Motivational speaker Jim Rohn is known for the popular sentiment, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” In other words, the people you surround yourself with directly affect your thoughts and behavior.

As we spend more and more time on our phones, the apps we use likely have as much impact on how we live and what we prioritize. In fact, studies have shown that “Users of mHealth devices and apps can become more autonomous and more motivated in self-regulating their health behavior and more engaged and consistent in their lifestyle and wellness behavior, which leads to improved health outcomes.”

So, what apps should you put on your phone? Today, WAG’s registered dietitians, Alex and Brittany, share the apps they use to improve their day-to-day lives.

health apps to put on your phone from RNDS

Coach Alex's Go-To Apps

  1. A food tracking app: I have used a food tracking app to track macros and calories for years. Tracking my food helps me ensure I eat enough calories (and the right proportions of macros) to reach my athletic and life goals. Tracking macros also has helped improve my relationship with food because of the flexibility that it teaches. I have learned that no food is off-limits! I can enjoy anything with a bit of planning and finesse.
  2. Whoop: I invested in a WHOOP band last year because I desperately needed to improve my recovery after dealing with multiple injuries in a short amount of time. The app that goes along with the band has helped me develop better sleep habits and understand that rest days are essential. I check the Whoop app daily to analyze my sleep quality and quantity, allowing me to plan my daily physical activity. This has resulted in fewer injuries and better performance this year.
  3. NYT Games: Brain health!! I love playing trivia or word games to “exercise” my brain. Instead of killing time by mindlessly scrolling, I opened this app to play a word or puzzle game.
  4. Workout app (Playbook/Wodify): I have a couple of workout apps on my phone based on what kind of workout I want or feel like doing for the day (aka fitness freedom!). Some days, I may want to do a conditioning workout, and some days, I want to lift weights in a commercial gym. Having an app for either helps me stay consistent with training. Sure, I could write my own program, but I’d rather invest that time and energy elsewhere.
  5. Bible app: I believe health isn’t just physical; good health also involves emotional, spiritual, and mental health. I feel in the best health when I take a moment to work on my spiritual health by reflecting on a verse or finding a guided prayer for the day.

Coach Brittany's Go-To Apps

  1. Waze: I have three girls, and we are constantly in the car for different sporting and school events. Waze is my go-to for directions, the fastest routes, and avoiding traffic so I can spend less time in the car and more time doing the things I love (or doing the things I need to do like hitting the grocery store, gym, and other chores!).
  2. Instacart: Instacart is great for small grocery runs or quick household essentials. It saves me from going to the store more than necessary and buying more than I need when I’m there. Instacart is also helpful when I’ve been out of town and need something healthy ready for me (and my girls) when I get home.
  3. Pinterest: Even though Pinterest is generally considered a social media app, it is more like a search engine. I get a lot of recipes and food inspiration from Pinterest, which is also an excellent resource for workouts and fitness.
  4. Smart WOD Timer: This is my go-to app for timing workouts when training solo or knocking out something quickly at home. You can set all different time domains and intervals or use it as a basic timer.
  5. Notes: This might be a silly one, but I use Notes daily: grocery lists, to-dos, and reminders of important events or information. Whenever I have an idea or something I want to revisit, I put it in Notes so I don’t have to stress about forgetting or using unnecessary brain power!

 

The apps you use daily can directly affect your mental health and well-being. Just as it is essential to surround yourself with people who push you and hold you accountable, utilizing apps that help you prioritize your nutrition goals will inevitably lead to more favorable health outcomes.

Use Brittany and Alex’s favorites as inspiration to identify a health goal and download an app to help you achieve it. If you already have plenty of (currently ignored) health apps on your phone, create a visual reminder by moving them to the first screen you see when you unlock your phone! 

If you are ready to take it a step further, work with a WAG coach and connect with them through our custom nutrition app, Seismic. Here, you’ll check in, send messages, sync your food tracking logs, and upload mood metrics and measurements so your coach can monitor progress and adjust your program to keep you working towards your health, performance, and body composition goals!