There are times when it's difficult to overcome our inner bastard. This is when we find it particularly difficult to motivate ourselves to do sport or to exercise actively and intentionally. Another hurdle, especially for beginners and those who want to get active again after a long break, is the level of knowledge. App stores offer a wide range of apps that come with many promises. We want to help you find the right app to help you overcome your inner couch potato. That's why we've tested various apps for you and give you our assessment here.
Would you like to fill the time you spend scrubbing your shared flat, cooking or driving to visit friends with meaningful content and at the same time take a closer look at the topic of exercise? We've listened to a few podcasts for you and tell you what we liked about them and who they are particularly suitable for. Maybe there's a good podcast tip for you too!
Apps
Adidas Runtastic Running App
Are you looking for an app to track your workouts? Then this might just be the one for you! It almost doesn't matter what sport you want to do. From martial arts, pole dancing, rowing or classic running. Depending on the sport, you can track the duration, calories burned and your heart rate (you will need accessories such as a fitness tracker for this).
If you opt for sports such as running or cycling, you can also record the distance you have covered and your speed at certain points. Afterwards, you can view the data collected from your completed training sessions in detail in a clearly laid out statistic and thus track your successes.
The Adidas Runtastic app is particularly suitable as a tracking app for active sports such as running or cycling, as you can collect a lot of data here. It is available for both iOS and Android and already offers a wide range of functions in its free version. However, if you want to use the full scope of the app, you will need a paid subscription. Here you can find it for Android, here for iOS.
Strava: Run & Ride training app
The Strava: Run & Ride Training app offers you the perfect way to track both your running training and your bike rides. Constant, continuous training leaves its mark. You can use the app to see exactly what these look like. Here you have an overview of your training success at all times. Share your successes with the community. For example, you can join regional groups or challenge yourself with challenges. That spurs you on! Not just you, but others too. Just like the adidas Runtastic Running app, Strava: Run & Ride Training offers the option to unlock additional features within the app through Subscription options. You can find the app for Android here and for iOS here.
Nike Training Club
With the Nike Training Club, you can find workouts that suit your fitness and skill level. With or without equipment, beginner or pro - the Nike Training Club has the right workout for everyone. The app includes 216 workouts, 120 of which can be done without equipment. It's all free of charge. You can also use the app to track your completed workouts in a history. The app is available for both iOS and Android. You can find it here.
Seven - 7 Minute Workout
7 minutes of training per day - this time for sustainable training can certainly be integrated into your daily routine. The workouts provided are based on scientific studies and are designed to achieve the greatest possible benefit in the shortest possible time. A particular advantage of the exercises in the app is that you don't need any additional equipment. Just you, your body weight and the app. You can set yourself a training goal in the app and get a little closer to your goal every day. The app is very clearly laid out and you can quickly find the right exercises for your workout. In the free version, you have to unlock new exercises by completing workouts. Like the other apps briefly presented so far, Seven - 7 Minutes Workout only offers the full range of functions for a subscription option. You can find the app for Android here and for iOS here.
BLACKROLL - Fascia & Fitness
You can get your body in shape with the BLACKROLL app. Especially through self-massage and exercises adapted to various pain symptoms, you can do something good for your body. In contrast to the other apps, you get the full functionality of the app for free. Well, almost. Because the BLACKROLL app is designed for the products developed and sold by BLACKROLL, such as fascia rolls and loop bands. They form the basis for the exercises available in the app. However, you can also perform the exercises with products from other manufacturers. You can download the app for both iOS and Android here.
Podcasts
Couch to 5k
Running from zero to five kilometers or 30 minutes at a stretch in nine weeks - that sounds pretty ambitious, doesn't it? The podcast from the National Health System (NHS) in the UK helps you to achieve exactly this goal. Over a total of nine weeks, you will gradually increase your... For all couch potatoes, the podcast provides just the right motivation to start running.
TRAINED
If you love exciting stories but are fed up with crime and thrillers, you can give this podcast a try. Because there are also many exciting stories about training, sport and achieving goals. In this podcast, Ryan Flaherty, Senior Director of Performance at Nike, interviews various personalities who have a lot to tell about their work and their lives. The podcast is in English. It is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The Fit Mind Theory
Do you want to know how you can achieve your goals in the best possible and, above all, sustainable way? Then The Fit Mind Theory by Keith Errington might be just the podcast for you. He explains the strategies he has already used to help over 100 people lead a more active life and successfully achieve their goals. Whether it will also help you to achieve your training goals... find out! The podcast is in English and you can listen to it on Spotify.
The fitness magazine
You don't have time to actively do sports right now, but still want to get to grips with the topic? The Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation's fitness magazine shows you how, when, where and with what you can best keep fit. You might even discover a new sport for yourself and get direct tips on how to get started. The podcast is in German and you can find it on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.