8 Motivations to Start Up Health & Fitness

18 March 2020

The holiday season is officially over, which means it’s time to start working off some of the extra pounds you picked up at mom’s house. While people generally love the idea of looking like the dudes who do commercials for home-exercise equipment, most of us still hate working out and dieting. If you are one of them, don’t worry. There are a ton of startups offering the kind of motivation you need in the form of mobile apps. Such apps use activity tracking as well as fitness and health risk assessment apps.

Today we’ll be exercising our startup muscles by taking a look at some of these young companies and what makes them tick.

8 Motivations to Start Up Health & Fitness:

Fitness gamification is huge right now, which makes sense given that it adds a much-needed dimension of play to the arduous task of getting fit. A great example of fitness gamification is Tep, which is basically a cross between a fitness tracker and a Tamagotchi; though, in the case of Tep, the star is a niftily-designed giraffe rather than a globular cluster of black pixels.

The more a user exercises, the better the giraffe does (users can buy their long-necked pets treats with rewards points they earn from walking, running and cycling). If users slack off, though, it’s curtains for the poor creature.

According to the app’s creators, a group of five super-talented self-starters from Szeged, Hungary, «Tep’s competitive edge relies on emotional connection and the mental „threat“ that the beloved pet might suffer from the lack of proper physical activity and thus offers a solution for curve fatigue effect.»

Does that sound a little dark? Sure. But it’s for a good cause. The founding team’s goal is to help users lose eight million pounds of fat in the next three years; there’s also talk of buying a giraffe.

The founding team built Tep on their own time and dime, but are currently funded by Traction Tribe and prizes from Microsoft’s Imagine Cup.

Tep is available in beta for Android and Windows phones, with an iOS version coming soon.

Wokamon

If you like the idea of a digital workout buddy helping you toe the line, but giraffes aren’t really your thing, then you might dig Wokamon, which comes to us from Mars Zhu and Hazim Abdul Hamid of Noodum.

Wokamon features dozens of animated monsters that get bigger and stronger as you do. Since it comes with a pedometer and syncs with wearables like Jawbone, Fitbit, and Up, you can be sure that every calorie burned gets counted and fed to your growing army of critters.

Connecting with friends on social media through Wokamon earns you reward points, which you can burn on unlocking new creatures.

Noodum and Wokamon are currently being funded by an $18,000 seed investment from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Innospace Incubator.

Gamified fitness apps like Wokamon and Tep have a lot of options when it comes to future monetization. They can either take the Zombies, Run! The approach of charging for downloads (which works if you’re as niche and well-made as that app) or offer in-app purchases for things like new backgrounds, characters, or crystals and boosters for your pet monsters.

For now, though, we can take advantage of both Tep and Wokamon for free.

Teamster

Teamster is an iOS app that, contrary to its name, has absolutely nothing to do with trucking. What teamster does do, though, is help you connect with other people in your area who are interested in the same sorts of athletic activities as you.

Conveniently, users are able to identify which sports they like and their level of skill in each on a scale of 1 to 5, which means you won’t be totally outmatched when you meet up for a game with other users.

When you find another user who shares your interests and skill set, swipe right in the app to add them to your team. Sounds like Tinder is ubiquitous, doesn’t it? Users can then create activities for other users or teams to join.

Teamster comes to us from the Melbourne based duo of Henry Chan and 22-year old Sam McCallum, who has a background in competitive running, cycling, and skiing.

Actually, 2015 is shaping up to be an awesome year for apps that bring social networking logic to the gym. Take Boston-based Perspyre, for example, which is coming out soon with a beta version for Android and iOS.

The whole point of Perspyre is connecting people who love to sweat and giving them access to workouts, advice, and motivation. Users can log into the app via Facebook and take post-workout selfies, record workouts, and brag about new personal records.

Though it’s admittedly a little intense for beginners, Persypre is perfect for those who are already «motivated and dedicated» enough to willingly visit Crossfit and P90x classes.

Perspyre is the brainchild of Jason Chisholm and Jeremy Mays and has received $25,000 in seed funding from John Piret of the investment firm Newbury Piret & Co.

If Perspyre sounds like it’s right up your alley, keep an eye out for the soon-to-be-launched SternFit iOS app which also gives workout buffs a great platform for sharing pics, tips, and workouts.

