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Please Criticize my Fitness Site that Stores Workout Programs

8 points by jambalaya 17y ago

I want to create a site that can easily store workout programs. This is my first version. It would be a lot prettier but I'm learning and trying to get feedback asap

jambalaya 17y ago
I was thinking this site would be along the lines of http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Training_Programs http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Training_Pro... but flushed out and easy to follow
jambalaya 17y ago
Clickable link. Thanks for any advice, input, whatever! http://www.funniestlift.com http://www.funniestlift.com The reason I bought the name funniestlift was because after doing Olympic Lifting for a year I realized it's really hard and being upbeat about it is a much better outlook. I want to create a fun, free, and valuable website for programs of all types! Hahaha the titles you guys are coming up with are making me laugh! Haha, the reddit meme made its way onto my site!
roachsocal 17y ago
What is it? What does it do? Why do I need it? Having a meta title would be a good start to describing the site.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  Thanks, done! It's for anyone that wants to share their workout programs or use others they find.
atambo 17y ago
This looks like a basic rails scaffold using nifty-generators. Also there is no validation on any of the forms.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  Yes I used scaffolding to start and tied things together. I want to be a web developer some day. I'll write validations as one of the things I need to do, thanks!
thedon 17y ago
not clear what the goal is. If the goal is to track workouts there are lots of better programs you should look at before expending too much effort on something that isn't significantly different.Hi-Tech trainer comes to mind.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  Cool, I'm looking at it right now, thanks! The idea I had was everyone could pool their individual program ideas. Kind of like an open database for workout programs.
kevinholesh 17y ago
* Make the delete less prominent and don't depend on Javascript to confirm a delete. If I have it off, my workout plan disappears with a misplaced click. * Answer "Why am I using this tool?" * Style the table so my attention is drawn to the part that is most important, probably the table headers or the "Create program" button * When adding a program, give me some suggestions; muse me. Give me examples like "Run 40 minutes" or "Do 300 pushups (like a boss)" * On the main page, make the program name link to the show action. The word "display" doesn't help me at all, but linking the name shows me what the page I will click on is going to be * Don't ever use a <font> element. It's unnecessary and inflexible. CSS is your friend. I have more, but you're doing a great job so far. It's coming along great!
- jambalaya 17y ago
  Thank you for your input!! 1) Ok I'll dive into why I have javascript confirming a delete. 2) This tool is to discover workout programs or ideas you see in another workout listed. You can also share your own. 3) Okay, I'll restyle the table to make it more clear. 4) Okay, I'll add suggestions to make it easier. 5) Okay I'll change the link show to be the program name highlighted. 6) Yeah, I need to learn some basic CSS. Haha, thanks! Feel free to tell me whatever you want. It's in its infancy. The more insight the better! Thanks again!
yesimahuman 17y ago
It is really unclear what the process is when adding workouts. The only button you have is "next", and there aren't any instructions given. Also, it would be better to have all of the inputs available to enter at once when adding a workout, rather than clicking "next" like a wizard might have.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  I completely agree with you. I was working with javascript before to do it all on one page as seen here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rails-2-3-four-level-nested-form-javascript-function http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rai... But I wasn't able to successfully implement it. I tried to make it easier by showing the program in progress at the bottom. I'll add instructions to make it easier, thanks a million!
  - yesimahuman 17y ago
    I think you're trying to over-engineer the form with the nesting. You can make the interface for adding a workout very simple. I agree with others on here, go check out what other workout sites are doing and see if you want to do something different from them or make it more unique, otherwise you're going to have a hard time competing.
    - jambalaya 17y ago
      What do you have in mind about an interface? Please keep listing the other sites. I didn't know of Hi-Tech trainer. What would differentiate this site is that this isn't specifically for trainers. It's for everyone to share their workout programs. There are forums I'm aware of like BodyBuilding.com and T-Nation. They don't have user generated programs. I also want to make it easy to use. I'm not there yet. Thanks for the input!!! What I think I know what others may not is that there is a ton of good programs out there just sitting on peoples' desks, not being utilized by everyone.
      - 17y ago
dstorrs 17y ago
