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Is Zing The Best Value Fitness App? A Closer Look At Its Features

Since its launch in 2021, Zing has set itself apart in the crowded fitness app market with its innovative use of artificial intelligence, promising a highly personalized workout experience.

This app not only creates tailored exercise routines, but it also facilitates real-time conversational assistance, allowing users to engage in chatbot-like discussions about workouts and meal plans.

Zing’s interface is designed for ease of use, presenting a variety of features through a series of tabs that help users navigate workouts, track progress, and engage in friendly competition.

I have worked 24/7 trying to craft the perfect fitness web app.

Right now you can
– follow a daily home workout
– follow a daily gym workout
– log your external workouts

The home workouts have videos showing exactly how to perform the exercise.

Perfect for beginners, no… pic.twitter.com/4xGtQrrG8O
— Max Blade (@_MaxBlade) April 18, 2025

Get Real-Time Fitness Guidance with Zing’s Conversational AI

With its unique ‘Zing’ logo providing quick access to the AI chatbot, users can pose questions about exercise techniques or dietary suggestions without interrupting their fitness sessions. This seamless integration enhances the app’s utility, making it feel more like a personal trainer than a generic fitness resource.

In addition to standard workout features, Zing offers holistic health insights by syncing with other applications like Apple HealthKit, thus allowing it to compile user activity data from various sources. The app even includes a distinctive Body Scan feature which can analyze body composition using just a smartphone camera, providing a deeper understanding of individual fitness needs.

Priced at £20/$20 per month or £59.99/$59.99 annually, Zing is competitively priced, especially considering the robustness of its features. However, newcomers might find the extensive options initially overwhelming. Despite this, it has received positive reviews for its performance and design.

For fitness enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive health companion powered by AI, Zing offers an impressive suite of tools. Just be mindful that if simplicity is your goal, there are other less feature-rich options available, such as Strava, that may better suit your needs.

Best Fitness Apps of 2023

One of the top resolutions people make on New Year is to get fit and exercise again. How do you know if you’re getting anywhere or meeting any goals if you’re not tracking your progress? That’s why fitness apps are so beneficial, helping you ensure that you meet your objectives.

There are applications for gaining muscle, losing weight, watching your calories, and plenty of other options. Here’s a quick overview of some of the best fitness apps of 2023.

MyFitnessPal – Physical fitness

MyFitnessPal is my personal favorite, and I’ve been using it on and off for the past three years. When I really get into my training, I enjoy heading to my saved exercise sets. You can make your own by selecting from pre-determined exercise categories while adding reps, weights, and sets.

Also, it has loads of restaurants, groceries, and meals to choose from when you want to see if you’re meeting your calorie, vitamin, or fat goals. In this way, you can plan your meals accordingly, making sure you lose fat and gain muscle, depending on what your objective is. There’s also a daily weight counter so you can see your progress over time.

Headspace – Mental fitness

Mental fitness is just as essential as physical, if not more. If you’re not in the right headspace, you won’t feel like exercising or meeting any goals. Also, busy days on end won’t leave you any time to focus on yourself, which is critical if you want to succeed in 2023.

You can start with 10-minute meditation bursts, as the Headspace app calls it. These will help center your mind, body, and soul, calling yourself back to the moment. If you’re into visualization, you can also use that time to think about what you want to achieve during the year.

Sworkit – Beginner fitness

If it’s the first time you’re trying to get into fitness, you may want to check out Sworkit. It teaches you different types of exercises to do at home, even if you don’t have equipment. There is a coach to help you choose the right ones for your goals, but you’ll have to upgrade to the premium version.

Still, the free version has enough on it to get you started. It doesn’t have any food tracking like MyFitnessPal, which means you’ll solely focus on exercising.

Get amped for 2023

There you have it, my three choices for the best fitness apps for 2023. There are plenty of others on the market, but these are good enough to get you going. As I said, MyFitnessPal is by far the best application of the lot, but you can also add Sleep Cycle if you want to get decent rest at night.

