Starting an exercise routine can be overwhelming. There are thousands of videos across Youtube, different Pinterest boards for “beginner workouts,” and gyms to choose from that can make the process intimidating. But, what if there was one place that not only included free, personalized workouts, but directly from your cell phone? This is what the app, “Fitplan,” is all about. 

The app includes over 100 custom workout plans, home workouts and new plans released every week. It is one of the fastest-growing personal training apps on the market, so I was excited to begin my new journey. 

Available to both Apple and Android users, “Fitplan” syncs with the “Health” app in order to help track progress, such as walking or running distances, as well as taking note of current body measurements. Users are asked a series of questions regarding their fitness goals, ranging from losing weight to getting fit, gender and the type of environment one would normally workout in. 

The app welcomed me with a plethora of fitness influencers and trainers, such as Instagram star Sommer Ray. While “fitness influencers” are known to have the ideal body type that both men and women look up to, I was hoping to find a variety of women throughout the app that didn’t have that “perfect” shape as well, which is something I did not find. Body diversity, I feel, is a large factor to include in any fitness app as you’d want everyone to feel included, something the app has misrepresented. 

Regardless of the lack of diversity, “Fitplan” is easy to navigate through and I enjoyed the option of seeing the most “trending workout plans” such as “Strong and Lean” or “Total Shred.” I noticed in the first two minutes of scrolling that the “single-day workouts” are the only ones available at no cost, while the actual “Fit Plans” are $69.99/yearly or $1.34/week. While one can’t argue that $1 a week for access to over a hundred plans is not a bad deal, it wasn’t a surprise since there is always a “catch” to needing a subscription nowadays. At least there was an option for a free seven-day trial to test out a plan to see if it’s to one’s liking. 

Based on the free workouts, there are still 66 different options to choose from. Each workout has almost the same layout displaying the name, how long the workout would take, and the equipment one will need. For beginners, this is helpful because each exercise includes a step-by-step video, while also including the recommended amount of sets or reps, along with how long you should rest between each set. 

This app could definitely be more inclusive, and while $1 a week wouldn’t necessarily ruin your bank account, I’m glad to see a variety of free workouts that any skill range can still participate in. I will continue examining the app and perhaps use one the exercises I found at the gym myself.