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Anybody here regularly lift weights?
I am looking for some beta testers for an app I am working on ( http://overtrainer.com/ ). If anybody out there wants to play around and give some feedback I would be greatful.
The app is for planning, logging and tracking results of workouts mainly weight lifting movements right now.
Thanks!
- ejs 18y agoLink (for lazy people like me): http://overtrainer.com/ http://overtrainer.com/
- dcurtis 18y agoInterestingly, I wasn't going to go to the site until I saw your link and clicked it.
- daniel-cussen 18y agoSame here.
- Alex3917 18y agoWhy would you call a site for athletes overtrainer? That's like naming your dating site herpesSpace.
- kingkongrevenge 18y agoMost people I've seen taking a logbook approach to working out over-train... First of all, if you have time to take notes or carry a water bottle while working out, as far as I'm concerned you're doing it wrong. Pick up the pace. It's almost always just porky nerds who have notebooks. A structured planned mentality to lifting is counter-productive. In terms of how much and how hard to go, you really need to listen to your body on any given day. Some times your immune system really is telling you to take it light and easy and wrap it up in fifteen minutes. Also, it's most effective to dramatically vary routines and volume/intensity quite randomly from a large repertoire of exercises to prevent habituation. This simply doesn't produce useful time series, so notes are pointless. Perhaps the biggest problem with a structured and planned approach to exercise is that it's not playful. It's of the wrong mentality to enjoy yourself.
- HeyLaughingBoy 18y agoThere's structure and then there's rigidity. I always took a structured approach (today I'm going to do legs & lower back), but modulated the intensity according to how I was feeling, my energy level, etc. By using that structure, I knew what my plan was and I could avoid overtraining a bodypart. And my notes are useful 10 years later. I can see progression, and the comment "allergies bad today" will explain why I cut sets short, etc. That said, I wouldn't use software to do this. My clipboard served me well for years.
- Alex3917 18y agoExcel is useful though because it makes it easy to extrapolate how fast you will be in the future. Just being able to know whether your cardio is improving linearly or logarithmically is huge, along with various muscle groups. It's very hard to identify your sticking points without being able to turn the data into graphs.
- pkaler 18y ago"It's almost always just porky nerds who have notebooks." I've logged every workout I've done over the last 14 years. I squat over 300 lbs and deadlift 450 lbs. My roommate in university was an olympic lifter. The entire team logged their workouts. Serious athletes log workouts.
- kingkongrevenge 18y agoI think it's a bad idea to model a personal fitness regimen on competitive athletes. They are typically over trained. Really, they're typically damaging their health somewhat. And again, metric driven discipline is just not the right mentality to bring to exercise for 99% of the population. Also, you should read about high weight dead lifts and spine stress fractures. You are probably damaging your back.
- swombat 18y agoI think it's a bad idea to model a personal fitness regimen on competitive athletes Agreed, but logbooks are not a fitness regimen, they're a simple, useful technique for maintaining control of whatever fitness regimen you pick.
- josefresco 18y agoHerpes dating site's are actually quite popular (1 in 5 Americans are infected) so your example pretty much sucks. If you have herpes, joining a "positive" dating site means you can date without having to worry.
- jamesbritt 18y agoThese seems like a variation on Internet Rule 34. No matter what you think is a down-side or turn-off, someone has or will soon make a Web business off of it.
- bootload 18y ago"... Why would you call a site for athletes overtrainer? ..." Maybe because there is an optimal point in training. Working with weights is about repetition. Too much and you overtire or worse, injure yourself. Too little and you miss out on the benefits. The thing I would want to know is what benefit I'd get from logging this on a site (with all the associated hassles) compared to noting it in a log book with pencil & paper? Being able to see the results is a good motivational point.
- ejs 18y agoYou do bring up a good point. I have logged workouts for years into paper, and its easy to do, damn easy. I have done this in the impromptu way of writing what I am going to do next on the fly, or plan it out in a spreadsheet, print it and fill it in from there. The problem I have always had with these methods is after some time I have a big stack of rumpled papers, too much data really. To evaluate progress I just read through and try to grasp some qualitative comparison. By that point it would be far too much work to sit and enter all of the data into a spreadsheet. The point I am trying to address is to make a data entry method as easy as paper, but with results you can easily look back on and really compare. The results can also be generated to an image, and then embedded into websites, forums, what have you, to share with friends or to make an ongoing training log. I am also trying to address the annoyances with planning workouts with spreadsheets. I have done this plenty of times and don't care for it. Usually it involves digging up some template you made for the purpose and manually typing the exercises in, its annoying. So overtrainer.com will also allow you to plan your workout and print a form that you can just fill out, making the process more streamlined. So if you dont care for anything but paper thats fine! You can still plan your workouts and print the form. Thanks to everyone for all the feedback, its been really helpful.