People underestimate how much good sleep can help you with your fitness goals. Your body heals and repairs while you’re resting. Also, don’t forget to consume loads of water, especially on exceptionally hot days. I hope to see your fitness posts on social media this year.

Best YouTube channels to train at home

These YouTube channels all have plenty of great content that will help you get fit and stay healthy.

Today we’re finishing our look at all the best apps and accounts you need in your life if you want to stay fit and healthy while stuck indoors. We’ve looked at mindfulness and meditation apps, Instagram accounts for workouts, workout apps, and now today we’re looking at the best YouTube channels you want to subscribe to for all the best workouts.

If you think about it, YouTube is the perfect place to get your workouts from. The video platform places no limitations on what your workout gurus can do. You can get massive workouts that last for hours, quick High-Intensity Interval workouts, Yoga and Pilates sessions, and even weeks or months-long courses that have specific fitness and health-based goals in mind. Let’s get into it then. These are the best workout channels on YouTube.

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YouTube Go is a free, official app from Google that provides a variety of features that make the YouTube more bandwidth-conscious and help avoid buffering while on the go.

Best YouTube Home workout fitness channels

Check out all the best YouTube channels to subscribe to for workouts and fitness and health routines.

Adam Rosante

Adam Rosante’s YouTube channel offers a series of very accessible workouts for fitness enthusiasts of all levels. These quick sessions last anywhere between five and twenty minutes and are extremely challenging. There’s definitely something for everyone here with routines utilizing your own body weight rather than relying on expensive equipment. There are strength training routines, however, that will incorporate a dumbbell here or there, but there’s certainly a lot here for anybody who doesn’t have any home gym equipment.

The other great thing about this YouTube channel is just how welcoming and warm Rosante is. He has a great attitude that is infectious too. This will help to keep you motivated even when he’s pushing through some pretty painful sets and reps. This channel is all about pushing yourself to your limit.

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Joanna Soh

Joanna Soh is a long-established personal trainer who has brought plenty of her workout routines and circuits to YouTube. Her YouTube channel is full of all sorts of different workout videos including sessions on Pilates, abs development and full-body strength, kickboxing, and more. What’s great too for anybody working out at home is that Joanna also releases great videos focusing on things like an indoor steps challenge and even performing full-body workouts while in a seated position.

As well as all of Joanna’s fitness videos she also goes the extra mile by producing videos on food, diet, and nutrition as well as looking at equipment and even clothing. Going even further, Joanna also offers tips and tricks on living a healthy lifestyle while living on a tight budget and she is also on a mission to bust all the common myths about weight loss that might be standing in your way. If you’re looking for a complete YouTube channel that gives you more than just workout videos, this is it.

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Tone It Up

Tone it Up is another great YouTube channel that has been founded by well-known fitness gurus Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott. If you’re stuck at home, this channel will definitely have lots for you as it offers workouts that intelligently utilize many standard household items and pieces of furniture like coffee tables and office chairs.

Subscribing to this channel will get you hundreds of great videos covering all manner of different types of workouts such as HIIT workouts (High-Intensity Interval Training) as well as focused sessions that target areas like your arms, abs chest, and lower body. You’ll also find plenty of videos covering diet and nutrition too, which are just as important as the workout videos, if not more so, for anybody looking to shed a few pounds and get in better shape.

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Blogilates

Blogilates has been live on YouTube for over ten years. This means there is a wealth of resources here for anybody looking to give their health and fitness a boost. What’s also great for anybody stuck at home is that all of these routines only require one piece of equipment, a Yoga mat. If you don’t have a Yoga mat, you could simply use a towel, meaning there’s nothing standing in the way of you starting a Blogilates session right now.

As you’d expect from the title there is a lot here that focuses on Pop Pilates stretches but the channel actually goes a lot further covering everything from healthy recipes to common problems and issues experienced by people trying to get in shape. There’s also plenty of great content about how to deal with your own position in the fitness world and cope with the aesthetic pressures modern society puts us under. Cassey Ho, who is behind the channel is like your supportive, funny, and knowledgeable friend, there to guide you on your fitness journey.

