Losing weight is hard enough, especially if you’re trying to achieve that perfect figure when you’re alone. Research shows that you can continue with a diet and exercise plan when family and friends are there to motivate you. However, you may need to travel for work and have no one with you at the time. So, when you’re alone, are you going to let those extra pounds ruin your formerly toned body? Why don’t you turn to your computer or smartphone for motivation during your lonely times to maintain your healthy habits?
There are many fitness applications on Smartphones that can be your fitness coach. The use of health and fitness apps has grown along with the increasing prevalence of smartphones and tablets. This app can tell you what to eat and how much to exercise. Even better, modern apps can be modulated to fit your needs. Figure out your diet and exercise based on your eating habits. If you frequently eat out at restaurants, download an app with restaurant food calorie information.
Let’s take a look at the latest apps on the two best smartphone platforms:
Yes, Apple can really help you stay fit
After iPhone and iPad, Apple has now entered the mobile health and fitness tracking industry. An app codenamed Healthbook will be featured on iOS8. The app tracks blood sugar, respiratory rate, heart rate, physical activity, blood pressure, hydration, sleep, weight, nutrition and oxygen saturation. Three of the Healthbook tabs are completely dedicated to fitness tracking: Nutrition, Weight, and Activity.
The Activity tab tracks distance traveled, steps taken and total calories burned. If you provide height and weight information in the weight tab, you can have statistics for Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat ratio. These two functions allow users to follow their fitness progress for a week, a month and a year.
The Nutrition tab records the calories you consume each day and maintains a specific diet plan. This tab is very similar to the other fitness tracking software available in the multi-platform app stores.
If you like the android platform
S health fitness tracker motivates you to follow fitness routine regularly and consistently. Set a weight goal and S Health will keep track of your calories, the distance you need to walk, and the steps you need to take.
Diet tracking is integrated into the app which pulls out calorie information from a database of common food items. S Health can sync with many third-party devices to provide a comprehensive report on your overall health. Apart from the S Health app, the Galaxy S5 also has a built-in heart rate sensor, a notable difference from its predecessor. When you place your finger on the back of the phone, your heart rate is instantly recorded on it.
Are you one of those people who don’t like walking around in public with a big smartphone in hand? Don’t feel ashamed to accept this. There are runners in different cities who share the same feeling. The next generation of wearable fitness trackers looks cool and is useful at the same time. The wearable device market is still in its infancy which is expected to grow fast, if not very fast.
A stylish band that pays attention to your fitness
The highly congested fitness band market finds a new member, the Samsung Gear Fit. The first thing that will catch your eye is the curved screen of the device. It looks very stylish and can compete with other wearable fitness bands in the market. Apart from the screen, devices from Samsung bring a number of functions.
A built-in heart rate sensor on the band ensures that your fitness efforts are on the right track. Although the features of the Gear Fit are very similar to other fitness bands available in the market, what is unique about the Fit is that it also functions as a smartwatch. It displays email, third party notifications and SMS in addition to your health report. Another interesting feature of the Galaxy Fit is that users can set wallpapers on the thin screen.
Well, there are other options like that too
Razer, a well-known name in computer video game hardware is also looking to tap into the wearable market with their Nabu later this year. This wearable bracelet can function as a smartwatch while monitoring your fitness. Razer’s Nabu is packed with enough smart features and offers users multiple ways to customize it according to their usage pattern. However, the price for Nabu will be much cheaper than the devices launched by the Samsung Galaxy.
If you want something more
Sony’s SmartBand Core is more than just the usual fitness trackers available in the market. The accompanying Lifelog application stores a lot of information about your life. Apart from tracking your daily physical activity, it will save the books you read, songs you listen to, games you play and several others.
A few years ago it was difficult to find fitness devices and today there are dozens of choices on the market. Each device has different capabilities and functions. Pick up fitness gadgets or apps according to your preferences. It will never let you stray from your fitness path, even when you are away from home or friends.