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Track your fitness achievements with MetricMe
Most of us are competitive whether we are playing tennis or golf, video games, or just about in everything we do. However working out and getting fit is an individual activity. You can only measure your success or failures against yourself. MetricMe is a free universal app running on iOS 7.0 that provides users with a way to measure just where they are and compete against those levels each time they exercise. MetricMe offers users a way to keep track of just how well they are doing in a variety of areas. Users can track bodyweight exercises such as push-ups and pull-ups, or weightlifting both the amount of weight being lifted and the number of times you make the lift, timed workouts, and body measurements. Users can set up MetricMe in a way that best fits their particular workout regimen and then measure what you do. The app saves that information so the next time you workout you will have a bar set so you can equal or surpass your previous accomplishments. First you go through all the available options and pick the type of exercises you will be doing. In each area you can then provide details on your workout plans. For example in Weightlifting you could do squats and then do the exercise, recording how much weight you used and how many times you successfully lifted that weight. Then you can set a goal with a time limit like in the next month or in two months, then how much weight you want to be lifting by the deadline and how many times you need to be lifting it. Follow the same procedure for each of your selected exercises. The app gives users a great deal of flexibility in tracking what they do. If you do a lift with the same weight 10 times and do four sets of 10 you can record that. If you use a different weight in each set you can track that or the same weight but each set had a different number of lifts you can record all those too. Use the app to record each of your workouts and the app tracks your progress supplying you with a history of when you worked and just what exercises you did and how successful you were each time. Overall MetricMe works best for users who know what physical measurements are important to them and want to track their progress as they try to improve their performance in these areas.
Runtastic thinks you'll like exercising with a VR headset
Let's be frank: Indoor exercise can suck. You're usually stuck in a gym or your home, and you can't get feedback without either a pricey trainer or a distracting mobile app. Runtastic thinks there might be a better way. It just developed Oculus Rift versions of some of its strength and toning exercises that could liven things up. It sounds a bit ridiculous to strap on a virtual reality headset for your workout (and it probably still is), but the technology promises things that just aren't possible in the real world. You can get fit in much more interesting locales, such as the great outdoors or a beachside home, and the entire interface is designed to keep your hands free -- a virtual trainer and hovering stats let you see how well you're doing while in mid-lunge.
Get fit with friends with BattleFit
Now you can turn your daily workouts into a friendly competition with BattleFit. The universal app runs on iOS 6.0 or later and is a free download. In BattleFit you will find a four different levels of workouts available, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Custom. Each level contains eleven different workouts you can do. Additional workouts are available but that requires an upgrade to BattleFit Pro for US$2.99. The concept behind the app is for users to make the workouts competitive. The developers feel that we all will achieve more if we have a specific goal to beat. With BattleFit you can compete against yourself or friends even if you are not working out together. Users can track how they do in each phase and enter the final result. The app tracks those workouts so you know what you have to beat each time you do the same exercise again. You can also enter your numbers and compare those with friends who run through the same set of exercises. As users complete each exercise, they earn points based on their times or the number of repetitions they completed. As the point totals increase users move up to higher designations within the app. You start at Couch Potato and go up from there. Users select the Arcade method to compete against their own personal bests or Versus to set up a battle against a friend or another user. The app has a search function that allows you to locate other users and invite them to become a workout friend. You will be able to see what level each user has achieved so you can choose someone for your Battle at the same level you are. In each level of the the workouts you will find the name of the workout and what the goals is for that exercise. For example in the Beginner section, the exercise called 20/20 requires you to complete 20 Burpees, 20 Crunches, 20 Squats, and 20 Pushups and time how long it takes you to do each set. When you are ready, a stop watch pops up and you go through all four sets then hit stop. You then post the time and you will be awarded points. Overall, BattleFit can be a good app to use to keep you motivated during your workouts especially if you tend to be more competitive. The workouts are strenuous and will test your fitness level if you want to keep moving to higher levels. One thing that would make the app better would be to offer more complete descriptions of how to do each exercise. Some do have single line descriptions to help but others have nothing. Everyone knows what a pushup or a pullup is but I am not clear on just what a Burpee is or how I do it. Maybe if you are a veteran workout addict all these names will be familiar but for beginners BattleFit needs more information.
