10 Gadgets and Apps to Help You Get Healthy

Updesk

The Updesk is a desk that you stand up at. You’re way more active throughout the day just by standing and moving around little bits at a time.

Fitbit

Fitbit is an entire fitness system. The app and your choice of three different wireless activity and sleep-trackers will tell you how many calories you’ve burned, how many steps you’ve taken, track your food intake, and more!

BodyMedia

John P prefers the BodyMedia. It does the same thing essentially, but its sensors are touching your skin for a more accurate count of calories burned and activity.

Nike+ Fuelband

For Apple Fitness fanboys (and fangirls) the Nike+ Fuelband tracks your exercise activity, and integrates with the popular “Lose It!” calorie-counting app, as well as XBox 360 Kinect for in-home virtual personal training.

MyFitnessPal

For counting calories against your daily activity level, MyFitnessPal is hard to beat: It’s social, so you AND your friends can encourage each other and celebrate milestones along the way.

Fitocracy

Fitocracy is a fun fitness app that “gamifies” your fitness program with award points and levels.

Endomondo

Endomondo (which is particularly popular in Europe) has more than 10 million users. There are both basic and “pro” (paid) apps available. This community is basically the “Facebook” of fitness!

RunKeeper

RunKeeper tracks your daily runs through your mobile device’s GPS. There’s a dashboard that shows you how your runs are improving over time and your friends can send you encouraging messages while you jog.

GymPact

GymPact is free, but cold hard cash is their key to success. Members pledge money against their goals. And slackers pay into a “pot” that pays out to those who meet (or beat) their exercise plan.

FIT Radio

If you don’t want to program your own workout mix, consider FIT Radio. The app gives you access to a variety of mixes at different tempos and music categories.