How To Choose A Fitness Software or A Fitness Program

Everyone seems to want to get in shape. We are bombarded daily with images telling us how we should look (lean and toned or ripped and muscular) and there is a tonne of conflicting information available on how to achieve this eye-friendly look and improve our fitness but where to start? What sets, reps and exercises to use? How much cardio should we do? What should we eat? When should we eat it? Not so many years ago, the answer to all these questions was usually found by asking the guy or gal at the gym how THEY got in shape and then following their advice but now it’s just as likely that someone contemplating exercise may well purchase or download fitness software to help them in their quest for a better looking physique.

Fitness software have come a long way in the last few years and, with the advent of first Palm Pilots and now the i-phone, the software is more use- friendly and portable than ever. But, why use fitness software at all? For many exercisers, motivation, or rather the lack of it can be a real issue. Only around 1 in 3 exercisers is considered to be a natural self motivator. For the rest of us mortals, fitness software is like having access to a personal trainer and dietician 24/7 and anything that keeps us on the straight and narrow can only be a good thing.

So, what to look for in fitness software? It’s important to select the correct system for your own individual fitness goals. Some products are specifically designed to help you track your diet whilst others are designed with runners or triathletes whilst other packages are geared more to people involved in bodybuilding type training.
Some fitness software is nothing more than an interactive food and activity diary which tracks http://www.campusrecreation.txstate.edu/c2k/Calories-to-Kilowatts.html consumed versus calories expended whilst others take on the role of trainer and “prescribe” exercises specific to the user’s goals.

Points to consider when considering fitness software include:-
• Large database of exercises
• Clear and correct explanations/demonstrations of how to perform a wide variety of exercises
• Printable workout sheets to take to the gym
• Large database of foods (calorie values, nutrient rations, salt and cholesterol levels)
• Allows for multiple users i.e. other family members
• Can be personalised to allow for individual fitness levels and exercise goals
• Is regularly updated with new information
• Graphs plotted based on progress to date
• Activity and nutrition trackers/logs
• Include healthy recipes and healthy menus
• Ease of data entry
• Produces periodised workouts that develop in duration and intensity over time
• Calculates training loads based on % repetition maxes and heart rate training zones
• Includes periodic fitness testing to track progress
• Cost
• Product longevity
• Reliability
• Technical support and assistance
• Portability (if required)
• Available for download only or on CD-ROM
• User forums provided for product discussion
• Online access of your workouts and logs from any PC

Once you have investigated the many options available it’s worth narrowing down your choice to two or three products and finding out more about them. Many fitness software developers provide a free trial period before you have to part with your hard earned money where you can get used to the software interface and give the product as test run to see if it meets your requirements. As always when downloading software from the internet make sure you only use trusted sources, use your virus scanner and don’t reveal any credit card details to unsecured third party sites. When it comes to paying for your product, look for secure methods of payment, product warranties and whether technical support and updates are “for life” or only twelve months from day of purchase. Hidden costs such as annual subscriptions should be disclosed before you make your purchase.

In the end, it all comes down to what you want from your product – the better software the more it’s likely to cost you so avoid buying features you won’t use.
Finally, don’t feel you have to pay for your fitness software (and I don’t mean you should pirate it!) there are also plenty of free activity and nutrition trackers available which are very usable if somewhat basic in features. These tend to be online as opposed to downloadable which has the advantage of always being available regardless of if you are using your own computer of someone else’s.