Health & wellbeing apps

OK, I have some knowledge in this area as I had a big role in creating one - along with public health experts and medical people.

If you're trying to achieve behaviour change, they can potentially help with that - but you also need to change your behaviour to include using the app.

e.g. Headspace is very highly regarded by my professional colleagues, but doesn't work for me as I do biking for my mindfulness needs instead.

Personally, I started using Fitbit as competitor analysis and have stuck with it, as it's simple and flexible enough to track the things I want to and ignore the others.

Shame the hardware isn't as good as the software though. The watches don't seem to last too long.

FWIW - I mainly track my sleep and activity level (via estimated calorific expenditure). CBA to input calories-in any more, but it is good for that.

I use a yoga app reasonably often. Following through online works better for me than remembering from a book.
That said not as good as a class with a decent instructor who can fix a bad position and its used in addition to that.
I dont have it set up to pester me though and I have doubts about the gamification approach. Problem is whilst it can work with streaks and the such it risks a complete sod it I am giving it up once you miss day 187.
For the workout apps I think it will depend on how happy you are building your own exercise regime.
If you are but just lacking motivation then they will be bugger all use.
If you are looking for somewhat guided exercise routines then they could help.

As far as I'm aware, there's not a great deal of evidence for their effectiveness above and beyond other methods, and there may even be some that they're less effective.

They're used in the NHS because Hatt Mancock thought that they were going to solve all the problems of chronic underfunding. Needless to say, they don't.

I think that the best way to achieve change is to let small changes become habitual and accumulate.

Perhaps find an app that shows where even chubbier people hang out so you look like Adonis in comparison?

Perhaps find an app that shows where even chubbier people hang out so you look like Adonis in comparison?

Chub Chaser coming to an AppStore near you soon...?

Eat smaller portions, take regular exercise, get plenty rest and sleep, and don't obsess about your health, its unhealthy. You don't need a phone for any of that.

I read an article a while ago that said that most sleep monitoring was so inaccurate as to be worthless (can't remember where).

Any further knowledge out there?

but you also need to change your behaviour to include using the app.

This is so true.

The idea of 'stacked habits' certainly got me into a quick, beneficial daily stretching routine. It wasn't an obvious idea to me but making coffee is a habit I already have that makes space/time for the other. So while waiting for my coffee to brew and just after pouring it I do a few mins stretching, it's so easy to stick to Vs having to make time for it elsewhere, time that gets put off or things get in the way. Listening to podcasts while driving, on subjects I'm interested in but don't engage with well via a screen, was another useful 'habit'.

It's like the idea of cutting down on calories and the Q of what/how/when, one podcast talked about how sometimes just easier to decide e.g. 'I don't have dessert' and make it a rule rather than a decision each time.

There's some good podcasts about habits and how we form or change them, James Clear's Nuclear Habits is supposed to be a good read on the topic (I listened to a podcast with him but haven't read the book - I need a habit for creating reading time..).

I guess wellness apps use this idea because phone use is such a common habit already.

once he’s finally down in bed

.. this is something I guess you do every or most days, so a pull-up bar across a doorway near his room, or a yoga mat outside it? Just start a few reps each night, the main thing is starting. When you feel good you go for it. When you're tired at least you know because you tried a few and really did feel tired.

The whole simply thinking about your challenges in peace + what part of your body aches in Headspace works nicely to kick start the rest of the journey and it all compounds. Way too easy to lose fitness climbing the corporate hamster wheel after having a kid.

Better off finding a small class for anything like yoga, pilates etc. Way to easy to either spend time doing things wrong or injure yourself using apps for that as an inflexible MTB'er.

I found I got a lot just from what I thought was cheating at the time but actually helped me drop quite a bit of weight and feel better: Walking into the gym, hitting the bike for a 20 min warmup, doing some warmup sketches, then skipping the workout for the steam room.

I found my way via Google to the Curable website/app which seems dedicated to the neurological aspects of chronic pain.

It did sound interesting and I do believe my back issues are to some degree neurological (as an example,if I accidentally bump something now as I walk past like the edge of a shelf, I jump a mile and my back goes into a sort of semi-spasm with tension).

Anyone tried Curable?

The Apple Watches collect exercise and sleep data at a scarily accurate level. Sorcery?