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BodyRock TV

BodyRock TV puts out daily fitness videos covering many different types of workout. The aim of the game here is bodyweight exercises meaning anybody can get started with these routines at home immediately, without the need to buy expensive equipment. The workouts on this channel are quite intense, however, and not for the faint-hearted. You’ll get walkthrough guides to plenty of routines as well as all sorts of twists on common exercises.

The channel also plenty of content about healthy recipes, adjusting to a nutritious diet, and keeping on top of your calorie intake. On top of all that, you’ll also find the odd video showing exercise that requires some basic equipment like dumbbells if you want to give them a try.

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Wrapping up

Starting a new healthy lifestyle at home really is easy on YouTube with plenty of great channels offering you a lot of amazing health-inspired content. The video platform really is the best place to start your new journey to a healthier lifestyle and a fitter body. If you’re stuck at home, there’s nothing better you can do than subscribe to one of the channels we’ve mentioned and start working through their videos. You won’t regret it.

Best Instagram accounts to train at home

All these Instagram accounts will inspire you to live a healthier lifestyle that’ll have you feeling much better and looking fantastic.

This week we’re bringing you all the best apps and social media accounts that can help you live healthy, happy lives even when staying indoors for long periods of time. Yesterday we looked at all the best mindfulness and meditation apps to help you safeguard your mental health even during adverse situations. Looking after your mind, however, isn’t enough. You also need to look after your body and today, and for the rest of the week, we’re going to help you do so.

Tomorrow we’ll be looking at the best YouTube channels offering good workout sessions and we’ll also look at workout apps this week too. Today though, we’re looking at another social network that has many accounts promoting healthy living. Believe it or not, Instagram is a fantastic resource for anybody looking to start working out or generally just try to get in shape. There is plenty of fit and healthy people on Instagram who are more than happy to share all their secrets with you. Let’s look then at some of the best Instagram workout ideas, programs, and fitness accounts.

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Best fitness Instagram accounts

These Instagram classes will have your body in tip-top shape in no time. Follow them all to inject your Instagram feed with fitness videos and workouts, healthy lifestyle tips, and recipes that are both good for your body and good for your soul.

Megan Roup

Mega Roup’s Instagram account is impressive, inspirational, and bursting with positivity. Roup founded a very popular cardio class called The Sculp Society, which became a bit of a cult classic in NYC. The Sculp Society uses fun and active routines pulling in the likes of dance and high-rep full-body toning exercises to get your blood pumping. Roup’s classes are lots of fun and will help you with weight loss and reaching your fitness goals.

Her Instagram builds on the success of her app, showcasing fantastic behind-the-scenes videos and photos as well as more intimate shots grabbed from Roup’s personal life. The videos here are fun little blasts, usually focusing on a single move or routine. Every now and then though, you’ll stumble upon a fab little dance routine that’ll leave you feeling motivated and hungry for your next exercise.

Anna Kaiser

Anna Kaiser is one of a particular type of personal trainer. Bursting with positive energy, Kaiser sees it as her mission to have you pumped for your session. Motivation is both the biggest ally and potential enemy of any would-be workout enthusiast, which explains why Kaiser takes it so seriously. If you’re up for your workout, you’ll take so much more from it. If you’re not, well let’s just say you’ll struggle to get through your routines or complete your exercises effectively.

In this regard, Kaiser’s Instagram page is full of high-energy and High-Intensity-Interval-Training (HIIT) workouts that will vary your heart rate for maximum efficiency. You’ll also get healthy recipe ideas as well as all the exercise guidance, meaning you can get a full service from Kaiser if you follow her Instagram account. What’s also great about this account is that all the exercises can be done at home without too much fuss.

The Rock

Dwayne Johnson doesn’t too much introduction. The ex-wrestler has established himself as one of Hollywood’s hottest properties coming across as a much family-friendly version of what Arnie offered during the 80s. The Rock is huge, strong, yet also sensitive and welcoming. That is of course until you head to is his Instagram account where he shares his grueling weight-lifting workouts.

