Since mobile phones got smart, they have added a massive amount of functionality to our lives.  Which is good as we also seem to have got seriously busy, with the average person working longer days and having more commitments outside of the office. Fitness is something we all know we need to be considering but just do not have the time to get on to.  

As summer waves its last goodbye, the problem gets even trickier, after all, who wants to be pounding the pavement when it is cold, dark or even worse raining? Thankfully this is another area that mobile phones can assist with. A good fitness routine requires a mix of training styles but if you are pushed for time you might not get everything in, cardio, weights, and stretching are all components you should consider. There are many fitness apps available but the ones we really love, and that are becoming extremely popular are those that offer HITT training.  HITT or High-Intensity Interval Training is a neat way to spend your time as you can get your required exercise done in a shorter space of time. But not everyone feels the love, so we have put together a range of fitness apps that you can cram into about half an hour or less, and the majority can be done at home if you do not fancy venturing out into the autumn and winter air.

If you are new to fitness do not worry about spending loads on gear, the most important thing you can treat yourself to is a decent pair of trainers as protecting the feet is vital.

Daily Yoga

Easing in gently, yoga is an excellent exercise for increasing flexibility and restoring calm to a cluttered mind.  Within the free app, you will find a range of routines, designed to target different issues, for example, one is Yoga for Runners. You can pick a body part to work on or mix it up, and many of the routines can be done in under half an hour.

The app is free to download and offers a range of content, but more can be added with in-app purchases which could be worth doing as you get more experienced at yoga. The Daily Yoga app is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

Couch to 5K

No list would be complete without the inclusion of this app. It is endorsed by GP’s everywhere, and the premise is that following the instructions you can learn to go from couch potato to 5K runner in just nine weeks. The best bit for those who are a little exercise phobic is that you only need to commit under half an hour for three days a week.

It does mean venturing out into the big wide world, but the satisfaction of learning to run five kilometres is all you need to get you going.  Couch to 5K is available on both iOS and Android platforms, free to download and can be completed without extra purchases.

PEAR Personal Fitness Coach

If you find it hard to look at the phone screen and try and get the exercises done correctly, then this could be the app for you. Although there are onscreen visuals, the app has been designed to offer voice coaching and does not require you to look at the handset.

You can choose your routine based on your fitness level, and the app is free to download with a section of workouts included. If you want to access the full app, it does cost £5.99 per month, but this opens up a more extensive selection of workout and gives you some great bonus features. PEAR Personal Fitness Coach is available on both iOS and Android platforms.

JEFIT

Aimed at those users that want to work in the bodybuilding and strength training area rather than cardio fitness. It is a free app and is packed with a massive amount of content allowing you to target your workout to different parts of the body.  

The only irk of not paying to unlock the premium features is the in-app advertising, but if you can live with that, the content is all there. You can pay to access the pro version and remove the ads if they bother you. Even at the free level, the app includes extras like a workout planner, timers, workout logs and more. JEFIT is available on both iOS and Android platforms.

Daily Burn

If you like to watch your workout as you do it, then you can stream a range of routines suitable for all levels of fitness. This app has a live stream, but if you are not available at the time, you can catch it on demand when you are ready.

A wide range of cardio, strength, yoga and more are included, and there is audio on all workouts with the instructor guiding you through and music to listen to.

This is not a free app, it costs £14.99 per month for the basic membership where you get access to the daily workout and a chance to look back through the library, or you can upgrade to the premium membership which costs £26.95 a month, and this unlocks a massive library of older workout tracks. Daily Burn is available on both iOS and Android platforms.

Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout

If you want to hit your workout hard and fast, then this could be the app for you. Just seven minutes is all you need to complete a routine, and of course, if you can afford the time, you can always to more than one back to back. The app does also feature longer routines, and you can mix up the intensity to make sure you are really working out.

Users are also able to create routines for themselves which is a neat feature considering that this is a completely free app. Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workouts is available on both iOS and Android platforms.