You Don’t Have To Face Fitness Resolutions Alone: 5 Apps That Help You Work It Out

If the thought of heading to the gym where it might reek of body odor like the cellars at the coliseum in the heyday of gladiators, where you inevitably end up in a standoff with a huffy, tiny woman in yoga pants who thinks you’ve spent enough time on the treadmill makes you shudder, maybe you’d prefer to fulfill your New Year’s fitness resolution at home. But that ain’t easy, either, which is why a slew of apps on the market are offering to help.

Over at our sister magazine ShopSmart, the savvy editors know how you feel when faced with slugging it out at the gym or trying to stick to a routine at home. Neither option is easy, says ShopSmart’s editor-in-chief Lisa Lee Freeman.

“Sticking to fitness goals can be a challenge,” she explained. “Having access to workout guides on a smartphone can help you stay on track no matter where you are.”

There are plenty of apps out there but why wade through them when the work’s already been done? Here are five ShopSmart has deemed worthy of helping with your workout resolutions:

CrossFit Travel is designed to help users stay on course while on the road. All workouts (aside from running) are designed for small spaces, such as a hotel room or bedroom. The app includes more than 120 Workouts of the Day that can be tailored to users’ preferences. Works on Android, $2.

Daily Arm Workout can help users tone up. Like the Daily Butt, Cardio, and Leg Workout apps, Daily Arm Workout is loaded with video instructions for easy-to-follow moves to tone a particular body part that needs attention. Users can get fit anywhere as each app has short routines that require little or no equipment. Works on Apple and Android, free (pay $1 for more exercises and no ads).

C25K stands for couch to 5 kilometers, and its aim is to help novices get ready for a race in eight weeks. The easy-to-follow training plan has voice alerts that tell users when to warm up, walk, run, and cool down, and tells when to give it the final push. Works on Apple and Android, free (pay $2 for more exercises and no ads).

Kettlebell Training: The Basics is an inexpensive alternative to a certified personal trainer who specializes in kettlebells. This app will show users how to work those heavy little balls instead of lifting traditional barbell-type weights. First-times can start out with the Kettlebell Safety video. Works on Apple, $2.

Pocket Yoga offers 27 yoga sessions for busy people who want to stretch and de-stress. Voice and video instructions guide users through every pose as if in a class. This app also contains 145 illustrated poses so users can check form and track progress. Works on Apple and Android, $3.

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