What’s really great about The Rock’s Instagram account is that you get to see exactly what it takes to have such a huge body. His workout routines can be insane at times but he’s always trying to bring you along for the ride too. On top of the workout videos and behind-the-scenes pictures, you’ll also get plenty of motivational messages from the big guy too. Cheat Day Recipes is another regular feature of the account, which sees The Rock go through some excellent cheat day recipes that won’t undo all the good work you’ve been putting through the week.

Ebenezer Samuel

If you’re stuck in the house, there aren’t much better Instagram accounts you can follow than Ebenezer Samuel. Samuel is a very well thought of personal trainer and he posts a few new workout routines every week. This means there is a vast wealth of personal training content there all ready for you to get into and you’ll never run out as he’s constantly updating his page and keeping it fresh.

The real reason Samuel’s is perfect for home workouts though is that he loves incorporating no equipment bodyweight exercises and everyday household items into his workout routines. You’ll regularly see him doing strength training reps with jugs and bottles of water, heavy bags, and very simple setups including resistance bands and basic dumbbells. The message from Samuel is clear. Just grab what you can and get at it. There’s nothing stopping you from working towards that healthier, fitter lifestyle.

Don Saladino

Don Saladino is a personal trainer to the stars. If you’ve ever seen movies with the likes of Ryan Reynolds or Blake Lively, you’ve seen just how good Saladino’s results can be. The big Don was also behind David Harbour’s impressive transformation into local super cop Jim Hopper in the Netflix smash Stranger Things.

Saladino’s Instagram account is a treasure trove of short workout videos, inspirational behind-the-scenes images, and all manner of quick tips and tricks to get you moving in the right direction. All these exercises can be done at home too with Saladino also pulling in different elements from the home such as the stairs into his routines. Beyond the odd dumbbell or kettlebell, there’s nothing major needed to get started here. Simply follow Saladino on Instagram and then follow his advice.

Best apps to workout at home

These apps will help you get in shape. They offer lots of great workouts and fitness routines.

Yesterday we looked at the best Instagram accounts for workouts and today we’re going to bring you the best-dedicated workout apps. This week we’re trying to promote apps and social media accounts that help people look after themselves while staying indoors. It is always important to look after both your body and your mind but even more when you’re stuck indoors. Hopefully, this week we’re helping our faithful Softonic readers stay safe and healthy while stuck inside. Make sure you check back in tomorrow when we’ll be looking at the best YouTube accounts for healthy workouts too.

Today though, it’s workout apps and we’ve got some great workout programs for you to download. Go through them, pick the fitness apps that suit your fitness goals best, download them, and off you go. Look after yourselves out there.

Best workout apps 2020

You need these apps on your phone if you’re trying to get in shape and live a healthier lifestyle.

7-minute workout

Not having enough time to train or workout is the most common excuse given by people for missing their gym sessions. The truth is though, that it is hard to find time to work out, particularly when you also have to consider getting changed into your gym clothes and then showering and changing afterward too. Even when working out at home, it can still feel hard to find time to work out. Well, not with the -minute workout app it isn’t.

The app available for Apple iOS iPhones and iPads, and Google Android smartphones and tablets gives you lightning-fast work out that will get your heart pumping and sweat pouring. What’s also great about this app is that the workouts it introduces don’t require any special equipment meaning you could start right now, if you wanted and be finished in less than ten minutes. It’s a workout plan you can do right now. Think about that and then think about what are you waiting for? Go get at it.

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Daily Workouts

Daily Workouts is another fantastic app that will turn your home into your gym. Again, this app is all about bodyweight meaning you won’t have to splash out on any expensive equipment or specialist weights, dumbbells, or kettlebells. These workouts can be tailored to your fitness level and ability too with the shortest workouts clocking in at just five minutes and targeting specific parts of your body and muscle groups. You can then push these workouts all the way up to half an hour giving your body a more generalized workout

Daily Workouts is also a very accessible app as it is both free to download and then free to use. If you’re looking to get started with a new fitness routine but don’t want to have to splash out for an expensive app or subscribe to a monthly program, this is the app for you.

