The photography is by Elvina Farkas and the styling is by Yong Wei Jian. This image first appeared in Men’s Folio Singapore’s June/July 2018 issue.
You might be surprised to learn that when it comes to exercise, the most valuable piece of gadget you need is right in your pocket. Today, your smartphone gives you access to tonnes of applications on a range of different workouts, from customisable high intensity interval training (HIIT) and Crossfit to on-demand videos for strength training sessions as well as yoga and pilates.
No matter if you’re trying to trim down, bulk up or simply for the sake of self-comforting, they will see to your health needs. Here are our picks of the best apps that will assist you on the road to a better and healthier self.
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Best For Cardio — Nike+ Training Club
One of the most polished mobile fitness platforms around is created by the world-renowned maker of all things sporty — Nike. Nike+ Training Club offers over 180 routines and exclusive content from top trainers as well as major athletes in the sports world, including Serena Williams and Cristiano Ronaldo.
This free, no-strings-attached App lets you get major burn-in from quick sessions to 45 minutes classes, classified by activity ranging from yoga, running, weights and many more. Upon registration, you will be asked a few questions relating on your health and fitness. The information will then be used to recommend a few initial workout regimes and possible activities that you can pick up to achieve your targets.
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Best For Strength — Motion Traxx: HITT Workouts
This is perfect for those who prefer audio over visual coaching. Motion Traxx: HIIT Workouts focus on HIIT that are personalised by world-class trainers and can be done at the gym or in the comfort of your own home.
Each activity is thoroughly guided by an audio coach along with high energy dance music designed to motivate and set the perfect intensity for every phase of your workout. Not just that, this App is also equipped with an easy-to-read visual progress timer along with interval graph tracking system which makes monitoring your achievement a lot easier.
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Best For Nutrition Plans — Myfitnesspal
It’s great that you’re keeping up to your fitness routine but bear in mind that food intake plays a major role in getting you in shape too. This calorie tracking App calculates your ideal calorie intake based on your current weight, your daily activities and exercises, and the weight that you want to achieve.
It also offers a huge library of food items so you can key in your meals in an instant. In addition, you can also detect the calorie contents of almost all packaged foods by simply scanning the barcodes.
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Best For Meditation — Headspace
After all the hurdles that you have faced during the day, you deserve a good night’s sleep. Headspace is a meditation App that helps you sleep like a baby. The free version comes with a feature called “sleepcasts” that functions like your personal bedtime stories.
It provides about 50-minute long audio experiences that help you visualise calming experiences, like a slow-moving train or a walk-through a garden. Upgrade to the paid version for access to other 40 themed meditation courses and music options.
This story first appeared in the Malaysian version of www.mens-folio.com.
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