I really can’t deny that my primary workout is always running. I love to run and marathon training takes up a lot of time. So I really don’t have much time for anything else. But a well-balanced athlete needs more than just one activity. A strong core is especially important for runners and some upper body strength doesn’t hurt either. And that’s where my smart phone comes into play. I’ve discovered a few iPhone apps that are great for the extra workouts I need and don’t take a lot of time. For today’s Friday Faves, I’ll share 5 of my favorite iPhone apps with you that are a regular part of my health and fitness regiment. And the best part is that they are all free!
1. Daily Ab Workout This workout has several different options that are awesome. You can select 5 minutes, 8 minutes or 10 minutes. The app takes you through 10 abdominal exercises, showing you how to do each one as it times you. You basically have a workout buddy doing the workout with you. The really nice part is that you can have your own music playing throughout the workout. There are even options that allow you to set an alarm to remind you that it’s time to do your workout. This is definitely a must have app!
2. Interval Timer This app is great for timing HIIT intervals. I actually use it for my timed runs. Some of my runs start with a warm up period, a specifically timed harder pace, a recovery period, another faster interval, another recovery, etc and finally a cooldown. It gets to be a pain to continually keep an eye on the time so having an automatic timer is perfect. I can preselect how long to warm up, set up my intervals, and establish a cool down time. An alarm sounds between each one so I know when it’s time to change.
3. 5 Minute Planks I feel like I should disclose that I do not like planks AT ALL. They are hard – and no matter how often I do them, they never seem to get easier. But they are the best way to build a strong core so I can suck it up for 5 minutes, right? As far as planks go, this is a great app for a plank workout. As soon as you hit go, the app starts timing you through different planks. The first is a minute, then 6 30-second planks, and lastly another minute long plank. I probably wouldn’t hold a plank for a full minute without seeing the timer run so this app is perfect for me to not cheat myself out of a good plank workout.
4. Simply Yoga Yoga is really important for runners but many runners skip the stretching and strengthening that running offers. I don’t do it as often as I should but this is a great app to do a quick routine, making it easy to work through in the morning or late evening to get in a good stretch. You can choose from 20, 40 or 60 minute workouts and either level 1 or level 2. You get the effect of doing yoga in a studio too as there is comforting, peaceful music playing with a virtual instructor guiding you through each post and she demonstrates them. With this app, I have no excuse not to practice yoga once or twice a week!
5. Sworkit This is a really cool app that offers many different exercises. You can do strength and cardio, yoga and stretching, or customize your workout. Within each of those categories, you have the option to choose specific areas to focus on and can then select how long you want to workout. The app times you and explains and shows you each move so you’ve pretty much got a free personal trainer. I really like the variety of exercises offered in this app.
Do you have any favorite workout apps that you use?
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R U S S says
October 31, 2014 at 4:31 amI have Skimble, but I’m liking Sworkit from your app list. It seems to be something that I would be able to use even if I workout at home.
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Amby Felix says
October 31, 2014 at 4:38 amI am definitely going to have to look into these. Most of the fitness type apps I’ve tried either cost a ton of money or are a bit basic. Thank you!
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Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
October 31, 2014 at 5:44 amI need to check a couple of those out. They all sound awesome.
Fi Nà Neachtáin says
October 31, 2014 at 6:06 amI love the sound of the Simply Yoga app. I’m going to see if I can download that and try it for myself.
Shaney Vijendranath says
October 31, 2014 at 6:28 amI’m definitely downloading the yoga one, I want to try yoga.
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Deb says
October 31, 2014 at 7:37 amGoing to check out the interval timer. Five minute planks would kill me. Thanks for sharing.
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Nicci says
October 31, 2014 at 7:56 amMy husband and I have both used the Daily Ab program. It was a nice, short way to get started exercising.
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Michelle F. says
October 31, 2014 at 8:44 amI used that daily workout app and love it. It’s a great way to get strength training done at home.
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Aisha Kristine Chong says
October 31, 2014 at 9:48 amI think I want to try that daily app workout!
Grace | A Shutterbug's Lair says
October 31, 2014 at 10:53 amI don’t know if I’ll get these apps.. but surely these are great working out apps! 🙂
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Carmen Perez (listen2mama) says
October 31, 2014 at 12:12 pmThese all look good, the yoga one looks interesting, I don’t currently use any exercise apps.