Single biggest thing you did right: Got an absolute minimum product up fast, then asked potential customers to criticize. Things you could improve: As others said, not clear what this is. Explain it in 10 words or fewer, make them big, bold, and centered. The interface needs to improve...there are too many steps in creation / editing (why must I create the wrong name first, then edit it to correct value?), there's no way to create / modify multiple elements in one step, and it's not clear how many steps there are, so I quit out partway through. Good luck with it.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  Thanks for the input and luck!!! Okay, I will make it clear with big font on the home page what the purpose is. I understand it's difficult to use! Haha, I have trouble with it myself! I tried using Javascript to do it all on one page as seen here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rails-2-3-four-level-nested-form-javascript-function http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rai... This is the best I could do with having it work at all.
roundsquare 17y ago
Neat idea. Could be useful. A couple of thoughts... 1) I agree with everyone here about the need to streamline the process. Once screen for entry, etc... 2) What does each term mean? I know most of them, but whats an "exercise group?" People who don't work out a lot may not know what other things mean. E.g. reps = repetitions. Put something like "number of repetitions" instead. 3) A lot of workout programs are something like: Run a little for 4 weeks. Run a medium amount for 4 weeks. Run a large amount for 4 weeks. If thats how I'm doing things, I don't want to enter 12 weeks worth on info, I want to enter 3 weeks and have each one repeated. I'm not 100% sure how I would redesign the interface, for this, you can try a few things out... 4) Why are the numbers in drop downs? To me, thats very unnatural (others might disagree). 5) Having it so that anyone can edit and delete a workout could be a bit chaotic. Edit: 6) One more. After I create a workout, the link at the bottom says "Index." What does that mean? A button that says "Done" or something would be more clear.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  Thanks for the feedback! 1) I agree it's difficult to use. Streamlining is a technical problem. 2) I also agree it's difficult to understand. I made up the term 'exercise group.' It's to group the different sets and repetitions for one exercise. I need to make the process more clear and easier to use. This kind of ties in to the first problem. I tried using javascript to have it all on one page in a dynamic fashion but wasn't able to piece it all together. This is the first step in getting a useful interface. 3) This is very interesting to me. I came across this issue with swimming. I looked up some swimming workouts and they looked like nothing I had seen before. I'm familiar with weightlifting. I had thought of being able to copy workouts from one to another. What about being able to copy weeks and then being able to tweak? 4) Do you feel more comfortable with fields? 5) I imagined everyone would have an account. 6) Ok, haha yeah I need lessons on design stat! Thanks again
  - roundsquare 17y ago
    1, 2) Nice. Wish I could give you technical help, but I don't do any web development at all. I'm sure others here will be able to help though. But, if your having trouble, I'd suggest create something much smaller, with just text fields for example, and try to build it up slowly. Once you get used to it, you can create this interface. 3) Yeah, thats a good idea. A "same as last week" button and a "copy week" button would be great. This can only happen once you re-design the workflow though... I imagine it such that you click a "add a new week" button and then fill it in, so once you do that, you can have these buttons. 4) Yeah. A warning if someone enters something thats not a number/integer, but a field is better (I prefer red text saying "this should be a number" that comes up next to the field, but thats up to you). 5) Even still. If I put up a workout, who will be editing it? How do I know they'll be editing it in a way thats really in the spirit of the original workout. What if a professional weightlifter comes in and starts making the workout more hard core? It might be "better" but not really good for a certain kind of audience? This is not to say you can't find a way around this. You may want to consider how people get "access" to a workout. If you do restrict access though, a discussion page would be good. I don't see this as an immediate issue, but something you should keep in the back of you mind and think about as you go forward. 6) :) Its just the fact that your a "computer person" so an "index" is something you think about. P.S. Its good that your taking all the feedback positively.
embeddedradical 17y ago
It looked so amateur. The interface said 'hello world' to me, and then I left within 2 seconds. Put at least some serious effort, and feel you have something of value before getting people to spend time criticizing something for you. I feel a bit insulted, as if being an HN reader puts my time into the value category of someone doing cent-work on Amazon Turk. At the level of work you've put in thus far, keep the round table of 'consultants' to your mother. True story. Remember to add it to your notes.
- jambalaya 17y ago
  PG said to ship something fast and minimal.

