If you have an iPhone, you may know that here are hundreds and hundreds of apps out there, and if you are interested in health and fitness the choice can be a little overwhelming. There are apps to track how many miles you run, how many calories you consume, diet plans, how to get a flat stomach, tips on what to eat, advice on how often you should be exercising, heart rate monitors, push up counters, the list is endless! I only use a few apps, as I don’t see the point in collecting pages and pages which I won’t use very often, and of course they are all free! Here are my favourite free healthy lifestyle apps that I currently use:
1. myfitnesspal
In my opinion, this is the best weight-loss application out there. It works. To begin, the app calculates your overall calorie goal for the day, dependant on your current weight, height, activity level, and personal goal and basically just adds up all the calories you consume on a daily basis misusing calories burnt through exercise. It’s very motivating to eat well and exercise regularly using this tool, and the app holds you accountable – you are less likely to have a sneaky cream cake if you have to confess to myfitnesspal later on! This is a popular app which means that most food products already exist on the database, making it quick and easy to use. Myfitnesspal is handy to have on your phone if you are trying to lose weight or simply become a bit healthier as calorie counters are one of the most effective methods out there.
2. Whole Foods Recipes
There is no shortage on recipe applications for the iPhone, but for healthy living, Whole Foods Recipes is my favourite. You can search for good-for-you recipes for a specific meal time, occasion, dietary requirement, and it even has an on-hand feature which you can add your ingredients that you currently have, finding an array of delicious looking recipes! Most of the meal ideas have photos, ingredients, methods and very helpful nutritional information. This app is great if you are looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen, and the fact that it is made by Whole Foods means that the options are going to be fantastic for your body too!
3. Headspace
I had previously read the Headspace book, written by Andy Puddicombe (a former Buddhist monk) and found that he gave a very insightful perspective on the benefits of meditation, or headspace. The app is a very well designed interactive extension to the book, which includes explanations and illustrations to help you understand the concept of meditation a little better. I think the app would make a great starting point for those who are curious about the effects of meditation and need a gentle kick-start in incorporating this highly beneficial habit into everyday life.
4. We heart it
Not so much a fitness app as such, but I think checking out We Heart It instead of the likes of Facebook, twitter and other social medial apps is a much healthier start to your day! To me, it is my daily dose of inspiration in the form of beautiful photography, motivational quotes, delicious food ideas and creative images. Facebook and twitter can be a source of negativity and is a bit of a dead-end obsession for some people… however, by using We Heart It (maybe a bit of a girly app) it will not take you very long to find a positive message or uplifting image to brighten up your day!
Hey good post Betty this should appeal to the nerdy lifestylers like me!
The best things in life of course are free
Nice screen caps and overview. This should make things easy for people who don’t know where to start!
Well done Betty !
Aw, this was a very good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to create a good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never seem to get anything done.
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for supplying these details.