The food industry's next big hope is to sell you exercise in a can
In every business, from the Amalgamated Rubber Sole Company through to the halls of Nabisco, someone, somewhere, is dreaming of a pill that instantly makes you thin. Several already exist, but if you don't want to sit through that one worrying side-affect of Xenical or find a way to get a large quantity of Speed delivered to your garage, then a double-hander of diet and exercise is the only way to go. That's not something that will deter Nestlé, however, since the company is working on a foodstuff that, it's hoped, will help you to "exercise" without having to leave the couch.
Wearable data proves what you thought: we're less active when it's cold
It's hard to fight nature. We mammals have an instinctual urge to hibernate when the mercury starts dropping, and thanks to activity trackers we have some data to prove that theory holds true (if we actually get that sleep is another story). By correlating pedometer stats culled from "hundreds of thousands" of Jawbone Up users with weather info from their respective areas, the outfit was able to discern that there's an ideal temperature range for physical activity. Because people typically have to get up and around during the work week, Jawbone instead focused its study on weekends. You know, when we have an actual choice of whether or not we're going to get off the couch.
Get motivated to get moving with Movn
Movn: Simple Pedometer & Movement Goal Coach wants to help you become more active. All of us have decided at some point to increase our daily activity by taking a long walk, or jogging, or riding a bicycle, or yoga, or any number of activities. But how many of us have failed to follow through and actually do more? Probably most of us. That is where Movn comes in. The free app works on all iPhones and 2nd generation iPads and later and requires iOS 7.1 or later. Movn works as a simple pedometer to count your steps by using the accelerometer and GPS in your iPhone. It also tracks how long you have been active so if you did a stationary warmup before starting your walk it measures that time too. Users indicate what activity they are participating in such as walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, or working out at the gym with weight or in an organized yoga or pilates class. Once you do that decide what your goal is for how long you want to be active during the day. The time ranges from thirty minutes to three hours. That's all you have to do. As long as you have your phone somewhere on your person Movn will track your activity time and count the number of steps you take. The app also gives you a map showing the path of your latest activity. I did some mall walking to test the app and even though I was inside the map showed a close up view of the mall and my path from one end of the mall to the other and back. So you are all set now. You have your goal and you know what you are going to do but you still need to follow through and get moving. The app offers a place where you can set up a notification in case you sit too long. Set a time and Movn notifies you that you have not been active for that long. It tells you politely that you have been sitting for more than whatever time you selected and you need to get going. The app keeps you engaged while you try to reach your goal with additional messages like park your car far away and walk or take the stairs. Once you reach your goal for the day, the app recognizes your achievement. Movn also records your daily activity and allows you to see how you have been doing over the last week or month. If you are really serious about getting into shape and workout regularly then Movn is probably not for you. You will find other apps that can provide more information besides just the number of steps and the time you were active. If you are just looking for a little push to get you going and keep your activity level at a higher level, then Movn might be just what you need.
Serious about getting in shape? Get Custom Fit
This free universal app is not intended for those of us who work out occasionally but are not really all that serious about getting in top shape. Custom Fit and Custom Fit Pro, a US$1.99 upgrade are aimed at the people who are dedicated to working out regularly and targeting specific muscle groups or parts of their bodies. Both apps require iOS 6.1 or later. Custom Fit allows you to choose your workout goals and duration of the workout. Then you target the body parts you want to train and improve. Custom Fit is limited to two goals, two workout lengths, and the opportunity to work on just two body parts at a time. To get more choices in all of these areas you need to purchase the upgrade to Custom Fit Pro. I set up a workout program first choosing between losing fat or building muscle. I decided on improving my muscle tone and then picked from 20 or 30 minute workouts, and finally decided to work on just one body part, my biceps. Custom Fit laid out five specific workout stages, first doing 5 minutes of moderate intensity on the treadmill followed by four different weight exercises with recommended reps and numbers of sets for each. No weight recommendations are given since the app doesn't know if you are working with free weights or other machines. Each exercise comes with a detailed animation showing how you are to do the exercise. Custom Fit offers the usual social media connections if you want to share your workout regime and progress with friends. You also can track your progress in the app with sections devoted to specific areas such as height, weight, arm and leg measurements in the Progress Tracker, your Diet Log allows you to list what you ate and when, and in your Exercise Log you can list the specifics of each of your workouts and track the number of sets you do with how many reps, rest between, and how long your workout lasted. If you purchase the upgrade to Custom Fit Pro, you also get a BMI tracker. BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is a measurement of body fat based on height, weight, and age. The paid version of the app also allows you to access more than 2400 individual workouts. If you are really committed to getting your body in top shape, Custom Fit would be a good app to use to start you on that path and once you make noticeable progress you can upgrade to the paid version.
