MAINTAINING a healthy lifestyle is no easy feat. In our hectic world of work, social lives and family plans, sometimes all you want to do is veg out on the sofa with a cab-sav and a burger.
So can a portable health coaching app be the secret to a healthier life? I decided to give it a try by downloading the BetterMe Health Coaching app.
Whether you want to lose weight, get fit or simply improve your overall health, this health and wellness platform provides a tailored holistic approach to well-being.
I’m very active already and eat relatively healthy (bar the wine, daily chocolate and double tequilas at the weekend) but I am intrigued as to what a health coaching app will be like.
- Sign up to BetterMe here
For more information on how to maintain a healthy diet and appropriate exercise, check out the NHS website.
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Pros
- VERY easy to use
- A real mix of workouts
- Accessible to absolutely everyone
- The most customisable app I have ever seen
Cons
- A lot to track and do each day
- May become overwhelming
Rating: 4.5/5
What is BetterMe?
Founded in 2016, BetterMe is a health and wellness platform that provides a ‘tailored holistic approach to well-being’. It’s about building habits that last a lifetime.
The brand’s mission is to create happiness within in an accessible way, removing the barriers that so many of us face including expensive gym memberships and overpriced food plans.
The BetterMe Health Coaching app is an all-in-one health app with more than 3000 workouts, as well as meal plans, water and calorie tracking options and various self-care challenges.
No matter your situation (whether you're pregnant, senior or using a wheelchair) there is a program for you. Beginners through to pros are all welcome, and your dietary needs are all catered for whether you’re vegan, keto or gluten-free.
There are also 10 languages in the app, so it really can work for you; there's simply no excuse not to improve your wellbeing.
There’s even a BetterMe Limb Loss Workouts section which features exercises filmed with five amputees with different prostheses to demonstrate various details.
I’m stunned at how accessible this app is.
- Sign up to BetterMe here
Getting started
The app is easy to download and, as I create my account, I am asked a bunch of questions including ‘what is your primary goal?’ as well as the usual age, weight and height information.
I am also quizzed on my lifestyle, dietary needs, what fitness I enjoy, and then voila; a plan is designed for me in the blink of an eye.
There are subscription costs (more on those later), but I am intrigued as to whether an app will provide all the necessary information and advice to stay healthy and achieve any health-related goals.
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Once I’ve signed up and chosen my plan I am asked several times whether I want to add extra packages (this gets a bit annoying) but equally, there might be a bolt-on package you want to try such as the 21-Day Sugar-Free Guide or the 30 Day Pilates Challenge.
With over 150 million users worldwide accessing its Health Coaching App and/or its Mental Health app, BetterMe is clearly a popular choice.
Upon first glance, the app is fun, easy to follow, and very simply laid out. I feel like it’s good for the basics so far and I like that it’s not too busy or cluttered.
First impressions
Once I’ve signed up and my plan is up and running, I’m good to go.
Each day, I can open the app and I am greeted with a list of clickable sections. This includes ‘Do Your Workout, ‘Weigh In’ and ‘Drink Water’, to name a few.
These are all really clear and allow you to see what you need to log or what activities you’ll be doing that day. This is all based on the information given at the start when creating an account.
The app suggested about three workouts for me a day. I’m not sure if I was supposed to do all of them or choose one but none were longer than about 30 minutes, so I assume I was meant to do all three.
There is an option to change the daily activities and even amend them to include activities for a sensitive back or sore knees, for example.
The workouts are varied and I will say that although some are very simple for beginners, others are by no means easy and I like the fact that they include various bits of equipment.
I did a Lower Body Bootcamp workout but I was a bit confused that there were more warm-up and cool-down exercises than the actual main exercises. This was a bit off, but if you’re someone who doesn't often lift weights, then a long warm-up and cool-down will be essential to help avoid serious pain the next day!
In the calorie tracker, you’re expected to input your foods for the day, and you’ll be told whether you’re over or under certain macronutrients (carbs, fat and protein).
The calories and macros for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are automatically calculated as you input them throughout the day.
