But what about the apps that help you improve your health?
According to a recent study, participants who used fitness apps were much more active compared to nonusers. Current users also had a lower body mass index.
The study's authors believe apps help people overcome barriers like a lack of understanding or organization, which leads to better exercise habits. In other words, fitness apps guide people who may not be motivated or knowledgeable enough to improve their health on their own.
If you're interested in adding a few apps to your phone this year, here are some to consider.
MyFitnessPal
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With easy-to-use step and calorie counters, it's no surprise MyFitnessPal is consistently ranked as one of the best fitness apps in the industry. Combine its prior success with a new partnership with Under Armour, and it's clear this app means business.
MyFitnessPal features a database of more than 5 million foods, a barcode nutrition scanner and a recipe importer. The ability to quickly track food intake and exercise helps users balance their calories on a daily basis with just a few simple steps.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android devices
• Can be integrated with more than 50 other fitness apps and devices
• Basic version is free to download and use
• Premium version is $9.99 per month, or $49.99 annually
PEAR Personal Coach
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Are you looking for a personal trainer to guide you through your workouts, but don't want to actually hire one?
PEAR's "personal coach" provides hundreds of interactive audio workouts from a variety of coaches for all fitness levels. Coaches include Olympian Deena Kastor, Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders coach Jay Johnson and several other well-known fitness professionals.
PEAR also features the ability to learn your VO2Max, or the maximum rate at which your body is able to consume oxygen during exercise. To determine this number, which is a reliable indicator of cardiovascular fitness, simply pair your device with a heart rate monitor and perform a quick running test.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android devices (VO2Max test only available on iPhone)
• Basic version is free to download and use
• Premium version is $3.99 per month, or $29.99 per year
FitStar Personal Trainer
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When someone like Tony Gonzalez, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, offers fitness advice, it's worth listening.
Gonzalez, a durable player who missed only two games in his 17-year career by focusing heavily on fitness and nutrition, endorses the app, and even provides voice-overs to keep you motivated and informed.
FitStar's free option, which is designed to get you started on your journey to a healthier lifestyle, includes two sessions per week. If the high-definition videos and custom audio tracks are helping you reach your fitness goals, the premium version is worth considering.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android devices
• Basic version is free to download and use
• Premium version is $7.99 per month, or $39.99 per year
SworkIt
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Sworkit, which stands for "Simply Work It," offers videos of exercises demonstrated by professional personal trainers. With 13 million users and counting, more than 200 types of exercises, and a specialized app for kids, this versatile workout app deserves a try.
Choose from standard workouts or customize your own by picking your workout length, areas you want to target and any other special needs or limitations. The app combines interval training with randomized exercises to maximize the effectiveness of every workout, and the randomization prevents your body from getting used to a specific routine.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android devices
• Basic version is free to download and use
• Premium version is $7.99 per month, or $39.99 per year
ActiveX
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What started as a basic workplace wellness program has turned into the world's first community-based fitness app. ACTIVEx, an exercise program for employees of the ACTIVE Network, has helped thousands of people get connected through activity while motivating each other.
The app features personalized or group Tabata-based interval workouts and group training experiences with in-app coaching. You can create and find "packs" to play with, download training plans for 5Ks, 10Ks and more, and celebrate your successes with friends and family.
Quick Facts:
• Available only on iPhone
• Basic version is free to download and use
• Premium version is $3.99 per month
Pocket Yoga
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Practice yoga anywhere, anytime with Pocket Yoga. With a database containing illustrations, descriptions and benefits for more than 200 poses, this app has something for yogis of all ages, genders and skill levels.
Track your progress with an ongoing log of all your yoga practices, and unlock new "environments" as you progress in your health journey. To give you even more peace of mind, all poses and practices are designed by experienced yoga instructors.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone only
• Paid app, one-time charge of $2.99 to download and use forever
DietBet
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Losing weight is an accomplishment on its own. Getting paid to do so almost seems too good to be true.
As of early 2016, more than 300,000 people have used DietBet, resulting in 3.6 million pounds lost by users and $16 million gained. The app gives people the ability to easily submit weigh-ins and track their progress, read and send motivational messages, and of course, win money.
