As an avid fitness enthusiast and former collegiate athlete, I have always sought new ways to take my workouts to the next level. So I decided to combine my passion for exercise with my background in software engineering to create the ultimate workout planning and tracking tool.
The initial spark of inspiration came during my days as a track runner in high school. I loved the structure of having detailed training plans tailored to my event and goals. But after graduation, I missed having that level of guidance and variation in my workouts.
I experimented with a few workout tracking apps, but they didn't offer the advanced customization I wanted. As a powerlifter in college, I enjoyed designing my own training programs focused on progressive overload. But it was time-consuming and I lacked the data insights to optimize effectively.
I realized there was a need for an app that could not only log your workouts, but actually generate fully customized programs optimized specifically for your body and goals. And with my software engineering skills, I knew I could be the one to build it!
After brainstorming features and functionality, I mapped out the key components needed to bring my idea to life:
Workout logging to track exercise, sets, reps, weights and rest times
User profiles to store workout history, goals, preferences and metrics like 1RM
Exercise database to allow tracking of a wide range of exercises
Workout generator algorithm that leverages user data to create tailored routines
Calendar view for scheduling workouts in advance
Charts and graphs for progress visualization
I opted to build it as a web application for easier cross-platform access. The backend would use Python with Flask, storing data in a SQLite database. For the frontend, I planned a responsive design using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
I started by focusing on user profiles and workout logging features. Users can create fully customized profiles where they indicate fitness goals, favorite exercises, equipment access and more. They can then log any workout by selecting exercises, entering sets, reps, weights, etc.
Next was building the exercise database by seeding it with 100+ common strength training exercises across all major muscle groups. Additional data like primary muscles and equipment needed was tracked to inform the generator.
With the foundation set, it was time for the main event - the workout generator! Using the user profile and exercise database, the algorithm creates custom routines tailored to the user's body metrics, goals, experience and equipment availability. Additional logic factors in workout history to ensure ideal recovery and progression.
With the core functionality complete, I focused on bringing it all together into an intuitive user experience:
Dashboard shows upcoming workouts, recent activity, and progress charts.
calendar view makes scheduling workouts a breeze.
Easy-to-use forms allow logging sets and reps with just a few taps.
Exercise info and images provide guidance on proper form.
After many iterations and testing, the final product came together as a polished, holistic platform.
Beta Testing and Next Steps
I'm currently conducting beta testing with a group of users spanning beginners to experienced lifters. Initial feedback has been positive. Users love the customized programs and the progress they're seeing session-to-session.
Based on user input, features on the roadmap include integration with wearables for automated exercise tracking and movement analysis. I also plan to grow the exercise database even more to support athletes across strength, cardio and other disciplines.
The journey so far has been immensely rewarding. I can't wait to officially launch my app soon and give fitness enthusiasts everywhere access to data-driven, customized workouts in the palm of their hand! Let me know if you have any other questions on my app's capabilities or the development process behind it. I'm excited to bring this passion project to the world!