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If you want to get a bit healthier by using a little technology but don’t want to shell out big bucks for a fitness tracker, you’re in luck. There are dozens of great heath apps out there, and these are seven of our favourite apps for getting more active, eating well, and getting better sleep.
Sworkit
The app: Sworkit.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
Start by telling Sworkit what kind of workout you’re looking for: strength, stretching, cardio, or yoga. Then you tell it how long you have, all the way from just five minutes to a full hour. Then Sworkit generates an equipment-free workout that you can easily follow. In-app purchases allow for even more customizable content.
Motion Traxx
The app: Motion Traxx.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
Don’t you just hate when you’ve just started your workout and then “Final Countdown” kicks in? Or you’re getting to the really intense part and suddenly Frankie Goes to Hollywood tells you to “Relax”? Motion Traxx prevents that by giving you workouts with paired custom playlists that make sure the music you’re listening to rises and falls with the intensity of your workout. You tell the app what kind of workout you want and how much time you have, and it gives you a workout to follow with music to match.
Zombies, Run!
The app: Zombies, Run!
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
Would you rather play a video game than run? Well, with Zombies, Run!, you can do both. The game involves gathering materials for your base and defending against zombies, and the way you unlock stuff is by running. Oh, and each mission, by which we mean run, promises a unique story.
Daily Yoga
The app: Daily Yoga.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
With a detailed video library of more than 500 poses, Daily Yoga is the closest you’ll get to yoga mastery without a yoga instructor on-call. Chose from plenty of different programs to match your yoga proficiency, follow the step-by-step videos, and track your progress with the data log.
Fooducate
The app: Fooducate.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
Want a quick read on how healthy your grocery store choices are? With Fooducate, you can scan barcodes and the app will give you a quick report card on how healthy the item is.
Lifesum
The app: Lifesum.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
Appreciate the simple approach to health? Lifesum specializes in the simple, one-change method of healthy goals. You tell it what you want (e.g., lose weight) and Lifesum puts together and easy plan and starts sending you reminders (e.g., time to drink water). It also comes with some simple graphs to help you visualize your progress.
Sleep Cycle
The app: Sleep Cycle.
Platform: iOS & Android.
Cost: Free with optional in-app purchases.
Sleep Cycle is a smart alarm clock. You tell Sleep Cycle your wake-up time. Then it analyses your sleep (by using your phones microphone to detect your movement) and wakes you up during a 30-minute window prior to your wake-up time when it detects that you’re in your lightest sleep phase. The result is far less jarring than a ringing alarm while you’re in deep sleep. It also keeps track of data like your bedtime and how well you sleep.