Diario Libre has published a roundup of nine fitness apps designed to help users organize workouts, track their progress and build lasting exercise habits, covering everything from running and cycling to yoga and strength training.
Finding time to exercise is not always easy. Between work, daily responsibilities and routine, staying consistent can become a real challenge. Fitness apps can serve as a useful tool for organizing workouts, logging progress and, in some cases, providing the small push needed to get moving.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. However, not every app offers the same level of guidance, and some studies have found that many apps do not fully meet fitness recommendations, so it is worth choosing one based on personal goals and needs.
Apps for different training styles
BetterMe combines exercise and nutrition in one place. It offers more than 1,500 workouts, from wall pilates to strength training and calisthenics, and lets users log calories, hydration and meals, in addition to providing recipes and tools related to intermittent fasting.
Runkeeper uses GPS to record distance, routes and pace for walks and runs. It also allows users to create routes, save activities and access personalized plans through its "My Plan" section, making it useful for turning casual walks or runs into a more structured routine.
Strava takes the social side of training further. Users can log their runs and rides, take part in challenges, follow friends and share their activities. It works with phones, watches and other GPS devices, as well as heart-rate monitors.
Yoga, running programs and gamified workouts
Glo offers thousands of on-demand yoga, pilates, meditation and fitness classes for beginners and advanced users alike, with sessions ranging from just a few minutes to 90 minutes. Classes can also be downloaded for offline use.
Couch to 5K is built for people who want to start running but do not know where to begin. It proposes a nine-week program designed to build users up gradually to 5 kilometers, with a choice of four trainers, the option to play personal music, and GPS tracking of distance and pace.
Zombies, Run! turns exercise into a game. It transforms a run or walk into an audio adventure in which users complete missions and must speed up whenever a zombie appears. The app includes hundreds of missions, offering a playful alternative for people who get bored with traditional routines.
Pregnancy, postpartum and inclusive training
Studio Bloom is aimed at people going through pregnancy or the postpartum period. It includes exercise classes, birth preparation, physical recovery work, stretching, meditation and nutritional guidance, along with programs focused on strengthening the core and access to consultations with physiotherapists who specialize in the pelvic floor.
Nike Training Club brings together hundreds of cardio, strength, HIIT, yoga and no-equipment workouts. Sessions run from five minutes to an hour, offering options for both a busy day and a more complete workout, which the roundup describes as a good choice for anyone who needs structure to turn exercise into a habit.
Big Fit Girl was created by trainer Louise Green and focuses on accessible, inclusive training for people of different ages, sizes and abilities. Users can progress from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels, and can even start with seated exercises. The app includes strength, cardio and targeted routines for different areas of the body, as well as live sessions and a community feature.
Choosing the right app for your goals
Rather than installing several apps at once, the roundup suggests the important thing is choosing the one that actually fits a person's needs. Specific options exist for running, tracking routes or learning yoga, while others offer more structured programs for building a routine.
An app can make it easier to organize and track workouts, but it does not replace professional judgment. For anyone just starting to exercise, dealing with a particular condition, or unsure which type of activity is right for them, consulting a qualified professional can help them train safely.
