Fitness apps are growing in popularity, and for good reasons. They’re convenient to use, are designed to help you stay on track, and take away the difficulty of making decisions about your workout each day. You just log in daily, do what you’re told to do, and (hopefully) start to see results over time. Plus, most of them are very affordable for almost anyone. Sounds great, right?
But of course, there are a few drawbacks you should know about. Most of these can be addressed and remedied, but you definitely should make a plan to use your fitness apps wisely in light of these potential problems.
The app drains your phone battery. Even for those who love fitness apps, battery drain is a very real obstacle. You will have to remember to charge up your phone completely before starting a workout. It might also help to turn off other apps while you’re exercising. As a last resort, carry a small, portable battery pack with you on longer workouts like hikes.
Logging your meals feels tedious. Many fitness apps include sections to log your meals, but these features aren’t always easy to use. It might help to view this capability as a teaching tool, to help you learn about portion sizes and calories. Over time you will become an expert and you might not need to log every single bite at that point.
,GPS will sometimes malfunction. Occasionally, your phone’s GPS function can go haywire. This can lead to imprecise measurements regarding your mileage and calories burned. One workaround is to simply use the same route each day, so that you already know your mileage. Then, if your app miscalculates something, you can adjust it in your head.
Some apps just aren’t that motivating. If you’ve chosen a game-based fitness app, you might feel very motivated by the rewards at first. But over time, the game structure can feel monotonous. The real trick to using fitness apps is to use the parts that help you, and ignore the rest. Your health should be your true motivation.
For more help with finding your motivation, calculating calories, and anything else regarding your fitness or weight loss plan, give us a call. We can help you devise a strategy to reach your own personal best.
