If you made a fitness resolution this January you’re not alone. According to YouGov, the most common New Year’s resolution for Americans in 2020 is fitness-related, with 50 percent of the survey respondents indicating that they want to exercise more.
The key is keeping that resolution. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, sporadic gym-goer or somewhere in between, simply committing to that goal puts you ahead of the other 90 percent who don’t think their workout resolutions will last beyond three months.
One way to commit is to find an app to guide you, hold you accountable, and tailor workouts and motivation to your style of fitness. Use these tools to make this year the one when you reach your resolutions and then some.
Mobile apps
Mobile apps allow you to take your workout motivation on the go. While there are hundreds of apps to choose from, these two provide unique value to those who have set fitness resolutions. Consider how they can help you reach your goals.
This app is geared toward resistance training and has a database of full routines and specific exercises, categorized based on each muscle group. For instance, if you’re in the mood for an abdominal circuit, Jefit makes it simple to find a workout designed for that area of the body. In addition, you can record the amount of repetitions you perform, monitor your training schedule with the in-app calendar, and access video tutorials and goal-setting features with the Elite subscription ($6.99 a month or $39.99 a year).
This app motivates you to exercise by donating to a nonprofit of your choice for each mile of walking, running or biking you record on the platform. Charity Miles runs advertisements of certain brands, and in exchange, those companies pledge money to causes such as Unicef, St. Jude’s, The Humane Society, Wounded Warrior Project, Save the Children or Habitat for Humanity whenever you finish that next seemingly impossible mile. This app is free, and it makes exercise double as an act of kindness too.
Streaming Websites
If you want to be told what to do and how to do it—all without leaving your house—a great online program may be best for you. Take a look at these two programs, made for anyone looking to turn their resolution into a reality.
This online program provides streaming, on-demand live workout classes from any location. You can search for classes based on the type of workout, length of routine, equipment needs or difficulty level, then once you make a selection, Forte loads a real-time workout session, so you can follow along with the instructor and group remotely. The membership is $39 a month or $288 a year for unlimited access to workouts from studios all over the world. For most, this is cheaper than a gym membership and provides the added accountability of having an intructor teaching you.
Whether you’re a beginner yogi or have been practicing for years, this fitness website is for you. YogaWorks has a library of practices—some as quick as 10 minutes—that can be streamed online whenever you find the time to unroll your mat. There are a number of diverse teachers and classes to choose from, all available for $15 a month, whether your main focus is on strength, posture, flexibility, balance or mind-body connection.
Tech devices
Sometimes, a new gadget is all you need to get moving. While wearable watches were all the rave a few years ago, companies have gotten even more innovative. Check out these fun tools to take your workouts to the next level.
This tool is no average wearable fitness tracker. Instead of snapping to it your wrist, the Motiv Ring slides onto your finger to maximize comfort, functionality and convenience while you exercise. The compact design remains firmly in place during intense movement and the technology is waterproof and sweat resistant. This $199 wearable also tracks heart rate, calorie burn, sleep cycles, footsteps and progress metrics which can be synced to a compatible smartphone.
This tool is another piece of tech you can wear, but it goes on the feet rather than a finger. Under Armour has created a line of sneakers called the HOVR Phantom SE that come fitted with sensors to log cadence, stride, distance, pace and foot strike, making it easier to adjust form and count mileage as you train. In addition, this data is stored in Under Armour’s MapMyRun mobile app, so you never have to run with your phone in one hand again. These shoes retail for $140; an investment that may be worth PRing at your first race this year!
Get the Tools, Reach Your Goals
Instead of white-knuckling your fitness resolutions without support, motivation and accountability, take these tools along for the ride. Make a commitment and create habits that will put you in the 10 percent of people who reach their fitness resolutions.