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Fiton

Fiton is another completely free app that will push you to your limit during each fitness class and slowly but surely stretch out your limit over a long period of time. There’s a lot of variety here too with the app covering all sorts of different bases including HIIT workouts (High-Intensity Interval Training), Yoga classes, Pilates, and even some cardio-focused dance classes and lessons thrown into the mix too.

The secret to Fiton’s success is that it takes new workouts from some of the biggest and best personal trainers out there and puts them in your hand for free. The Fiton trainers have worked with some of the most famous celebrities out there including the likes of Pink and Alicia Keys. The Fiton workouts are high energy and lots of fun, meaning you’ll feel more like you’re having a ball than slogging away in the gym.

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JEFIT

The JEFIT app and program is all about bodybuilding and strength training. If you think you’d like to bulk up, build muscle mass, and increase your power and strength while you’re staying at home, then this is the app for you. You’ll find a whole host of tools here too including a workout planner, training plan, progress tracker, many different types of exercise timer, and a special log for keeping notes on your progress.

JEFIT is also a very cool app because it allows you to focus your exercises and concentrate on particular body parts. The app is all about data too with the aim being to give you as much control over your development as possible. There’s a lot here too with plenty of bodyweight exercises but also plenty of routines including dumbbells and kettlebells.

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Home Workout – No Equipment

The Home Workout app is all about turning any room in your house into a gym. You don’t need an expensive gym membership; you don’t need fancy exercise equipment in your home. All you need is this app, a can-do attitude and motivation to keep at it while you’re stuck in the house. There are plenty of exercises here too that offer users a full-body workout covering everything from legs, arms, and abs to butt, chest, shoulders.

There are many different routines users can follow and each also includes warm-up exercises and stretching routines. It is very important to stretch properly after a decent workout and may apps overlook this important stage of the workout.

Home Workout Download now

Wrapping up

So, you’ve now got five apps that you can turn to help you live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle even while stuck in your doors. The key to making progress with any of these apps though is sticking with it. It’s not about lifting the heaviest weights or pushing yourself harder than you’ve ever been pushed before. It is about setting yourself realistic goals and sticking with your program over a long period of time.

4 best apps for hiking

Ready to hit the trail? Add these great apps to your phone first!

Although gyms are nice, nothing beats the fresh air and adventure of going on a hike.

We may not go hiking too often because we say it’s difficult to find trails. The more reasonable explanation could be general laziness. But you know what makes it easier to be a lazy hiker?

Not knowing how to find trails!

Luckily, there are apps to help you find the best trails so you can get back out and enjoy nature!

Best apps for hiking

AllTrails

AllTrails sounds like Odin’s title “AllFather,” likely because it’s a god amongst hiking apps. (Boom, Avengers reference in a hiking app article. Nowhere is safe from the MCU!)

But seriously, this app has the best aspects of a professionally developed system. It looks good, it’s easy to use, and it compiles a large number of tools without feeling cluttered or unintuitive.

When you open the app, sign-in isn’t required immediately. AllTrails lives up to its ratings by taking you first to the hikes, based off either your current location or whatever search parameters are entered.

You can check out the ratings, discover the location, and, if you’re logged in, “favorite” a trail for later visits.

Along the bottom of the app, you can see more menu locations:

Plan: Once AllTrails helps you discover a new place to visit nature, they immediately give you help in setting up a trip, and a route along the trail. They list a number of aspects, the length, and whether it’s a loop, along with more information that may be useful.

Record: This function will come up time and time again! Not only are recordings a great way to track your progress and see where you’ve been, but they’re also excellent tools for professional and hobbyist “trail runners.” Those are people that compete to set record times for a given hike, for you newbies.

History and Profile: Here, you can watch your old recordings, track your stats, check out your past reviews, look at followers, and change settings. It’s pretty much what you’d expect.

