From my mid-twenties all the way up to my mid-thirties, I was in good shape. I loved going to the gym, I loved rock climbing (both indoor and outdoor), and hiking was something I did every summer in the horrid heat of the west Texas hill country. I never really gave much thought to my health at the time -- my lifestyle just coincided with activities that kept my metabolism high, my gut in check, and food that didn't have the word fast in it.
Then I got married and had kids.
Now keep in mind that I'm not blaming my wife or children for the bad habits I've picked up. My 4 year old and 16 month old sons certainly keep me moving with our visits to the park and jumpy-houses. But my gym visits have declined little by little over the last few years. And my eating habits have devolved quite a bit from the single-guy's day to day grocery shopping that always seemed to have a vegetable or two mixed in to the married-guy's phone call to the wife asking Pizza or Chinese tonight?
But I know my kids are watching every move I make. I need and want to set an example for them when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, and for this reason I made a decision recently to get my butt back to the gym and change my eating habits.
The eating habits, at least for me, are the easiest thing to change, but it's getting back to the gym that sucks. I always find that I can't lift near what I used to. I'm embarrassed when I throw myself under the squat rack or the bench press and groan trying to push up those measly 25s on each side. I know it'll only take a few weeks to replace the 25s with 45s, but during those in-between weeks I feel like such a weakling... like everyone in the gym is looking at the new guy who can't squat his own body weight.
One thing I've learned about myself over the years is that when it comes to motivation, keeping my intentions secret is my Kryptonite. If I announce to my friends, family, or the world that I'm going to do something -- build a canoe, run a marathon, learn Spanish -- I do it. (It may take a while to finish, but I get there. Eventually.)
So it's great timing that just as I'm looking to get back to the gym, I find a new tool at Fitocracy.com that not only allows me to post my workout for anyone to see (and ridicule, thus driving me to increase the weights and number of gym visits) but also turns me into an RPG character complete with level, achievements, and quests to accept.
Yes, Fitocracy has turned working out and getting healthy into a sort-of roleplaying game that geeks are (hopefully) going to love.
Keep in mind that Fitocracy is still in beta -- I've already seen a few changes in the week since I signed up. But it's so cool. You sign up, you start out at Level 1 with 0 points, no quests, and no achievements. The site gives you access to a great forum with lots of folks who are just as anxious and/or excited to try and get into shape. You also can create groups (yes, there's a GeekDad.com group created - more on this shortly) so you can compete against friends and family or even complete strangers in other parts of the world. There's a Leaderboard that displays the Top 100 players (not sure if it gets reset every now and then, but it should... otherwise good luck on ever catching up with those early adopters) and a nice big button on most pages where you can invite others to join Fitocracy.
But the two most important screens IMO are your Profile tab and the Track tab -- one shows your status, including all the quests and achievements you've earned. The other is where you enter in the details of your workouts or walks (or runs) and earn points. You get points for every repetition, every set, every mile, and other milestones that I've not yet reached. Right now quests are automatically awarded (with bonus points) when you meet certain goals, but you can check out what's available and the requirements to meet a quest by tapping the small Quests button in the lower-right corner of your profile screen and other screens.
Even in beta, Fitocracy has a lot to offer. The Track tab is unbelievably detailed in the different exercises, machines, and other workout details that are contained in its database. Fitocracy even offers you the ability to submit new ones if you find one missing. (I'm wondering if Type 5000 words in under 1 hour qualifies as an exercise or an achievement? Probably not.) There's a search bar that allows you to type in part of an exercise name or machine or body part and it then offers up an impressive list of possible matches. I typed in Barbell and got a nice long list of barbell exercises; the same happened when I typed in Tricep -- who knew so many exercises existed for that body part? When you find an exercise or machine in the list and select it, you also get a nice description of how that exercise is performed, allowing you to make certain it matches the work you've done.
No access to a gym or no membership? It doesn't matter. Even exercises like push-ups and body-weight squats are in there. Walk a quarter mile from your house to the corner convenience store? Put it in there. It all adds up. Cardio choices are plentiful -- martial arts and even dance earn points.
For most options on the Track tab, however, you'll be providing details on the number of sets, number of repetitions, and amount of weight used for most exercises. After selecting an exercise you enter in the reps and weight for Set 1, for example, and then click the Add Set button to add in another two data fields. Today I started out slow (so I can actually walk tomorrow and hopefully pick up my laptop bag) with only a few sets per exercise and minimum weight. But it was enough to jump me from Level 1 to Level 3, a typical experience for most RPGers but I can already tell that it's going to take many more exercises and a lot more weight to continue to earn enough points to keep leveling up. It only took 100 points to move from Level 1 to Level 2, but now, at Level 3, it's going to take 500 points to move to Level 4.
I've already completed some of the easiest quests. For example, The Squat Isn't So Scary is awarded for doing just 1 squat. +10 points. I almost laughed, but then I realized that for someone who's never done a squat before, that quest will sit there staring at them and maybe, just maybe, motivate them to try a new exercise that's considered one of the best all-body exercises you can do. And that's why I think Fitocracy may actually find a loyal user base among geek moms and dads -- quests and achievements that sit just out of reach until you take a chance and try to push yourself. The leveling up doesn't hurt as a motivator, but I think Fitocracy will find that continually adding quests and achievements will keep its user base active and competitive.
Fitocracy also has plenty of room to grow. It could easily continue this RPG theme by adding additional features such as:
1. Multiplayer -- Allow individuals or groups to team up to meet goals: Bench Press 10,000 pounds! Swim the Gulf Coast! Move the Pyramids!
2. Badges -- FourSquare discovered that people love to earn badges: I Lifted an Elephant! I Walked the Great Wall!
3. Boss Challenges -- Lift/Push/Pull 5000 pounds in one day! Swim 2x your average laps in under 30 minutes! Run 1 mile in under 6 minutes!
4. Inventory -- Earn virtual items for especially tough or tricky challenges that can then be traded or equipped: Gauntlets of Lifting: 1.5x points earned for all barbell exercises!
Of course, Fitocracy also operates on the honor system. Yes, you can cheat and pad your workout results. But why? I'm really not competing with the other GeekDad.com group members or even those folks on the Leaderboards. If I cheat, I know it. But if I earned those points with hard work and keep leveling up, I know the real score -- better health, stronger body, higher metabolism.
And speaking of groups, I've created a GeekDad.com group. Search it out and join us. There's already a handful of GeekDad.com contributors on board, and we'd love to have you join us. I've even created a group challenge that runs from October 25, 2011 to December 31, 2011 to see which group member earns the most points. I'll talk to the GD editors and see if we can come up with a prize or two (for non-contribs, of course) but don't join the challenge for the prize. Join it for what it is -- motivation. If you're already a frequent gym-rat, join us. If you've been contemplating getting fit for a New Year's Resolution for 2012, don't wait -- join us now. Whether you're a dad or not, you're welcome to join us. And if you'd rather stay anonymous and keep your profile secret for only you to see and no one else? That's fine, too.
So, get your game face on. I know that starting at Level 1 always stinks, but you won't stay there for long. I'm already planning my workout for Wednesday (I'm doing a Mon-Wed-Fri workout for now) to see what it'll take to get those extra 280 points to kick me up to Level 4.
Fitocracy has provided 945 invites -- first come, first served. Get yours now!
