With the first quarter of 2013 nearly over, those healthy New Year resolutions that seemed so achievable in January may have fallen by the wayside as bad habits start to creep back into our routine. In order to help you get back on track with your goals, we have put together our top five health apps for you to download on your smart phone or tablet. Whatever your aspiration, there is sure to be one that suits you!
1. Sleep cycle
Before you get started on your new fitness regime or diet, it is crucial that you set yourself up with a good night’s sleep. But if, like me, you are a slave to the snooze button, you are simply asking to be groggy and tired when you eventually get out of bed. Sleep Cycle is a Swedish-designed iPhone app that wakes you up in the morning when you are in your lightest sleep state, so you never need to press snooze again.
The app uses a sensor in the iPhone that enables it to monitor movement as you slumber, recording which phase of the sleep cycle you are in through the night. It then uses this information to decide when you are at an optimal waking point, and plays gentle music to rouse you. And don’t worry, you provide the app with a half hour timeframe in which to wake you up so you don’t end up being late for work!
2. Strava
There are two different types of Strava app- one for cycling and one for running, but they both work around the same concept. The Strava app uses GPS data to track your speed, distance and elevation gain on a map, and can even estimate watts generated on climbs. And because Strava requires your weight and height, it will also tell you the amount of calories you burnt.
But that is only half of the Strava story. The app also has its own social network, allowing you to see how other people have performed over your route. Users can generate their own segments, which could be any part of a ride or run. As you go through a segment, Strava will record your speed and rank it against your competitors on a leader board so you can see how you performed.
3. Thryve
You probably haven’t heard of Thryve, but this foodie app offers something slightly different to the usual calorie counting tools. After snapping a picture of your food, Thryve asks you to record not only the ingredients in your meal, but also how it made you feel whilst you were eating it- whether that was happy, sad or indifferent. And before you complete your entry, you are prompted to record how much of each food group was included, whether that be protein, fruit or veg or carbohydrates.
Thryve then rewards you with a score based on the nutritional content and size of your meal, which you can compare with other users. To help you improve your diet, the app will suggest what you could be eating more of in order to be healthier.
4. Zombies, Run!
Zombies, Run! is an exciting app which could revolutionise the way you run and train. If you haven’t heard of it before, this is how it works- a story is delivered straight to your headphones, and before you know it you are immersed in a mission to survive a zombie apocalypse where your running really matters. By listening to orders and following instructions you will collect supplies on your run, and when you get home you can start to build a base on your phone.
Zombies, Run! may not be the cheapest app around, but for people who struggle to get motivated it really is the perfect and fun way to kick start your fitness routine.
5. MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is a more traditional diet app than Thryve, and is perfect for people who want to count their calories and track the nutritional content of their food. The app has an enormous database of foods and drinks which you can search, including products from all the leading supermarkets, and if you cannot find your food by searching simply scan the barcode and it will input the data for you.
When you first start the app you will be asked to put in your height, weight and goals, and through this information it will calculate the calories and exercise you need to do on a daily basis to meet your targets. The social networking element of the app also offers an added bit of peer pressure to help you keep motivated!