The purpose of physical activity is to free people from sedimentary lifestyles and escape technology, yet smartphones have become ubiquitous and found its way to potentially replace the fitness industry.

Personal trainers design workouts for clients, catering to their specific goals and body requirements.  In other words, workouts should be customized and different for everyone. How can a smartphone app be effective if it is designed to target the general population? Is it reliable to use an app created by developers with minimal or no health background? Workouts are designed to change human behaviour, yet researchers have found that fitness apps seldom incorporate such techniques.  So…will users ever gain that six pack?

I believe that the purpose of working out is to better one’s lifestyle physically and mentally. The goal is to improve or change bad practices so people can learn when or how to make correct choices (in health and life in general).  For example, personalized workouts train individuals to invest in physical activity and to budget caloric intake.  If people over consume, they gain a few extra pounds.  Similarly in life, people must make wise decisions.  Otherwise, they face unpleasant consequences.  Therefore, I view working out as an analogy to life.  Since people hold different problem solving skills and response methods, everyone’s approach to a challenge is unique; hence, workouts cannot be unanimous or generalized because human behaviour is not.

However, with technology growing faster than ever, apps may possibly be our future fitness experts.