Are your current workouts making you feel like you’re in a rut? Find yourself doing the same routine and sometimes not following through, because you’re bored? Having a different gym or workout routine because of a variety of reasons (travel, having recently moved, pandemic, shifts in health, and more) can definitely put a damper on a fitness routine. Luckily, a little bit of creativity and help from resources like free or low-cost apps and fitness influencers/bloggers can help keep your routine varied and help you stay fit and motivated.
Gold’s AMP
This app, by country-wide gym Gold’s Gym, contains more than 600 cardio and strength workouts with audio and video guidance. In addition to weighted strength workouts and cardio machine-specific routines (awesome for those with a treadmill, elliptical, or exercise bike at home!), there’s also a section for bodyweight-only workouts. You can even work on some stretching and meditation.
The app is usually free for gym members or $10 per month for non-members. This brings up the point that you should check with your gym, if you’re already enrolled somewhere, to see if there is any offer for an app or online workouts.
Tone It Up
This app lets you choose from hundreds of workouts (many of which are bodyweight-only), or you can follow a specific program built around specific goals. They’ve even got some postnatal content that’s great for new parents.
$15 per month.
Yoga for Beginners
Looking to start a yoga practice but not sure how to jump in? This app is a great place for beginner-friendly workouts, which are divided into three types of yoga: vinyasa, hatha, and restorative. Each video takes you through the poses and breath work to help you learn and develop your practice. This app is free.
Map My Fitness by Under Armour
This app lets you choose from some preset workouts, but it’s really the most useful for people who want to create their own workouts. You can completely build your own routine from its library of more than 800 moves, track your weight/set/rep progress, and share it with others. It also syncs with most fitness wearables and connects to MyFitnessPal, so you can combine all your data for a more comprehensive look at your stats. This app is free.
Fitness Bloggers to Follow
Tally Rye
Tally Rye is a group fitness instructor that is “an anti-diet weight inclusive PT, who focuses on the mental and physical benefits of exercise.” She’s a firm believer in moving your body because you love it, rather than as a form of punishment. Like her post that we shared above, what Tally encourages people to do is listen to their body- but also stay active. You’ll find posts about general self care, adjusting mindsets to promote continued wellness, fitness tips from guest bloggers, and much more.
Massy Arias
Arias is one of the biggest names in fitness and has built her huge following from inspiring people to persevere, work hard, and not give up when they face obstacles. She’s also a huge advocate for not focusing on aesthetics and fitness as a way to maintain wellness and promote health.
Susan Niebergall
A diamond in the rough- Niebergall is one of a few fitness influencers that is over 30 years old. What we love about her: she doesn’t see age as any sort of limitation and supports her followers to achieve fitness, wellness, and strength regardless of age, physical restriction, or ability. Niebergall shares general fitness info, how to break through fitness ruts, how to work around common limitations (like “cranky elbows”), and more.
James Stirling
James’ posts are fantastic because many of them focus on at-home workouts with little or no equipment. Don’t be intimidated by the looks of some of his workouts- they can all be modified for any level of fitness (slow down the movement, simlify the combination, etc).
Jessie Diaz
Diaz-Herrera is a dancer, yogi, and staunch advocate of exercise being for all body shapes and sizes. Diaz focuses on making fitness fun; she shares fitness inspiration, cooking tips to supplement any fitness plan, and also encourages people to include fitness in their lives not only because of the physical benefits, but because of the confidence boost it provides (and who couldn’t use an extra pep in their step!?).
These are just a few options that can help keep your fitness routine varied and fun. Don’t forget to check out out the exercise ideas I share every Tuesday for additional fitness inspiration and motivation!
Please check with your provider before starting any new exercise regimen.
-self.com/gallery/free-fitness-apps-home-workouts
-insider.com/best-fitness-influencers-to-follow-on-instagram-in-2020-1#katie-crewe-37
-shape.com/fitness/shape-best-blogger-awards-top-20-blogs-fitness-junkies