Fitness and diet applications for your smart phone
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EmailThe app only works if you apply it to your life, not if you leave it on your phone!
What is a fitness and/or diet app for your smart phone? It is merely another tool to help you on your journey to gain control over your diet and fitness, using social media on your mobile phone or device. Today there are literally hundreds of apps for your smart phone and more improved and sophisticated ones are being added to the market almost daily. Trying to find the right one for you doesn’t only depend on the claimed best or top performers, but on you! Michigan State University Extension will not be able to recommend the best apps, but hopefully this information will guide you to finding the one that will work best for you. Here are a few things to consider.
1. Determine where you are regarding the stages of change:
- Precontemplation – People who are not thinking seriously about changing
- Contemplation – People who are considering change
- Preparation – People who have attempted change
- Action – People actively involved with change
- Maintenance – People who have made a change and developed skills to maintain the change
- (Relapse) – Not necessarily part of the stages of change, but important to recognize and reset your priorities.
2. Find the app that is right for you, depending on where you are in the stages of change, your needs and interest. Remember, most of these apps are free, so try one, if it doesn’t work, try the next. There are apps for beginners, advanced fitness fanatics and everyone in between, these include apps for:
- Diet
- Fitness
- Diet and fitness
- Progress trackers
- Calorie Counters
- Running, weight lifting, etc.
- With games
- Gamers
- Levels of Challenge
- Progressive goals
- Couch Potatoes
- Fitness Buffs
- Sports
- Interaction with others
A wide variety of fitness apps may be found at the following websites:
http://greatist.com/health/best-health-and-fitness-apps/
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=fitness+apps+on+mashable&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
3. Remember that apps don’t necessarily work for everyone; some people may still want the motivation and support of “real” people around them. But you can create your own motivation and support system by inviting your spouse, partner, family or friends to get the same app and encourage each other to reach their goals or have a friendly competition.
The world of apps is evolving rapidly, if you don’t find what works for you now, check back regularly and at some point, you may find something that works for you.
4. But, don’t just download or collect apps, you have to work the program to benefit from the app.
5. Then share your successes, challenges, motivation, experience, etc., in words or full color, on your favorite social media and motivate others to get started. But don’t forget to say you learned about it through Michigan State University Extension!
