6. Find and Use Specialized Health Apps

In addition to the collection of apps that come preinstalled with iOS 8 and iOS 9 for the iPhone (as well as preinstalled Apple Watch apps), an ever-growing selection of optional apps are available via the App Store from Apple and third-party app developers. These apps allow you to add specific and customized functionality to your smartphone or smartwatch.

Although you can surf the Web to learn about optional iPhone and Apple Watch apps, the only place to actually acquire them is from Apple’s online-based App Store.

The easiest way to access the App Store to learn about and acquire iPhone apps is to launch the App Store app by tapping its icon on your iPhone’s Home screen.

This chapter covers how to find, download, and install a wide range of highly specialized health, fitness, medical, nutrition, and sleep-related iPhone apps from the App Store.

In addition to the iPhone App Store, Apple operates a separate but related store that caters exclusively to the Apple Watch. The easiest way to access it is to launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, and then tap on the Featured or Search icons that appear at the bottom of the screen (see Figure 6.1).

FIGURE 6.1 You can find, download, and install Apple Watch apps to the Apple Watch via the Apple Watch app running on the iPhone.

What you’ll discover when you begin exploring the App Store are literally hundreds of specialized apps that can assist you in setting, managing, and achieving any or all of your fitness, health, medical, nutrition, dieting, and sleep management-related goals using your iPhone (and an Apple Watch, if you own one).

You’ll also find proprietary apps designed for the iPhone and Apple Watch that work with third-party activity and fitness trackers, Bluetooth scales, and various other types of medical and/or fitness equipment. Figure 6.2 shows the App Store listing for the official UP app that works with Jawbone’s popular UP fitness/activity trackers.

FIGURE 6.2 Specialized pieces of fitness equipment, for example, that can transmit data to the iPhone, all have proprietary apps available for them. This figure shows the UP app for use with Jawbone’s UP fitness/activity trackers.

Each category of optional apps contains cutting-edge and innovative approaches developers have taken that allow you to inexpensively transform your iPhone and Apple Watch into powerful tools that you can use in many different ways related to your health, well-being, and fitness.

From the Featured screen, tap on the Categories option in the top-left corner and then select the Health & Fitness or Medical category. The following sections cover information about the types of apps available in each category.

If you’re a runner or cyclist; participate in meditation, yoga, interval training; enjoy walking; are looking for fitness-related apps that can teach you how to exercise; or help you monitor and track your progress, these types of apps are available in the Health & Fitness app category (see Figure 6.3).

FIGURE 6.3 Whether you enjoy cycling or any other type of fitness-related activity, specialized apps can help you achieve your goals.

The Health & Fitness subcategories include Classes & Trainers, Food & Nutrition, Apps for Health, Better Sleep, Stay On Track, Apps for Runners, Apps for Cyclists, Interval Trainers, and Meditation & Mindfulness. Below each of these subheadings are app icons representing a handful of featured apps. To see all “featured” apps in a subcategory, tap on the See All option appearing to the right of the heading with the App Store.

Examples of popular health and fitness-related apps include:

Couch to 5K—A virtual trainer designed to help you prepare for a 5K race/run.

Full Fitness: Exercise Workout Trainer—An interactive app that teaches you how to properly do exercises, and then offers customized training/workout sessions, based on your goals.

Map My Run+—A full-featured app for runners that allows users to plan routes, and then track and analyze all aspects of their runs.

Nike+ Running—A full-featured iPhone and Apple Watch app, designed by Nike’s top fitness coaches, that offers a wide range of tools for tracking data associated with running.

Yoga Studio—An iPhone-based interactive Yoga class.

Subcategories under the Medical apps category include: Medical Reference, Medical News & Journals, Apps for Doctors, Medical Education and CME, Apps for Patients, and Personal Care Apps.

In addition to apps you’ll be learning more about later in this book, some examples of medical-oriented apps available for the iPhone include:

Drugs.com Medication Guide—This interactive app allows users to learn about their medications, their side effects, and check for interactions between medications.

MyQuest for Patients—This app helps users understand medical test results processed by Quest Diagnostics.

ZocDoc - Doctor Appointments Online—This app allows patients to easily research information about doctors, make appointments online, and keep track of their various doctor appointments.

Because a well-balanced and healthy diet should be part of everyone’s fitness routine, these apps can make it easier to plan meals, help control your consumption of food, and assist you in measuring the impact that what you eat has on your weight, energy level, and overall well-being.