8 points by jambalaya 17y ago

I want to create a site that can easily store workout programs. This is my first version. It would be a lot prettier but I'm learning and trying to get feedback asap

jambalaya 17y ago

I was thinking this site would be along the lines of http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Training_Programs http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Training_Pro... but flushed out and easy to follow

jambalaya 17y ago

Clickable link. Thanks for any advice, input, whatever! http://www.funniestlift.com http://www.funniestlift.com The reason I bought the name funniestlift was because after doing Olympic Lifting for a year I realized it's really hard and being upbeat about it is a much better outlook. I want to create a fun, free, and valuable website for programs of all types! Hahaha the titles you guys are coming up with are making me laugh! Haha, the reddit meme made its way onto my site!

roachsocal 17y ago

What is it? What does it do? Why do I need it? Having a meta title would be a good start to describing the site.

jambalaya 17y ago
Thanks, done! It's for anyone that wants to share their workout programs or use others they find.

atambo 17y ago

This looks like a basic rails scaffold using nifty-generators. Also there is no validation on any of the forms.

jambalaya 17y ago
Yes I used scaffolding to start and tied things together. I want to be a web developer some day. I'll write validations as one of the things I need to do, thanks!

thedon 17y ago

not clear what the goal is. If the goal is to track workouts there are lots of better programs you should look at before expending too much effort on something that isn't significantly different.Hi-Tech trainer comes to mind.

jambalaya 17y ago
Cool, I'm looking at it right now, thanks! The idea I had was everyone could pool their individual program ideas. Kind of like an open database for workout programs.

kevinholesh 17y ago

* Make the delete less prominent and don't depend on Javascript to confirm a delete. If I have it off, my workout plan disappears with a misplaced click. * Answer "Why am I using this tool?" * Style the table so my attention is drawn to the part that is most important, probably the table headers or the "Create program" button * When adding a program, give me some suggestions; muse me. Give me examples like "Run 40 minutes" or "Do 300 pushups (like a boss)" * On the main page, make the program name link to the show action. The word "display" doesn't help me at all, but linking the name shows me what the page I will click on is going to be * Don't ever use a <font> element. It's unnecessary and inflexible. CSS is your friend. I have more, but you're doing a great job so far. It's coming along great!

jambalaya 17y ago
Thank you for your input!! 1) Ok I'll dive into why I have javascript confirming a delete. 2) This tool is to discover workout programs or ideas you see in another workout listed. You can also share your own. 3) Okay, I'll restyle the table to make it more clear. 4) Okay, I'll add suggestions to make it easier. 5) Okay I'll change the link show to be the program name highlighted. 6) Yeah, I need to learn some basic CSS. Haha, thanks! Feel free to tell me whatever you want. It's in its infancy. The more insight the better! Thanks again!

yesimahuman 17y ago

It is really unclear what the process is when adding workouts. The only button you have is "next", and there aren't any instructions given. Also, it would be better to have all of the inputs available to enter at once when adding a workout, rather than clicking "next" like a wizard might have.

jambalaya 17y ago
I completely agree with you. I was working with javascript before to do it all on one page as seen here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rails-2-3-four-level-nested-form-javascript-function http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rai... But I wasn't able to successfully implement it. I tried to make it easier by showing the program in progress at the bottom. I'll add instructions to make it easier, thanks a million!
- yesimahuman 17y ago
  I think you're trying to over-engineer the form with the nesting. You can make the interface for adding a workout very simple. I agree with others on here, go check out what other workout sites are doing and see if you want to do something different from them or make it more unique, otherwise you're going to have a hard time competing.
  - jambalaya 17y ago
    What do you have in mind about an interface? Please keep listing the other sites. I didn't know of Hi-Tech trainer. What would differentiate this site is that this isn't specifically for trainers. It's for everyone to share their workout programs. There are forums I'm aware of like BodyBuilding.com and T-Nation. They don't have user generated programs. I also want to make it easy to use. I'm not there yet. Thanks for the input!!! What I think I know what others may not is that there is a ton of good programs out there just sitting on peoples' desks, not being utilized by everyone.
    - 17y ago

dstorrs 17y ago

Single biggest thing you did right: Got an absolute minimum product up fast, then asked potential customers to criticize. Things you could improve: As others said, not clear what this is. Explain it in 10 words or fewer, make them big, bold, and centered. The interface needs to improve...there are too many steps in creation / editing (why must I create the wrong name first, then edit it to correct value?), there's no way to create / modify multiple elements in one step, and it's not clear how many steps there are, so I quit out partway through. Good luck with it.