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Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS also helps users find trails, with a few extra things that set it apart from other apps.

First off, staying true to their Global Positioning System roots, Gaia immediately shows exactly where you are on a world map. It shows your current elevation, speed, direction, and more.

So, if you were looking for trails to hike nearby, head to the center menu button, “Discover.” Here, you can find all the information you’re looking for and save the best hikes.

Finally, we’ll also mention the “Trip” function, which allows you to record your journey. This feature also gives you the ability to check elevation, speed, the time of sunrise and sunset, and more.

Pretty cool, right? We didn’t even realize Mesa, Arizona’s elevation was around 1,319 ft. You learn something new every day!

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Strava

While AllTrails and Gaia GPS focus on bringing you the best trails, Strava represents the first of our “health and wellness” hiking apps. They specifically focus on ensuring a healthy workout and provide an environment for relationships with other hikers.

So, what does this app have that’s noteworthy? First and most importantly, the main page is a “Feed,” which will reveal information from your friends and followers, along with your own updates. At this time, we don’t have any connections, so ours looked a little bare:

The “Explore” menu on their page has a huge list of challenges! If you’re interested in competing or simply want to join a fun competition, go here and see what’s new.

Finally, we feel the need to mention that Strava has impressive health-tracking tools, but many of them require the “Training Pack,” part of their subscription. Keep that in mind.

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MapMyHike

And now, Map My Hike by Under Armour!

This app has the plainest and simple user-interface. Like Strava, it begins with a feed page. However, you aren’t limited to friends or your own posts, which means you can enjoy voyages anyone has taken!

Aside from the social aspect, MMH’s main focus lies in their tracking app. In the beginning, you’ll see something like the picture below. There are pretty intrusive ads, but those can be removed with a subscription.

Once you’ve recorded your first adventure, you can head over to the tracking page. Once again, we appreciate that Map My Hike allows you a bit more freedom here; there are good metrics available without a subscription.

Ah, good old zero-mile workouts.

We would recommend Map My Hike in conjunction with one of the better trail discovery apps. However, there is a way to find hikes. Visit the “Settings” menu, and scroll down to “Routes.” Here, you can find user-created paths that may or may not follow an actual trail!

Still, these are definitely more like routes than trails. Does this make Map My Hike more of a path app than a trail app? Maybe. But if it does, we don’t mind too much. If you live in the city and don’t have time to get out in nature, there may be some excellent urban trails found here!

Map My Hike Download now ►

The journey of 1,000 miles…

We hope you enjoyed reading about these apps. Whether you’re outside more than inside or are currently one of our fellow couch potatoes looking to leave the house more often, these apps create a welcome sense of adventure along with the spirit of ease and sensibility.

Have a good time with it!

Do fitness trackers really work?

Evidence shows that for some individuals, exercising peripherals can help shed extra weight.

Between fitness apps and the Fitbits, sometimes we still don’t see the results we want.

According to sociologist Deborah Lupton, there are something like 160,000 tracking apps circulating the various app stores. These apps cover the full spectrum of personal improvement tools. Apps like RunKeeper, Google Fit, and Apple Health promise a “knowledge is power” approach to managing our health stats.

While it seems like this personal quantification stuff is a trend we’ve been witnessing over the past few years, it’s definitely not new. What we were curious about was whether people stuck with their tracking efforts long term.

And if so, does tracking yield any positive results?

We’ve been documenting ourselves since the dawn of time

Personal observations are super old. People have long been documenting their activities from bodily functions and what they ate to efforts at fitness. This 2010 NYT piece looked at a few people who kept detailed accounts of their lives. While some devices were on the scene in 2010, the process was largely analog.

These days, the connection between data and the body is something the masses can tap into. Where we used to only have analog observations to rely on, we now get to play scientist with state-of-the-art tools.

There are always going to be people obsessed with their stats, but it seems unsustainable for most of us to track, optimize, and monitor ourselves.

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The Quantified Self — is knowledge driving self-improvement?

