2016 is finally here and many of us are ready to put our New Year’s Resolutions into action. Not surprisingly, health and fitness are popular resolutions. In fact, a Nielson survey of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions found that “staying fit and healthy” and “losing weight” were the top two responses for 2015 with 37 sand 32 percent of the votes respectively.
Before you implement you 2016 New Year’s Resolution, make sure to take the following into consideration:
- Think about the long term: Where do you see yourself in a month, or even a year from now? Visualizing the end game can help keep your eyes on the prize.
- Set reasonable goals: Rome wasn’t built in a day, so it isn’t necessary for you to go from zero to 100 immediately. Doing too much, too soon puts you at risk for injury that can sideline you before you ever truly got started. Write down your ultimate goal and plan out a smart, safe and responsible way of getting there
- Find a support system: Having others around you who know and understand your goals can only aid in your success.
Technology has become integral of just about everything we do these days and there are a number of apps that can help keep you on track. Here are some apps that cannot only help you set your fitness goals for the year, but help you succeed.
C25K
(Free: iOS, Android)
(In-app purchases available)
The C25K (Couch to 5K) app was created to help turn couch potatoes in to 5k distance runners in eight weeks. The program offers audio coaching and is compatible with GPS apps, music apps, Healthkit and MyFitnessPal. The program features three 30 to 40-minute workout sessions per week, which alternates between walking and running until strength is built up. And for those that have successfully completed the program, the follow up app, 10K is also available.
Performance Stretching
(Free: iOS)
Performance Stretching has more than 150 different stretches available. Each stretch includes a video that you can view during your workout, as well as an audio description to help you perfect your form. The app contains a mixture of static, dynamic and foam roller stretches to maximize results and is customizable—swap out stretches to personalize your workouts. Performance Stretching syncs to the Apple Health app and is also compatible with most Bluetooth heart rate monitors.
Lose It!
(Free: iOS, Android)
(In-app purchases available)
Lose It! helps set goals for weight loss, exercise, blood pressure, sleep, etc. Users create a profile and set goals for weight loss and total wellness. Lose It! offers easy-to-use tools for tracking food consumption and activity. The apps’ food database has thousands of restaurant, grocery store, and brand-name foods, all researched and validated by the Lose It! Team, which you can log food and activity on your smartphone, computer or tablet. The platform also integrates with many health and fitness devices and apps available. Lose It! allows users to connect with friends and family for support and also offers a “Challenge” feature that where users can join public or create their own challenges to help them achieve their goals.
Fitocracy
(Free: iOS, Android)
(In-app purchases available)
Fitocracy is a workout exercise log and personal fitness coach. The app helps users to easily track workouts, log circuits and sets, and either follow one of Fitocracy’s free workouts or create their own. The app helps motivate users by making exercise fun. Users can track their workouts, ear points, unlock achievements and try to beat quests. Members can also join a community for support from other people in the Fitocracy community.
Fooducate
(Free: iOS, Android)
(In-app purchases available)
Fooducate’s goal is to help shoppers choose healthy, tasty and affordable food, and to affect positive change on the food industry. The mobile app lets users scan more than 250,000 product barcodes to see a personalized nutrition grade (A, B, C or D) and gives healthy suggestions based on the foods scanned. Users can personalize Fooducate by setting health goals, as well as noting food allergies, intolerances and health conditions. The app also allows users to track food intake and exercise, as well as share tips with others in the community.
If your goal is to train for a race, stay tuned because our own Mica is training for the NYC Half Marathon. She’ll share her training experiences as well as some tips. Connect with use on Facebook and Twitter and let us know what races you be training for in 2016!