Things I Love: 8fit

You realize I like to share cool, helpful, affordable assets with you all. I mean, what’s the purpose of keeping stuff like that a secret? That’s why I started this blog—to share info with you that I think is valuable and helpful for residing a wholesome life. As we speak is all a few new (to me) fitness app I’ve been using for 2 weeks. 8fit. Have you ever heard of it?

For those who haven’t heard of it, this assessment should offer you a pretty good idea about what it's and how it works, and whether or not it might profit your life.

I’ll start by saying I each love and hate to workout. By that I imply I love the best way I feel throughout and after a workout. I really like the way in which working out recurrently retains my moods stable, my metabolism fired up, and my muscle tissues toned. But I hate carving outing of my day to go to the gym, discovering a class I like that matches into my schedule, or having to purchase equipment I might not use regularly. So I’ve tended to be hit and miss with precise workouts. Yes, I walk, and practice yoga almost each day. But it surely’s important to also preserve working on strength and muscle building/upkeep all through our lives. It’s just a fact that muscle mass keeps our metabolisms in high gearp, and if we don’t use them we lose them.

I have some dumbbells right here on the house—the kind you lift, not the kind you roll your eyes at. (Well, truly I have both but that’s one other story.) And about twice every week I'd do a lifting session with them, but I wasn’t really seeing the results I wanted. I also don’t really feel like joining a gym and coping with that aforementioned time downside, to not mention visitors and contracts and all the opposite stuff that goes together with gyms. I should be able to workout at home, when it’s handy for me. And I don’t at all times wish to spend 30-forty five minutes on a strength/bodyweight workout. Fast and Dirty is all I can handle most days. So I did a little bit internet digging and found an app that makes a speciality of fast bodyweight workouts, has totally different ranges of workouts, and a scheduling/reminder feature. How may I resist attempting that out?

Enter 8fit. This app was launched two years ago, but I had by no means heard of it. Not stunning considering how many apps there are in this category. However with someplace round one million downloads, and a stable 4 star score, I figured it was value checking out. There are each free and professional (read: paid) ranges of the app, and I’m at present using the free version. I’m frugal. Having stated that, the free model has loads going for it.

Let’s begin by speaking about some of the non-train points I like. 8fit integrates with the Apple Well being kit app built into your iPhone, and the Apple Watch. I love that. I do know I’m most likely within the minority, however I truly use Apple Health kit. I also 8 fit paleo run FitBit and MyFitnessPal simultaneously. And they integrate with one another, and MFP integrates with Apple Well being, so I've a loop of information sharing which lets me see how every day workouts are affecting my metabolism, body composition, blood pressure, caloric intake, etc. That data could or is probably not as exciting for you as it's for me, but I love it. That knowledge is the form of stuff I live for—being able to track effort and results retains me motivated and engaged. I shouldn't have an Apple Watch (but my birthday is coming up, hint hint), nonetheless if I do get one in the future I’m sure I’ll love the app integration there, just as a lot as I do on my phone.
One other tech characteristic I like is the scheduling and reminder functions. Each day I can schedule my next workout day/time, and then obtain a reminder on my lock screen when it’s time to workout. I’m one of those people who gets involved in what I’m doing and loses track of time, so having that function inbuilt, versus me having to set a calendar reminder, keeps me on track. After all I can ignore the lock screen reminder for a while if I need to, but it'll sit there mocking me until I do something about it…at which level I'll as well just do the dang workout.
Then there’s the info integration feature. As soon as my workout is full, 8fit dumps the time and caloric information into my Apple Well being kit app, which then posts that information to MFP, which then posts it to my FitBit app. Squee!
Now on to the workouts. Holy sweatbands! As I discussed, these are bodyweight workouts, and most are Tabata fashion, that is a set number of reps carried out as quick as attainable, combined with as many reps as possible in a set quantity of time. B-R-U-T-A-L and effective. Luckily, there are levels of workouts available, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and some exercises have modification/alternate suggestions if you could keep away from certain movements. You may keep on the same level so long as you need to, or move up when you full all of the workouts in your present level.
I began with the newbie workouts, and am now into the intermediate program. I suggest that everybody begin at the newbie stage unless you might be well versed in Tabata movements and have your type down pat. Appropriate form is very important in avoiding injury, and getting the most effective results. But do not think for one second that the beginner workouts are easy. No, no, no. You will be sweating within five minutes and for those who’re like me, your dog will become very involved about your grunting and attempt to ‘help’ you by whining and licking you while you sweat/cry/grunt your way by 9-15 minutes of exertion.
The paid version consists of meal plans, recipes, grocery lists, and coaching through a chat feature. There are varying ranges of the professional model, ranging from $39.ninety nine for 3 months to $79.99 for a full 12 months with a coach.
As I stated, I’m presently utilizing the free version, as I don’t want the added options of meal plans and shopping lists. With the free model, you'll be able to access health, vitamin and exercise guides, which might be helpful. I particularly find the train guides to be useful for familiarizing myself with new moves.