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Get in Shape with These Five Fitness Apps for Your Apple Watch

May 9, 2015 06:39 PM

Dec 20, 2018 04:17 PM

Man flexing muscles next to a fitness smartwatch displaying calorie count.

With the high rate of obesity in the United States, it's fantastic to see the massive wave of fitness tools available, even if it's just a trend. And with the companionship of your Apple Watch, keeping track of your progress or fitness goals has never been easier. As my LA Fitness intercom repeatedly announces, "What gets measured gets improved." (Corny, but very true.)

While your Apple Watch does come with its own Activity and Workout apps, I'm going to show you some third-party fitness options that can help facilitate a healthier and more fit lifestyle overall.

MyFitnessPal: Diet Tracker

Like any fitness plan, one of the most vital yet overlooked aspects is your diet. Although keeping track of your food intake and calories can be difficult on your own, MyFitnessPal makes it simple. Using the companion app on your Watch, you can seamlessly glance at your progress (calories, nutrients, steps) and remain on track with your goals.

Calorie tracker showing 635 remaining and 865 consumed.

Nutritional information display showing fat, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat levels.

Step count on a fitness tracker showing 70 of 10,000 steps and 0 calories burned.

Install MyFitnessPal from the iOS App Store

RunKeeper: Running Companion

RunKeeper is not the only running Apple Watch app, but it is the most useful and well-implemented in my opinion. Using the iPhone app, just select your type of workout you want, then keep track of the pace and progress from your Watch. It's simple enough to just get up and go.

Running app icon with the text "Go Running"

Workout timer displaying time, distance, and pace.

2.25 Mile Workout timer display with a "Go Running" button.

Install RunKeeper from the iOS App Store

Fitstar Yoga: Personal Yoga Instructor

Led by yoga expert Tara Stiles, FitStar Yoga offers workout videos on your iPhone while allowing you to glance at your Watch to keep up with the positions and duration.

All Fours game session paused, 15 minutes and 27 seconds remaining.

Game difficulty setting options: Too Easy, Too Hard, Just Right.

Install FitStar Yoga from the iOS App Store

Six Pack: Washboard Abs

I've always wanted six-pack abs, but I'd settle for a two-pack at this point. Regardless of how many visible ab muscles you want, Six Pack is here to help you achieve your abdominal goals. With various ab workouts and a virtual trainer, Six Pack makes your ab workout easier to do at any level you prefer.

Workout app interface displaying Day 1 with duration, exercise details, and start button.

Crunch exercise demonstration in a workout app.

Media control buttons: Pause, Stop, Next.

Install Six Pack from the iOS App Store

Seven: A Quick Workout

One of the biggest inhibitors to working out and getting in shape is the time commitment involved. It can be difficult for many to find a time outside of work and home life to get to the gym or go for a run. Using Seven, all you need is a chair, a wall, and your own body weight. Get the benefits of working out in a short period of time.

Workout timer interface with start button and options for full body circuit.

Push-up exercise demonstration with timer.

Rest timer for workout session with next exercise preview.

Install Seven from the iOS App Store

These were just some of our favorites; let us know what you guys and girls recommend in the comments below.

Click here for more Apple Watch tips! And be sure to follow Apple Hacks on Facebook and Twitter, or Gadget Hacks over on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, for more Apple news, apps, and tricks.

Cover image via Shutterstock

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.