CourtneyLynne says
October 31, 2014 at 1:12 pmOmg love this post since I’m an app junkie! Thanks for sharing 😉
Debbie says
October 31, 2014 at 3:47 pmYoga helps me so much for the hiking we do, stretching is key to doing the long hikes. This app sounds perfect for me!
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Jamie McGillen says
October 31, 2014 at 4:18 pmI am totally getting the 5 minute plank app! My mom, sister and me have been trying to work up to 90 seconds, but it’s hard when one of us has to be in charge of watching the clock the whole time. Thanks for sharing!
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Elizabeth O. says
October 31, 2014 at 5:50 pmI use Simple Yoga. It’s really a great app.
Nova says
October 31, 2014 at 7:04 pmyou are right, i download the app to see it myself and like you i enjoyed it easiest way to work out inexpensively.
michele d says
October 31, 2014 at 7:20 pmI don’t exercise like I should but it does sound like a great app to try.
Chrissy Mazzocchi says
October 31, 2014 at 9:18 pmI love how they have apps for any and everything now. The exercise apps are very helpful!
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Myrabev says
November 1, 2014 at 2:50 amI have and loved the daily ab workout its such a cool app
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breanna says
November 1, 2014 at 8:39 amWhat a great list of apps. Going to look into some of them! I need all the help I can get with trying to be more active .
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Kori says
November 1, 2014 at 9:03 amThose do look like really great apps for fitness.
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Mrs. Mashed Up says
November 1, 2014 at 9:30 amWhat great apps. They really do make life easier. I love my tech, so I’d use fitness apps. Thanks for sharing.
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Rebecca Swenor says
November 1, 2014 at 1:13 pmI would love this workout app if I had an I phone but I only have an android. Thanks for sharing.
Margarita Ibbott (@DownshiftingPRO) says
November 1, 2014 at 2:42 pmI DO NOT have any workout apps that I use. My workout is basically walking the dog. I’m am not a complicated person.
Cam | Bibs and Baubles says
November 1, 2014 at 3:07 pmAnd this is why I love apps. I’ve found some great ones for working out too!
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Yona Williams says
November 1, 2014 at 4:34 pmI like the feature of being able to play music while doing your Daily Ab workout (and having a sort of buddy doing it along with you) – that’s really motivating! I don’t use any Workout-related apps…I mostly use apps that count how much exercise I do or food that I eat.
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Ann Bacciaglia says
November 1, 2014 at 5:33 pmI do not have any fitness apps that i use, This looks like a great app for keeping track of what you have done. Looks like a great app.
Melanie says
November 1, 2014 at 7:25 pmSo many great apps I didn’t even know about. I need a fitness app so will have to give that one a try!
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Dawn says
November 1, 2014 at 7:36 pmThese seem to be some really great apps! It’s nice to be able to take advantage of modern technology to help improve your workout routine.
Liz Mays says
November 1, 2014 at 10:10 pmI’ve never tried a workout app, but that’s a really good idea. I hate planks too, which is probably why I should be using the same app you use for those.
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Rosey says
November 2, 2014 at 5:56 amI think we all have an exercise that’s hard for us (like yours is planks). For me it’s arm pulls on the machine, and for my SIL it’s the stair climber. 🙂 I haven’t used an app to work out (yet, maybe someday) but it’s awesome that there are so many avail.!
Carly Anderson says
November 2, 2014 at 10:24 amThanks for sharing these great apps with us. I’m going to try that Daily Ab Workout one.
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FamiGami says
November 2, 2014 at 11:56 amI certainly don’t use any workout apps. I’m not sure if my wife does though.
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Melissa Smith says
November 2, 2014 at 12:08 pmI don’t think I’ve ever heard of any of these! But I really need to see if I can get Simply Yoga on my phone, it’d help me stay on track with my daily flows.
Jessica Doll says
November 3, 2014 at 12:33 amOoh, these all sound so good. I just do a ballet workout but I do use my fitness pal to track calories and other activity.
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Sharon says
November 3, 2014 at 12:57 amI love the plank work outs and these apps are so handy!
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Rebecca says
November 3, 2014 at 10:17 amI was literally just telling someone how much I love app referrals because there are so many I can never tell which ones are good! Thank you!
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Krystal's Kitsch says
November 3, 2014 at 2:24 pmI need to download Simply Yoga! That sounds like a good one.
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