The Quantified Self movement believes that numbers bring a sense of logic to the table. These numbers underscore the emotions tied to our mistakes and other shortcomings. Fitness trackers give us a sense of accomplishment by sheer virtue of putting them on.

The data available so far doesn’t quite present a clear-cut solution as far as whether obsessive tracking pays off long term.

A 2015 study published by the American Journal of Public Medicine gave pedometers to one group of overweight women and fitness trackers to another. The women who used the trackers increased their activity by an average of 38 minutes a week.

The pedometer group did not increase their fitness levels at all. So, here, we’re looking at two tools that essentially do the same thing. One cheers you on and sends little motivational alerts when you meet a goal, while the other just counts your steps.

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Another study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that obese people who wore fitness trackers lost less weight over two years. Those who made an effort to eat healthily and exercise without the technology actually fared better.

One problem is inaccurate reporting. Devices are good at tracking steps, but anything more strenuous than walking is hard to quantify. So, looking into the data you collect yourself could present a warped perception of your overall fitness levels.

The JAMA participants might have looked at an app that told them they burned 800 calories when in reality, that number was closer to 400. These skewed numbers can make you think you need to eat more and consequently gain weight.

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What’s the point?

Well, okay. Maybe it’s a dumb question. The promise of tracking our bodies presents a means of gaining control over our mortality, our success, our appearance, and how we feel. Which, of course, sounds great.

But, we wonder, how many people know what to do with their “personal analytics?” If you’re considering a fitness tracker, it’s worth asking yourself a few questions.

What do you hope to learn?
What motivates you?
Do you plan on changing habits?

Admittedly, people are drowning in a data deluge. If you’re tracking sleep patterns, calories, steps, and workouts — what are you measuring, specifically?

Fitbit or not, old habits die hard

Are people using these new insights to improve in any way, or is it just fun to reap those digital rewards?

That’s hard to answer. Many people adopt these new tools in a sincere effort to change. For example, they might download an app like Sleep Cycle to monitor their habits and develop a routine, but the shine wears off quickly.

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A report published by the Associated Press found that fitness tracker owners abandon their devices after a few months of use. They say monotony is the reason for abandoning ship, which makes sense.

Users collect all this data, amassing this big, unwieldy set. It’s like tracking a marketing campaign without first setting any goals.

That’s not to say these tools can’t be helpful. However, like watching fitness videos instead of hitting the gym, you need to commit to the routine for a sustained period in order to see results.

Ultimately, JAMA declared fitness trackers “facilitators, not drivers” of behavior change. People get excited about these tools but rarely do they bridge the gap between knowledge and lasting change.

Complete guide to self-improvement

Get smarter, healthier, more productive, and more in shape with our complete guide to self-improvement.

Ever wonder what the difference is between the people who reach their goals and those who merely dream? Those who hit their targets prepared themselves to do so. Here at Softonic, we’re focused on bringing you the best advice and digital tools to achieve any goal. Take a look at the stories we’ve assembled and consider how they can help you start building your tomorrow today!

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5 great apps for tracking your exercise

Ready to get fit? These apps will help you drop weight and add muscle.

Regular exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. There’s just no way around it: If you want to look and feel your best, you’ve got to work out.

Already committed to gym life, but just looking for a good routine-planning app? Wish you could get killer gains without leaving your living room? Just starting out and don’t want to feel intimidated by all the gym jargon? There’s an app for all of that. In fact, there are lots of them. Here are a few of the very best exercise-tracking apps out there.

5 great apps for tracking your exercise

Fitbod Workout Log Download Free ►

FitBod is a great all-around fitness tracker and accountability buddy. Log your workouts and get personalized suggestions to help you maximize your next trip to the gym. FitBod has an impressive library of exercises to help keep your routine from getting stale. You can also track your progress and share your achievements with the community. Bonus: If you have a Strava (running and cycling tracking) account, you can connect it to your FitBod account.

