Let’s chat about exercise, shall we?
Here’s the abridged version of my history with exercise apps and websites.
I’ve used RunKeeper on and off for a few years to keep track of my walks and elliptical workouts.
Same with the Couch to 10K app, but only for the cool down stretches.
I once had a Fitbit One, but lost it in a dressing room or something.
I then broke down and bought a Misfit Shine because the design wasn’t half bad, but I never wore it because it looks like a watch, and I already wear a watch, people.
You guys, I would like to find a way to keep myself motivated to exercise during the week. Tell me, what apps or products do you use for your workouts? Do you count steps? Part of an online group? What about the Nike apps? Do you compete against others online? I’m really interested in the community aspect…
What keeps you motivated to workout again and again and again? How do you stay accountable? Because, at the moment, my good intentions aren’t hacking it.
Djuna osborne
May 4, 2015 at 10:27 amDownload the “7 minutes” app. It’s free and body transforming. Everyone has 7 minutes, right?
Roxanna
May 4, 2015 at 10:32 amif anyone has an app that takes you through the machines at the gym, I will love you forever.
suz
May 4, 2015 at 10:35 amI have a Fitbit and find that competing against friends through their app works for me. I join every challenge I’m invited to and have initiated a few.
Hillary
May 4, 2015 at 10:37 amI’ve run into similar issues with exercise. I need the accountability and community aspect to keep myself motivated. I got so desperate in January that when a friend who is a Beachbody coach recommended I try the 21-day fix, I caved. Anything with the word “beachbody” attached to it isn’t really my style, you know? But I was so unhappy with myself and my body that I would try anything. I’m so glad I did. I LOVE it*. My coach has a Facebook group and only people who are part of the fix are included. We swap recipes, we post cheesy motivational sayings, we check in with each other and it totally works for me. The other thing I find helpful? An old school paper calendar hanging in my kitchen. I see it every day. And every day that I work out, I get to put a giant red X on the calendar. Seeing my red Xs (or lack of Xs) motivates me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
*The 21-day fix consists of exercise videos, nutritional shakes, and an eating plan. I LOVE the exercise aspect. I find the shakes barfy and expensive. And the eating plan is interesting but makes me twitchy because where are the carbs and sugar? (I’ll get there one day.)
Christina
May 5, 2015 at 9:46 amHillary, this is me EXACTLY! The name “beachbody” makes me want to die a slow death, I think shakeology is kind of gross, and I LOVE the 21DF. Love love love. The FB group aspect has been awesome for me, despite me not being a very warm/fuzzy/rah-rah/you-go-girl kind of lady. We’re all just doing our best and trying to lose some weight and get in shape, and it’s great to have people to exchange ideas and successes and complaints with! I did about 3 really serious rounds of 21DF, and lost about 12 pounds and two pant sizes (hello, building muscle and shedding fat)! I’ve since done a couple more lighter rounds (just not as strict with myself) to keep myself from going off the rails during busy/high stress periods of life, and I’ve also picked up P90, which I love. Lower impact than P90X and its subsequent programs, but still high-energy and a damn good workout. I’m back doing the 21DF right now (on day 9), and then I’m going to go back to P90. I use the 21DF nutrition plan going regardless of which workout plan I’m doing.
With both 21DF and P90, I think a huge help is that there is no figuring out where and how to workout, it’s all laid out for me. Oh, it’s Tuesday? Then it’s upper body day. Thursday? Pilates. I just turn on my workout and GO, and 30-35 minutes later, I’m done.
One more thing – I do really love the 21DF nutrition plan. BUT, since I’m not looking to get competition-ready or anything, I am more lenient with the carbs. I let myself use one of my yellow containers each day for an “unapproved” carb (about 150 calories worth – so, calorically, it’s an even trade with something like brown rice, even if it’s not a “clean” food) – some chips with lunch, granola in my yogurt, a handful of PB pretzels as a snack, etc. I also give myself about 100 calories a day for sweets… some chocolate after dinner, a bit of ice cream. I still see great results, and those little “cheats” help keep me on track without losing my mind.
Angela
May 4, 2015 at 10:46 amI am a runner and one of the things that keeps me motivated is to sign up for races, whether is a 5-K, 10-K or half-marathon. I am more committed to stick to my runs/workouts when I have a specific goal to train towards. I also have a training journal where I keep track of my workouts. This training journal by Lauren Fleshman (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937715280) is fantastic! It’s an old-fashion journal, but writing down on an actual piece of paper works better for me that keeping track of my workouts on an app on my phone.
