MYZONE’s inclusive approach rewards effort, not fi tness
last challenge being won by one of our more unfi t members. That gave them a tremendous boost.”
Wright continues: “Although not
specifi cally heart rate-related, MYZONE also motivates users in a couple of other ways. Firstly, it helps to change behaviour by making people accountable for their actions. It wirelessly uploads fi tness data, so there’s nowhere to hide if they’ve skimped on their programme – they know their gym can keep tabs on them. There’s also an iPhone app that tracks food consumed: users photograph their meals, with the photos then date-stamped and recorded in their online account. Although people can cheat, it still inspires accountability: if people really want to achieve their goals, they need to be honest with themselves.
“Another motivating aspect is showing users how their body is changing through exercise. The iPhone app provides the consumer with the ability to store ‘before and after’ photos, which can be compared to see results.
“MYZONE also integrates with body fat scales such as Inbody and Intelemetrix, allowing information such as body fat,
muscle mass and visceral fat to be automatically uploaded into MYZONE users’ accounts. This also helps people track outcomes over time and keep tabs on how their body is changing.”
All about apps
“We’re seeing a move away from traditional heart rate monitors towards apps. People can be scared of science, but they’re not scared of apps,” says Liz Shenton of Polar Electro UK. “In response to this, we launched the Polar Beat app in September last year, which works with iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 and will soon work with Android. It links with our heart rate monitor belt and uses bluetooth technology.
“The app is designed to help users understand their workout and get the most effective results. Users can choose a training target – calorie burn, for example, or a time or distance record to beat – and choose the type of exercise. Real-time graphs and voice guidance are used to keep the user at the right intensity. GPS tracks the distance, the pace and the route.
“The workout is analysed at the end, so the user fi nds out how many calories they have burned – many users are motivated by calories. They also receive a summary of how the workout benefi ted them and can then share the results on Facebook and Twitter.” This in itself can add to people’s motivation levels, as they want to impress their friends with their workout efforts.
Jon Johnston, MD of Matrix Fitness, agrees: “Over the last couple of years, there have been major improvements in software and web portals, allowing people to download their information and analyse it afterwards in order to track their progress.
“Smartphone apps are changing the way heart rate is sensed and is the next big growth area. Smartphones can be
WE’RE SEEING A MOVE AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL HEART RATE MONITORS TOWARDS APPS
New generation: The Polar Beat app gives users a summary of their workout that they can then share on social media March 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 75
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