Fooducate, which looks beyond calories and grades foods and beverages on a scale from A to D — adding points for items with fiber, calcium and iron and deducting for excess saturated fat, sodium and sugar (it’s no surprise that Ben & Jerry’s half baked ice cream got a D plus).
“This app is particularly helpful in grocery stores because you can scan an item’s barcode for a grade and if it doesn’t get a good one it will show you healthier alternatives,” says Molin, a Boynton Beach resident.
Another choice: the free restaurant nutrition app, with nutrition information for more than 250 restaurants, is helpful for people who travel or eat out a lot, she says. “You can check out restaurants and find out what you should — or shouldn’t — eat there. Most restaurants are on there and it’s great for people on the go.”
Molin also is a fan of MealLogger, another free app: Instead of writing down everything you consume, just snap a picture and upload it to a journal. It’s quick and easy — and she says — a good way to see your portion sizes. “Sometimes when people go back and look at the photo they can’t believe they ate that much,” she says. (Indeed, in a recent study by Mobiquity Inc., 53 percent of those surveyed discovered via these kinds of apps that they were eating more calories than they realized).
Apps can also be used to access your health care information or find a doctor, hospital or medical facility. Some insurance companies, including UnitedHealthcare, offer them.
Its Health4Me app, which has been downloaded more than 1 million times since it was introduced in 2012, does all that. It also shows prices for more than 755 medical services and gives participants access to a digital ID card, information about their health care plan, including status of their deductible, copay information, and the ability to view and edit their personal health record and download claims.
A “guest” version for nonsubscribers is also available which can locate nearby health care providers, and show market average prices for more than 755 medical services.
Two other perks: An “EasyConnect” feature — consumers can skip past phone prompts and being on hold and connect quickly with a customer representative. It also allows them to track their physical activity by wirelessly connecting to a Fitbit device.
“Health4Me is designed to help people more easily navigate the health system and manage, track and understand their health benefits. By providing both quality and cost information for health care providers and facilities nationwide, people are taking charge of their health and making more informed decisions,” notes Craig Hankins, UnitedHealth care vice president of consumer engagement products. “The recent addition of Fitbit connectivity adds to the app’s value, helping to encourage people to increase and track their daily activities.”
Here are some other popular health apps:
Yoga aficionados have plenty of choices, but — warns a story on livescience.com — there’s nothing like an in-person session, especially for beginners to learn correct alignment, safety and techniques. However, it does laud YOGAmazing ($4.99), which offers nearly 500 episodes, saying “it feels more like a real yoga class” and features an excellent instructor who offers modifications and encouragement.
It also commends Simply Yoga (free), which offers 30-, 40- and 60-minute Level 1 sessions (a $3.99 upgrade is available for those who want a more challenging session) and Daily Yoga (free) which has a dozen workouts. “Daily Yoga is one of the better options for beginners because the voice-over instructions are clear and the poses are demonstrated on video,” it notes.
Forbes had high praise for Hot5 Fitness (free for limited use or $2.99 per month for unlimited access) saying it “offers high-quality step-by-step workouts led by the top trainers in the industry. Whether you’re looking for a quick five-minute core blasting after a long run or a full 45-minute yoga session in your hotel room, this app offers something for everyone. It is incredibly simple to use.”
For those who need — or want — the tough-love approach there’s Carrot Fit. Its goal: “to transform your flabby carcass into a Grade A specimen of the human race. And she’s going to do whatever it takes — including threatening, inspiring, ridiculing, and bribing you — to make this happen.” The reproaches aren’t free: It will cost you $2.99 to whip yourself into shape.
And now … for some rest. Sleep Bug (free) offers sounds and music to help you fall asleep. You can doze to soothing sounds including the beach, babbling brooks, classical music, a music box, a river, a zen garden — even campfires. Users can add — and delete — sounds, including chirping birds, drums, chimes and waves — and even decide which ones should dominate. Those who prefer more boisterous background music can upgrade ($2.49) and zone out to sounds of the airport, city streets and even horror scenes. Sweet dreams.
Linda Haase is a freelance writer on a quest to learn — and share — all she can about how to get and stay healthy. Reach her at lindawrites76@gmail.com.
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