The chart-topping fitness app Fitbod,
using sophisticated machine learning and data analytics to automatically build
personalized daily workout routines, has found its way onto the iPhones and
Apple Watches of thousands of fans and the number is growing steadily. Fitbod
is a new-generation fitness app that’s smart and easy to use, serving up daily
workout routines designed specifically for each individual.
The app takes the guesswork out of exercising by recommending workouts
geared to each person’s fitness goals, level of fitness and physical condition.
Guided by best practices in strength training and fitness science, Fitbod is a
fitness lover’s dream, making workouts efficient, fun and optimizing results
for everyone from exercise novices to advanced athletes.
The good news is that for all its sophistication, Fitbod is an
affordable tool for nearly everyone. After three complimentary trial workouts,
users can subscribe to the app for only $9.99 per month or get an annual
subscription for $59.99. As an incentive to make your New Year’s resolution come
true, annual Fitbod memberships are 25% off, just 44.99 per year, through
January 31, 2020.
Fitbod generates a new personalized workout routine every day, taking into account what
equipment and time is available, the user’s workout preferences and
limitations, and information logged in from previous workouts.
The app was launched for iOS on the App Store in 2015. It is a 2019
Apple Store Editor’s Choice pick and has a 4.8 rating based on nearly 64,000
reviews. A version for Android devices will be launched soon. The app currently
works with Apple Health and other apps such as Activity, Fitbit and Strava, and
more inter-app functionalities are anticipated. A free trial of the Fitbod app
for iOS can be downloaded at https://fitbod.me.
Fitbod was created by co-founders Allen Chen and Jesse Venticinque to
take advantage of breakthroughs in data analytics that make it possible to
create fitness routines that are personalized while being based on best
practices in strength training and fitness science.
Prior to co-founding Fitbod, Venticinque, with a background in
human-computer interaction and cognitive sciences (Carnegie Mellon University
and UCLA), led mobile product design efforts at LinkedIn and is a startup
veteran of companies such as Slideshare, Altschool and Predictify.
“Consumer fitness tech today is like Google Maps without the
directions feature. We have data-rich maps of people’s physical activity, but
fail to help them navigate towards real results,” said Venticinque. “Fitbod
bridges the gap, enabled by cutting edge personalization technology such as
machine learning and predictive analytics. Resistance-training is the perfect
type of exercise for this application. The activity naturally produces highly
structured data (sets, reps, weight, equipment, etc.) and people vary widely in
physical capability, making personalization critical to providing value.”
Allen Chen had a computer engineering background and worked in the
financial industry as a high-frequency trading strategist. He used machine
learning and data analytics to develop optimized trading and portfolio
strategies for clients.
“Through my lifelong passion for strength and sports training, I realized that
the data analytics approach used to design and engineer investment strategies
could be leveraged to create optimal fitness plans as well,” he said. “It may
seem counter-intuitive that algorithms could guide such a human activity as
strength training but actually the data helps to personalize and humanize the
workout experience.”
Chen explained that according to fitness experts, daily routines need
to vary from day to day in order to achieve best results. People’s lifestyles
also dictate that exercise routines should be flexible. Depending on the day
and circumstances, people may have a long or a short amount of time to work
out. They may choose to go to the gym, work out at home, or may be on the road
without access to their usual facilities and equipment. Fitbod takes all these
factors into account and automatically designs an optimal workout routine for
that day, based on what equipment and time period is available.”
All Fitbod’s suggested exercises are based upon best practices in
strength training and fitness science. Fitbod has teamed with highly regarded
fitness pros Chris Matsui,
Nick Cerone, and Irene Gardner, who help architect the routines Fitbod
recommends to achieve each users fitness goals, from muscle tone and
bodybuilding to Olympic and Powerlifting. Routines can include such
contemporary fitness approaches as supersets and circuit training. Fitbod users
can master their daily routine by using available videos and text to learn
about each exercise and view the proper way to perform it.
One of Fitbod’s strongest features is its ability to design workout
routines that minimize the risk of injury. Fitbod tracks the user’s workout
history and determines the muscle recovery state—which muscle groups need
complete rest, or less intense exercise, so they won’t be overstrained. Over
time, the daily workout routines become more individualized and challenging,
pushing users to stretch their limits and reach their goals.
