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Like,a lot.And she looked great.
Hiiiii what is this workout program?
psychotherapist and owner of New Jersey-based group private practiceAnchor Therapy
I responded to one of her posts.
I snoozed the offer until the weather got bad, then activated the membership in October.
What is Future, anyway?
Future is part of a broad category ofworkout apps, all with varying degrees of personalization.
Options range from pre-programmed workout libraries to one-on-one trainers with customized routines and frequent check-ins.
The costs vary to reflect this.
Your trainer provides individualized programs, feedback, and scheduled check-in calls.
At $199 per month, Future is undeniably pricey for an app.
Michelle Porter, CPT, is one of the personal trainers who pivoted to remote coaching during lockdown.
psychotherapist and owner of New Jersey-based group private practiceAnchor Therapy
Porter agreed with my assumption that remote training is good for both flexibility and accountability.
Once the on-screen spiral stopped spiraling, I was matched with three potential coaches.
Scheduling the first workout did cue a momentary panic, thanks to my commitment-phobe personality.
You have an email jobyou spend all day on your setup!
I was also skeptical about the pressure of answering to someone.
Glashow also acknowledged that for some personality types (mine), too much communication can feel invasive.
Porter had also mentioned this, stressing that finding the right trainer with a well-matched communication method was key.
Mixed in were accessory exercises, carries, and core work.
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Get familiar with the app before you do your first workout, Guil told me during our initial call.
Sure of course, I said, with pure intentions and zero follow-through.
My gym is sprawling and crowded, so I combine sets based on equipment location.
It felt absolutely chaotic.
Considering Guil had never seen my gym, it really wasnt bad.
The interface has convenient places to provide feedback, and (humiliatingly) record videos for form checks.
Auto-play videos demonstrate each exercise, and there are verbal cues with reminders about best practices.
Smoother sailing
The second week was smoother.
Guilt said hed increase the reps for some exercises while keeping the weight the same.
For others, hed decrease the reps while increasing weight.
App users need to be diligent about providing feedback and reporting weight and rep changes.
Not to be reductive, but this is a good general rule.
You get out of something what you put into it.
Maybe six days per week, including vacation, was a bit overboard.
Feeling annoyed?
I opened it, flinching at the large text that screamed FIRST WORKOUT BACK IN THE US!!!
!with four exclamation points.
Oh hell no,I groaned, closing the app with an irritated swipe.
Six days per week was feeling like a burden, and I realized I didnt need my runsandlifts programmed.
If it snowed, Id rather skate ski.
If the weather was terrible, Id rather swim.
And on my running days, I didnt want to bring my phone and track my intervals.
Self-motivated individuals tend to rely more on internal drives and personal satisfaction to achieve their goals, Glashow says.
For these individuals, consistent follow-ups and check-ins might feel unnecessary or even intrusive.
I messaged Guil, feeling vaguely guilty, and said Id rather just have three programmed lifting days.
As always, he was receptive and removed the running programming, which immediately felt more manageable.
Since then, its felt like the perfect balance.
Is an expensive fitness app right for you?
Id recommend being up front about what level of feedback you prefer.
Its almost like dating, Porter says.
We all have different personalities, and some apps categorize the trainers into labels.
Do you want someone analytical?
Do you want a cheerleader?
If its not a good personality fit, then its going to feel painful.
Do what feels right and youll get more out of it.
Ultimately, the key is finding a balance, Glashow says.
I like the variation, and having accountability with a real trainer has helped with my consistency.
And remember to tailor the app for your own needs.
It might be different for you.
Just do what feels right and youll get more out of it.
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