Workout Warriors: CrossFit Apps for Windows Phone
CrossFit — a high-intensity strength and conditioning program that combines weight-lifting, calisthenics…
CrossFit — a high-intensity strength and conditioning program that combines weight-lifting, calisthenics, core training and cardio — is the latest physical fitness trend.
Like the distance-running movement that came to fore in the 70s, CrossFit has entered the mainstream.
Popular CrossFit-related competitions, which often feature obstacle courses (barrier names include “Road Rage” and “Storming Normandy”), include the CrossFit Games and Warrior Dash. And from almost zero CrossFit-related gyms a decade ago, there are now more than 6,000 such gyms (or “boxes”) around the world.
If you’re a Crossfit convert — or just want to train like one — check out these apps to beef up your exercise routine.
WOD stands for “workout of the day,” a Crossfit staple. One example: five sit-ups, 10 jumping squats and five push-ups, as many rounds as possible, for 15 minutes straight. Whew!
But this app gives you more than just that.You can log your specific exercises and personal records and track your progress; create custom exercises to fold into your workouts; track your weight in the app’s Weight Journal; and analyze your progress via charts and graphs.
WOD Warrior ($2.49; there is a free “lite” version too) also features a stopwatch to time your workouts and a barbell calculator so you can easily calculate how much weight to add on a load bar for specific exercises. And to ensure you don’t lose your exercise data, you can back all of it up on OneDrive.
This free, simple app takes the guesswork out of weight-lifting. Tell the app how much weight you want to lift, how heavy your load bar is, and the app will tell you the weight plates to add on each side.
If you don’t have the requisite amount of weight plates — which can happen if you use a home gym — just tell Barbell Helper how many of each plate you have, and the app will remember and calculate how to properly balance the weights you have.
This app logs your workouts, helps you set fitness goals and monitors your weight. But you can also easily track and calculate your BMI (body mass index) and BMR (basal metabolic rate) as you get in better shape.
In addition, you can get your powerlifting score and compare yourself with your friends by inputting your weightlifting data in the in-app Wilks calculator. Last but not least, DeekFit Gym’s 1RM Estimator tells you your one-rep max on specific weight-lifting exercises.
The app is free, but the Pro version ($2.99) is ad-free and lets you back up your data as well as sync it with DeekFit.com.
If all you need is a timer for your Tabata exercises, check out this app. Named after Professor Izumi Tabata at Japan’s National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Tabata training is a high-intensity four-minute workout session and an essential element of Crossfit.
The app is pre-set to four minutes and alerts you to start a 20-second high-intensity interval, followed by another alert for a 10-second rest break. What’s also helpful is that Tabata Pro shows pre-set exercises that you can pair with the timer.
If you like these apps, let us know. Now, hit the floor and give us 20 burpees!