- bootload 18y ago"... The problem I have always had with these methods is after some time I have a big stack of rumpled papers, too much data really. To evaluate progress I just read through and try to grasp some qualitative comparison. By that point it would be far too much work to sit and enter all of the data into a spreadsheet. ..." Agreed. Doing this by paper is probably dead, spreadsheets so, so. Having a web based alternative is something that compelling if you continue using it. Is there a social side of this? Like working out a gym and comparing weights?
- randomwalker 18y agototally agree. i lift regularly. i'm just not going to use a site with that name. even to test it. it's just a huge mental block. sorry.
- ejs 18y agoThe name is a funny thing, this app has been a hobby of mine I have been working on here and there for a bit. It has always been geared towards the serious lifting crowd. I thought the name was easy to remember, easy to tell someone that they can spell again, and was slightly controversial (as seen in this thread!) But since I am gearing this towards serious folks I don't think they will act like noobs do and fear overtraining like its some kind of infection one suddenly contracts with after doing one extra set. In fact most of the people I talked to (standing around between sets), mostly people that compete in bodybuilding and power lifting, thought that the name was funny as most people would call what they do 'overtraining'. Since there are a lot of obviously knowledgeable people here let me ask, do you think you will remember the name now? do you think if it was named some random jumble of letters you would remember it more or less? Anyway thanks for all the feedback!
- Alex3917 18y ago"most people would call what they do 'overtraining'." No, they wouldn't. Overtraining is a specific thing -- chronic glycogen depletion. It's only tangentially related to how much you work out. It's extremely serious too. One of my friends wasn't allowed to use his legs for several months, so he had to sit on the couch and watch cartoons all day.
- deleted 18y ago[deleted]
- symptic 18y agoOver-training is term used in weight lifting for those who are looking to build muscle mass by overloading their muscles during their working, forcing it to go into a greater "repair mode" than from your average person lifting regimen. Another term would be 'lifting to failure', which obviously doesn't sound as good/simple as overtraining. It's understandable you're not within his target demographic and can't relate to the idea, but your comment is rude regardless.
- vlam 18y agoOut of curiosity, why do URLs turn into links in comments but not Ask YC posts?
- DabAsteroid 18y agohttp://ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html http://ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html
- donna 18y agoI do a morning routine using the program "Body for Life"..
- whalliburton 18y agoI am of the opinion that lifting weights is just damage and not really useful in comparison to many other activities. I was a college football player and could put 375lb above my head, squat over 500lb and bench press 225lb over 30 times. That said. That is not health, but damage. Unless you can move your own body weight efficiently what is the point in lifting metal. Try Tai Chi or some form of movement that works on integrating the control of the entire body. Almost all weightlifting is isolating muscles and detaching the control of the muscles from each other. Muscles are also one of the weakest parts of the body structurally so strengthening them does little for the overall strength of the body, which is only what most weight lifting succeeds in doing . There are better ways to strengthen the joints and bones and tendons and ligaments.
- newt0311 18y agoHalf right, half wrong. Lifting weights in isolation is useful but not particularly. However lifting weights with some exercise for careful movement control like Tai Chi is the best combo. Tai Chi just by itself is useful but without some alternate workouts, its doesn't help cardiovascular stamina and normally low load muscles like the biceps. However, given a choice between just Tai Chi and just weight lifting, I would choose Tai Chi any day. The weakest part of the body is bullshit. The strongest parts are the bones but that because they are structural elements and nothing else. The most you can do with bones is stand upright (and even that only after very careful balancing). If you want to actually do anything, you need muscles. Furthermore, bones can not apply any force without muscles. Even in soft martial arts like Tai Chi which use the weight of the entire body, muscles are needed for control. Furthermore, even in Tai Chi, strong laterals and abs are an absolute must because all movement stems from the hips and is supported by the thighs. Without these two, you are screwed. Lastly, while Tai Chi works on integrating the control of the entire body, it also tries to make the user aware of all the individual muscles in their body.
- whalliburton 18y agoOut of all the elements I mentioned, muscles are the weakest, which you don't counter except to acknowledge. So not a bullshit thought. You only need the muscles to position the body. Structure and grounding toward the earth is the source of strength, not actual muscle exertion. If you can properly use your body you will not need the muscles for more than position, not resistance. Real speed and strength comes from complete relaxation and not tension, which weight lifting only promotes. The problem, in my eyes, of current weightlifters, is that they believe that they are healthy because they can lift certain weights under certain conditions. Move to a different context and that "strength" does no good and generally is a detriment both to coordination and to speed. Let me add that this is from a martial artist perspective. Of course muscles are needed to do work like climb a mountain or such, but your are better at growth trying to climb that mountain than some form of gym weightlifting activity.