You can also find instructional apps that teach you how to prepare various types of foods and meals using step-by-step instructions and video, and apps for finding new restaurants that cater to your specialized dietary needs.

Many apps are designed to help you track your food and drink intake, count calories, and provide healthy recipes based on your unique dietary restrictions. Some popular apps in this category include:

Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal—This iPhone and Apple Watch app offers a variety of tools for easily tracking food and drink intake, counting calories, and monitoring calories burned. It includes access to a detailed food database that contains more than five million entries. More information about this app is covered in Chapter 10, “Achieve Your Dieting Goals.”

Diabetic Food & Recipes—This interactive cookbook and healthy eating guide is designed exclusively for diabetics.

My Daily Plate—This interactive app makes it easier to understand the basics of nutrition and plan healthy meals.

Yummly Recipes & Grocery Shopping List—This app makes finding recipes for virtually any type of food easy. It then allows users to customize the recipe based on how many servings they want to prepare, and also create a fully itemized shopping list. More information about this app is covered in Chapter 10.

FIGURE 6.4 In the Search field, enter an app’s title, or any keyword or phrase that describes the type of app you want to find.

For example, to find apps catering to a specific activity, enter a search word or phrase such as, “running,” “cycling,” “Zumba,” “yoga,” “weight loss,” “dieting,” “meditation,” “sleep,” “walking,” “weight training,” “exercise,” or “fitness.”

To access specific Top Charts listings, launch the App Store app on the iPhone, tap on the Top Charts icon at the bottom of the screen, and then tap on the Categories option in the top-left corner of the screen.

When viewing the Categories list (see Figure 6.5), tap on your chosen category, such as Health & Fitness, Medical, or Food & Drink. Along the top of the screen are three tabs labeled Paid, Free, and Top Grossing (see Figure 6.6), and each displays a different list.

FIGURE 6.5 Find the best apps in a specific category using the App Store’s Top Charts feature.

FIGURE 6.6 Each category of apps has three Top Charts listings, including Paid, Free, and Top Grossing apps.

Tap on the Paid tab to see a Top Charts listing of paid apps. These apps have a one-time purchase price associated with them. (Some Paid apps might also have in-app purchases available.)

Tap on the Free tab to discover the most popular free apps in a specific category, such as Health & Fitness. (Many free apps also have optional in-app purchases associated with them.)

Tap on the Top Grossing tab to discover the most popular apps in the selected category that generate the highest amount of revenue for the app’s developer, based on an app’s initial purchase price, in-app purchases, and/or subscription fees associated with the app.

To view more detailed information about the app, while viewing one of these abbreviated listings, tap on the app’s icon or title. If you want to acquire the app straight away, instead tap on the Price or Get button. Then, when prompted, enter your Apple ID password, or place your finger on the iPhone’s Touch ID sensor (if applicable) to confirm your decision, and begin the automatic app download and installation process.

An app’s main description in the App Store, shown in Figure 6.7, offers several screens’ worth of useful information about that app to help you make the decision about acquiring it. At the top of the screen, for example, are the app’s icon, title, publisher, star-based rating, age appropriateness rating, and Price button.

FIGURE 6.7 An app’s description screen displays more comprehensive information about the app, including a text-based description and sample screenshots.

Below this basic information about the app are three command tabs, labeled Details, Reviews, and Related. Tap on the Details tab to view sample screenshots from the iPhone, iPad, and/or Apple Watch versions of the app, and then scroll down on this screen to view a detailed, text-based description of the app. Keep in mind that the app’s creator or publisher composes the app’s Description (found below the Description heading), not Apple.

Under the Information heading found further down an app’s Details screen is information about the app’s publisher, category, when it was last updated, the most recent version number released, the file size of the app, information about whether the app supports Family Sharing, the app’s compatibility with various iPhone and iPad models, and details about the versions of the iOS it’s compatible with, whether the app supports the Apple Watch, and information about the languages in which you can display text in the app (see Figure 6.8).

FIGURE 6.8 Displayed under the Information heading are additional details about the app.

Back near the top of the screen, tap on the Reviews tab to view the app’s detailed Ratings and Reviews chart. This allows you to see how many one- to five-star ratings an app has received as well as written reviews from other users. If you want to write your own review you can tap the Write a Review option.

From this page, you can also “Like” the app on Facebook, which means you can join the online user’s group for that app on this popular social media service by tapping on the “Like” button.

