Fitbod workout app: personalized approach to getting fit in 2020

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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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