5 Health & Fitness Apps That Could Change Your Life
| 3 min read
If you feel like you rely on your smartphone to get through the day, you’re not alone! It keeps track of your daily to-dos, lets you chat with friends and family members, and gives you an endless stream of news and entertainment—all in the palm of your hand. That’s why it makes so much sense to tap your phone for help if you’re trying to be healthier.
Mobile apps keep you honest and give you the information you need to make smarter lifestyle choices—and turn those daily decisions into habits. But which ones should you download? There are now more than 165,000 health-related apps in Apple and Google Play stores, so it can feel like quite the workout to even figure out which ones to use.
Luckily, we’re here to help. Start with these five and you’ll be well on your way to having healthier habits:
- The BCBSM mobile app: If you’re a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or Blue Care Network member, this is a must-have app. In the Health & Wellness tab, you can access a wealth of resources to help you make smart lifestyle choices. Start by taking a health assessment that will give you personalized content to move toward and live a healthy lifestyle. You can also sync your fitness trackers to keep your health goals front-of-mind, watch exercise videos, search for healthy recipes, store important medication information — and more. You can even access WebMD’s symptom and health information directly through the app.
- Couch to 5K®: Want to be more active but feel intimidated by running? The Couch to 5K app will help you get out there and start racking up the miles. The nine-week plan takes you from your first short run all the way to a 5K distance. Download the app, pick a race, and get going.
- Sworkit: Staying interested and engaged is the key to sticking with an exercise routine. That’s where this app comes in. Use it to create your own unique workout by choosing how long you want to it to last and what areas of the body you want to target. Then, follow along as a personal trainer takes you through the exercises. Hook your phone or tablet up to your TV for a full-on training session. Explore the high-intensity interval training and randomizer to keep things fresh.
- Edo: Filling your grocery cart with healthy foods can be easier said than done. Edo takes out the guess work by letting you scan food labels to see the nutritional value and weigh the pros and cons of each item. It also helps you understand what a single serving size really is and suggests healthy alternatives.
- MyFitnessPal: Tracking your daily meals in a food journal can help you understand your indulgences and keep you focused on making smart choices every day. MyFitnessPal has a database of more than five million foods that you can easily access and log without breaking a sweat.
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