Rocket Journey

If your meteoric rise to peak physical perfection is still in the launch phase, you’ll find a helpful companion in RocketJourney, which bills itself as the «smartest and friendliest way to a fitness lifestyle.»

The app’s founding trio of Carlos Ayala, Pablo Artee, and Ernesto Cambuston has received funding from 500 Startups, the seed fund and startup accelerator comprised of Google and PayPal alums.

RocketJourney tracks all of your fitness activities from cycling to yoga to lifting to competitive eating — just kidding about that last one — and verifies that you’ve actually worked out through GPS and wearables integration.

The app motivates you to stick to your fitness regime by giving you points for completed workouts and taking away points for missed ones. The same logic holds true for user-created «teams» which add the pinch of peer-pressure that it just might take to keep you on track.

You can register for updates on RocketJourney’s release on the website.

OneSet

OneSet — «Vine for Fitness» — is another promising app to stay tuned for in the months to come. Users can create 15-second videos demonstrating an exercise or «stack» other users’ videos into workouts.

Since videos are organized by muscle group or goal, it’s easy to find the right moves for you.

OneSet’s founding team is based in Waterloo, Canada, and consists of brothers Amad and Shameel Abdullah, as well as full-stack developer George Xu.

GYM radio

Sometimes all it takes to reach the athlete within is finding the right music to sweat to, or the right gym to do it in.

Though GYM radio’s online music streaming service has been around since 2013, its new iOS, Android, and Windows phone releases have made it easier than ever to get amped up and pumped up at the same time.

The app features three music settings — cardio, gym, and hardcore-tailored to give your workout the right feel. Here’s the best part: GYM radio is completely ad-free, which means your runners high won’t get interrupted by voice-actors pitching toothpaste or discount car insurance.

GYM radio also offers a premium upgrade which, for a monthly or yearly subscription, will let you listen offline, skip songs, and get access to material unavailable on the standard version.

Gymhopper

Gymhopper — «Uber for gyms»- is a Swiss startup that aims to help you find the right gym by offering its users discounted individual training passes. Gyms benefit from the app by getting a little extra exposure as well as a shot at their target market, people who are actively searching for a new place to get sweaty.

Gymhopper is currently in series A fundraising but expects an iOS release later this year.

What can fitness startups learn from RunKeeper?

Figuring out how to actually make money with your app is a problem that can plague even the biggest of startup fish. Each of the aforementioned apps will have to figure out the right monetization strategy for their product and user-base. One good model employed by the leading fitness tracker RunKeeper is to partner with other businesses to provide sponsored advertising to users.

That means Teamster’s users could theoretically get discounts on Nike products for showing up at local softball games, and Perspyre users could get 25% off gym memberships for visiting p90x classes 3 times a week.

There are a lot of good ways to get back in shape, and a lot of good startups out there creating more every day.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