Jaybird's readiness-sensing fitness tracker arrives October 26th
Want a fitness tracker that can tell you when it's time to get moving, rather than simply record your movements? You won't have to wait long. Jaybird has confirmed that its Reign wristband will reach the US on October 26th at the $199 price promised back in January. The key to the Reign is its "Go-Score," which estimates your readiness for activity based on your heart rate variability -- the higher the score, the better-suited you are to going for a run or bike ride. It's also one of the few trackers that can handle swimming alongside exercise and sleep, so this may be your wearable of choice if you regularly hit the pool. So long as you have an Android or iOS device to pair with, the Reign may be worth checking out if you feel that other activity devices don't cover enough ground.
Run, walk, and jog with the stars via Spring
The class I hated most in high school (well, besides math) was gym. I had zero hand-eye coordination, I never liked sports, and I got very out-of-breath every time we were tested on the mile run. Maybe it was the testing aspect, or maybe it was because I never fit in with the uber-athletic culture of my school. It just didn't fit me. When I went away to college, where there was more freedom, I couldn't get enough of the outdoors. Which is why I wish I had known about Spring then. This free app is available on iOS 7.0 or later and is universally available but optimized for iPhone 5. At its most basic, Spring accompanies you on your daily workout routine (it seems optimized for extremely mobile activities like power walking, running, rowing, and the like) with upbeat music and tracks your miles moved and calories burned. Depending on whether you are running, walking, or doing some other activity, it sets your ideal steps per minute (you can change this), and then you can set it depending on whether you are doing the activity indoors or out. If you are outside, Spring will track your movements on a map using your GPS coordinates, which will also tell you what songs you listened to when and how many calories you burned on the song. It even breaks down how much you burned per minute. While you are exercising, the screen is very streamlined and user-friendly, displaying only the song/album/artist combination, how many minutes have elapsed since you began, and the calories you have burned per minute along with how many miles you moved (walked, in my case). The app is free, but users may find purchasing one of the various packages might be better. I learned this when I kept running into songs I had no interest in listening to. This was primarily because I'd never heard of the artists, but there is a wide enough selection that nearly all users will be happy. After having to skip six, I got a little notification saying that on the free version only six skips per hour are permitted, but paying subscribers get unlimited ones. Additionally, the free version only allows five hours of play time before asking you to commit to one of the paid options. If this sounds like something you'd use all the time, then subscribing monthly may be best for you. In the "Upgrade" menu, you can subscribe for US$4.99/month. There are other options as well, depending on your needs. Users can also create a free Spring account so they can keep track of their athletic progress. A disappointment for me was the reliance of GPS tracking. I have had nothing but bad reception in my particular neighborhood, since it is a newer development surrounded by numerous trees. This meant my numbers ended up being very lopsided and in no way an accurate reflection of the activity I actually engaged in. Users who live in densely urban or very wooded areas might have the same issues as I did. In my case, being in and out of range for my WiFi also registered me as walking a shorter distance than I did. When using the app in indoor mode, GPS is turned off, but you can still manually log in your mileage after you are done. Two of the best features were both music-related. The first was the sheer number of artists to choose from. Literally everyone from Arianna Grande to Zedd could be chosen, and each time the app is opened there are new artists shown. Indeed, most of the artists I had never heard of, which (at least to me) demonstrated the wide diversity of possibilities. Pretty much anyone would be happy with the combinations to be had. Additionally, parents can rest comfortably knowing there is an option to exclude explicit songs from the lineup, though this can be changed very easily. The other nice music feature was that users can actually determine how often the particular artists appear. Since I am only evaluating the free version I am not sure if the level of control changes with a subscription, but while users cannot pick specific songs or organize a set playlist, they can determine how often particular artists appear. After choosing their workout style and their location, a menu is shown with the different musical choices. Users can pick between "Don't Play", "Play a Little", and "Play a Lot". While some people might prefer a more user-controlled option, I liked the variety, as it exposed me to artists I might not have otherwise heard or even enjoyed. There are a lot of good things I could say about this app, but I think I'll close with this one. The importance of good health and especially frequent exercise is at the forefront of the national discussion. From Michelle Obama's fitness initiative to TV programs like The Biggest Loser, everyone is thinking about how to lose weight, get stronger, and have more fruitful lives. Spring reminded me that doing this is not merely important enough to have yet another app devoted to it, but that with the right music and feel, doing what is necessary to lengthen your life can make it just a little more fun as well.
