As the summer approaches, looking our bikini or swimsuit best becomes one of the main priorities.
Whether you’re staying home for the best pool parties or you are traveling to far-off climes, don’t leave home without your smartphone or tablet and whatever you do, don’t lose your trusted gadgets: your beach and pool cred will definitely depend on how well you stick to the advice found in the following apps:
Fitnet Personal Trainer: Of course, some of us don’t have the luxury of actually taking a holiday in the summer time. Therefore, quick workouts can be completed on our lunch break or after a long day at the office. Fitnet is an app with a host of fantastic short workouts lasting an average of five or seven minutes. The app relies on your device’s camera to measure how closely you are mirroring the workouts presented onscreen. There are over 200 free video fitness workouts to choose from and all levels are catered for. A great way to stay in shape and have more fun to party with friends and family.
Sworkit: Yoga is all the rage these days, owing to its ability to lower stress hormone levels, promote a deep connection between body and mind, and increase your strength and flexibility. Sworkit is an app offering a host of workouts, including strength, cardio and stretching, though it also has an important yoga component that will enable you to reach a state of mindfulness when you are feeling stressed. If you go premium for a small amount per month, you can personalize the app by indicating the part of the body you wish to work on and how many reps you want to complete.
Sworkit.
Strava Running and Cycling: Whether you are training for an upcoming Ironman championship or you are simply a keen runner or cyclist, you must download this app. It will count the calories you are burning (so you can enjoy a big treat afterwards!), track your routes and measure distance, speed and elevation, as well as your heart rate. It compiles information and creates easy-to-interpret graphs that will help you create the best ever workout plan.
MyFitnessPal: Keep track of how many calories you consume and burn, and find out how much exercise you need to do to burn a specific number of calories. This app is compatible with many fitness trackers, so it can pull information from the latter whenever necessary. The app boasts a truly impressive calorie counter, with over five million listed foods! Best of all, the app is completely free; its developers have the aim of putting an end to obesity and encouraging daily exercise!
MyFitnessPal.
Pact: This absolutely unique app promises to help you earn cash for living healthily, ‘paid for by members who don’t’. All you have to do is make a weekly pact to exercise more or eat more nutritiously. You determine what you will pay other Pact members if you don’t fulfill your share of the bargain. If you meet your goals, you earn real cash that will enable you to further your healthy lifestyle; if you don’t, pay up and allow others to reach their full potential! There are three different types of pacts you can make – a pact to go to the gym more often, to eat more vegetables, and to log your meals. Commit to one of these pacts or to all and watch how your life changes for the better!
Charity Miles: The Internet of Things has made many positive changes to the world, bringing millions of people together from all walks of life. This is the idea behind Charity Miles, voted Women’s Running Magazine’s Best Overall App and Men’s Fitness Magazine’s Game Changer of the Year. It was also the winner of the SXSW People’s Choice Award. For every mile you run, you will earn money from your charity, courtesy of the app’s sponsors. Some of the many charities supported by this wonderful app include Stand Up to Cancer, the ASPCA, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Alzheimer’s Association. Just choose a charity and start your run. The app will automatically measure the distance you have completed and will pay charity partners in proportion to the miles you complete.
