Since I stopped running, 18 months ago, I’ve turned my attention to a variety of apps and online solutions to the ‘easy workout at home’ thing. Some of them are fads that are dropped as easily as they are started, but I’ve stumbled across one that has actually got me hooked. I first tried the Fitstar app about six months ago, and loved the concept but had to stop almost as soon as I’d started due to a small injury.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up the app again, re-subscribed to the premium courses and started one of their programmes. There’s nothing particularly unique about the way Fitstar gets you to work out – an on-screen demonstration talks you through each move as a timer counts down until the next one appears. What’s genius about the app is there’s an algorithm that actively notes how you’re doing with each exercise and adapts future workouts based on your feedback.

So, you do some star jumps, you report how many you did and if it was too easy or too hard, and next time, you’ll probably get more or less star jumps depending on what you said. The feedback section sounds laborious, but it’s really not. A swipe this way and that, and then tapping Next to swiftly move on to the following activity.

There are badges to keep you motivated, and a social element if that’s your thing. I mostly like getting through each workout just so I can see what’s going to come up in the next one. Gradually, the repetitions or time allocated for each exercise increases, and occasionally new moves are introduced as you continue to improve.

Having invested in doing the workout almost every day for a couple of weeks, I can really see a difference in myself and can see how the app is moving me forward all the time. It’s really motivating. Okay, fine, the badges help too.

There are several programmes available, as well as freestyle one-off workouts as well. The premium price is reasonable, but if it’s too much for you, there are a couple of free things to do on the app too. I’m also very intrigued to read about the team’s new app that will be coming soon, a yoga version of the Fitstar app with similar algorithms and progression abilities in place.

There’s a wealth of fitness options out there these days and it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd and really be something people can stick with as they go about their busy lives. Fitstar is working for me, and I can heartily recommend checking it out to see if it works for you.