Smartphone workouts

The festive season is around the corner – and wherever in the country you are, you know its going to start with Navratri and end pretty much only after New Year’s eve. So if you’re expecting to stay sensibly healthy, you better start planning now. Counting calories is next to impossible this season, and going to the gym is tougher when you’re skimping on sleep, but before you start to give up completely, check out four apps that we think will keep you relatively healthy – if not slim – through the celebrations.

You may not be able to say no to those laddus, or refuse another helping of chicken curry when its your grandmom that’s serving you – but its super easy to forget to drink water when you’re eating so much. An app like iDrinkWater is the perfect companion that reminds you every hour to sip some H2O. Enter your weight and the app will tell you how much water you should be ideally drinking in a day, and it will help you reach your goal. With the sound of ocean waves gently reminding you to consume some water every two hours, the app helps you countdown until you reach your goal – or get close to it!

Available on: App Store

You’re bound to skip the gym this season – whether it is to shop for stuff or attend festivities – but you’re sure to find seven minutes for a quick workout. You may not be able to get that six-pack with this app, but at least you’ll stave off the impending flab. The 7Minute Workout from Johnson & Johnson comes with motivating audio instructions and you can watch how the exercises should be done properly on the screen. You can also mute instructions and play music from your phone instead, with a like or dislike button, you can also rate each exercise and use it to customise a workout suited to your preference. Each workout begins with a short warm up and ends with a cool-down – an essential you shouldn’t skip. Simple and easy to follow, this app and others like it are a great way to salvage your fitness despite the festivities.

Available on: Google Play & App Store

Track your movements without spending on a tracking device, because this app transforms your phone into just that. ‘Moves’ is designed to stay on throughout the day and considering the average person takes their phone everywhere, tracking activities becomes simple. It can recognise whether you’re walking running or cycling and helps you figure out how many calories you’ve burned just by going about your day – it helps when you’ve been consuming a lot and haven’t had time to burn it off! The best part of the app is that it will inspire you to move a bit more, and more often than usual, and it’s the little changes that ultimately get you to big lifestyle changes.

Available on: Google Play & App Store

Getting the right amount of sleep can make all the difference to your energy levels – especially when there are celebrations around. Try Sleepbot – an app that’s designed to track your sleep patterns and has an alarm that’s set to wake you up during your lightest sleep phase – meaning, it works with your body to ensure you wake up better than usual – and it tracks your sleeping pattern, if you leave the phone next to you at night. The app also comes with informative sections that help you with all things sleep-related, whether you’re having trouble getting some sleep or staying awake.

Available on: Google Play & App Store