Lastly, I like to follow hard-core/serious runners on Instagram. When I see the photos of them working out looking super fit or photos of their Garmin watches summarizing their workouts (distance, pace, etc.) it reminds me that I need to get out there and it also pushes me to challenge myself more (run faster, longer).
Mina
May 4, 2015 at 10:55 amApps don’t keep me motivated, my personality does, lol. I use Map My Run just to log my workouts. I hate seeing a week with less workouts or miles than the previous week. Does that make sense? It’s the OCD/Type A part of me that keeps me motivated :-)
Mina
Maggie
May 4, 2015 at 11:03 amI’m part of an accountability group on Facebook. I’m from a very small town and we all know each other, so it’s great at keeping me motivated because they aren’t strangers that I never see. The people in the group truly are the biggest encouragers and are my inspiration. I also go to Bootcamp twice a week – paying in advance keeps me motivated to get my money’s worth!
Karen
May 4, 2015 at 11:04 amI am a runner as well and agree with what Angela said above that registering for races is the best way to stay motivated. I never thought I could run more than 7 miles and once I signed up for a half marathon, I HAD to run more. I just completed my last training run of 13.2 miles, 2 weeks before the big race.
When I started to run, I used the Couch to 5K app to motivate me. And it really helped to watch my progress.
My best advice is to find people to work out with weekly because they will keep you motivated and accountable. And go for a coffee after your workout. That’s always my favorite part!! On the days where I don’t want to work out, I tell myself that I just have to get through the workout to get that coffee time/ catch up with friends.
Heather
May 4, 2015 at 11:26 amI have a similar problem. The one thing I like to do is tell my husband I’m going to work out. We both work full time, so we have to do a little bit of planning around it and that is really helpful. If I arrange for him to keep track of the kiddos, I get my time and vice versa. I do try taking the kids in the stroller. They are at the age now (3 year old twins) that they like it and are actually pretty good motivators. When I start to walk, they always tell me to keep running :). I also follow elite runners and athletes on instagram and FB. That is helpful. I like the 7 minutes app. I would like the Apple Health app if it worked on a regular basis. I’ve also read that after you do something for three weeks, it becomes a habit. So if you could decide to workout x number of times for three weeks, then maybe it will feel more like part of your day instead of something you’re adding in. The three week mark is a good goal and not too big that it feels insurmountable. I also think making smaller, manageable changes goes a long way. Don’t try to start working out an hour a day or something cray cray like that.
Sarah
May 4, 2015 at 11:34 ami used my fitness pal these past few months to lose weight and track my exercise. it was highly motivational to me to be able to enter my food, enter my workouts, and feel like I had control over losing weight… and I lost 18 pounds!
-Emily
May 4, 2015 at 12:26 pmI used dietbet to help me lose weight for my wedding. Now I use human to motivate me to move. I’ve used zombie run in the past because it’s super fun.
Claire
May 4, 2015 at 12:34 pmI have a lot of trouble motivating myself to run, but I started a 5k training with the Coach function in the Nike+ Running app, and it is working so far. The key is that it checks off my runs for me, so if I don’t run, I can’t fudge the checking off. It can be a little tricky when my week isn’t as flexible, and it does annoy me that their training plan has you doing multiple 4 and 5 mile runs when you’re just training for a 5k, but I do feel the pressure to check things off that keeps me to plan.
Bonnie C
May 4, 2015 at 1:01 pmI use an app called Argus on my iPhone. It’s a food & exercise diary, step tracker, etc with a built-in community function – which as a rabid introvert, I don’t use. :) I really like it for being able to keep track of everything in one place and it’s pretty to boot. There is a built in coach, I think, but again, I don’t use it for that. Good luck!
Megan
May 4, 2015 at 1:49 pmI like the seven minute workout apps – there are several of them. The only thing that keeps me accountable long term is some sort of group check in. I’m thinking of doing a Diet Bet to get myself back into the habit of working out/eating less junk.
Carla HInkle
May 4, 2015 at 3:06 pmI find the Nike running app to be wildly inaccurate on mileage. The GPS just can’t get a strong signal or something. Runkeeper is much more accurate IME.
Megan
May 4, 2015 at 3:47 pmMy exercise game is really a game of getting up on time in the morning. If I don’t get up early before work, when I have the time to work out, I’m not going to work out. Something about having a dedicated time + making a game out of getting out of bed at 5:15am makes getting up kind of fun…and if I’m out of bed at 5:15am, I just will work out. I don’t know. So, I guess my app is called Hack My Own Psychology. And I use my iphone as an alarm.