The 5 Amazing Fitness Apps a Busy Malaysian Needs

Today, app developers are doing their very best to cater to the needs of people in this fairly fast-moving world. Whether you need a cab urgently, groceries delivered to your doorstep in a jiffy or even someone to take care of your housework for you instantly, you will be sure to find an app which could possibly solve your problem. People (myself included) are even putting their faith in mobile applications when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. Whoever thought that we would be receiving instructions from anything else other than another living, breathing human being? Sometimes I wonder if artificial intelligence would actually be the one doing all our workouts, cooking and brain-training games for us dictate our lives in the near future (movie to watch: Terminator).

We all know how difficult it is to motivate a human being of today who probably has other interests at heart (eg. playing video games, watching TV series’, having brunch with their girlfriends, etc.), to pick themselves up and give their body a good whipping into shape whether it be by working out physically, eating healthily or training the mind. Of course, we all know health-related apps do exist but I am going to save you the hassle of having to look for these apps. Take a look at these top fitness and health apps which would help you make good progress on your physical and mental health alongside maintaining healthy eating habits.

(Note that this list is presented in no particular order)

Nike+ Training Club

This is the very first fitness app I downloaded into my phone over two years ago and still remains with me till this day , because it is that good! The app has over 100 workouts developed by a Nike professional trainer and inspired by world-class athletes so you know for sure that the programs are legit. This app provides workout programs for those at beginners, intermediate and expert levels which range from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the intensity of your workout and also whether you’re choosing to lose weight, build strength, tone up, or target a specific part of the body. Each individual drill comes with a video and image tutorial, so worrying about not knowing the drill should be the least of your concerns. On a side note,  do keep in mind that workout gear does not have to be expensive to be comfortable. Get yourself inspired with these pieces for the ladies under RM100.

Available for free on iOS and Android

7 Minute Workout

It started off as a 7-minute exercise created by leading sports-medicine practitioners which turned out to be highly effective. The founder then created a desktop app so that everyone could have access to this workout for free. Due to popular demand, they created the 7-Minute Workout app for iOS and Android, which in turn received outstanding positive response. The 7-minute workout is as straightforward as it sounds. You will have a series of HIIT (high-intensity interval training) exercises to complete within 7 minutes which require no equipment whatsoever but which would require you to repeat the work out two to three times for quick results. This app is one you should try if your schedule is always packed full to the brim with little to no time for exercise.

C'mon guys, all it takes is 7-minutes!

Available for free on iOS and Android

Just Dance Now

If you’re not into repetitively boring exercise routines but still want to keep your body in shape, you should definitely try Just Dance Now. Derived from the original game Just Dance which was developed by Ubisoft for the Nintendo Wii, Just Dance Now gives users the ease of dancing anywhere as long as they have their smartphone in hand and a computer nearby. All you have to do is download the app for free, connect your phone to the screen and just dance to popular songs such as 99 Luftballons, Baby One More Time, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You and so many more. Dancing to these songs is not as easy as it may seem so bust a sweat! You get to choose from five fixed songs to dance to for free every day. If you want unlimited access to all 152 songs, purchase a VIP pass for only RM20.38/month and dance away! Check out the video for a clearer understanding of how the app works! 

Available for free on iOS and Android

Noom Coach

We humans can be a little ignorant when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet especially when there’s an abundant food selection in our homeland, Malaysia. A wide selection of food means consuming more food than usual, hence having to count our calories more often than usual and we all know how counting calories can be tedious and even difficult at times. This is where Noom Coach comes in. Noom Coach claims to be the world’s most powerful coach in your pocket which provides you with all-round customized support while on your journey to a healthier body. The app gives you a straightforward plan to follow. Once you’ve logged in your food intake, it calculates the amount of calories you have consumed and proposes easy changes for a healthier lifestyle. Noom Coach is free but for a fee, you can choose to join virtual support groups (RM41.40/month) and even get a personal coach (RM165.80/month) to assist you all the way!   

Available for free on iOS and Android

Duolingo

Learning something new once you’re done with school can be pretty intimidating to many. Despite the fact that many actually want to learn a new language, they barely ever seem to have the time to attend classes. Even if some did have the time, money would then be an issue. Duolingo is an app which teaches you how to read, write, speak and listen to the language of your choice through fun lessons which resemble games, all for free! Currently there are only about 13 languages which are available on Duolingo which includes Spanish, French, German and Dutch. This app has won a number of awards, among them were the iPhone App of the Year 2013 and Google’s Best of the Best 2013 and 2014. Now, you know that this app means business.

Available for free on iOS and Android

Now that you have a balance of exercise, healthy eating and an active mind, it would be best to put these apps to use right away if not now – all while saving money. Living a healthy lifestyle is not as expensive as people say it is. Well yes, unless you pledge yourself to a year’s membership fee at your local gym or eat organic kale every month then of course it will be. But why pay for all that when you can get free workouts, food diary planners and language classes all fit snugly in your pocket?

By Denise Goh
October 13, 2015 | Health & Beauty