The Streaks workout app
The streaks workout app is a great habit building platform for achieving your fitness goals.
The streaks workout app is a great habit-building platform for achieving your fitness goals. I must preface this post by stating that the Streaks workout app is only available on Apple devices and works best when paired with an iPhone/iPad and Apple Watch.
Overview
The Streaks workout app requires a bit of time to set up, but once you are up and running you will only need to spend a little time to maintain it. The two primary areas to set up are the exercises and workouts.
Starting with all your exercises will save the frustration of switching back and forth between the workout and exercise builders. Simply choose the icon that best represents the exercise, the title, and an estimation of how long it takes to complete one rep.
Starting with all your exercises will save the frustration of switching back and forth between the workout and exercise builders. Simply choose the icon that best represents the exercise, the title, and an estimation of how long it takes to complete one rep.
The app works seamlessly across all iOS devices, for example, if you start a workout on your iPhone/iPad it will automatically start tracking your heart rate on the Apple Watch.
If you are beginning your fitness journey this app might not be for you as it only provides limited guidance in terms of the correct technique. At a minimum, I would recommend seeking professional advice first. This can be from either a personal trainer or physio to gain a fundamental understanding of the exercises.
In my case, I started to use this app after seeing a physio for Achilles pain. I have prescribed two workout routines that were demonstrated in person and are to be completed twice a week. I was then able to add these exercises and workouts to the app and ensure I was completing them as prescribed.
I struggled to get into a habit of stretching every day however, with a defined routine in the Streaks workout app and allocated time in my calendar (more on this in a future post) I was able to build an 18-day streak. The approx. time next to each of the workouts also helps to put into perspective that stretching once a day can take as little as 12 minutes.
Comparison
The Streaks workout app falls across a few distinct categories and while it lacks the features of some more advanced fitness apps it's simplicity and ease of use keep you coming back for another workout.
The Streaks workout app costs $5.99 AUD, however, this is a once-off payment so there are no subscription plans. There is an obvious risk in purchasing this app as you aren't able to try it before you buy.
Streaks have a collection of other apps which have been continuously updated with new features every month or so, therefore I would not be worried about the app becoming dated after your once-off purchase. Comparing the reviews to the release notes it can also be seen that Streaks develops have been proactively addressing the concerns.
Improvements
A feature that would make the set-up time of the app quicker would be the ability to duplicate groups of workouts. For example, if you had two excises and then a rest that you wanted to repeat three times over, you need to create each one individually each time.
Conclusion
The Streaks workout app makes a great addition to an already structured exercise routine and when combined with expert advice from a personal trainer or physio it can help ensure you achieve your fitness goals and stick to your habits.
STREAKS WORKOUT. The personal trainer that you actually want to use. For iOS.