What You Can Do About Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation, though a common condition in the male population, incites much concern and fear, especially if it transpires quite periodically. Instead of going through unverified channels to purchase cheap yet health-hazardous products, get priligy in the UK and follow these steps in dealing with PE. Premature ejaculation can also result from a lack of confidence arising out of the size and shape of your penis. It is exactly because of this reason that experts recommend that men who are conscious of their penis size should look at taking help from scientifically proven penis straighteners. If you want to know more about the products, please visit- https://jesextender.com/penis-straightener/. How To Deal With Premature Ejaculation: 1. How’s Are Your Stress Levels? Stress is often the cause of premature ejaculation in most. Yet it is the factor given the least attention. Mental stressors, as well as those similar to these, will prevent you from relaxing during coitus. It may sound ironic, that your blood vessels need to be relaxed in sexual intercourse. But biological observations show that the blood vessels connecting your bodily systems towards the reproductive system (i.e. CNS, cardiovascular system), along with the blood passageways in and around the penis, are greatly in control of erection and ejaculation. Of course, this is not to downplay the role of your central nervous system, where it all begins. We set this as number 1 on this list because it’s the variable that permits you the most control over, managing PE. Manage your stress. Commonly, stress has to do with heavy workloads and little rest or little sleep. Try to create a schedule (and working habits for efficiency) that will have you operating at your optimum without “overworking”, whilst leaving you with at least 7 hours of sleep every night. That is, amongst the rest of the leisurely activities in your day today (i.e. time with your family, etc.). You may immediately notice that after sticking to this new “balanced” schedule, PE, along with your prescribed PE medications, will appear less frequently. Plus, stress management is beneficial for your overall well-being, too. 2. Decreasing Sensitivity Of The Penis In Coitus: This isn’t the most conventional of the approaches towards moderating the occurrence of premature ejaculation. However, decreasing the sensitivity of the penis through the use of condoms has been proven effective for a number of patients. Penile sensitivity is not the root cause of premature ejaculation. But it is one of the minor factors. Note that the major root causes have to do with neurotransmitter blockage, blood, and blood vessel occlusion, and decreased capacity of the reproductive system (and its organs) to respond accordingly, from arousal to ejaculation. Then again, one of the most practical steps you may try to observe is wearing a condom. It isn’t fool-proof. Condoms are made so that they do not stand in the way of allowing sensory components to be activated around the penis, as close to when it does, when there isn’t a condom around it. In contrast, it still very lightly hampers sensation. A fraction, to say the least. While taking prescribed premature erection medication, it will be beneficial to be in the habit of wearing a condom during coitus, to aid the first. 3. Erectile Dysfunction Medication Is NOT Premature Ejaculation Medication: Though both treat male-targeted disorders, their functions are different from one another (as are ED against PE). If you also suffer from erectile dysfunction and have started undergoing treatment through ED medication, go to your telehealth physician and inquire about a prescription for PE as well. Your physician will then understand what treatment to prescribe, as ED medication may prompt the frequency of PE. The first has to do with causing an erection for a period as close to average as possible, enough for coitus. Hence, there’s some sort of delay in the process which may be what’s causing your PE. Be sure to get a diagnosis for both. Read Also: What You Need to Know When Having Gallstone Surgery 9 Ways Allergists Deal with their Own Allergies

6 Steps for Choosing the Best Workout Gear

It’s difficult to choose the right workout gear. There are so many factors to consider, and the list of available gear is endless! Here are six steps you can take to make sure you’re choosing the right workout gear no matter what you’re going after. Here are the 6 Steps for Choosing the Best Workout Gear: 1. Choose the right materials When it comes to workout gear, choosing the correct materials is one of the most important steps. The materials that your workout gear is made of can determine how comfortable you are when you work out, how sweaty you get, and more. Firstly, avoid cotton workout clothes. Cotton doesn’t ‘wick away’ sweat like some other materials, and instead becomes wet quickly and doesn’t dry. This can lead to skin irritations and general discomfort, among other issues. Instead, choose materials like polyester, spandex, or polypropylene. These materials ‘wick’ sweat away instead of leaving it on you. 2. Consider the weather Consider the time of year and the climate while you’re exercising. Choose warmer clothing if you’re going to be exercising outside during the fall or winter. Adding a well-fitting hoodie to your workout gear during these colder months is a great way to stay warm while you’re sweating it out. Of course, during the summer you should try to avoid wearing heavier clothing or clothing that won’t wick sweat away easily. Exercising outside doesn’t need to be uncomfortable. 3. Choose the well-fitting gear The fit of your workout gear is more important than you might think, whether you’re exercising on a machine or not. Choosing exercise clothes that fit you well and sit close to your body is important. You won’t get caught in machines, and materials that wick away sweat will have an easier time getting it away from your body. That doesn’t mean you need to wear tight clothing. You should always choose clothing that is comfortable and somewhat loose. Yoga pants, workout shorts with liner, leggings, and other fitted clothes are great as well! Just make sure that you don’t wear clothing with loose legs or arms while working with exercise equipment, as it’s easy for the fabric to get stuck and you might get injured. 4. Be stylish Even when you’re working out, your gear is an expression of your personality. Make sure that you choose the gear that you like. Choose something stylish and fun! Whether you’re looking at patterned workout pants or a hoodie with a unique style for those cold-weather workouts. Represent your favorite sports team or your favorite charity with logos, stickers, and branded workout gear (as long as it fits your other requirements!). Style doesn’t stop when you enter the gym! 5. Supportive shoes are key Shoes are an important piece of your workout gear, so you have to get them right! You should choose shoes that are supportive all the way around, whether that means supporting your foot’s arches or keeping your ankles straight and secure. Choose shoes that are breathable and comfortable on your feet. Adequate cushioning throughout the shoe is recommended, as it can help absorb the shock from certain high-motion workouts. Again, choose shoes that fit your style but asl o offer the most support, cushion, and comfort. 6. Accessorize! There’s more to workout gear than just clothing and shoes. From your gym bag to your water bottle and more, there are a million ways to express yourself with your workout gear. If you like to listen to music while you work out, make sure to choose sweat-resistant or waterproof headphones that won’t fall out of your ears with lots of motion. Your water bottle can be just about anything you want it to be, but don’t discount this step while choosing your workout gear. It’s important to stay hydrated, and a reusable water bottle is a great way to do that. When it comes to choosing any accessories, consider that you’ll be moving, sweating, and more while using them. Represent your personality and have fun with your style! Conclusion Workout gear is difficult to shop for because there are so many options. From your accessories to your clothes, shoes, and more, it’s important to do research and investigate how you’ll use the gear, what it’s made of, and more. Don’t forget to have fun with your looks and style! Read Also: The Essentials of Nutrition and Training and The Most Suitable Sports Swimwear Boxing Workouts That Go Beyond Fitness What Are Virtual Reality Workouts And How Will They Affect Exercise? 5 Rowing Machine Workout Tips Every Fitness Person should know

