Lose pounds or just get in shape with the best iPhone health and fitness apps. From tools for tracking calories to workout companions and even a sleep monitor app to make waking up easier.
If you are trying to lose weight, stay healthy, work on your fitness, or eat better foods, your iPhone can be a helpful tool, but only if you have the right apps. We dug through the hundreds of thousands of apps out there to give you our take on the best apps in the App Store to help you stay healthy and fit. Download one or a few of these helpful apps and you might notice a change in how you look and feel. You’ll also become more knowledgeable about the foods you eat, how you exercise, and how to keep your body in prime condition, no matter your age.
Lose It!, Free
If you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight, one of the best things to do is to simply start tracking your own food intake and fitness activities. Fad diets get more attention than basic math, but if you burn more calories than you are taking in, then the pounds will come off. When you first start the app, it will ask you basic questions about your height, weight, age, and how much weight you are trying to lose (if any at all). The app then recommends a net calorie intake for you to strive for based on how many calories you consume and how many you burn exercising. You can easily record both food and fitness (the app has a barcode scanner built-in) and even see if you are getting too many or too few calories from fat, protein, etc.
Runkeeper, Free
If you don’t want to spend the money on the Nike run-tracking system, this free app is your next best bet. Runkeeper uses the GPS in your iPhone to map your runs and give you info on your speed and distance as you run. Users can set a goal pace, and the app will coach you through your headphones while you run to keep you on track. You can also get audio updates during your run telling you your distance and time. We particularly like that the app has music integration, so you can listen to your favorite playlist while still running the app, and can even switch tracks without leaving Runkeeper.
Fooducate, Free
Part of eating healthy is making good choices when you are actually buying food at the grocery store. This app was designed to be the perfect shopping buddy when you are trying to make healthy choices but need a little help along the way. Using an integrated barcode scanner (or the ‘browse’ tab), you can get instant information on whatever it is you are thinking about buying. Even better, the app gives you an actual grade (A, B+, D, etc.) for each food item, shown with alerts as to what the pros and cons are of that particular food. Stick to A and B-graded items and you’ll be on your way to a healthier fridge.
Nike Training Club, Free
Whether you are at the gym or in your own living room, this app can help you get fit and teach you specific exercises to integrate into your own personal workouts. The well-designed app features full 30- to 45-minute workouts, all based on your goals and fitness level. Users can select their goals and their fitness levels and then select from a wide variety of workouts that fit that criteria. Helpful photos show users how to properly execute each exercise, and audio cues during the workout help keep you motivated. There are step-by-step instructions and how-to videos for every exercise and users can earn rewards like celebrity training videos by completing goals.
Sleep Cycle, $.99
You might think this app is in the wrong article, but sleep quality is just as important to your health as a variety of other factors. Waking up rested will help you accomplish your other health goals because you’ll have more energy to tackle the day. This app uses the accelerometer in your iPhone to monitor your movements as you sleep. When placed correctly on the bed, users can set a normal alarm time and based on your movement during the last half hour before your alarm, Sleep Cycle will wake you when you are at your lightest sleep. This should make you feel more rested than if your alarm had gone off during restorative and deep REM sleep. The app won’t help you sleep more, but it will make it easier to get up when the fateful alarm rings.
Restaurant Nutrition, Free
Apps like Lose It (or MyFitnessPal) are great for tracking calories and fitness, but it’s sometimes difficult to find any information on just how many calories you’re consuming when you’re eating out. This app is simple but has a comprehensive list of fast-food and chain restaurants, including the nutritional information for almost any menu item that you can think of. This can help you make better choices when you’re eating out, but is also helpful if you are trying to track your nutrition using one of the other calorie counting apps.
Fitness Pro, Free
Whether you’re a gym junkie or a newbie at your local fitness center, this app will help you learn new exercises and teach you how to properly use gym equipment. Users can select a certain area to target (or choose full-body exercises) and the app will give you a long list of targeted exercises to do while you’re at the gym. There are helpful photos of real people doing the exercises and users can combine exercises into saved and personalized workout routines. This app won’t be too much help if you’re trying to workout at home, but it’s a perfect companion for making the most of your gym time.
Meal Planning, Free
Another important aspect of staying healthy when it comes to food is active meal planning. This handy app includes thousands of simple recipes that make planning out your meals and shopping for them a little bit easier. The app will also list foods that are on sale at local supermarkets and give you quick and easy recipes based on those sale items. Most of the recipes will have less than seven ingredients, including some pantry basics, meaning that you only have to buy a few specific items. When used on a regular basis this app can help you discover new easy recipes and even save you some money along the way.