jambalaya 17y ago
Thanks for the input and luck!!! Okay, I will make it clear with big font on the home page what the purpose is. I understand it's difficult to use! Haha, I have trouble with it myself! I tried using Javascript to do it all on one page as seen here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rails-2-3-four-level-nested-form-javascript-function http://stackoverflow.com/questions/741576/need-help-with-rai... This is the best I could do with having it work at all.

roundsquare 17y ago

Neat idea. Could be useful. A couple of thoughts... 1) I agree with everyone here about the need to streamline the process. Once screen for entry, etc... 2) What does each term mean? I know most of them, but whats an "exercise group?" People who don't work out a lot may not know what other things mean. E.g. reps = repetitions. Put something like "number of repetitions" instead. 3) A lot of workout programs are something like: Run a little for 4 weeks. Run a medium amount for 4 weeks. Run a large amount for 4 weeks. If thats how I'm doing things, I don't want to enter 12 weeks worth on info, I want to enter 3 weeks and have each one repeated. I'm not 100% sure how I would redesign the interface, for this, you can try a few things out... 4) Why are the numbers in drop downs? To me, thats very unnatural (others might disagree). 5) Having it so that anyone can edit and delete a workout could be a bit chaotic. Edit: 6) One more. After I create a workout, the link at the bottom says "Index." What does that mean? A button that says "Done" or something would be more clear.

jambalaya 17y ago
Thanks for the feedback! 1) I agree it's difficult to use. Streamlining is a technical problem. 2) I also agree it's difficult to understand. I made up the term 'exercise group.' It's to group the different sets and repetitions for one exercise. I need to make the process more clear and easier to use. This kind of ties in to the first problem. I tried using javascript to have it all on one page in a dynamic fashion but wasn't able to piece it all together. This is the first step in getting a useful interface. 3) This is very interesting to me. I came across this issue with swimming. I looked up some swimming workouts and they looked like nothing I had seen before. I'm familiar with weightlifting. I had thought of being able to copy workouts from one to another. What about being able to copy weeks and then being able to tweak? 4) Do you feel more comfortable with fields? 5) I imagined everyone would have an account. 6) Ok, haha yeah I need lessons on design stat! Thanks again
- roundsquare 17y ago
  1, 2) Nice. Wish I could give you technical help, but I don't do any web development at all. I'm sure others here will be able to help though. But, if your having trouble, I'd suggest create something much smaller, with just text fields for example, and try to build it up slowly. Once you get used to it, you can create this interface. 3) Yeah, thats a good idea. A "same as last week" button and a "copy week" button would be great. This can only happen once you re-design the workflow though... I imagine it such that you click a "add a new week" button and then fill it in, so once you do that, you can have these buttons. 4) Yeah. A warning if someone enters something thats not a number/integer, but a field is better (I prefer red text saying "this should be a number" that comes up next to the field, but thats up to you). 5) Even still. If I put up a workout, who will be editing it? How do I know they'll be editing it in a way thats really in the spirit of the original workout. What if a professional weightlifter comes in and starts making the workout more hard core? It might be "better" but not really good for a certain kind of audience? This is not to say you can't find a way around this. You may want to consider how people get "access" to a workout. If you do restrict access though, a discussion page would be good. I don't see this as an immediate issue, but something you should keep in the back of you mind and think about as you go forward. 6) :) Its just the fact that your a "computer person" so an "index" is something you think about. P.S. Its good that your taking all the feedback positively.

embeddedradical 17y ago

It looked so amateur. The interface said 'hello world' to me, and then I left within 2 seconds. Put at least some serious effort, and feel you have something of value before getting people to spend time criticizing something for you. I feel a bit insulted, as if being an HN reader puts my time into the value category of someone doing cent-work on Amazon Turk. At the level of work you've put in thus far, keep the round table of 'consultants' to your mother. True story. Remember to add it to your notes.

jambalaya 17y ago
PG said to ship something fast and minimal.