Health and Fitness Apps Worth Downloading

I don’t know about you, but I am starting to get a little overwhelmed with the amount of apps we can download for our smart phones. From games to healthy recipe apps to fitness apps, there are just so many to chose from! With that being said, there are few mentioned below that I find very helpful for those looking to better their health, wellness and fitness.

1. Figwee Portion Explorer ($1.99)
   
   
   
   • You name any food and this app will show you the realistic and ideal portion for that particular food.  For example, if you were to type in apricots you’d have the choice of various apricot items (e.g., dried, fresh, in syrup).  From there, simply click and an actual picture of the food will show up.  Talk about managing portions through actual visuals!  Amazing! Great healthy recipe app!
   
   
   
   


2. MyFitnessPal (Free)
   
   
   
   • This app has a huge database of foods as well as making it easy to log physical activity.  Keeping track of your meals, snacks, beverages and exercise can be extremely helpful for those that want extra accountability, as well as recognizing certain daily or weekly patterns. This is hands down my favorite fitness app.
   
   
   
   


3. TED (Free)
   
   
   
   • Need a motivational talk? Trying to find what to listen to on a thermal walk?  Download the TED app so you can listen to wonderful TED talks.  If you haven’t heard of a TED talk then I would highly recommend watching Hilton Head Health’s TED talk—check it out:  Hilton Head Health TED Event.
   
   
   
   


4. Paprika Recipe Manager ($4.99)
   
   
   
   • This app is great for creating weekly meal plans and managing recipes found on the internet.  Yes, it is almost too good to be true.  For example, I found a smoothie that I really wanted to try on a particular website.  I downloaded the recipe (using the app) then added it to my “Sunday- Breakfast.”  Simple to use and the added bonus is that it helps you create a grocery list! Awesome!
   
   
   
   


5. Helium Video Booth Lite (Free)
   
   
   
   • At Hilton Head Health, we stress the importance of relieving stress and a having a  mind/body connection. This app is perfect for stress relief! It will completely feed your soul with laughter. Download this app and you will understand.  Once downloaded, practice on an employee that has a good sense of humor. ;)
   
   
   
   

We hope that you enjoy these great healthy recipe apps, fitness apps and health apps! Which one of these is your favorite?

5 Apps for Health and Fitness

Use your iPhone and Android phone for more than just chatting...

1.       RunKeeper – Rated as the best “App for Running” by O’Reilly Media.  This nifty GPS-powered running log tracks your location, providing pace, distance, and altitude info, even mapping your running route. RunKeeper syncs to the app's website, where you can analyze, chart, and share stats to your healthy heart's content. Because it relies on GPS, the app works only outside (sorry treadmill users), and iPhone limitations keep it from tracking your run in the background (you're on pause if the phone rings).

2.       CardioTrainer for Android – I personally have an Android powered phone so this is the App that I enjoying using on my runs.  CardioTrainer is a phenomenal tool for running. It tracks steps taken, miles traveled, pace, and calories burned. It also tracks your history through graphs or high scores, supports treadmills, provides voice notifications for progress, and plays music.

3.       Tap and Track  – If you’re looking for a comprehensive weight loss App - this is the one for you!  The Tap & Track app will allow you to keep track of your calories by calculating your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and finding the daily calorie needs of your body based on your gender, age, weight and height. The app also considers the type of occupation you are in and applies the very well-known Harris Benedict Equation while doing the calculations. The application features can be divided into 4 parts; Food, Exercise, Graphs and Report. You will find the app very easy and pleasant to use. You can find the food list, the exercises, the graphs and of course the final report by simply tapping the iPhone screen with your fingers.

4.       Nike+ GPS App - The Nike+ GPS App for iPhone will pull in data from the device’s accelerometer and GPS to give runners an effective, accurate and useful tool for getting in shape and staying motivated.  My favorite part of this App is the ability to receive “cheers” from your Facebook friends.  When you start a run it will post to your Facebook profile automatically and if someone comments on your post it will read the text to you while working out.  Very Cool!

5.       Lose It – This has been my most recommended App for weight loss.  It was the first user-friendly calorie-counting app for the iPhone, and it is free. The Lose It app from FitNow utilizes the Mifflin equation to determine what your daily calorie intake should be. You input your age, height, gender and current weight then choose your goal weight; Lose It tells you how many calories you can eat each day to meet this weight loss goal. Then your work begins.

 

What are your favorite Health and Fitness Apps on the iPhone or Android?