Fitocracy is Where It's At

A few weeks ago, I read an article about how video gamers excel at fitness, because the same skills that are required to be a great gamer, are needed to stick to and reach fitness goals (the example they used was Vin Diesel who was an avid Dungeons and Dragons player). The article introduced two guys, who were gamers-turned-bodybuilders, and a website they had created - Fitocracy.com.

Fitocracy is a points-based "game" of sorts, where you get points for each exercise that you log. The harder the exercise and the more you challenge yourself, the more points you get for it. Your points are accumulated to help you "level up." There are also quests you can do for additional bonus points, like "Do 50 crunches at the end of your workout" and achievements you can unlock for really pushing yourself. For $4.99/month, you can become a Fitocracy Hero, which allows you early access to new content and the ability to earn titles, which you should be familiar with if you've ever played a game like World of Warcraft.

Fitocracy is really geared for people who thrive on competition, as it allows you to not only compete against yourself, by highlighting personal records, but allows you to compete against others in the Fitocracy community. There's even a Leaderboard for bragging rights. Statistically, people are more successful at fitness plans when they have someone to workout with (which is part of why I never stick to one), so when your friends join, you have the feeling of workout buddies, even if you aren't physically together when you exercise. You can still tabs on one another's activities and give encouragement when needed.

For those who lose focus easily, it helps to have the smaller goals of a quest or a new level to target. For those who are just starting out or lack confidence in their workouts, there is a social platform that allows you to make notes on your exercises and recieve feedback from your followers. It's a great way to tap the knowledge of people with more experience than you.

The site is still in beta mode right now, so joining is strictly by invitation only until they get all of the bugs worked out. I was invited by a friend a few days ago, and I'm already hooked. I'm an admitted workout procrastinator, but now I literally wake up every morning ready to knock out some squats or pushups and start accumulating my points for the day. Throughout the day, I find myself looking for quick things I can do to rack up more points. I never would have thought I'd be this motivated to exercise. The game turns working out from a chore to an accomplishment for the day. And even though I'm far from new at the fitness game, I find myself scanning the database of different exercises (which is pretty extensive and contains instructions for how to do each one) looking for new moves that I've never tried. I also love that the Fitocracy community is so diverse. The members range from elite athletes to couch potatoes.

This is the first time I've ever been this excited about fitness, and definitely the first time I've ever really wanted to shout a recommendation from the rooftops. The site is amazing and I'm so glad that it exists. If anyone's interested in checking it out, the URL is http://www.fitocracy.com/ . You can sign up to be notified when the site goes public. I also have a few invitations left, so if you'd like one, just send me an email and I'll shoot you one if they're still available. My email is kim.graydiaz@gmail.com .