A Personal Trainer's Top 6 Fitness Apps

Technology is taking over the fitness industry, from phones that can measure your heart rate to apps that send you push notifications when you haven't worked out in a few days. Plus, loads of personal trainers and gyms are developing their own apps to be incorporated into their classes (while collecting data on your workouts so they can personalise your training sessions!) But until those hit the scene, here are some of my favourite ways to incorporate technology into your workouts…

1. Endomondo

There are LOADS of distance-tracking apps on the market that record your runs, walks or cycling sessions, but this one is unique in that it uses "community features" to help keep you motivated – you can receive (and send) real-time audio pep talks from friends or race against a friend's training times. If you're not into gloating, you can just use it as a simple tracker to calculate distance and pace (but that's not as much fun, is it?) It can also connect and sync to other fitness-tracking devices, like Garmin sports watches. Free, iTunes and Android

2. Moves 

This free app helps you track your daily movement – whether you ran, walked, cycled or sat on your bum all day, and mostly it's brilliant because it requires almost no effort! There's no need to enter data or wear a movement tracker – just carry your phone with you and it monitors your progress! Free, iTunes and Android

FYI: If you have the new iOS 8 for your iPhone, you don't even need an app to do all this – the new built in Health app clocks your steps, distance and even flights of stairs climbed right from your handbag, no effort and no app required. Genius!

3. Strava

Bringing an element of competition to solo riding (both bike and run versions are available), Strava tracks your progress and pace, but ALSO allows you to compete virtually with other racers who have completed the same segment of road or path you're on. If you're competitive, it's perfect. But even if you don't care about beating other people's PB's, it's also a good way to discover new routes and rides near you. Free, iTunes and Android

4. Yoga studio

With the popularity of high intensity interval training and heavy duty weight lifting, it's important that you give those  hard-working muscles a good, long stretch. This yoga app offers more than 30 different classes, catered to all different experience levels and body issues – there are specific classes for those with back problems, for instance. The poses are explained really well, and you also can use your own music via other apps while you get bendy. £2.99 in iTunes

5. My Fitness Pal

If you're looking to keep an eye on what you're eating, this easy-to-use app is my favourite. It encourages you to record each meal, opening your eyes to your daily calorie intake, as well as how many calories you're actually burning during exercise. It also breaks down the nutrient content of your food, so you can see if you're hitting your targets for important vitamins and minerals, too. I found this made my meal planning more sensible but also kept me relaxed about eating, as I knew the calories could be balanced across the day with activity. The simple layout makes it a doddle to use, too. Free, iTunes and Android

6. Zombies, Run!

This nifty little app turns a running regime into a fun (if not slightly terrifying) game. Put your headphones in, start running and the audio takes you into a mad world where ravenous zombies rule the town and you are on the menu. Warning! They might eat you! There are 21 game scenarios and they do half-hour-long interval training sessions where you get encouragement to run faster and faster. Finishing each run makes you feel like a legend. £2.99, iTunes and Android

Jamie Lloyd is a Health and Fitness Coach based in London. He is available for private coaching, nutrition coaching and group fitness training.