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This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

theatlantic.com

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Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#111

Post by dreeves »

pors wrote: post #9

> Recently, a couple of Harvard graduates launched a program called Gym Pact based on the simple principle that if skipping the gym is a broken contract with ourselves, we ought to pay a penalty for slacking. Hmm, this site does this for many years already: http://www.stickk.com/ Tried it once with some friends and it worked perfect, even without a financial penalty.

Three cheers for StickK! Also would love to convince you to check out my startup -- http://beeminder.com -- which combines goal tracking with StickK-like commitment devices. Keep all your data points on a "yellow brick road" to your goal. Ie, it's StickK.com for data nerds.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#112

Post by dreeves »

roryokane wrote: post #106

I found a link to the Harvard graduates’ Gym Pact program: http://www.gym-pact.com/ . It’s an iPhone app, and it purports to actually pay you the money paid by those who didn’t go to the gym if you really do go to the gym. Another similar program is the free online service Beeminder at https://www.beeminder.com/ . It lets you track anything numeric, such as visits to the gym, and if you fall below the goal you set fo…

Thanks for the Beeminder plug! (I'm a co-founder.) As I just replied to another comment here about StickK, we think of ourselves as StickK.com for data nerds. We think we're drastically better than StickK for data-oriented goals (like weight loss, or anything you can make a graph of).

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#114

Post by yason »

I wonder if it worked to offer customers a monthly fee of $100 and give them $5 back each time they come to the gym. Going seven times a month would make it cheaper than a $70 monthly flat fee, yet very few people would probably still get there more than ten times a month.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#115

Post by tomjen3 »

jayzee wrote: post #7

how about tying your gym visits to your health insurance premiums?

That seems filled with a ton of problems though:

It fails to take into account what you eat. That is properly also a big part of it.

Just the number of times you go doesn't necessarily matter - it is also about how hard you work out, etc, etc.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#116

Post by tomjen3 »

gavingmiller wrote: post #82

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the website NerdFitness ( http://nerdfitness.com/blog/ ) yet. Steve runs a really great blog for those looking to get started doing fitness. The forum there is a good place to ask basic fitness questions too.

I have heard about them, but they seem kinda cultish to me -- once you are in, you are in for life, we don't know diet soda is bad for you, but it is not natural, so it properly is, etc, etc.

But hey, if it works for you.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#117

Post by tomjen3 »

jnazario wrote: post #2

i can imagine that some online services are doing the same thing, or at least hoping for the same effect: users who pay a subscription fee but don't use it. of course, when they do, if they didn't expect it and can't afford to scale they go under. anyone know how big the parallels are between the economic models used by gyms and many online services?

I don't think most of the online services work to make you use their site less.

Paying for a gym membership is a goal in itself in that you can say 'I go to the gym'. Having a paid account at $SERVICE doesn't have the same meaning since you can always switch and there is social pressure.

But certainly no hosting company actually has thousands of GB laying around.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#118

Post by tomjen3 »

surferbayarea wrote: post #5

brilliant startup idea: a gym that's also a strip club :p

I cannot contemplate the kind of mind that can make that connection but you will properly be a valuable member around here.

Anyway you should properly find some other way to make it nice to be there since otherwise you will lose the female part of the equation.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#119

Post by matwood »

dsr_ wrote: post #66
matwood wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. The biggest mistake most people make when starting a gym program is not tracking progress.

I'm going to disagree. The biggest mistake most people make is not showing up. I've arranged things so that when my kids have swim lessons, I go to the gym. It doesn't matter if I track progress or not, because I'm not looking to "make progress". I want to be in better shape. Going regularly is the key. Just as a photographer will tell you that the best camera is the one you have with you, the best workout is the one…

Showing up obviously is key, but the underlying issue is maintaining long term motivation. I found most people need to feel they are accomplishing something in order to stay motivated. Measuring allows that.

Another thing that trips many people up is they are unsure what to do. Having a written plan when they show up removes that hurdle. Much like having a TODO list helps many people complete them, having a written TODO list of exercises helps people to show up.

It doesn't matter if I track progress or not, because I'm not looking to "make progress". I want to be in better shape.

BTW, be in better shape is called progress. Although be in better shape isn't a very good SMART goal. While it is measurable it's not specific enough or time bound.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#120

Post by georgieporgie »

guard-of-terra wrote: post #86

There seems to be an elephant in the room: gym is boring, pointless and offers too few bang for the trouble. It's inherently boring. Walking is fun. Hiking is fun. Chopping lumber is fun. Swimming in rivers and lakes is fun (pools - less so). You see new things and move yourself around. In gym, nothing really changes, you just do some repetitive things in a big room without windows. Sitting in cubicle is probably mor…

Podcasts. I also read my Kindle on the stationary bike in my 30min warmup cardio session. Once you develop the coordination and cadence, you don't need much active thinking to spin a stationary bike. Once you're familiar with weight training motions, you only really need significant mental energy in the last couple of reps.

Personally, most of my gym time is spent mentally engaged in what's coming into my ears. A year in, I'm making fairly consistent gains, so it's working.

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