How does it work? Select a challenge based on how long you want it to last and how much money you want to bet. If you lose at least 4 percent of your body weight, you can win back the money you bet on yourself, plus more.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android
• Free to download; bet amounts decided by user
Charity Miles
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Charity Miles helps you earn corporate sponsorships for charity whenever you walk, run or bike. The app measures your distance and allows you to earn money—10 cents per mile for cyclists and 25 cents per mile for walkers and runners.
Donations come courtesy of corporate sponsors like Timex Sports, Humana and Lifeway Foods, and participating charities include Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, Wounded Warrior Project and more.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android
• Free to download
MINDBODY
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Whether you're looking for a group fitness class, a massage studio, or a local CrossFit gym, the MINDBODY app is your go-to resource. Plug in your zip code and instantly find and book the best fitness, wellness and beauty services near you.
Check out ratings and reviews on various services, find special offers and deals, and bookmark your favorites in this app that connects more than 50,000 businesses with potential customers.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android
• Free to download
Gym Genius
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Gym Genius makes tracking gym sessions so easy, you'll never forget a set or rep again. You log what you're about to lift, track the sets and reps, and see real-time progression happen.
The app tells you your last lift so you can improve and aim for a personal record. You're able to identify plateaus with interactive graphs and logs so you can monitor your strength levels and adjust your training to get results. You can also create a workout plan and track how you perform each time you do the same workout.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone only
• Paid app, one-time charge of $2.99 to download and use forever
CycleCast
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With experienced instructors, a broad music library featuring a mix of today's hits and classics, and the ability to easily track your performance, CycleCast brings all the benefits of a spin class to your phone. Simply choose your instructor, class length and playlist, and cycle away.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone only, with Android version coming soon
• Free to download and use for 30 days
• Premium version is $9.99 per month, or $89.99 per year
Fit Radio
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FIT Radio is a music-streaming app that specializes in DJ-created mixes that maintain a consistent beat. You can browse mixes by genre, DJ, or type of workout, such as Spin, Zumba, or yoga.
The app is free to use, but the basic version only allows you to choose one genre of music and a few mixes. A premium membership gets you access to more than 25 genres and stations, unlimited skips, the ability to save favorites, DJ profiles and no ads.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android
• Basic version is free to download
• Premium version is $3.99 per month, $27.99 per year, or $79.99 for a lifetime
Couch to 5K®
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Get off the couch and download the training program that has helped thousands of beginning runners cross the finish line of their first 5K race. The Couch to 5K app can help you go from couch potato to running a 5K in just 30 minutes a day, three days a week for nine weeks.
Select your interactive, motivating coach, and easily share your progress with friends and family on social media as you connect to Couch to 5K's running support community. Within the app, the metrics show you week-over-week progress on distance and pace in two separate graphs, giving you the ability to analyze your performance as you progress.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android
• Paid app, one-time charge of $2.99 to download and use forever
RunSocial
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Ready to add some fun to your treadmill runs?
Run through real-world videos of beautiful locations and see avatars of other real people from around the world doing the same in real time. The RunSocial app features a completely new "mixed reality" technology, which blends HD real-world video, 3D virtual world capability and social connectivity.
The app tracks your speed, pace and distance, and you can store your data after each run. Enjoy the app on your iPhone or iPad, or plug your device into a TV or monitor with an HDMI cable or AppleTV for full screen HD video.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone only, Android coming soon
• Free to download and use; in-app purchases for additional locations
Strava
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If it's not on Strava, it didn't happen.
Track all of your runs and rides as you reach your personal best with this easy-to-use app. Grab your GPS device, head out for a run or ride, and view your activity on Strava. You can earn badges for completing certain challenges or compete with other Strava users through social media.
Quick Facts:
• Available on iPhone and Android
• Basic version is free to download and use
• Premium is available for $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year
BurnThis
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Looking for a community of like-minded individuals to help you stay on track with your fitness goals? BurnThis proactively inspires you to live a healthy lifestyle with support and encouragement from other people undertaking similar challenges.
The app allows you to share photos, take part in various challenges, and find motivational quotes, healthy recipes and exercise plans. It's like Instagram and Pinterest combined into one social sharing network—or, as the creators like to call it, "Pinstagram."
Quick Facts:
• Available only on iPhone
• Free to download and use for 30 days
• Premium version is available for $2.99 per month
Get ACTIVE on the Go
Couch to 5K®
The best way to get new runners off the couch and across the finish line of their first 5K.
Available for iOS | Android
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