I do not have a gym membership. I gave it up when I entered treatment for my eating disorder. The gym wasn’t a healthy place for me and it was the right thing to do. However, that meant that I kind of stopped doing strength training at that time too. I know I need to do it. But I also know that I’m not going to sign up for a gym membership again right now. I just don’t see that I would have the time to go these days. But the past couple of weeks I’ve been finding ways to squeeze in some more strength workouts and the benefits are there. I’ve been feeling sore in muscles that have been neglected for too long. And the best part is that I can squeeze in multiple, very effective, workouts several times a day.

I do it all with my phone and a little help from some apps. The nice thing about using apps for workout tools is that you can replace your “trainer” if the relationship isn’t working out without worrying about hurting anyone’s feelings. Just quietly delete the app and find a new one.

Some of my favorites lately for strength:

The Daily Arm Workout app is a freebie app. It’s not beautiful, but it gets the job done. It gives the option of choosing to do a 5, 8 or 10-minute workout. There is a full version that is a measly 99 cents… so I could have shelled out for that. But when there is a free version of an app to test out before buying, always go that way! 🙂 This app allows you to set a schedule of when you want to do the workout and it will notify you when your set schedule comes due.

The next three are all from Runtastic, they have made a whole bunch of apps for run tracking, cycling tracking, various exercises, sleep tracking, etc. If they had an “Arm Trainer” app, I would probably have that installed. I like these ones because you can start a level and then it plans out when you should be taking your rest days and when you should be proceeding with the next workout. That just feels like it’s helping you reign in overexcitement from trying to do too much and also helps to keep you in check by reminding you to workout. And then it gives you new exercises after completing so many workouts and you can advance to new levels.

Other apps I like to get in some fast fitness include the Fitstar line. I have a premium membership for Fitstar Yoga and I like the full length program. But the freestyle workouts are great because you can grab a 10-15 minute easy flow. The regular Fitstar app has other fun freestyle workouts, including a 10-minute core workout that I like. I just have the free basic membership right now, but it’s not that much for an annual membership. If you sign up, you can use my referral code: QEQH1Q

The Barre3 app is cool because the workouts in it are all short. Their online video service is great and comprehensive… These are different. 10 minutes of a focused session to work on core, legs, flexibility, etc. The app is a nice complement to their online studio. Just turn off notifications on the daily tips, they’re kind of annoying and nothing really stunningly new/astounding.

I love that I have been able to do one of these workouts before/after an early morning run, something during the day, and exercise in the evening. I can do several of them while playing with my kid, she’ll kind of try to do moves alongside me. And at the end of the day I’ve accumulated 30+ minutes of strength training without the accompanying drive time or guilt I feel when I’m away from my kid.

This is what works for me right now. Someday maybe I’ll go back to the gym. Maybe not.

Do you have any fitness apps you love?