A reader asked me recently if I could recommend any fitness apps. I certainly haven’t tried them all, but the one I am happily using at the moment is Sworkit.

Here’s why I like it:

• it’s free! (or you can upgrade to premium for about 30 bucks a year – though I haven’t felt the need to do this as yet)
• you can choose from 4 options: Strength; Cardio; Yoga; Stretching (then within each option there are more choices)
• you can choose how long you’d like to exercise for
• Sworkit then takes you through timed exercises, with videos so you know what you’re supposed to be doing and a clock counting down
• it includes time between each exercise to get ready for the next, and even 30 seconds rest every now and then!

I wanted to work on my posture which has been terrible lately, so I have been doing the ‘Core strength’ option in Strength as well as the ‘Full body stretch’ in Stretching. For 5 minutes each. Yes, I really am a believer in starting small! And I can tell you it’s making a difference. It’s getting easier to stand taller and suck my tummy in, thank goodness!

Now, you might find you can’t do some of the exercises, or at least can’t do them for 30 seconds… Don’t be put off! You have to start somewhere. And you’ll get stronger and better at it as long as you have a try. Think how you could modify it, if you can’t do the exact exercise – like doing pushups standing, against a wall if you can’t manage them on your knees. Don’t go as low, don’t go as high, use both arms/legs instead of one, etc. And stop when you’ve had enough, even if it’s well before 30 seconds – the time you can manage will grow over the days. And how awesome will you feel then?!

Let me know if you give it a go and what you think, or if you already use it!