Several Requests - Supersets were Requested Earlier, Cycles I suggested too
This is a copy of a message I sent before I realized this even had forums.
Hey Ross.
The idea is awesome but before it becomes useful some basic improvements need to be implemented. Usually when a workout (training regime?) is created it is done so to cover a one week period. You follow it for four weeks, make slight changes and take a break roughly every 8 weeks.
Because such a cycle makes it easier to follow, it should be possible to assign a workout to a day of the week or a day in a cycle (of 7 days or an amount of days you choose). You should be able to specify days off too and multiple workouts/day.
As well, right off the bat when looking at a workout it should state the sets and reps in the table right next to the exercise. The workout is really useless without it.
The exercise order should also allow for super sets. Meaning say I have a 2x5 (sets x reps) superset of dips and squats. So I do dips, squats, dips, squats (one exercise followed by the other then back to the last).
The exercises can be labeled A1 and A2 (the A's are supersets) Followed by B, C (the next exercises, not supersets)
As well many people don't train to failure. An estimate of the weight you should be doing could be put at the side (optional). eg. For a 4x5 - constant weight, only the last rep of the last set leads to failure/near failure, you could say the weight needed to perform this is an 8RM, an 8 Rep Maximum (you fail or can't go on after doing 8 reps, however in this workout you only do 5 reps but for 4 sets with 60 second breaks).
The website could also incorporate basic calculators using various formulas, and stating these formulas, for the Rep Maximums, Basal Metabolic Rate, that kind of stuff.
The websites is really useless to me without the first two (create a training regime, tag workouts to days of the week, list sets x reps for each exercise)
But it's a great undertaking you're doing.
Thanks,
Pavel.
Also - not only is it a great undertaking but I've looked at PEERTrainer, Traineo and RunFatBoyRun and the work you're doing here is better and more advanced if it gets done and turns out right.
Thank you for your suggestions psedach
Great suggestions!
I have a plan in place to make advanced submitting of sets/reps. There will be an 'advanced mode' where you can do pyramid sets and so forth. (different weights/reps for each set). You are not directly suggesting this, but as a power user I am sure you could appretiate it.
Let me discuss some of your other thoughts:
The exercise order should also allow for super sets. Meaning say I have a 2x5 (sets x reps) superset of dips and squats. So I do dips, squats, dips, squats (one exercise followed by the other then back to the last).
Should this really be systematically programmed on Gimme20? For example, is it not easier just to put in the description that 'dips and squats should be superset' and then carry out the workout like that?
I am just trying to wrap my head around how it would look from a) A data entry / workout results point-of-view, and b) from a workout construction point of view.
I am worried about creating an overly complex system that 90% of members may not use.....
I'd appretiate your further thoughts.
The website could also incorporate basic calculators using various formulas, and stating these formulas, for the Rep Maximums, Basal Metabolic Rate, that kind of stuff.
These should be easy enough to develop, providing you give me a little more information and a complete list of the calculators you would like to see.
Because such a cycle makes it easier to follow, it should be possible to assign a workout to a day of the week or a day in a cycle (of 7 days or an amount of days you choose). You should be able to specify days off too and multiple workouts/day.
Currently, all the things you mention are possible with the scheduler on gimme20.com. However, the interface in which we allow scheduling is confusing at best. We are looking to improve that.
We were thinking of offering the ability to do a reoccurring schedule, or to load up a six month calendar which allows you to 'click' the days you want a workout to occur. Does this sound more logical?
Thank you so much for your feedback. I look forward to picking your brain more on this.
J
Supersetting can be systematically programmed in Gimme
How i superset, on paper...
So for instance I have a workout
A1 Dip 4x5 6RM
A2 Barbell Back Squat 4x5 6RM
B1 Military Press 4x5 6RM
B2 Chinup 4x5 6RM
Here we see that we superset Dips and Squats for 4 sets each, 5 reps. The load is 6 rep maximum.
And military presses and chinups are done afterwards and supersetted as well.
Whereas if not supersetted you have:
A1 Dip 4x5
B1 Squat 4x5
C1 Military Press 4x5
D1 Chinup 4x5
So 4 sets of dips followed by 4 sets of quats followed by...
So maybe you can add a letter to all exercises/sets from A to Z and add in number afterwards only if it is selected to be superset.
Pyramid can probably be done by adding the same exercise several times.
But definitely, first and foremost, in the workout table sets and reps should be visible to the right of the exercise. As well the load can be visible if input (eg 6 RM/rep maximum).
OK. Looking into it.
Hey -
The good news is, our schema actually stores information about reps and sets and the sequence of exercises within a workout.
We just don't show it. Let me explain why and then we can collect your throughs...
If we put really specific details about reps/sets in a workout (and weights) our thoughts were that it would restrict the number of users who could utilize the workout (for sharing). Perhaps we jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Sets and reps can defintely be put to the right of the exercise. Shall we?
J
Just wanted to say how much
Just wanted to say how much I like this web site's feel. very community based. I do think that being able to show different weight and rep counts on different sets of the same exercise (pyramiding, drop sets, etc.) would be a good improvement. Looking forward to that. Once again, thanks for a great site.
thanks!
Thanks bert!
Ronn, our developer, is currently getting married in Korea. He has written the code, we just need to make sure it gets tested and integrated.
Ronn, best wishes for you and your bride dude!
J
It would be nice for
It would be nice for supersets.
made some progress today.
We made a little progress today making aesthetic changes to the "Submit my results" pages. This is the first step of many, during which we will introduce a "Gimme20.com Advanced Mode".
The Advanced Mode will allow people to enter in different rep/weight values for each set (one of the features that has been requested for awhile).
This is great news for me as
This is great news for me as well. The site, while looking great and a wonderful idea, is kind of useless for me without the ability to dissect sets, at least to the repetition level.
Any way to be notified when changes are implemented? Or best just to watch the Blog?