Fitness+ Super impressed with Fitness+

[GreenLightLuke]

As the title says - I am so impressed with Fitness+ - when I saw it advertised in September/October I eye rolled hard.
It looked cheesy and a massive skeptic, figuring this was more akin to News+ and I would largely ignore it.

I bought an SE so took the trial and I’ve used it every day.

it is brilliant.

I go to the gym 3-4 times a week and I’m at an age now where I just want to be healthy. I want to move more, so less vanity and more overall health.

I’ve done about a dozen workouts on fitness+ from HIIT, Core, Yoga, Treadmill etc and it is so well integrated with my devices.
I love seeing the burn bar, I love the rings increasing as I workout on screen.

The presenters are incredibly charismatic and yes there is a little bit of American cheese but during my workouts I don’t mind this so much and it helps.

I’ve never used Peloton or other similar services but I’m a massive fan of Fitness+ and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

When workouts range from 5-45 mins if you’re like me and just want to move more whether that is just stretching in a mindful cool down, or yoga this is for you.

What are your folks impressions?

 

[redRAYZA]

I’m also really enjoying the service. I have been a Beachbody On Demand user for a few years, but have canceled that membership in favor of Fitness+. The watch integration, program variety and UI make it super easy to jump in and do what you want in time increments of your choosing.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Yes, I’m really impressed with this. Since U.K. lockdowns started I’ve been doing Joe Wicks YouTube HIIT sessions on YouTube but I thought I wouldn’t even look at fitness +. I just started the free trial though, and it seems so much better. i like the watch integration, and the variety of workouts. Really think I might continue with this while it looks like we won’t be going outside. I hope they get dual user on one iPad sorted so I can do a workout at the same time as my wife.

 

[roncron]

I’m also enjoying the free trial and plan to buy the 1-year subscription. Seeing my Apple Watch data on the screen makes this feel more personal and interactive than any of the YouTube workouts I’ve tried. I like the trainers and that there are two other trainers doing easier and harder variations.

I run Fitness on my iPad Pro, with the screen mirrored to my 24” 4K computer monitor connected via hdmi with appropriate adapter.

I could see doing some Apple Fitness workouts in a hotel room using my iPad.

But I can’t see myself using just my iPhone. The screen is just too small, and I have one of the Plus/Max size iPhones.

Is anyone viewing their Apple Fitness workouts on their iPhone rather than an Apple TV or iPad? How does it work for you?

 

[akosnitzky]

I am a novice and enjoy the service. Yes. There are things that can be done to tweak the service. I use a mini iPad 5

 

[Trash Can]

Fitness+ is good, but I still prefer Peloton. They have bootcamp workouts, which combines strength and treadmill/bike workouts into one. I realize that you could do two workouts to effectively get the same thing, but I like it all rolled into a single workout. Just personal preference. Peloton also has bodyweight strength workouts, which is nice when you’re traveling or don’t have access to weights. Hopefully Fitness+ will add something similar as time goes on.

 

[edwrap]

Eh, it's fine for what it is - beginner/intermediate workouts that integrate well with the Apple ecosystem (health, watch, music). The $80 annual plan is a decent value, considering they charge higher percentages for their other annual plans. It's going to be great for people who don't normally work out, but want to be more active.

For me personally, I already work out a lot, and already have a set weekly routine I enjoy doing. I've tried a whole bunch of classes so far, and the only ones I'll continue doing are probably just yoga and core. If it was just me, I wouldn’t pay for this, but the annual plan will still be worth it for my other family members.

As for the classes themselves:

HIIT just reminded me that I Hate HIIT, ever since P90X years ago. I’m sure a lot of people will love these, but it’s not for me. I’ve also never felt more at risk of injuring myself than when I’m jumping around. As an aside, if you’re thinking about buying an Apple Watch and Fitness+ mainly for HIIT, please do yourself a favor and buy an Oculus Quest and Beat Saber instead.

Strength is largely superfluous if you weight lift at all. But if you own a power cage or a squat rack, you probably already assumed that.

Treadmill classes are fine, I guess, but I doubt I’ll continue doing them. If I’m on the treadmill, I’d rather watch a TV show or movie on my iPad, or listen to my own music. I don’t need someone to coax me to go at different speeds to music I probably don’t even like. Hey Apple, how about giving us a system-wide metrics overlay so we can see our stats outside of Fitness+ workouts?