Overview of Turmeric Use in Traditional Medicine

The use of Turmeric is creating a medicinal value for many patients around the world. Plant products have been a part of human development for centuries. Similar to animals, human civilization would not have reached today’s level of advancement without the help of plants. One of the many uses of plants is to provide a natural defense against infection and disease. Many pharmaceutical products used today resulted from exploiting the medicinal value of plants. Before modern pharmaceutical companies started developing commercial medicine derived from plants, many cultures around the world used plants to cure various ailments. Even now, with modern medicine, many people still prefer traditional medicine. One of the prime examples is Ayurveda. It is an Indian holistic system of curing diseases, including cancer. The approach consists of using primarily plant-based medication. How vital is turmeric in traditional Ayurveda? According to research published by Newman and Cragg in 2007, 61% of all small-molecule pharmaceutical drugs introduced between 1981 and 2002 can be traced to natural or plant products. Although a majority of drugs today are synthesized from a combination of chemical and natural products, it is proven that using plant-based medication is more suitable for human consumption. One of the most common plants used in Ayurveda is turmeric. According to historical research, the medicinal purpose of turmeric can be traced as far back as 4000 years ago. In Southeast Asia, turmeric is not only a common spice used in cuisine but also plays a role in many religious ceremonies. For the past 25 years, modern medicine has been recognizing the medicinal importance of turmeric. With thousands of publications regarding the studies conducted on turmeric, the world is beginning to notice why traditional medicine has significantly relied on turmeric as a primary remedy for various ailments. What is turmeric, and how is it cultivated and processed? Turmeric came from India and spread throughout the world because of the spice trade. In the tropics, this spice is cultivated widely, and each country or culture has a different name for this herb. But the common name turmeric came from ‘terra merita’ which is a Latin word meaning meritorious earth, which is a description of how the spice resembles a mineral. The plant Curcuma longa, which produces the rhizome turmeric is from the same family as ginger. The turmeric rhizome can be consumed fresh, or dried and ground into a fine powder. Today, not only is this traditional medicine is available in spice form, but you can buy turmeric shots which are ready to drink or mix with food and beverage. Traditional medical applications of turmeric: Ayurveda widely uses this medicine for treating different health problems, including arthritis relief, dispelling intestinal worms, and removing gallstones. In other Asian countries, turmeric is often used as an antiseptic to clean wounds and burns. In countries like Pakistan, turmeric is a common remedy for irritable bowel and other gastrointestinal problems. Because of the prevalence of this traditional medicine, modern pharmaceutical research facilities have begun conducting clinical research and tests to determine the viability and effectiveness of turmeric in treating various diseases, including cancer. Read Also: 13 Best Herbs That Boost Your Metabolism How Can A Dallas Functional Medicine Doctor Help You?

8 Motivations to Start Up Health & Fitness