GymBook - Strength training Download Free ►

GymBook is all about helping you become your fittest self. Log and analyze your workouts to see where you need to step it up, and then create your own customized workouts. GymBook creates a handy line graph to help you track your progress and lets you add notes to your workout logs. There are tons of exercises in the database, and you can group them however you want. If you’re serious about customizing your workout, GymBook even lets you create your own exercise moves.

Freeletics Download free ►

If you’re looking for something a bit more intense, Freeletics is here for you — and it is not messing around. No gym, no equipment, no excuses. All the exercises on the app use your own body weight for resistance, eliminating the unnecessary and maximizing your results. A personal coach will analyze the details of your workouts and design short, intensive workout sessions just for you. Connect with other users to compare results and stay motivated.

Runtastic Download Free ►

There are plenty of running apps out there, but Runtastic is a user favorite. Runtastic tracks your running progress in real time (and place). At the end, you’ll get a readout of the area you covered. Plus, see your average speed and plenty of other cool and helpful metrics to help you analyze everything about your workout. There are lots of ways you can customize the way Runtastic works, like having it keep track of how far you’ve run in a particular pair of shoes or comparing your stats across time. You'll also get a personalized voice coach feature to keep you on track.

JEFIT Workout Planner Gym Log Download free ►

Jefit has a clean, user-friendly fitness tracking platform. Track your results and get data readouts in every form — whether line graphs are your thing or you’re more into pie charts. Choose from a vast number of exercises in Jefit’s database, complete with illustrations and videos. Use them to tailor workout programs based on your goals and your progress. Jefit also offers access to a huge community of fellow fitness enthusiasts in case you’re ever looking for advice or encouragement, or you just want to show off the rock-hard abs you’ve been cultivating.

The 5 best apps to help you track your runs

Get faster, stronger, and healthier with these great apps.

With so many running applications on the market, it can be difficult to choose which one is right for you. To simplify the process, we’ve rounded up the five best running apps on the market. These handy tools will make tracking your runs a breeze!

The 5 best apps to help you track your runs

1. Strava Training

In addition to tracking your runs through GPS and creating a custom map of your run, Strava Training throws in some friendly competition: After you’ve completed your run, you can upload your data and compare it with that of your friends. If you’re competitive, this can be a fun way to race friends and family — even those who live across the world! However, even if you’re not competitive about your runs, you can also look at the different routes your friends take. This can be a great way to discover new running routes to try out in your hometown.

Strava Running and Cycling Download Free ►

2. Nike Run Club

Formerly Nike+ Running, the Nike Run Club app is designed to track your runs. One benefit of this program is that it enables you to develop a personalized plan that’s flexible enough to work with your schedule. You can also easily share photos of your run on social media. And as if that weren’t enough, the app also connects you with friends as well as runners across the world, so you can participate in challenges and cheer one another on.

Nike Run Club Download Free ►

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3. Couch to 5K

This is the perfect app to track your runs if you’re not a dedicated runner. Couch to 5K will have you running 3.1 miles in just nine weeks of training. The best part? Each week the app has you walk and run at different intervals. Then, by the ninth week, you will be able to run the entire 5K without stopping to walk!

C25K (Couch to 5K) download free ►

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4. Pacer

Pacer is different from most running apps. It serves as a pedometer, step counter, and weight loss tracker. One great feature of this app is that you can track your running history and trends. Do you tend to stop running after two miles? Pacer will track that as a trend and let you know. You can also keep track of your eating habits, take advantage of guided exercise plans, and even connect with others in the health and fitness community.

Pacer 5K: run faster races download now ►

5. UA MapMyRun

One of the biggest struggles for regular runners is deciding which route they would like to take. Running the same course every day can become tedious and even remove some of the fun. With UA MapMyRun, you can choose from over 70 million mapped running routes. MapMyRun also tracks your distance, your pace, and even the amount of calories burned. This app is perfect for any runner who wants to spice things up and try out a new route every once in a while.

Map My Run by Under Armour Download Free ►

Using smart running apps like these is an excellent way to get a leg up while you train. Whether you’re new to running or a seasoned pro, one (or more) of these apps should do the trick.