However, with my PT hat on, I wouldn’t be TOO fastidious about macros unless you have incredibly strict aesthetic goals. For me, protein is the one you want to be hitting and then the rest follow suit.
The calorie tracker is no MyFitnessPal (MFP), the OG of calorie and food tracking, but much like MFP you can ‘create a new food’ which means manually inputting the macros or your food from a packet for example.
The water tracker lets you input your intake and you can see how you’ve done compared to other days of the week. You can also turn your step count on.
I am a big fan of the ‘Start With Your Mind’ section which offers a couple of short reads on things such as overeating, owning your thoughts and dealing with emotions.
You can choose to listen to these chapters being read out loud should you wish.
So, there’s a fair amount to take on board each day, but with a nice, clearly laid-out app, it’s not too difficult.
Beginners may feel a little overwhelmed at first but I can see why it’s a good app to maintain accountability.
- Sign up to BetterMe here
Performance
One thing that stands out about BetterMe is that it connects to your smart tracker.
BetterMe does have its own wrist tracker which you can purchase, but I use an Apple Watch already so I didn’t need to invest in anything new.
Throughout the day I am reminded to work out, track my lunch, and check my water intake… it’s like having a coach on my wrist.
I find notifications annoying to be honest, so I did switch these off, however you might like them. Each to their own, after all!
BetterMe workouts
The app has literally thousands of workouts, from Wall Pilates to resistance-based sessions.
It’s quite fun to explore the workouts section and this is an area I am particularly interested in as I am a loud and proud gym bunny.
I didn’t follow my specific plan; instead, I decided to break the mould and head to the Workouts section of the app.
As a newly-found Pilates fanatic, I headed straight to the Wall Pilates. A 25-minute core blast was my go-to. The time it takes as well as calories it burns are clearly displayed along with the exercises.
Press ‘Start Workout’ for a follow-along workout that also has super clear descriptions. The voice overlay is a bit robotic but the calming music played during my Pilates workout made up for this.
Once you’re done, the app asks how you found it, which is a nice way to give feedback so the plan can then be adapted to suit your likes and dislikes even more.
I won’t lie, I found the Pilates wall workout very easy. Others are more difficult though. If you’re someone who is very fit and doesn’t struggle with working out, then I would probably say that the workouts on this app might not be for you.
Not sure on your fitness level? You can find this out on the app by using the AI technology which counts the exact time you can hold a forearm plank.
Oh, and you can share the workouts with friends, download them and select your own music to go on top. Seriously, this app has thought of everything!
- Sign up to BetterMe here
Does BetterMe fasting work?
This section of the app is great. Clicking on the Fasting icon takes you to a page where you can select your fasting start and end times (6pm to 10am for example) and then by clicking ‘Start Fast’, a timer kicks in.
The time your fast finishes is clearly displayed and, below the timer, there’s a brief description of what is happening in your body at that given time. So when you start the clock, the words ‘Blood Sugar Rises’ is displayed.
I love this, however, it doesn't mean you will stick to the fast. After all, it is just a timer, but it does offer some accountability, and it’s nice and clear as to when the fast starts and ends. You can also choose a specific fasting ‘type’ such as 16:8 or 20:4, for experienced fasters who want to fast for 20 hours a day.
Is BetterMe free?
No, BetterMe is not free but it’s not particularly expensive either and it’s far cheaper than a gym membership, gym classes or food plans.
You can purchase an annual subscription for just £19.49 or pay monthly for £9.99. So an annual subscription clearly makes sense.
The app is free to download, however, and is available from the Apple Store and Google Play.
The verdict: Is BetterMe any good?
It’s a big YES from me. BetterMe is a great tool for anyone who wants to stay accountable and essentially improve their overall health and wellness.
It’s an all-in-one tool that lets you assess your mindset, fitness, diet and general movement. I’d say this was great for people who need guidance and encouragement too. If you’re already very active and eating a balanced diet, then I don’t think you’ll need it.
I will say though that like any health or wellness program, it’s on YOU to put the work in. No app is going to get you fitter or make you lose weight. An app can guide you and encourage you in the easiest way possible, but it certainly won’t do the work for you.
- Sign up to BetterMe here
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