The FastDay Forum

Has anyone tried it, what do you think?

It's an app for your smartphone, you get paid a small amount if you get to the gym according to your commitment, and pay a slightly bigger amount if you don't.

http://www.gym-pact.com/


My first time at the gym this morning, I've scheduled myself to get there before 6 AM every second day during weekdays, probably later during weekends. Committing myself at GymPact to twice a week seems reasonable to me.

I never underestimate the power of financial incentive because I once entered and won first prize ($250) in a Biggest Loser contest. Each person payed in $20. We had weekly workout sessions and weigh-ins. I think the money was the best motivator for me. But, the group environment, weekly weigh-ins and friendly competition were also helpful. I don't belong to a gym, though. I live in such a rural area that the hour spent traveling added to the hour spent at the gym is just too much. I can save the gas money and the gym cost and use the resources and DVDs I already have at home. Can the Fitbit steps, minutes, etc. be used as evidence of your workout?

The Fitbit app is supposed to be able to connect with Gympact and Runkeeper, haven't gotten it to work yet though.

I figure the financial reward is so tiny it's not really worth it, but the prospect of losing 5 or 10 $ I might very well get me out of bed.

My main concern is if it will actually works technically, having to choose between accepting to lose some money despite having lived up to my commitment, or spending time dealing with customer service and gadget issues.

But I'll give it a try, if it gets me to the gym according to plan it's worth some potential monetary loss, and I do have my 24/7 gym a 10 minutes walk away.

OK, I used GymPact for the first time today, pleasantly surprised it worked perfectly.

And, definitely, it had exactly the emotional impact I was after. I was dead tired, no way I would have gotten myself to the gym today without it, but I hated the idea of losing 5 $ by just surrendering myself to the couch.

I had to get there this Sunday afternoon, as expected the free weights area was full of guys at least half my age, at least three times as strong. I have no idea what I'm doing with these exercises, and was quite pathetic I guess.

But.., it felt OK, I ignored my surroundings and fumbled along with those barbells as best I could. I'll just have to accept the fact I'm the weakest guy around, and there's no way I'll work out with their commitment in time and energy. But I'm there, at least doing something, which is enough. Building the habit is more important than quick results.

They say no one ever regrets going to the gym, I guess it's true.