The digital age gave birth to innovations that made life easier and much more entertaining. However, it has turned the fit into sloths and couch potatoes, munching on food while slumping in front of their gadget-occupied desks. But whoever said that gadgets and health don’t go together is totally wrong. Here’s a suit of Windows 8 and Windows Phone apps that will make you leave that crumb-filled couch and start losing abs in fun and engaging ways.
DAILY WORKOUTS (Free)
Don t have the time for that trip to the gym? Grab your Windows-powered phone and download Daily Workouts! It transforms your phone into a mobile personal trainer right in the palm of your hand. Upon opening the app, you’ll see a series of doable 5-to 10-minute daily workout routines made for both Becks and Posh. It also contains features such as video and timer that will guide you through every routine, just like that buff trainer at the gym.
WORKOUTS SCHEDULER (Free or Upgrade to Pro Version at USD 0.99)
If you are tired of the routinary jumping jacks and kick ball change, check out the Workouts Scheduler. The app is home to a wide collection of thousands of workouts with step-by-step instructions, graphic images, and exercise tips that are so easy to follow. You can even pick specic workouts for targeted regions of the body and those particularly made to sculpt your body type.
ALLRECIPES (Free)
Resist that urge to buy take out and instead grab your Windows-powered Phone and start preparing your own home cooked meals and feel proud about it. With the Allrecipes app that you can download for free on the Windows App Store, you’ll be able to cook that Ratatouille in no time! It contains a collection of mouth-watering recipes and allows you to narrow the wide collection of how-tos according to your dietary preferences.
RELAX MELODIES (Free or Upgrade to Premium Version at USD 2.99)
Feeling buzzed after that long afternoon nap? Stop counting sheep and download Relax Melodies on your Windows-run handset. This app lets you personalize and custom mix melodies from a selection of 41 sounds intended to induce relaxation and assist sleep. You will get the most personalized relaxation experience at a touch, letting you create that preferred melody to be in sync with your personality. There are ambient and binaural selections that you can choose from, whether it s time to hit the hay or simply just to give your brain and body the chill pill.
GYM POCKETGUIDE (Free)
Lose that unwanted weight that’s been keeping you from wearing that tight-fitted shirt. Gym PocketGuide allows you to lose fat, tone and build muscle, and find new exercises. There are more than 95 exercises and warmups in store for users along with images, videos, and step-by-step guides that are easy to follow and keep up for everyday use.
HEART RATE (Free)
The Heart Rate app for Windows Phone 8 gets you into the habit of measuring your heart beat regularly. By pressing the top of your index finger on the camera, you can have your heart rate measured anytime, anywhere. Each of your readings can be saved along with a short note so you can keep track of when and where you have taken them.
IFOOD.TV RECIPE VIDEOS (Free)
iFood.tv is a good app, whether you are pursuing a diet that is high in protein, low in fat, or low in calories. It offers more than 50,000 video recipes, which can be altered to match your taste, allowing you to easily locate healthy recipes that are very simple to cook.
WEIGHT & BMI TRACKER (Free)
You can easily track your weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) with the Weight and BMI Tracker app by Dr. Albert Smolyar, M.D. The app tracks your BMI all-year-round using charts and trends, and also gives you useful tips and advice that will definitely help you keep in shape.
GYM GUIDE (Free)
Carrying the biggest workout encyclopedia in your hands is effortless with the Gym Guide app. It contains 804 exercises and stretches that are all accompanied with high quality images, videos, and step-by-step guides. You can also follow the videos to lose fat, build muscle, and try new exercises.
BALLSTRIKE (Free)
BallStrike is an augmented reality fitness game that makes working out fun. It uses the latest technology to keep you in shape. Simply stand in front of your computer’s camera to start burning calories. The goal is to make the balls explode by doing some twisting, turning, kicking, hitting, and a little bit of jumping. The app also gives you the option to share the best photos of your workout.
Go ahead and start cooking up some healthy recipes, trying out new workouts, and playing fun, interactive games that will definitely keep you in great shape! Let your Windows device be your new fitness coach, training companion, or health guru. The best part is, you don’t even need to spend a lot!
First published in Gadgets Magazine, October 2013
Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos & Janelle M. Bustilla