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Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

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Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch.

Apple-Fitness-Plus-hero.jpg

The key announcements include:

  • New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January.
  • "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an Apple Watch badge in the app.
  • New multiweek programs: From January 5, the "Make Your Fitness Comeback program" will be available for Strength, HIIT, and Yoga. Each week builds on the previous one to help users progress.
  • Fitness+ Artist Spotlight returns: New workouts featuring music from KAROL G and, from February 5, Bad Bunny.
  • New Time to Walk episodes: Starting January 19, new episodes feature actor and producer Penn Badgley, Spice Girls member, singer, songwriter, and TV personality Mel B, and actor Michelle Monaghan.

Apple added that many people abandon New Year's fitness resolutions by the second Friday of January, known as "Quitter's Day," but Apple Watch users appear far more likely to stay on track. An analysis of four years of data from around 100,000 participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study found that, after a seasonal dip in activity during November and December, average daily exercise minutes rise sharply in January and continue increasing into spring.

More than 60% of users boosted their exercise by over 10% in the first two weeks of January compared with December levels. Nearly 80% of those users maintained the increase through the rest of January, and 90% of that group sustained higher activity levels through February and March. The findings are based on participants who consistently wore an Apple Watch and shared Activity data as part of the long-running study conducted with major U.S. health institutions.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More
 
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https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/02/apple-announces-new-fitness-workout-programs/
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d3vp0ll said:
How can people progress their fitness without tracking progress or setting targets or goals? This service is an absolute joke. Burn it with fire.
Click to expand...

The wife and I use it for Yoga and Pilates (along with actual in-person classes) and it's fine. You don't need goals and targets for everything.

I'm completely over badges, awards and general gamification. I don't need all that to track, but general data is helpful.
 
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It's a great service, really. Glad they're making it better.

But it could really use some better search/category/skill organization. Nothing crazy, but all the thumbnails look the same, it's hard to know what kind of workout you're getting.
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch.

Apple-Fitness-Plus-hero.jpg

The key announcements include:

  • New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January.
  • "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an Apple Watch badge in the app.
  • New multiweek programs: From January 5, the "Make Your Fitness Comeback program" will be available for Strength, HIIT, and Yoga. Each week builds on the previous one to help users progress.
  • Fitness+ Artist Spotlight returns: New workouts featuring music from KAROL G and, from February 5, Bad Bunny.
  • New Time to Walk episodes: Starting January 19, new episodes feature actor and producer Penn Badgley, Spice Girls member, singer, songwriter, and TV personality Mel B, and actor Michelle Monaghan.

Apple added that many people abandon New Year's fitness resolutions by the second Friday of January, known as "Quitter's Day," but Apple Watch users appear far more likely to stay on track. An analysis of four years of data from around 100,000 participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study found that, after a seasonal dip in activity during November and December, average daily exercise minutes rise sharply in January and continue increasing into spring.

More than 60% of users boosted their exercise by over 10% in the first two weeks of January compared with December levels. Nearly 80% of those users maintained the increase through the rest of January, and 90% of that group sustained higher activity levels through February and March. The findings are based on participants who consistently wore an Apple Watch and shared Activity data as part of the long-running study conducted with major U.S. health institutions.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More
Click to expand...

Do they have any new instructors? Or anyone that doesn’t sound like they’re in drama class? The multiweek programs sound interesting, but I couldn’t stand listening to the group when I tried it last year. One thing that Peloton does well is the variety of instructors. I just want to work out, I don’t need a motivational speaker.
 
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d3vp0ll said:
How can people progress their fitness without tracking progress or setting targets or goals? This service is an absolute joke. Burn it with fire.
Click to expand...
Most of these workout services (apple fitness included) are designed for the total beginner. The person who's only fitness is the walk from the couch to the fridge. Their target is to be in better shape tomorrow than they are today. Their goal is to move more.

I basically use it for the occasional cardio when its too miserable outside to walk or run like Kickboxing or HIIT. Otherwise, as an intermediate/advanced lifter and someone who's worked out for 10 years its just a tool in my toolbox.
 
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raziel101 said:
Do people still care about digital badges/trophies?
Click to expand...
At one point a few years ago, I racked up several dozen days in a row where I closed all three rings. As the streak got longer and longer, I went to greater and greater lengths to keep it going.

Today, my legs are completely baked from doing a big leg day yesterday, but, silly as it may seem to some, the badge for closing all three rings 7 days in a row in January has me planning to at least spin easy on my bike today, despite the difficulty I am having getting up and down stairs.

I have about thirty pounds I want to lose, and it's not going to lose itself.
 
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emlarsen said:
Most of these workout services (apple fitness included) are designed for the total beginner. The person who's only fitness is the walk from the couch to the fridge. Their target is to be in better shape tomorrow than they are today. Their goal is to move more.

I basically use it for the occasional cardio when its too miserable outside to walk or run like Kickboxing or HIIT. Otherwise, as an intermediate/advanced lifter and someone who's worked out for 10 years its just a tool in my toolbox.
Click to expand...

That's the case with yoga, too. They are okay for beginner to somewhat intermediate, but beyond that, look elsewhere.

The lack of difficulty/experience-levels doesn't help either.
 
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