Tap on the Related tab near the top of the screen to learn about similar apps to the one you’re looking at that are available from the App Store, as well as apps from the same app publisher/developer.

To delete an app from your iPhone, from the Home screen (or from a folder), place your finger on the app icon and hold it down for about two seconds. When all the app icons on the Home screen (or in a folder) start to shake, tap on the “X” icon that appears in the upper-left corner of the app icon you want to delete (see Figure 6.9), and then confirm your decision by tapping the Delete button.

FIGURE 6.9 You can only delete apps you’ve installed onto the iPhone. You cannot delete preinstalled apps that come with the iOS.

If specialized fitness or health-related data is associated with the app you’re about to delete, a prompt appears asking whether you want to keep storing that app-specific data on your iPhone, but delete the app, or delete the data as well as the app.

Later, to reinstall an already-acquired app that is not currently stored on your iPhone, launch the App Store app, locate the listing for that app, and then tap on the iCloud icon, which automatically displays instead of the Price or Get button.

To reinstall a deleted app, re-download it from the App Store. Alternatively, tap on the Updates option at the bottom of the App Store screen, and then tap on the Purchased option near the top of the Updates screen. Either tap on the All or Not On This iPhone tab, and then locate the listing for the app you want to reinstall.

At least initially, all apps that are also compatible with the Apple Watch are also for use on an iPhone, and if a fee applies to acquire the app, it includes both the smartphone and watch versions. This might change in late 2015, after the Apple Watch can have stand-alone apps installed onto it. You will likely eventually need to purchase some stand-alone Apple Watch apps separately from related apps that are also available for the iPhone and/or iPad.

Some apps in the App Store have misleading descriptions, some contain bugs or have compatibility issues with iOS, and some have another type of technical problem that prevents them from functioning properly.

App developers write and publish the descriptions you read in the App Store and their goal is to make their app stand out and sound appealing, so you’ll acquire it.

To find the best possible apps to help you achieve your specific goals, try to get a reliable referral from an expert you work with. For example, ask your fitness coach or personal trainer for a recommendation, based on the app(s) he or she personally uses. If you belong to a gym, ask other people you see using an iPhone or Apple Watch which app(s) they recommend.

Also, pay careful attention to the star-based ratings and text-based descriptions offered for each app in the App Store. The star-based rating chart that accompanies each app description shows how many one, two, three, four, and five star ratings the app has received, as well as its average star-based rating. So, if you see an app that has hundreds or thousands of four- or five-star ratings, chances are it’s a useful app that functions as described.

Typically, by investing just two or three minutes to reading a handful of reviews for an app written by your fellow iPhone or Apple Watch users, you can quickly ascertain whether it has any problems, and whether it functions as advertised. This can save you time and frustration by helping you avoid apps that just aren’t any good.

---

Chat with an Expert: Learn About the Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout App from Its Creator

Out of all the general fitness apps available that can teach you how to exercise, and then track your progress toward achieving specific goals, one stands out. The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app, shown in Figure 6.10 on the iPhone and Figure 6.11 on the Apple Watch, is available for free from the App Store. As you’re about to discover, it offers an easy way for anyone to begin exercising. You can also use it to supplement your existing home or gym fitness routine.

FIGURE 6.10 The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app is one of the most popular fitness apps for the iPhone.

FIGURE 6.11 The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app also runs on the Apple Watch.

Unlike some other fitness apps, this one was created based on several decades’ worth of research by experts. iPhone users downloaded it more than 1.5 million times within the first three months of its availability.

Chris Jordan is the Director of Exercise Physiology at the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute and is the creator of the Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app. Jordan has held his current position for more than 12 years, but previously served with the British Army and United States Air Force doing high-level research related to exercise physiology.

“The development of the 7-minute workout began more than 12 years ago, long before the iPhone or Apple Watch ever existed. My goal with this program was to make exercise simple, fast and extremely accessible, while keeping it science based,” explained Jordan.

“Before the iPhone and Apple Watch, the 7-Minute Workout was printed and distributed on laminated cards that people could easily carry with them. Today, using the iPhone, this same information is presented with photos and videos, and on the Apple Watch, photos, graphics, and audio are currently used.”

The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout transforms your iPhone and Apple Watch into an intelligent personal trainer that you can take anywhere. You can work out at home, at your office, in a hotel room, or in a park, and the app provides everything you need to participate in an organized fitness routine. No special gear or equipment is required.