Yoga is good, though there need to be harder classes. Dustin seems overall more difficult than the other two, but this is still at an intermediate level. Hardly any balance work in the classes I’ve done, but maybe that changes.

Core is fine. Most people probably don’t work out their core enough, so this is easy to slot in whenever, especially since they’re all ten minutes.

Instructors are all overly cheerful robots, but I blame Apple for that. I’m sure they’re required to mention the music at least once, and to finish with the close your rings spiel. At least Molly, bless her heart, has her own catchphrase.

And I've written way too much about Apple Fitness+. It's fine. Nothing particularly exciting or innovative. You can probably already guess how much you'll get out of it.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Just did the 'quick and easy' dance session with Ben - boy am I uncoordinated! I never dance, but me and my wife just thought, screw it let's try... it was great fun. Think we’re going to need a bigger kitchen!

 

[Sirious]

I am honestly really loving it. I am quite self conscience, so going to the gym wasn't something I looked forward to. With this, I can stay at home and keep fit without being judged - the biggest factor for me.

I absoloutely love the 'modified moves' aspect as well. When following YouTube videos, I always struggled because I wasn't at their level but with Fitness+, I find myself doing the exercises in the way that my body allows.

With gyms opening and closing every 3 days during COVID, I think its a good investment. Good initiative for me to stay fit without putting the gym off for days and days.

 

[bransoj]

Is anyone viewing their Apple Fitness workouts on their iPhone rather than an Apple TV or iPad? How does it work for you?

I recently got an Apple Watch so using the free trial and only have my iPhone 12 to view it on as my iPad is too old to use and i dont have an Apple TV. I've only really done the cycling classes so far using the spinning bike we have on loan from a friends gym. I just rest my phone on a point on the handlebars where its secure and have bluetooth earbuds in for the sound. Works fine for that as to be honest with the cycling ones you dont have to view the screen that often, the instructor is constantly telling you whats happening and what to do as you go.

I can see how for some of the other types of classes where you move about more it could be an issue though.

 

[LeeW]

I use it on ATV, 43" screen connected. I know that is not possible for everyone but it is really is the best experience in my view. Use it every day at the moment as I am getting zero exercises being stuck working from home. I just wish they would add new content a bit quicker given my higher usage but appreciate most others are not using it as much.

 

[youngmac]

I have been using the service every day for the last 10 days. I am taking advantage of the 3 months free trial.
I don't remember the last time I worked out 10 days in a row. Our Gyms are closed due to lockdown in the UK.
Even when Gyms are open, I couldn't bother sometimes going for a few days or sometimes weeks. It will take a while for us to go back to Gyms as lockdown might last a while.
I believe home work out is the future. It is not a perfect service, no fitness service is. But it is convenient for many people now and you can do it anytime you want and wherever you want.
I use it on my iPhone and I wish we could use it on Macbook Pro as I don't have an Ipad or TV.

 

[bransoj]

I have been using the service every day for the last 10 days. I am taking advantage of the 3 months free trial.
I don't remember the last time I worked out 10 days in a row. Our Gyms are closed due to lockdown in the UK.
Even when Gyms are open, I couldn't bother sometimes going for a few days or sometimes weeks. It will take a while for us to go back to Gyms as lockdown might last a while.
I believe home work out is the future. It is not a perfect service, no fitness service is. But it is convenient for many people now and you can do it anytime you want and wherever you want.
I use it on my iPhone and I wish we could use it on Macbook Pro as I don't have an Ipad or TV.

I'm in the UK, not used a gym in years as not really liked going to them. Much rather play sport like football and cricket which i've done for years or get out walking our dog for long walks. Wasnt so much the actual being at a gym although i did get a bit bored doing the same stuff but the having to make time to actually go etc.

Obviously with lockdown playing sport has taken a hit and with it being winter and working in an office full time walking the dog isnt easy as its dark when i leave for work and when i get home. My wife has been doing workouts with her mates fitness business over Zoom and part of that was she dropped a spinning bike off for us to use. My wife uses it with online classes but i was struggling to find the motivation to use it just to YouTube vids or random things on the TV that was in front of the bike. I've now done three different cycle workouts using my free trial after getting a watch and really enjoyed them. The combination of an instructor to follow and the readouts on screen really give you something to follow and make a proper workout of it. Also the ease of just being able to do it as and when time allows. My wife tends to do stuff on certain days so i can work around that and its just a case of getting changed, jumping on the bike and doing the class. Last Thursday i got in from work just after 6pm after collecting my daughter from nursery and was on the bike 10mins later, 30min class done, showered and back downstairs to have my tea by just gone 7pm. So much easier and simpler than having to find time to go to the gym, making sure i have all my stuff with me to do it etc and at £9.99 a month a load cheaper than a gym membership.

 

[Pink Panther84]

I’m also impressed and love the Apple Watch integration. The workouts don’t seem all that challenging (at first) but they definitely make you break a sweat by the end. Plus all the trainers are likable which helps.

 

[LeeW]

I find effort varies with some of them, on occasion I come away from a 30 min HIIT thinking I could do another, today I did the new 30 min HIIT with Bakari and came away thinking never doing that again

But overall there mix is good enough and more will be added, a good variety of easy to access workouts without searching all the time (Youtube) is great. Today I did a 30 min HIIT, tomorrow I will do a 20 min HIIT and 10 min core. Loving it so far.

 

[youngmac]

I'm in the UK, not used a gym in years as not really liked going to them. Much rather play sport like football and cricket which i've done for years or get out walking our dog for long walks. Wasnt so much the actual being at a gym although i did get a bit bored doing the same stuff but the having to make time to actually go etc.

Obviously with lockdown playing sport has taken a hit and with it being winter and working in an office full time walking the dog isnt easy as its dark when i leave for work and when i get home. My wife has been doing workouts with her mates fitness business over Zoom and part of that was she dropped a spinning bike off for us to use. My wife uses it with online classes but i was struggling to find the motivation to use it just to YouTube vids or random things on the TV that was in front of the bike. I've now done three different cycle workouts using my free trial after getting a watch and really enjoyed them. The combination of an instructor to follow and the readouts on screen really give you something to follow and make a proper workout of it. Also the ease of just being able to do it as and when time allows. My wife tends to do stuff on certain days so i can work around that and its just a case of getting changed, jumping on the bike and doing the class. Last Thursday i got in from work just after 6pm after collecting my daughter from nursery and was on the bike 10mins later, 30min class done, showered and back downstairs to have my tea by just gone 7pm. So much easier and simpler than having to find time to go to the gym, making sure i have all my stuff with me to do it etc and at £9.99 a month a load cheaper than a gym membership.

Totally agree with all you said. The convenience and time saved, just amazing. Well done, looks like you getting active while on lockdown.

 

[youngmac]

I find effort varies with some of them, on occasion I come away from a 30 min HIIT thinking I could do another, today I did the new 30 min HIIT with Bakari and came away thinking never doing that again

But overall there mix is good enough and more will be added, a good variety of easy to access workouts without searching all the time (Youtube) is great. Today I did a 30 min HIIT, tomorrow I will do a 20 min HIIT and 10 min core. Loving it so far.

Great! I love Bakari classes, he has so much energy and it keeps me going. I usually do 20 minutes HIIT before work with a cool down. 30 minutes is a bit harder I do it less often, I do it on the weekend for now sometimes after work if i don't run. I love the dance class of 20 minutes too, LaShawn classes are very energetic and makes me sweat.

 

[LeeW]

30 minutes is a bit harder I do it less often

I had become conditioned to a min daily regime of at least 30 mins HIIT, not that I recommend it for all but I have been working from home so long now I need it to keep me active!

 

[Canyda]

Agreed. I'm very impressed with the service and I'm using it at least 5 days a week to get 30 minutes of exercise. Having this during a COVID lockdown AND winter is also super convenient with the gyms closed and it not always nice enough to go outside.

 

[interbear]

Yep. Super impressed here too. Yoga and HiiT so far, it’s great for someone like me trying to get a little fitter having come to the end of my 5 a side football career as the niggling injuries are now constant I like the variety, I like the instructors (Jessica and Jamie-Ray my favourites so far), I like the fact it’s not overly intimidating and has options for all levels and I like the sync with Apple Watch and Health. I’ve tried gym memberships before and hated it. Fitness+ could well be the answer for me.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Free trial just ended and I’ve signed up for a year. yoga and HIIT are my favourites. while we can’t go out much it will be well worth it.