Garmin's multi-sport GPS watch now talks to your phone
Garmin's GPS watch lineup has had an imbalance as of late; while more modest athletes have had luxuries like color displays and phone integration, you've had to make do with monochrome and old-school PC syncing if you need multi-sport wristwear like the Forerunner 910XT. Thankfully, you won't have to make that sacrifice any more now that the company has launched a much-needed follow-up -- not surprisingly, the Forerunner 920XT. The new watch tracks your biking, running and swimming stats like its ancestor, but catches up on 2014-era tech through a color screen, phone support (including call and message notifications) and advanced data like your running gait and oxygen volume estimates. It should be lighter, thinner and more comfortable than the 910XT, too, so you won't notice it quite so much while you're in the middle of a practice session. Just be ready to pay up if you want Garmin's most capable wearable. The 920XT starts at $450 ($50 more than the 910XT) all by itself, and you're looking at $500 if you want a heart rate monitor at the same time.
Smart yoga mat helps you perfect your poses
Yoga can be a great way to stay healthy, but it's hard to refine your technique at those times you can't see an instructor. SmartMat may have a solution for when you're stuck at home, though. Its self-titled smart yoga mat gives you feedback on poses by sending pressure data to an app on your Android or iOS device. On a basic level, it helps you perfect your poses by suggesting corrections to your alignment and balance; you can also teach yourself new moves through downloadable lessons, and there's a "Zen mode" if you'd prefer to enjoy the moment and get feedback later.
Epson dives into fitness wearables with heart and run trackers
How do you know when wrist-worn technology is officially a trend? When a brand best known for its printers gets in on the action. As promised, Epson is launching its first wrist-based wearables, and they're all about improving your fitness. Each line delivers a slight twist on a familiar formula. The Runsense GPS watch range (shown above) can track your running even if it loses signal thanks to stride sensors on some models, and lasts for a healthy 30 hours of continuous tracking; you may not need to recharge for days. The Pulsense line, meanwhile, monitors your heart rate, activity and sleep quality using a blend of optical and motion sensors. You theoretically never have to take the tracker off, although the 36-hour battery suggests you'll be doing that quite often.
RunKeeper will now bribe you to beat your best
You tell yourself you're gonna go running. You might even have an app that gently prods you to get your lazy keister up off the couch. But let's be honest, the most effective motivator is the good ol' fashioned bribe. That's why RunKeeper is teaming up with Kiip, a company that delivers ads and rewards through games and mobile apps. The idea isn't just to get you casually jogging though, but to actually get you to push yourself. Through the new workout rewards program, RunKeeper will deliver discounts on Propel Water, Secret Deodorant or even a Pebble smartwatch when you reach a personal best in distance or pace for instance. All the rewards are specifically chosen to appeal to RunKeeper's athletic market niche, so you shouldn't have to worry about being offered discounts on Transformers Blu-rays. You won't get bombarded by offers either, they'll only pop up sometimes -- and you'll really have to work for them. But it might be nice to get something at the end of a long marathon than a smug sense of self satisfaction.
Fitbit's activity tracking app comes to Windows Phone
If you've wanted to use activity-tracking wearables that pair with your phone, you've typically had to use Android or iOS. Windows Phone has some third-party apps that can fill in, but they're imperfect at best. As of today, though, an official solution is at hand -- Fitbit has released its own Windows Phone 8.1 app. You can now sync trackers like the Flex, One and Zip to your Microsoft-powered device to get real-time step and sleep monitoring, complete with a step counter on your home screen if you set up the Live Tile. Other Fitbit fundamentals are also here, including food logging, leaderboards and messaging.
