Chapter 7
Fitness Fanatics +
IN THIS CHAPTER
Accessing Fitness+ on your devices
Discovering workout types and trainers
Tracking your metrics and progress
Keeping in shape is tough. I write that as I sit next to a warm box of Dunkin’ Munchkins, with the delicious little devils tempting me with their sweet aroma. I’ll try to ignore them as I write this chapter.
Digital devices can either hinder or help us as we strive to stay on top of our health. Although they offer such sedentary activities as browsing social media, playing games, and checking the daily news and email, they can also help us set and meet our fitness goals.
Apple’s latest addition to its services lineup is Apple Fitness+. A Fitness+ subscription opens the door to workouts of all types led by some of the best personal trainers in the fitness world. Using the Apple Watch, Fitness+ can also help you monitor your body’s vital statistics while you work out, offering a new level of health tracking. Fitness+ also helps curate your workouts based on your previous exercise activities.
You must have an Apple Watch to sign up for Fitness+. You don’t always need to be wearing it to work out, however.
Access Fitness+
You must be signed into your Apple ID on the devices you want to use with your Fitness+ subscription. You’ll then be able to exercise and monitor your workout from just about anywhere.
Supported devices
Fitness+ is an Apple-only service, meaning you can’t access it on any non-Apple devices, period. You also can’t access it with your Mac. So what the heck can you access it with? Fitness+ requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer to sign up and supports the following devices for finding and starting workouts:
- iPhone 6s or newer running iOS 14.3 or newer
- iPad running iPadOS 14.3 or newer
- Apple TV running tvOS 14.3 or newer
iPhone and iPad
The Fitness app may come installed with iOS on your iPhone. If not, you can also download it from the App Store on your iPhone and iPad.
If you have an iPad and haven’t downloaded the Fitness app, go ahead and do so before continuing.
Next, check to see that you’re logged into your Apple ID, look to see if you’re syncing Health settings, and then launch the Fitness app:
- Open the Settings app.
Ensure that you’re logged in to your Apple ID.
If you're signed in, you’ll see your name at the top of the Settings list. If you don’t see your name, tap Sign In to sign in with your Apple ID username and password.
- Tap your name at the top of the Settings list, and then tap iCloud.
If you want to sync your workout data with iCloud, toggle on (green) the Health switch.
Syncing just makes your workout data available to the Health app on all your Apple devices. You don’t have to do this, but if you don’t, your health statistics may differ from device to device.
Leave the Settings app.
If your iPhone or iPad uses Face ID, swipe up to leave the app. If your iPhone or iPad has a Home button, press it to leave Settings.
- Tap to open the Fitness app.
Apple TV
The Fitness app on your iPhone or iPad is the obvious way to go if you’re working outside or away from home. But if you are home, I think that the Fitness app on Apple TV wins the day.
To make sure you’re signed into your Fitness+ subscription and open the Fitness app, do the following:
- Click the Settings app on your Apple TV’s Home screen using your remote control.
- Select Users and Accounts, and then select Add New User.
- Type your Apple ID username and password, and then click Sign In.
- Press the Menu key on your remote control until you get back to the Home screen, and then click the Fitness app icon.
Finding and Starting Workouts
Fitness+ has a great lineup of trainers who are able to help anyone at any fitness level achieve their goals. You select the type of workout you want, choose a trainer and length of training time, and then select the type of music you’d like to use. It doesn’t get much simpler.
Before we go any further, be sure to strap on your Apple Watch if you want to save workout data and track your progress during the workout.
Finding a workout
The Fitness app for iPhone and iPad displays a Fitness+ tab at the bottom of the screen if you own an Apple Watch. Tap the Fitness+ tab to get rolling.
For Apple TV, launch the Fitness app and select the name of your Apple Watch, or select Other if your Apple Watch isn’t paired with your Apple TV.
To pair your Apple Watch with your Apple TV, just enter the code displayed on your Apple TV in the Workout app of your Apple Watch when prompted.
(Do you hear that? Those Munchkins are calling my name … must resist!)
After you’re in the app, it’s time to find a workout:
Select a workout type from the list, as shown at the bottom of Figure 7-1.
You can choose from HIIT (high intensity interval training), Yoga, Core, Strength, Treadmill (Walk or Run), Cycling, Rowing, Dance, and Mindful Cooldown.
- Tap or click the Filter button.
- Choose a trainer from the list, as shown in Figure 7-2.
- Select a time interval for your session.
- Decide the type of music you’d like to use during your workout.
Select a workout from the filtered list (seen in Figure 7-3) to preview or see a list of music related to it.
If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, you can tap the + Add button to save the workout to My Workouts at the bottom of the Fitness+ screen.
FIGURE 7-1: Choose a workout type to begin.
FIGURE 7-2: The Trainer, Time, and Music filters help you whittle down your selections.
FIGURE 7-3: I’ve successfully narrowed my workout choices.
Starting and tracking a workout
After you’ve decided on a workout, it’s time to get moving! To start your workout in Fitness for iOS, iPadOS, or Apple TV:
- Tap or select the Let’s Go button when viewing the workout information, as shown in Figure 7-4.
FIGURE 7-4: Tap Let’s Go to launch your workout.
Tap or select the brightly colored play icon to get going.
If you don’t have your Apple Watch handy or don’t want to wear it, tap Work Out without Watch on your iPhone or iPad screen.
Pause and continue your workout as you like using the touchscreen on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, or with your Apple TV’s remote control.
As you work out, your metrics and stats are displayed on your iPhone, iPad, or television screen.
- When you’re finished, check out your workout metrics and stats, which are displayed on your device’s screen.
What kind of equipment might you need to use with Fitness+? That depends on the type of workout you’d like to do. For example, you can’t very well take part in a cycling workout if you don’t have access to a bicycle. You can use just about any kind of exercise equipment you prefer, but if you’d like to see a list of products Apple recommends, visit www.apple.com/apple-fitness-plus/equipment.