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Gym memberships are passé. Here are 6 best fitness apps for women that will help you get fit anywhere, anytime!
By Melanie Lobo
You do not have to go to the gym to work out anymore. All you need to do is download some great fitness apps that are available for smart phones today. No more relying on gym equipment to determine the pace and speeds at which you are exercising or visiting a yoga class to get fit. Some of the best workout apps for women are now easily found on either a Blackberry or an iPhone. Information on women’s health is now at your fingertips – literally because you can use your phone to monitor your health with these great fitness apps.
This is one of the free fitness apps especially suited for those into running and jogging. You can benefit from this app as it:
– Tracks progress – Maps runs – Monitors distance and speed – Tracks calories burned too – While running, you can see the in progress GPS map – Gives audio feedback on runs when certain distance milestones are achieved – Enables sharing of run information on Facebook and Twitter – Sets up goals – Enables the user to view friend’s information and make comparisons – Compatible with: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later
Dhanashri Bapat, a software consultant in Pune has been using this fitness app for the last six months. She has the GPS device in her Nike shoes. She recommends the app because of its “user friendly features.”
Check out this video for a short demo:
This can be considered as one of the best workout apps for women available on the iPhone. The main features of this app are:
– Gives you the option of creating your own yoga program – Has a large asana (poses) database – more than 200 poses are available with voice, visual and text instructions. The main positions can be viewed in 3D – It can be used by both beginner and advanced yoga students – It has a special algorithm that will create an individual program for you based on your time, experience and goal – Keeps track of your past trainings – Also has a calendar with a yogic message that appears daily to spur you on – This fitness app costs $1.99. Available at the App Store – Compatible with: iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G and iPad Wi-Fi + 4G.Requires iOS 4.0 or later
This is one of the free fitness apps available in the Blackberry AppWorld. This fitness app will turn your smart phone into a personal fitness trainer. The app uses a built in GPS and tracks your running, walking, cycling and other distance based sports. The features of this great fitness app are:
– Tracks calories, speed, distance, duration and your heart rate – Get audio feedback while exercising – Enter a work out manually – Allows you to see your route on a map – Pauses the app when you are taking a break – Set a goal and then have an audio coach speak to you about your target – Has the option of posting workouts to your Facebook account – You can compete on a certain route and race against the champion of that route – A map feature to set up routes that are near to you – You can view your friends’ workouts in real time – Compatible with: iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G and iPad Wi-Fi + 4G.Requires iOS 4.0 or later
Nidhi Jain, a Mumbai based homemaker started using Endomondo while training for the Mumbai Marathon last year. She finds it an excellent app, and one she is very comfortable with. She says, “You can link up with your friends; email them about your status. It has many options, you have to just choose one and then start using it.”
This app is basically a calorie counter. All you need to do is to set a daily calorie goal, key in your food intake for the day and exercise to ensure that you keep to this goal. Key features include:
– Keying in personal food entries – It has the largest food database and an exhaustive food diary – It analyzes your food intake – It is synchronized with the website myfitnesspal.com – Compatible with: iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later – Price: Free
Mother’s World is a free fitness app that has been launched by Mom & Me, specially tailored to meet the needs of Indian moms. This is a personalized pregnancy app which gives you regular updates as your pregnancy progresses. The information included has been endorsed by medical experts. Features of this include:
– Health notes for pregnancy related issues – Nutritional information – Facts on how your baby is growing and how the body changes – Exercises to keep you fit during this time – Recording baby movements – Dealing with emotions during pregnancy – Answers to common pregnancy queries – Blogs – Tracks emotions – Sharing your experience with other mums and on Facebook too – Compatible with: Android phones
Health and fitness go hand in hand and this is one app that will help you keep a tab on your periods. This is also on the list of free fitness apps and is considered a health and lifestyle app. Features of this app are:
– Tracks the menstrual cycle – Helps with weight related issues – Connects with other women for support on physical and emotional well being – Allows you to keep a health journal – Ovulation tracker – Monitors temperature, moods, and PMS symptoms – Compatible with: Android 1.6 and up
Shibani Bawa, a Delhi based freelance writer has been using this app as it has helped her to keep track of her irregular periods. “I used to do this earlier on a calendar but this is far easier and more useful.”
These are just a few of the best fitness apps that women in India can use today. Have you tried any of these great fitness apps? Share your experience with us too.
*Photo credit: lululemon atheltica (Used under the Creative Commons Attribution License.)
Melanie Lobo is a freelance writer. She grew up in cities across India but now
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