Personal trainers have found value in using Fitbod to assist them in
their work with clients. “Fitbod is like having a technical assistant to assist
me as I work with my clients,” said personal fitness trainer Nick Cerone. “Fitbod does
the heavy lifting when it comes to designing the daily routine, calculating
calories burned, determining muscle recovery states and tracking progress. This
frees me up to concentrate on motivating and encouraging my clients while I use
my training expertise to make sure they use proper form. Fitbod is a win-win
for everyone.”
Currently, Fitbod integrates with other fitness or health apps
including Apple Health, Fitbit and Strava. Going forward, the company plans to
offer routines or add-ons that are targeted to special needs groups or are
designed to optimize performance in specific sports or physical activities.
Personalizing workout
routines
The personalization process starts when new users create a profile by
entering individual fitness information, including their height, weight, gender
and age, their fitness experience, physical limitations, available equipment
and their fitness goals. Fitness activities can be targeted toward general
fitness, strength training, muscle tone, bodybuilding, powerlifting and even
Olympic weightlifting. Height, weight, age, available equipment and available
workout time can be modified as often as needed so that the recommended workout
fits into the user’s day. Fitbod can also pull in physical data from Apple
Health—another iOS app—to keep the user’s workout history up to date. Finally,
the app analyzes data from previous workouts to determine the muscle recovery
state—which muscle groups need to recuperate and shouldn’t be exercised until
another day.
Having considered these factors, Fitbod automatically creates a list
of recommended exercises for the day, including the weights to be used and the
number of required reps and sets. Users who are unfamiliar with an exercise can
access instructional videos and text through the app. Each exercise is
described, instructions are offered, and Fitbod tells them which muscle groups
are involved. Exercise modifications are suggested for people with physical
limitations.
The workout routines can incorporate more than sixty types of
equipment including free weights, bars and benches, cable machines, weight
machines and other equipment including resistance bands. The app will also
recommend warm-up and cool-down exercises and cardio routines to augment the
strength-focused exercises.
To help keep subscribers motivated, Fitbod subscribers get a Weekly
Workout Report which includes such stats as Total Weight Lifted, Number of
Logged Workouts, Total Workout Duration, Total Calories Burned and Exercises
Performed. Personal Bests and workout streaks are also recorded as Fitbod
Achievements.
Integrations with other
health and fitness apps
Complementarity is at the core of Fitbod’s business model and
integration with other fitness apps is a key functionality. Currently, to build
users’ profiles, Fitbod can read and write data to Apple Health (weight,
height, gender and age). Many of the Apple Health and Apple Watch workout
routines—such as Indoor Run, Elliptical, Rower and Indoor Cycle—can be imported
into Fitbod. The Activity app can pull in this data from the Apple Health app
and use it to calculate calories burned during the workout.
Integration with Fitbit is also available, so Fitbit users can connect
to their Fitbit account. Workout data from Fitbod can be posted to Fitbit.
For extra motivation, Fitbod users can connect their Fitbod account to
Strava, a social network for athletes. Strava users can also post their Strava
cardio fitness routines—Runs, Bike Rides and E-Bike Rides—since these affect
the muscle recovery state and can be considered when Fitbod designs their daily
routine.
Partnerships with other
businesses
Fitbod has developed partnerships with several companies who see the
value in encouraging people to stay fit by using the Fitbod app. Fitness clubs
such as Raise the Bar Fitness in San Francisco and hotel organizations such as
the Godfrey Hotel in Chicago have partnered with Fitbod to cross-promote the
app. At Raise the Bar Fitness, in-house personal trainers are using the app to
enhance their work with clients. The Godfrey Hotel offers complimentary Fitbod
sessions as a special amenity. The workout routines are geared to the equipment
in the hotel’s fitness center.
About Fitbod
Fitbod,
Inc. is the developer of the Fitbod app, a technology platform that designs
deeply personalized workout plans, allowing users to get maximum benefit from
their fitness program. Using machine learning, data analytics, user data and
exercise science best practices, the app creates optimized and personalized
workout routines. In short, Fitbod helps users reach fitness goals efficiently
and safely. Headquartered in San Francisco, Fitbod, Inc. is co-founded by Jesse
Venticinque and Allen Chen.
Fitbod
is currently available for iOS devices at the App Store. An Android version is
in development.
For
more information about Fitbod, please visit the website at https://fitbod.me.
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