Five apps to help you stay fit while you exercise indoors
It's that time of the year when everyone's focus turns away from their wish list and toward their waistline. Depending on how happy your holidays were, that waistline might need some extra attention. If the bitter cold of the polar vortex has driven you inside, you can still keep up with those New Year's resolutions with these five fitness apps.
Spinning | Indoor Cycling & Heart Rate Training [iOS Universal; Free with in-app purchases
Folks who opt to ride a bicycle instead of run on a treadmill should check out Spinning. It's full fitness app geared for cyclers and spinners who prefer to log their miles on two wheels, instead of two feet. The app tracks both indoor and outdoor workouts, allowing you to record your time, distance, speed, cadence and watts. It also integrates with fitness trackers and apps like Fitbit, Strava, RunKeeper and others.
BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer [iPhone; $3.99]
Running on a treadmill can be tedious, so you have to be creative with your workouts. One way to keep things fresh is to use BeatBurn from LoLo, which will mix up your music while you run. The app monitors your workout intensity and picks the best music to match the pace of your run or walk. It also includes a fitness trainer to motivate you when you need it most.
Bodyweight Training: You Are Your Own Gym [iOS Universal; $2.99 with in-app purchases]
Don't have weights or the time to go to a gym? Then check out this list of 200 exercises that use your body weight for resistance training. The app features a 10-week program with workouts that can last from two to 36 minutes. The videos are the highlight of the app, showing you in detail how to perform each exercise.
Yoga Studio [iOS Universal; $2.99]
Fitness isn't always about pushing yourself to your limit and then beyond. Sometimes flexibility, breathing and balance are more important than burn. For those times when you want to focus on your inner strength, then you should fire up Yoga Studio from Modern Lotus. The app includes 30 preset yoga classes with HD video and detailed information on over 280 poses. You can pick the best class length (15, 30 or 60 minutes) for your schedule or create your own custom class.
7-Minute Workout Challenge [iPhone; $1.99]
The 7-minute workout is great for busy people who only have a few minutes to spare each day. The app includes videos, audio, images and text to guide you through the 12 basic exercises recommended in the 7-Minute workout program. Each exercise is performed for 30 seconds with 10-second rest intervals. The app tracks your workout progress and weight loss.