“Our iPhone app, for example, offers a detailed video demonstration of each exercise, so you get a very clear view of what you should be doing, as you learn how to do everything safely and correctly. The iPhone also offers audio prompts related to workout technique that helps to provide an interactive workout experience,” explained Jordan. Figure 6.12 shows an exercise demonstration on the Apple Watch’s screen.

FIGURE 6.12 The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app demonstrates each exercise using a photo on the Apple Watch (shown) or video on an iPhone.

Using tools built in to the iPhone and the app, the Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app requests information about users and their goals, and then develops a personalized fitness routine, that as the app’s title suggests, takes just seven minutes per session to complete.

“The app tracks your progression, so as you get fitter, the workouts get harder over time. When you’re using the Apple Watch, it’s possible to increase or decrease the exercise intensity during a workout to best fit your current energy level and needs. The app truly offers a virtual trainer in your pocket or on your wrist.”

The Johnson & Johnson 7-Minute Workout is for people who are constantly on the go, such as executives, whose biggest obstacles to staying fit are lack of time and the inability to visit a gym on a regular basis. The workout routines incorporate aerobic as well as resistance exercises.

“This is a combined, high-intensity, circuit training program that has over a decade’s worth of research and fine tuning behind it. In 7 minutes, you can complete one circuit. The app itself incorporates 22 pre-programmed workouts that range in length from 7 to 32 minutes, as well as the option for creating customized workouts. We have found that consistently doing our 7-minute workout is a great starting point for staying healthy and fit,” said Jordan. “The workouts can be done in very limited space. If you can lie down in a flat position, you have the space available to do this workout wherever you happen to be.”

When asked whether this workout app completely replaces the need to join a gym or work with a professional trainer, Jordon replied, “If you do have access to other equipment and options, and you have the time, it should be encouraged that you engage in those options as well. For example, if in addition to using the app each day, you also opt to go for a run or go to the gym, that’s a great complement to what you will accomplish with the app. But, if you’re a single parent at home, or you’re traveling for work, and don’t have access to a gym, this fitness app is designed to be a comprehensive workout and fitness solution.”

One of the biggest mistakes Jordan sees most often among people who opt to use their iPhone or Apple Watch as a fitness tool is that they don’t utilize the tools available to them on a consistent basis.

“Don’t keep switching fitness apps or fitness routines every time something new piques your interest. Find something that works for you and stick with it. If you jump from one fitness app to another, you lose having a well-balanced and regular routine. Give a selected app or fitness routine a chance to work, before you decide to move on to a new one,” said Jordan.

“My biggest tip for people first starting to use the 7-Minute Workout app is to take advantage of all the app’s features. The 7-Minute Workout is really many different workouts that are combined into one app, and that are designed to give you a well-rounded and complete exercise experience.” Figure 6.13 shows some of these features.

FIGURE 6.13 The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app offers pre-programmed workouts, a Smart Workout feature, and a customizable Workout Library.

“Other apps that claim to be a 7-minute workout are literally just one workout routine that never changes. Every aspect of our app is based on extensive research and science. In reality, it offers more than 1,000 exercise combinations in order to create comprehensive workouts that change based on your needs and progression.

“It’s very helpful for someone to utilize an activity monitor or fitness tracker with their fitness routine. This can be the Apple Watch, or another device that works in conjunction with the app. Any equipment that transmits data to the Health app can become very useful when it comes to making you well aware of your current state. You can use the information collected as a motivator, as well as a way to track your progress accurately,” said Jordan.

Based on research conducted over decades at the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, Jordan believes that the key to staying focused and motivated when it comes to working out and staying fit is to have a clearly defined sense of purpose, and achievable and realistic goals.

“Having a purpose and goals can be very powerful and lasting motivators. Think about what matters most to you in your life, and then relate each of your fitness goals to those things that matter to you. For example, what’s most important to me is being the best possible dad to my son. In my mind, I truly believe that working out on a regular basis gives me the strength and energy I need to be the best dad possible, especially when I’m spending quality time with my son.

“In terms of short-term motivators, listening to music during your workouts has been proven to work. Make your exercise routine as enjoyable as possible, and if music helps to make it more enjoyable, listen to your favorite music during your workouts. The 7-Minute Workout app works beautifully with the Music app on the iPhone, for example,” concluded Jordan.

---