Slim down at home with P90X for Xbox Fitness
Sure, there are already options for getting fit with the help of your Xbox console, and now one of the most popular in-home exercise options is offering more sweat soaked material. P90X for Xbox Fitness brings a 30-day version of the three-month slim down to your living room via the Xbox One (sorry, Xbox 360 owners) with five new routines to boot. The video-based workout curriculum will leverage the Kinect to keep an eye on your form along the way as well. As you may recall, trainer Tony Horton has already served up P90X and Insanity workouts for Redmond's fitness efforts, alongside Jillian Michaels and others. Forking over $60 today gets you the month-long challenge, and there's a downloadable calendar and nutrition plan coming next moth. Of course, Mr. Horton is along for every second of the action -- just in case you thought you were getting off easy.
Two weeks with PulseOn's heart-rate monitoring wearable
Heart-rate monitoring chest straps won't be with us for much longer, as wrist-worn devices are offering optical sensors that do exactly the same job. PulseOn is the latest, and having spun out of Nokia back in 2012, is now offering its first entry into the market, the, uh, PulseOn. Confusing nomenclature aside, the company is now accepting pre-orders through Indiegogo, which was used to help raise awareness as well as cash for the small outfit. We've spent some time with the first model to roll off the production line, so if you're curious if it's worth splashing $170 out on one, read on.
Sprint's outdoor-ready Galaxy S5 Sport packs free fitness training
Americans: you no longer have to flock to AT&T to get a Galaxy S phone that can handle your outdoor adventures. Sprint has unveiled the Galaxy S5 Sport, a spin on the Galaxy S5 Active's formula that revolves around fitness. It's not as tough-looking as the Active, but it still offers both a grip-friendly shell and mechanical buttons that are easier to use when you're on a run. The real highlight, though, is the software. The Sport is the first phone with Sprint's Fit Live, an app and services bundle meant to get you moving. It includes a year's worth of Under Armour's MapMyFitness MVP, which brings custom audio coaching and training plans on top of the usual working stats. You'll also get half a year's worth of Spotify Premium music to amp yourself up, and there's an avalanche of health content that you can plaster across your home screen.
Get fit this November in Ubisoft's Shape Up
Though Ubisoft creative director Charles Huteau admits that "fitness is boring," Ubisoft has announced Shape Up, an exercise game that promises to "finally" turn your workout into an epic game. During Ubisoft's E3 conference, Huteau demonstrated a cardio workout that took the form of a mano a mano piano shuffle battle. While rapidly stomping virtual keys alongside a Kinect-spawned doppelganger of himself, Huteau seemingly worked up a minor sweat - crucially, without holding an extra peripheral (as in Ubisoft's Just Dance Now). Ubisoft offered no specific release date for Shape Up, but the game is slated to appear on the Xbox One during this November.
CARROT fit 2.0 wants to you exercise, meat bag
OK, flabby human. It's time to get fit. Last February we reviewed CARROT fit, the judgmental fitness app from CARROT. As we said last time, its methodologies aren't for everyone. The app uses humor and motivational ribbing to get you moving. I think it's funny, especially when my electronic fitness overlord tells me to kowtow before Cthulhu (do a push-up) or asks, "Who else is going to eat all that food?" CARROT fit version 2.0 adds the 7 Minutes In Hell workout. There are 12 exercise to start with, and you can purchase an additional dozen via the Exercise Booster Pack for US$1.99. When you begin a workout, the app's "ocular sensor" monitors your progress and guides you from exercise to exercise. Soon you'll be kowtowing to Cthulhu (push-ups), marking your territory (squats) and escaping an elite squadron of killer ostriches (running in place). All the while CARROT fit provides one-liners and other...motivation. As you progress you unlock more goodies like a weight tracker, a calendar so you can keep track of your workouts and even extra rest time (yay!). You'll need it, meat bag. There are 17 locked rewards in all. There's a new profile, too, which can keep you motivated and on track. Like I said, this app might bother some folks. I think it's fun and definitely motivating. The workout isn't easy and I'm only using the introductory exercises. Best of all, you only need a wall, a chair and "...a bucket in case you throw up" to get in a good workout. Version 2.0 offers a lot of great changes. Now go and make a great change in your body! Or CARROT fit will get angry. And you won't like her when she's angry.
Wahoo's new heart rate monitor also improves your running form
Many heart rate monitors can show that you're running quickly enough to get a good workout. However, they won't tell you that you're running properly -- which is why Wahoo has just unveiled the TICKR Run, a monitor that includes its own motion sensor. The wearable tracks not just your heartbeat and calories, but also your stride and overall smoothness; you should get a feel for the efficiency of your running style without having to use a separate foot pod.
