To stay fit and healthy, it’s recommended you get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, or around 20 to 30 minutes a day
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If you’re thinking about getting more active in 2021, there are lots of ways to get started. Don’t let the cold weather and dark nights put you off. The good news is that brisk walking counts as a form of physical activity and just 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference to your health.
In the short term, it gets your heart pumping faster and can make you feel more energetic and boost your mood. Over time, it can help to lower the risk of serious illnesses including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
If you need a little bit of help to motivate you, there are a range of free apps available from Apple’s App Store (apps.apple.com) that will get you started and keep you on track.
Here are some of our favourites:
Active 10
The Active 10 app records every minute of walking you do. Just pop your phone in your pocket and away you go!
The app:
Did you know walking briskly, even for one minute, counts as exercise? What are you waiting for — take your first steps today!
Couch to 5K
A running programme for absolute beginners, Couch to 5K has now helped more than four million people start running.
The app:
Couch to 5K can be completed in as little as nine weeks, or longer if you want to go at your own pace.
Better Points
Get rewarded for making good choices with this app. Track your activities like walking and cycling to win prizes and collect points — and redeem them on high-street gift vouchers or donate them to your favourite charity.
The app:
Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer
If you’re not sure what sort of exercise is for you or if you get bored easily, the Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer app features over 90 exercises for you to choose from.
The app:
Fitnet
Personal trainers are expensive — but what if you could get feedback on your exercise moves for free? Fitnet may have the answer. Designed to be used in tandem with an iPad.
The app:
It’s a clever concept, and a novel way of monitoring your fitness.
Dance Fitness Lite
If all that exercise sounds like hard work, why not dance yourself fitter? There are lots of great dance apps to suit all levels of fitness and dancing preferences.
The app:
It doesn’t matter if you’re two steps behind the beat — no one’s watching, so just enjoy yourself.
MyFitnessPal
Whether you want to lose weight, get fitter or both, take control of your goals with this app.
The app: