Fitness Obsession: Tabata Timer

Home workouts taken to another level!!

I must admit that I have a new obsession to the Tabata Stopwatch app; a tabata timer.  I take an arms/abs and booty class at my friend’s fitness studio.  The instructor for the class always uses a tabata timer when we do our rotations.  It would give cues for when to start the exercise.  There would be three beeps when the rotation was coming to an end.  It would then tell you to rest.  I got so accustomed to this routine that it was hard for me to do classes any other way.

If you aren’t familiar with a Tabata workout, it is basically an interval workout with periods of high intensity exercises followed by rest periods.  Although I am using a tabata timer, the workouts I have done are not the true definition of tabata, which is more of a HIIT (high intensity interval training).  I do exercises with weights, squats, lunges, etc. followed by periods of rest. (I will be writing another post including some of the circuits that I have done or will be trying in the future.)

free in the app store

This is a description of the Tabata Stopwatch app taken from Itunes:

“Tabata Stopwatch Pro is the ultimate Tabata Interval Timer that works for ‘all’ your interval training needs. Use with Tabata, HIIT, kettlebells, bodyweight exercises, interval running, sprints, etc.

Tabata Stopwatch Pro is a universal (both iPhone and iPad) feature packed interval timer for people who follow the Tabata training method. The main thing the Tabata app will aid you with is automating your exercise, rest, cooldown and other intervals. As simple as this sounds, it has a profound effect on your workout. You will be able to concentrate much better, won’t have to constantly count and honestly the whole workout just goes by faster. Try it with your Tabata, HIIT, kettlebells, bodyweight exercises, interval running, sprints, and other workouts.

Designed with both beginners and advanced users in mind Tabata Stopwatch Pro comes ready to use with basic Tabata already set up for you. As you gain more experience you can customize all intervals to match your pace. You may even create and store your own interval presets to quickly change to different workouts.

Tabata Stopwatch Pro is loaded with beeps that help identify what part of a workout you are in, interval beeps for example tell you when a new interval has started. Tabata Stopwatch Pro also has voice support that announces intervals to further help you focus on your workout. Oh and what would an exercise app be without music, select your favorite tracks from your iPod and blast through that workout.

The Apple Health app is supported and the Tabata app will write your Tabata workout times, calorie burned estimates and heart rates (needs a chest strap heart rate monitor and Pro purchase) after each workout.

By far the best app for Tabata training available for your iPhone and iPad, Tabata Stopwatch Pro includes:

+ Pro grade Tabata timer.
+ Ready to use out of the box. Classic Tabata already set up for you.
+ Simple to use, just push play.
+ Works on both iPhone and iPad.
+ Comes with 2 beautiful themes.
+ Color coded display visible from afar. Colors represent the amount of energy you are using in an interval.
+ Customize initial countdown and warmup time.
+ Customize exercise, rest, recovery and cooldown intervals.
+ Adjust the number of sets and cycles to match your pace.
+ Jump between intervals in the middle of a workout as needed.
+ Build presets to support your multiple interval training needs (Pro purchase needed).
+ Pause your workouts if needed.+ Works with the screen locked and in your pocket (Pro purchase needed).
+ Interval beeps for each individual interval. Need a separate beep to mark when it’s time to rest, no problem.
+ Interval vibration.
+ Continuous beeps.
+ Three second beeps.
+ Halfway beeps.
+ Voice assist so that you focus on your workout and not the screen.
+ Workout to music from your iPod.
+ Set music to pause to hear beeps and voice assist clearly.
+ Shuffle tracks or albums to suit your taste and workout.
+ Apple Health support”

In conclusion, I can’t say enough about how much I love this app…it has motivated me to do more workouts at home on days that I don’t have time to get to the gym.  Hope you give it a try and that it motivates you, too. *There was no compensation for writing this review.  I just wanted to share it because it has been helpful to me and I want others to benefit from it,*