- tdavis 18y agoI used to lift a couple times a day and am looking to get back into it, though probably only once a day. I'd be happy to test out the app.
- kingkongrevenge 18y agoForty minutes twice a week is more than enough time if you're doing it right. If you can lift two days in a row in perfect comfort you're doing it wrong.
- tdavis 18y agoActually it's exceedingly simple: You don't work the same muscle groups more than every 2-3 days. Your argument suggests that if I do legs in the morning I shouldn't be able to do bi/tri that evening for example, which is pretty asinine. We are talking about two different things. I was power lifting which involves different workouts than total-body or body-weight exercises, for example. For the most part, though, the morning was reserved for cardio and very little lifting, mainly just some body-weight exercises. 40 minutes twice a week isn't nearly enough unless you're not looking for very good gains.
- radley 18y agoHow do we get the app or contact you for feedback? Your page seems to only have a sign-up for notifications, but doesn't send a response... BTW - I've been looking for, and even considered developing, an iPhone app like this. Most are made for runners and calorie-counters, not work-outs.
- tdoggette 18y agoMe too! Oh wait no, this is HN, not a general discussion forum. My bad.
- mikesabat 18y agoHi EJS, I'm definitely interesting in testing out the app. I have given a lot of thought to this. I used to work for pumpone.com and know a few of the issues.
- ejs 18y agoSorry I should have said please leave contact info, or email me at erick@overtrainer.com if you would like to do some testing with it Sorry about the ambiguity!
- spydertennis 18y agoHey, I lift almost everyday as well as doing cardio. I'd love to check out your app and give you some feedback. EDIT: sorry, realized i forgot my contact info and emailed you instead
- jotto 18y agoWe should get in contact. I work on http://voomaxer.com http://voomaxer.com and my mantra is to prevent people from overtraining. So far I only handle run/walk/swim/bike/sleep/heart/weight but I want to get into weights.
- aaroniba 18y agoI think the user interface for data entry is the key problem in using software to track gym workouts. I lift 4x per week and have tried various workout logging software, but have yet to find anything that works better than a simple notebook and pen. A typical session's data includes 6 exercises, 4 sets each, weight and rep count for each set, so 48 numbers altogether, all related to each other in different ways. Plus I like to keep notes in the margin like "grip the bar wider" or "slower negative movement". If you can create an iphone app with a user interface that makes it really really easy to enter workout data, then I think you would find a large market. I payed for gyminee.com because I thought it might deliver this, but the data entry was still too annoying. The built-in Notes program on the iphone was actually better. Also, as other people have mentioned, "overtraining" has negative connotations, so I'm curious why you picked this name. Best of luck. I think this is something people want.
- phil_KartMe 18y agonice tagline for the post. its a great idea to have beta testers be in your target market
- muerdeme 18y agoI'd happily beta test. I currently use http://www.gyminee.com http://www.gyminee.com to track my workouts.
- unalone 18y agoI've just started working out in the last few weeks, now that college has started. 1) Is your start-up one that would help me, new and inexperienced? If so, I'm interested, providing: 2) Do you need people testing that aren't particularly skilled at working out? Either way, best of luck with your app.
- ejs 18y agoAlthough this is geared towards the more experienced I would like to hear your thoughts as someone starting out. Let me know at erick@overtrainer.com if you would like to play around with it. Thanks
- anamax 18y agoMarket research question. Are there more people starting to exercise and looking for help or more people who already are exercising and would like help? One difference between the two groups is that the former hasn't gotten past the "most people quit after 2 months" stage. Is that more of a need than better recordkeeping is for the latter? (Successful first products tend to be painkillers, not vitamins.)
- mrtron 18y agoI workout regularly and have for quite a few years. a) I don't track the numbers, I know what I lift without writing it down. b) Overtrainer is a bad name...as mentioned. Over training almost never happens and has a bad stigma. People have difficulty getting TO the gym, not staying away. c) I don't see it solving a problem. How many people do you know that say 'I wish I could have better charts of my lifting amounts'? Or 'I wish I didn't workout as often'. Sorry for the negative feedback, but it's sincere.
- seano 18y ago"How many people do you know that say 'I wish I could have better charts of my lifting amounts'?" BodySpace on bodybuilding.com, which does this, currently has over 200,000 active members - so quite a few actually.
- anamax 18y agoYou asked people what they thought and you're arguing with them. If there are other people who like overtrainer, great. However, right now the only feedback is negative. Until you've got more, you're wrong.