I Tried The Planet Fitness FitBuddy App – Here’s What I Think
The Planet Fitness FitBuddy app marries your gym membership with your goals and your real-life schedule. But we know what you’re thinking, when it comes to workout apps, there are truly no shortages. The global lockdown did nothing if not create an even sturdier offering as we all attempted to get buff within the confines […]

May 31, 2022

woman checking her phone in fitness gear

The Planet Fitness FitBuddy app marries your gym membership with your goals and your real-life schedule.
But we know what you’re thinking, when it comes to workout apps, there are truly no shortages. The global lockdown did nothing if not create an even sturdier offering as we all attempted to get buff within the confines of our own four walls.
Though, as we came out of lockdown, some apps stuck around on our phones. And for good reason, they worked! I tried the Planet Fitness FitBuddy app and wondered if it was going to be a staple addition to my phone’s fitness folder – and it delivered. Below is everything you need to know about the app.
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What is the Planet Fitness FitBuddy app?

It’s a workout app, but like the term “fit buddy” denotes, you’re held accountable. When you sign up, you’re assigned a real coach at Planet Fitness, who loads workouts for you in the app to hit your desired goals. You’re also asked to log your meals in an associated app that’s sent to you to download.
Unlike other workout apps, where you scroll through a variety of workouts and pick the one you feel up to, FitBuddy has scheduled workouts loaded in it, and you do the workout designated for you by your trainer. So it’s pretty much like having a personal trainer in your pocket.
If you have a smartwatch, you can sync the data to the app so your steps, caloric expenditure and heart rate information can be tracked, too.

So What Did I Think When I Tried The FitBuddy App?

When I downloaded the app, I expected to scroll through workouts, pick one, do it, and share my achievement, like every other fitness app. But this app is a bit more involved than others – and it’s great.
I got an email from my trainer, Tokey, who scheduled a call with me to chat about my fitness goals, how often I exercise and any other niggling issues I had. I told him I wanted to improve my surfing ability and that I’ve been trying to ditch about 10 kilos for a few years. We spoke about my eating habits, how often I train, the kind of training I do, and a few other lifestyle preferences.
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Then, he devised a training programme for me and input the data into my app. The plan was to do three workouts a week, totalling 20 minutes each, and Tokey left room for my surfing sessions (which I can also log in the app, along with any other extra activities). Pretty neat, huh?
At first, I struggled to find my way around the app, until I realised that I didn’t necessarily need to explore anything, but rather just open it, navigate to my scheduled workout and do it.
Taking the brain work out of losing weight and being healthy is one of the huge benefits of an app like this. Without having to think about anything, you’re less likely to come up with an excuse or feel fatigued after scrolling through different workouts before actually committing to one.
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Added to that, Tokey sends me regular messages, checking in on my progress. He’s also able to see if I’ve skipped a workout or failed to log a few meals, which is excellent if you’re serious about making progress. Because there’s a real human being at the other end of the phone, if anything is bothering you, it can be fixed, which I really appreciated. I have a niggly back that’s been lousy from overuse, and my workouts are adjusted nicely to make up for that.
Overall, this is one app I’d recommend if you’re looking to get serious about your progress and goals. Plus, you don’t have to be a Planet Fitness member to join at all. Keen to try it? Book a consultation here.