There's an App for That!
How students are using mobile apps to manage their fitness and nutrition.
By Anna-Marie Jaeschke, Graduate Student, Temple Univeristy, College of Health Professions
Keeping weight gain at bay and staying in peak physical shape are high priorities for many students. Life would be easier if you had your personal trainer, nutritionist, and wellness coach in a place as accessible as your mobile phone. And now a wide range of apps for smartphones lets you do just that. Fitness and nutrition tools are among the most popular apps, ranking among Angry Birds and Words With Friends.
“Smartphone apps can tap into a busy student’s lifestyle by providing a convenient way to find exercises to fit their lifestyle,” says Allison Ives, a weight loss specialist in Rockville, Maryland, with a master’s in sport psychology. “Goal-setting is vital to achieving fitness goals; students benefit from seeing feedback and tangible progress using these apps.”
The capability to enter in what you eat, see caloric intake and nutritional value, and get healthier options allows for easy monitoring of what you eat. Studies have shown that just keeping track of what we consume can lead to better weight management through boosting self-awareness. Alicia Johnson, a graduate student at Springfield College in Massachusetts, likes the Calorie Counter from MyFitnessPal. “It’s quite comprehensive, has a huge food database, allows you to enter everything and automatically calculates how many more calories you have left to consume for that day.”
According to Dr. Melissa Napolitano, associate professor of both kinesiology and public health at Temple University and a clinical psychologist for the Center for Obesity Research and Education in Philadelphia, “We know that successful weight loss requires constant vigilance and diligence in terms of consistent self-monitoring. Smartphone apps and other technology are the wave of the future for weight-loss programming.”
With so many options, how can students decide which apps are the best for them? One great aspect is that many great apps are free. If you want more out of your app, many have upgraded versions available for $0.99 to $3.99. To guide you, here are some of the most popular fitness and nutrition apps, weighed in on and tested by college students.
Fooducate: Making a whole new adventure out of grocery shopping, this app allows you to scan barcodes or enter foods to be graded. See the food’s highlights (the good and the bad), and compare products to recommended healthier alternatives. One student reported: “The first time I used this app, I scanned everything in my cupboard! I was shocked at what I was eating, but so thankful for the healthier suggestions. I now scan most things when I buy them. It’s so convenient, since I always have my phone on me.”
Lose It!: This very popular app has an extensive database of foods and exercises, as well as options to export information to Facebook, get support or healthy competition from friends, and easily back up all your info online.
MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker: This app is the gold standard among calorie counters, boasting over a million available foods in their database, including fast food and restaurant items. Fitness-wise, this app also holds over 350 exercises and the opportunity to connect with friends and monitor success through easily accessible reports. Jon Walker, a student at Florida State University in Tallahassee, says, “Calorie counters are handy because they have a built-in list of foods that I could select in order to track my food intake.”
RunKeeper: This app tracks where you run and your pace through GPS technology in your phone. Also, you have the option to get audio feedback based on time or distance. Marissa Bacino, a law student at West Virginia University in Morgantown, says, “I like RunKeeper; it tracks distance, time, and calories for just about any activity. It also gives you points for working out. You can redeem the points for gift cards. It’s a little extra incentive to be active.”
iMapMyRUN/iMapMyRIDE: Similar to RunKeeper, this app also has the GPS feature and logs where you go on your run or bike ride. The feature to locate and use established routes sets it apart from similar apps. For more options, there is also an iMapMyHIKE, iMapMyWALK, and iMapMyFITNESS. Travis Manger, a student and avid cyclist at Temple University in Philadelphia, enjoys the iMapMyRIDE app. “I can set up the app and store my phone safely in my cycling jersey,” he says. “It keeps track of how far I go without having to plan my route ahead of time. Then it tells me where I went, speed, calories, etc. It’s really easy to use and convenient.”
GymGoal ABC: This app keeps the gym-goer occupied. It features 280 exercises, with animations, instructions, and performance tips to optimize your workout. There are also more than 50 optional complete workouts adjusted for level and equipment type. It promotes measurable progress through calculating one-repetition maximum (the maximum amount of weight someone can lift in one repetition), BMI, body fat percentage, and target heart rate.
Nike Training Club: Not just for those that favor fancy brand names, this app is inspired by world-class athletes and developed by professional trainers from Nike. Nike Training Club includes over 60 custom workouts, with celebrity reward workouts to work up to. Audio directions from a trainer help guide you throughout the challenging and detailed routines, which can be done in a short time with limited exercise equipment.
What does the future hold for smartphone apps? App usage is on the upswing with constantly advancing technology. Developers will continue to design new and innovative ways to make college students’ lives easier and healthier. So stop texting and start flexing. Put down that donut and pick up your phone to find a healthier option. Better fitness and nutrition can be right at your fingertips.
ANNA-MARIE JAESCHKE IS A SECOND YEAR MASTER'S STUDENT IN EXERCISE AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGY AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY IN PHILADELPHIA. SHE ENJOYS RUNNING, COOKING, TRAVELING, DOWNLOADING NEW APPS, AND A GOOD PHILLY CHEESE STEAK.
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