Fitness Apps for Staying Fit While Traveling
I’ve written about why I don’t take time off from my workout routine while traveling and I’ve also posted some of my tips for fitness on the road, but recently I’ve gotten a lot of requests for the fitness apps I like to use. So, here are some of my go-to fitness apps, along with some workout suggestions.
H-I-I-T Timer
H-I-I-T Timer is my go-to timer app. It has several different interval settings such as:
Tabata style – 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest in sets of 8.
Push-Pause training – 30-10-10 seconds intervals for 6 minutes and 10 seconds., meaning you work for 30 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, work for 10 seconds, then repeat.
Superset Interval – 2 minutes of work, short break, then repeat for a total of 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
I like this app because I can pick the type of interval I want to do and insert whatever exercises I’d like. I’m able to choose the difficulty level and also adjust my exercises to my surroundings. So, if I’m in a park with decent grass, maybe I’ll incorporate some exercises that involve being on the ground, whereas if I’m on concrete or somewhere that probably hasn’t been mopped recently, I’ll stick to moves that keep me upright.
One of my favorite things about this app is you don’t need to be connected to WiFi to use it. It’s just a timer, so you can use it anywhere, which comes in handy when I’m outside without data or just in an area with sketchy connection.
If you’re not sure what moves to use with this app, I recommend mixing and matching cardio and strength moves. Here’s an example set:
Ta-ba-ta!
Obviously, this app also works off the Tabata interval of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. This fitness app is great for anyone who doesn’t want to do any workout planning or thinking. An angry Japanese cartoon 
will yell at you and tell you exactly what to do and when. He’ll also play you some intense drums that kind of make you feel like if you don’t work, you or your phone might explode. If you like that sort of
encouragement, this angry little guy is for you.
My main issue with this app is that I don’t feel like it offers enough cardio moves to get my heart rate up. The moves are generally more strength-based so whenever I use this app, I pair the workout with something more cardio-intensive as well.
7 Minutes
There’s this whole scientific theory that, if your workout is properly set up, 7 minutes of work could amount to a “complete” workout. I’m skeptical, but I do like efficient workouts, so I use this app when I’m in a hurry. I actually used it to do a workout in an airport once. People were staring, but whatever, I had a long flight to Lond
on ahead of me, so I needed to get my blood flowing somehow.
This app will guide you through 12 exercises that last for 30 seconds each. You’ll get a 10 second rest between each move.
Again, I don’t think 7 minutes is nearly enough work to count as your workout for the day, but you can always pair this with other workouts, do several 7 minute intervals (there are few variations of the workout included in the free version of the app) or just use this short workout as your “better than nothing!” option.
Bonus fitness app for when you’re not on the road: Move
Unlike other fitness apps, this app is designed to stretch out your movement throughout the day. The app al
lows you to set up alerts every 30, 45, or 60 minutes during a set period of time (like 9-5). Every time the app chimes, it will tell you what exercise to do and for how long/how many reps, such as 20 jumping jacks, 90 seconds of chair pose, 30 squats, etc. If you’re not into the exercise it’s asking for, you can just swipe left and it will generate a new suggestion. Once you complete the exercise, you hit “I did it” and it adds the exercise to your “Completed” list. I wouldn’t take the burned calories too seriously as the app never asks for your height or weight, so the calorie burn calculation is probably wildly inaccurate. I don’t use this app as a workout, it’s just a way to keep my blood flowing during my work day. If you don’t work from home, there is an in-app purchase for an “office version” that is supposed to give you workouts that can be done discretely so your coworkers won’t think you’re a weirdo. There are also “stretch” and “yoga” in-app purchases for those of you looking to take it a bit easier. I only use the free version, so I’m not sure what exercises the in-app purchases include, but all of them are only 99 cents so they might be worth a try.
Fitness apps make fitness on the road simple and affordable
In the past, I’ve paid for week-long gym passes or drop-in classes, but it’s rarely worth my money. Personally, I like to work out alone anyway, so these fitness apps make it easier for me to hole up in my hotel room or find a corner of a park where I can knock out a quick workout before I explore. Pin this image and save these for later. You’ll thank me after you binge on some delicious local cuisine and need to sweat some of it out.
