Fitness Apps on the iPhone

forestplay

I've been trying a bunch of different iPhone apps to see which I like the best and which work best with sharing data between websites. When one of my MFPals asked, I wrote a long email describing what I learned. I'm throwing this out to the larger community to see if there's more to know.

First, start with MFP. It's the center of data sharing. Everything links to this website. As you know, we use this for logging food/calories. I don't log much exercise directly as it is entered from the other apps.

Next, Fitbit. It counts steps and sleep. Mine is a Fitbit Ultimate which automatically downloads when I'm near my computer at home. They have a newer model, the FitBit One (http://annzn.com/fitbitone) that can link through your iPhone and keep the data current. They also have some other models that are less expensive (http://annzn.com/sykSV).

To record heart rate, I use Wahoo brand key and sensors. I use the Wahoo Fitness ANT+ key (http://annzn.com/nz40O) that plugs into the bottom of my iPhone 4S and older iPhones. With the ANT+ key, I can connect to a bunch of different sensors: HR Strap (http://annzn.com/6BFC1), Stride Sensor (http://annzn.com/GMKk9) and Bicycle Speed/Cadence Sensor (http://annzn.com/x1rVR). I have two bicycles, a road bike for commuting to work (and for my coming triathlon) and a mountain bike. I have a bike speed/candence sensor on each bike and this is an added complexity I'll mention in moment.

I think an adapter is needed to use this key with an iPhone 5. If I had an iPhone 5 I wouldn't use ANT+, I would use Bluetooth. With a Bluetooth HR sensor (http://annzn.com/gj82U), then you won't need an adapter or ANT+ key. It will just connect to your phone just like headphones. There is also a BT Speed/Cadence Sensor (http://annzn.com/uaOTQ) for your bike.

They say BT uses less power so your phone won't discharge as quickly. I don't have any BT sensors so I can't say. If I was starting today, I would go Bluetooth. With ANT+, I am able to workout for more than an hour, with the screen on, and the battery discharges about 30%.

I tried a couple of different apps on my iPhone. Digitfit, Runkeeper and Runtastic are all similar and, in my opinion, the best of many choices for logging multiple types of exercise. Digifit and Runtastic link your workout data to MFP automatically. Runkeeper is very popular for runners. Runtastic is popular in Europe. Digifit is good but not particularly popular. There are a bunch of others. I've tried a few others but these three are the best, IMO.

Digifit, Runkeeper and Runtastic have both free and premium apps and free and premium features on their websites. They have promotions, so don't sign up until they offer a special price.

I've decided to go with Runtastic for two reasons. I really like that it links data to MFP automatically. Second, it's is easy to log bike rides on two different bikes with different sensors. The other apps do not accommodate this easily. You must reprogram the app each time you switch bikes.

Runtastic has multiple apps for different activities. Each has both a free and premium version. I've sprung for the premium for all the activities that I do: Running, Road Bike and Mountain Bike.

It is possible to use just the Runtastic app for virtually all your exercise, both outside (running, biking, etc) and inside (gym, crossfit, treadmill, etc). I haven't used that feature much. The biking apps have displays that are optimized for biking. They also have apps for pushups, situps, pullups and squats. They all link to their website and to MFP.

Whatever you do, don't link your exercise app to both Fitbit and to MFP. This will cause duplicate workouts to appear on your exercise logs. Link everything to MFP but not to each other. This seems to work well.

If you have different opinions and recommendations, please post a followup to the message.

-Bob