Three apps to improve your everyday fitness routine

Joseph Barbella Contributing Writer

The “freshman fifteen” can strike any time while you’re in college. Fortunately, there’s no better way to fight it off than with a phone app.

If you find yourself struggling to keep up with your fitness and weight goals, there are three apps that will help you get back on track while also making your workouts simple and fun.

1. FitStar Personal Trainer:

The app was created by former NFL star Tony Gonzalez. The app assesses your needs and fitness level by having you answer a set of questions at the end of your workout.

Based on your answers, the app offers ways to improve and modify the intensity of your future workouts. In this way, every workout is challenging but does not completely exhaust you. The personal trainer app works great for every type of person, from beginners to fitness professionals.

2. StrongLifts 5×5:

For those interested in weight lifting, this app might be just what you need. The app suggests that you should complete three exercises three times a week with 45 minutes per workout.

StrongLifts 5×5 shows you which exercise to do for each workout with how much weight and how long to rest in between sets.

All too often, people lift more than they can or are too quick to add more weight to their workout with out giving themselves enough rest time, which increases the likelihood of an injury.

Another important feature of the app is that it times breaks in between each set and signals when it is time to begin the next set. Since the app plans and walks you through your workout, it allows you to focus on lifting.

3. Zombies, Run!:

Developing a routine to walk, jog or run can often be the most challenging part of working out because people find these exercises boring and repetitive. With over one million players and growing, this popular app is changing the way people view running.

You choose a mission to complete and your instructions are read to you by the app. Once the zombies begin to chase you, you have to speed up to avoid them and stay alive. As you run, you will collect supplies to help keep you alive and build up your base.

The game allows you to feel like you’re in The Walking Dead, without actually having to kill zombies or fear for your life. The idea is that by hearing the zombies coming for you, your heart rate will increase and so will your pace. With over 200 missions to play there is no shortage motivation for your workouts.

No matter what your current level of fitness is, there are a variety of ways to improve and increase your fitness. FitStar Personal Trainer, StrongLifts 5×5 and Zombies, Run! are just a few examples of apps that allow you to work on training, weightlifting, walking, jogging and running.