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Going to the Gym with a Plan—and an App

I don’t know what it is, but sometimes I get to the gym, and it’s like it’s the first time I’ve exercised in my life. My mind goes blank. I struggle to come up with exercises I can do—never mind a comprehensive workout that makes any sense at all. It’s a sort of workout-amnesia, and if I don’t have a plan, I don’t have as successful of a workout. Sure, I can think of all of the basic moves—lunges, squats, planks, push-ups—but those get boring when they’re all you can think of to do. I’m talking more complex, combination moves that are unique and interesting and work those little muscles that you forgot existed. It’s why I love personal trainers—someone to do the thinking for you.

So lately, I’ve been heading to the gym with a plan. Whether it’s a forwarded email on my phone that has a past workout or whether it’s a new app with exercises, like the Nike Training Club app I just downloaded for my phone. The app is perfect for my “condition”—you can choose various goals (like Get Strong, which is increased weight and reps for strength or Get Toned, which is light weights and intervals, among others), choose your skill level, and you’ll get workouts to choose from.

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The Nike Training Club app is my cure for gym-nesia.

For my first time, I did a 15-minute Ab Burner workout. The moves are listed, along with the duration for the move, and you can click on the thumbnail for pictures of the move in action and instructions. Plug into your headphones, and you’ll have a trainer who cues you on form and who will count down your duration for you. (I have to listen for my name to be called by the gym daycare over the intercom system, so I just do it sans headphones.) It logs your progress, and you can go back and see what workouts you did.




This system is perfect for me. And I know that the fitness apps out there are endless, so I’m not exactly sure why it’s taken me this long to get on board. But now that I’ve seen how easy and awesome it is, I think I’m going to go a little app-happy. No more workout amnesia for me! Plus, my ab workout had my abs burning, so I’m excited to try more full-body workouts.

Anyone else have the same gym forgetfulness I do? Do you go high-tech to cure it? —Erin

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Comments

6 Comments
  1. Cliff says:

    Agreed….the apps are good, & I like the easy way you can track everything. Runkeeper on the iphone is good for that & sends you texts when you have completed different things (quickest time, furthest distance)…..I bought the 100 press up app….but too ‘narrow’& get very bored v quickly…
    This Nike one looks good tho, a bit more varied..

  2. I love to get new inspiration for the gym–thank you, downloading the app now!! Thanks!
    Cindy @ Crazylou

  3. Chris says:

    That app sounds awesome. I’m going to have to try it because I have the same problems. If I don’t go in with a plan, I just pick things on the fly and it always ends up feeling like I’m just doing the same things over and over. I’m sure I could be doing better.

  4. Fitz101 says:

    You should ALWAYS have a plan when you are going to the gym—especially if you’re doing weights that day. A lot of my gym time during my college years were spent trying to figure out what workouts to do to work the specific muscles I’m working that day—and then my 2 hours at the gym is really only about 30 minutes of actual work.

  5. Kristy says:

    I’ve had the same problem as you so I started using the JEFIT app, but I’m not sure if I like it. I’m gonna have to try yours.

  6. RB says:

    The apps are very good, but I get so wrapped up in my workout that I often lose track of everything. But it is a great idea to use them so that you have a plan going into your workout. If you don’t get everything done, no worries.

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