I train twice a week. When I get to the gym, I want to open my phone, see the workout I planned, and log each set without breaking my rhythm. That’s the iPhone app I’m thinking about building for myself.
I want the app to work from day one for people who train on their own. For the workout builder, I’m taking inspiration from Everfit.
Planning my own workouts
I’d start with a built-in library of four workout templates.
- Legs and triceps
- Shoulders and chest
- Back and biceps
- Abs
I could pick a template, adjust the sets, and schedule it for one of my two gym days. I’d also want to build a workout from scratch, give it my own name, and enter the weights I use for each exercise.
Logging a set in one tap
My starting point is five or six exercises per workout, four sets per exercise by default, and up to two minutes of rest between sets. Each exercise would have a table with one row per set. I’d enter reps and weight in kilograms, then tap once to mark the set complete.
| Set | Reps | Weight (kg) | Done? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 40 | Yes |
| 2 | 8 | 40 | Yes |
| 3 | 8 | 40 | No |
| 4 | 8 | 40 | No |
I’d also like people to be able to choose a trainer. Trainers could create workouts, set targets for each exercise, and manage client calendars. Clients would use the same table to log their sets.
A free plan before the app
I want to start on the web with a short survey about goals, training experience, and how often someone can get to the gym. Their answers would generate a personalized plan. The results page would give them a free, printable PDF with every workout in that plan.
I’d offer 40% off a year of app access on that same page. My benchmark for the regular annual price is what one gym session with a personal trainer costs in the U.S.
My first test is whether I keep opening the app for both workouts each week. Once the logging feels easy in the gym, I want to see whether people who get a plan from the survey come back to log their workouts.