Staying motivated to exercise is something that challenges many of us. Even if we have the best intentions, life can sometimes get in the way, and finding the drive to stick with a fitness routine can feel difficult. Over the years, I’ve found that using the right tools and apps can make a significant difference. I’m going to share the apps I’ve found most helpful for staying motivated and consistent with my exercise goals. These apps offer more than just workout tracking; they bring accountability, variety, and encouragement—key ingredients for staying on track.
Table of Contents
Why Motivation Matters for Exercise
Motivation is at the heart of any fitness journey. Without it, it’s easy to fall off track, skip workouts, or lose sight of your goals. Motivation is what gets you moving, and it keeps you coming back day after day. For many people, motivation is what separates success from failure when it comes to exercise. However, it’s not always easy to maintain. Life gets busy, fatigue sets in, and we may even struggle with self-doubt.
That’s where the right fitness apps can play a crucial role. They can provide structure, encouragement, and a sense of community. Instead of relying solely on willpower, using apps can support you in staying committed to your goals. From tracking your progress to offering personalized workout plans, these tools can make your fitness journey smoother and more rewarding.
My Go-To Fitness Apps for Staying Motivated
Here are the apps I use to stay motivated to exercise, each offering different features that complement various aspects of fitness motivation.
1. MyFitnessPal
What it offers: MyFitnessPal is an app that helps you track your food intake and exercise. While it’s known primarily as a calorie-counting app, I’ve found it helpful for monitoring my progress in both nutrition and fitness. Logging food helps me stay accountable to my diet, while the exercise tracking feature helps me see how active I am.
Why I recommend it: For someone looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, keeping track of what I eat and how much I move has been key in sustaining motivation. The app helps me visualize my progress in terms of calories, macronutrients, and exercise minutes.
Comparison Table: MyFitnessPal vs. Other Apps
| Feature | MyFitnessPal | Fitbit App | Lose It! |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food tracking | Yes | No | Yes |
| Exercise tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Goal setting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Community support | Yes (limited) | Yes | Yes (limited) |
| Progress visualization | Yes (calories, nutrients) | Yes (steps, heart rate) | Yes (calories burned, weight loss) |
| Premium Features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2. Fitbit
What it offers: Fitbit is more than just a fitness tracker. It’s an app that pairs with their physical devices, such as watches and fitness bands, to track everything from steps to heart rate. It also monitors sleep patterns, which is essential for recovery.
Why I recommend it: If you prefer having a physical device to track your progress, I find that Fitbit’s watch provides instant feedback throughout the day. This constant reminder to move or keep active is crucial for maintaining motivation. The community aspect of the app, where you can join challenges and compete with friends, adds a fun social element that pushes me to stay on track.
3. Nike Training Club
What it offers: Nike Training Club provides free and premium workout plans, ranging from bodyweight routines to strength training. The app also offers programs tailored to different fitness levels and goals, from beginners to advanced users.
Why I recommend it: The variety in workout plans keeps things interesting. There’s always something new to try, and I never feel bored with the same routine. The app also offers 5-minute quick workouts, which have been incredibly helpful on busy days.
4. Strava
What it offers: Strava is perfect for those who love outdoor activities like running and cycling. It tracks your distance, pace, and elevation, and it creates a detailed record of each workout.
Why I recommend it: Strava makes exercising outdoors feel like a competitive game, even if you’re on your own. The app’s community features, where you can see your friends’ activities, push me to compete with others and keep my motivation up.
5. Aaptiv
What it offers: Aaptiv is a great option for those who enjoy guided audio workouts. The app offers personal trainers who guide you through a variety of workouts, including running, strength training, yoga, and stretching.
Why I recommend it: I find audio workouts motivating because I don’t have to look at a screen while exercising. Aaptiv’s guided workouts feel personal and direct, helping me focus on form and pushing myself to the next level.
6. Headspace
What it offers: While not a traditional fitness app, Headspace has been incredibly useful in helping me stay motivated by promoting mental wellness. It offers guided meditations and breathing exercises that can help me relax before a workout or recover afterward.
Why I recommend it: Mental clarity is just as important as physical strength when it comes to motivation. I use Headspace to get in the zone before a workout, helping me stay focused and calm during exercise.
7. 7 Minute Workout
What it offers: This app offers a quick and efficient workout routine that you can do at home or in a short time frame. It focuses on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with exercises like jumping jacks, push-ups, and squats.
Why I recommend it: For busy days, 7 Minute Workout is perfect. The quick routines can be done anytime and anywhere, and they keep me moving without taking up much of my day. I love that it challenges me in a short amount of time.
8. Sworkit
What it offers: Sworkit provides customizable workout routines that focus on strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching. It’s excellent for those who want flexibility in their exercise plans.
Why I recommend it: The app allows me to choose what type of workout I want to do based on the time I have and my current goals. I can tailor my sessions to my needs and switch up my routines often, which helps keep me motivated.
How I Stay Consistent Using These Apps
Consistency is key when it comes to exercise. The apps I use provide a structure that makes it easier for me to stick to my fitness routine. Here’s how I maintain consistency:
- Track Progress: By logging my workouts and food, I can see how much progress I’m making. This keeps me motivated to continue improving.
- Set Goals: Apps like Nike Training Club and Fitbit help me set achievable fitness goals, whether it’s walking 10,000 steps or completing a specific workout.
- Join Challenges: With apps like Fitbit and Strava, I can compete with friends and other users. This friendly competition is a huge motivator.
- Get Reminded: Notifications from MyFitnessPal or Fitbit encourage me to stay on track. Whether it’s a reminder to move or log my meals, these nudges keep me consistent.
Why Apps Are Essential for Motivation
What I’ve learned from using these apps is that motivation isn’t something that just happens. It’s something I have to work at, and these apps have been great tools to help me stay focused. They give me something to work toward, whether it’s a specific fitness goal, a challenge, or a personal milestone. The tracking, reminders, and community support ensure I stay engaged and motivated.
Conclusion
Staying motivated to exercise doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right tools, like the apps I’ve shared here, it becomes easier to stay consistent and achieve fitness goals. Each app brings something unique to the table, whether it’s workout plans, progress tracking, or mental health support. The key is to find the ones that fit your routine and lifestyle. For me, having a variety of apps in my fitness arsenal has made all the difference. They’ve helped me stay motivated, stay consistent, and most importantly, make exercise a regular part of my life.
By using the apps that resonate most with you and making a habit of tracking progress, you’ll find that motivation becomes easier to maintain, even on the toughest days. These tools help remind me of why I started and keep me moving forward, one workout at a time.
