24 Nov
Blog

Gympact Review- The Benefits and Pitfalls of Getting Paid to Workout

This is my new gym. I recommend the dark roast coffee and the cheese dane:

Well I was hoping this would be my new gym considering the GymPact mobile app allows you to mark any building as a gym. From then on, you get paid if you "check-in" at the gym with your mobile phone and stay in that geo-monitored location for more than thirty minutes.

That's right, you get paid for the "training".

Unfortunately (or fortunately), GymPact didn't fall for my trick of turning my local diner into my gym. Just like I imagined in my article on habits:

Wouldn't it be cool if a gym would pay YOU to work out. We'd all be super-sculpted athletes and gyms would be bankrupt. Unfortunately, we are not and they are not.

Alright. So the thought experiment is reality. Why don't we hear more about this phenomenal startup that recently teamed up with my favorite running app, Runkeeper? Let's take a look at why the app works and why it doesn't.

This is how GymPact works

GymPact's registration process is pretty efficient. I chose to sign up online, as opposed to the mobile version, as I still find typing on a smartphone a hassle. GymPact, on the other hand, wants you to be REALLY mobile. So much so that they made their desktop login look like an iPhone interface.

Gympact, fitness studio, home gym, mobile app, fitness app

You start off by setting your pact, or how many days you will commit to going to the gym. The default 3 days per week setting will get you $ 2.10 per week if you meet your pact. The rewards range from $ 0.50 to $ 0.75 per workout.

Set up your mission on the next page. If you miss a workout, the default is $ 5. That's a lot more than $ .50, isn't it? Not fair you say Well, like my fifth grade teacher used to say, "Life is a slut and then you die." Public school is great, and so is this reward-punishment ratio. More on that later.

The steps below are to connect your Facebook account and enter your credit card information so that you can be rewarded or tolerated. If you're concerned about giving your credit card information to a startup, it's time to take a break. The service is PCI (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant though, so I wouldn't sweat it out. You will be charged a dime to verify your credit card.

Gympact, fitness studio, home gym, mobile app, fitness app

The evidence is in the database

Your first task as a GymPact participant is to tag your gym. They claim that their gym database is made up of 40,000 gyms. My local diner was not in the database even though it was named "Mau's Crossfit". There's an idiot and a CrossFit gym every day, but GymPact isn't an idiot and a diner isn't a gym. At least not without a review. I really thought I found a crack in their system until I received this email about twenty minutes after checking in:

Hello Mauricio Balvanera,

We're sorry – we checked out your gym. Mau’s Crossfit has not yet been able to verify it.

Due to GPS verification, we cannot count home, apartment or office gyms. It is also difficult for us to review new establishments, smaller / niche establishments, and establishments with less web presence.

If you think there's a bug, just send your gym name, website, address, and phone number to corrects@gym-pact.com so we can look back! Until then, the workouts you've done here don't count towards your pact.

Thank you very much,

The GymPact team

My cheesecake wasn't that tasty anymore. I was not alone in my subversive approach. Your now removed Youtube demo video was full of commentators trying to play the system.

Why GymPact works

Game designers often examine the delicate balance of reward and punishment systems. As do economists. As do sports psychologists. There is a human nature incentive system that makes the concept of GymPact a breeze. But just as game designers and economists are constantly tweaking the system to rebalance the game, you may also have to rebalance a little yourself.

But don't twist it too much. Try this combo from $ 5 to $ 0.50. The one step forward, ten step back system will keep you struggling hard to take these small steps. I actually find it analogous to how our own body reacts to inconsistent or inefficient training.

GymPact claims to have a ninety percent effective rate. This may or may not be an exaggerated marketing marker, but the fact that the app forces you to at least be in the gym will most likely get you into a workout.

Gympact, fitness studio, home gym, mobile app, fitness app

Why GymPact doesn't work

After my incident with Cheese Danes, I found an alternative way to play the system in low places with the help of friends. There is no need to post the hack, but the point is that the system is bugged in a way that affects the entire system. The successful payout pool effectively comes from an unsuccessful pool with errors.

I'm not suggesting that people's first reaction will be to hack the system, but anyone who relies on monetary compensation as the primary reward for training will likely fall into this category. And that brings us to the most important flaw in the system.

Why are you exercising I immediately thought of Simon Sinek's Ted Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire. Check it out later because it's a rabbit hole from fantastic. But the basic premise is that great people succeed because the “why” of their goal overshadows the “what” and “how”. If you train because you look forward to the cash payout, you will fail. Maybe not. You will. If you are exercising because you want to be healthier and happier, now let's get to something.

Cash withdrawals can act as a secondary motivational tool but shouldn't be your primary drive and therefore GymPact needs to be more than a withdrawal machine to be successful.

So should I be using GymPact?

Yes sir. It's not a perfect system, but the social checkins help tremendously and the RunKeeper integration is a big update. All runs (as well as walks and bike rides) recorded by RunKeepers GPS count as workouts. This is as long as you:

  • At least 1/2 a mile away.
  • At least 30 minutes of activity where your pace is over two miles per hour (but slower than driving a car!). When in doubt, 5 extra minutes of walking, running or cycling never hurts.
  • For a maximum of 3 hours.

The app is currently only free for iOS, but there will be an Android version soon. The Danish cheese is sold separately.

17 Aug
Blog

Hum by Colgate Smart Toothbrush Review: Get Paid To Brush

Hum from Colgate Smart Toothbrush on ledge

Hum from Colgate Smart Toothbrush

"Too lazy to brush? Colgate Hum awards points every time you use it to get you off the couch. "

  • Earn reward points for brushing

  • App guides you to effective brushing

  • So-so cleaning performance

  • Can be tricked into brushing teeth

  • Limited selection with online shop

Smart toothbrushes are not new. They have been around for years, collecting data and providing us with useful information to improve our cleaning skills. The question is whether or not any of the new technologies or advances will make a practical difference. Sure, it's wonderful that some of them have gyroscopes, accelerometers, and pressure sensors inside, but at the end of the day, they're all meaningless if they can't change their habits.

This is where Hum by Colgate is different: it redirects the conversation to focus on changing our brushing habits – with the help of incentives. It's probably the smartest thing that happens to the smart toothbrush.

The charm to please

Colgate's intelligent toothbrush has a certain charm. That's because it's not about being a souped-up, tech-savvy toothbrush. There is no such thing as an imposing stature. Instead, Colgate's approach is rather reserved and, because of the pastel colors, often reminds me more than anything of a painter's brush. Available in two versions, rechargeable or battery operated, you can choose from three colors – in my case blue.

Hum from Colgate Smart Toothbrush in handJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Aside from the charming design, there isn't much that sets it apart from other toothbrushes. Although it is light and hollow, it is ergonomically designed to be comfortable while brushing. It comes with a carrying case and a charging station. I don't know why, but I was forced to see if the Colgate Hum could charge using one of my smartphone's wireless charging pads. And sure enough!

Superficially clean, tough in between

Before I get into the intelligent functions of the Hum by Colgate, I would like to describe in detail the cleaning performance that I prefer above all. The Colgate brush head is similar to others that vibrate, like Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes, to break up plaque and dirt. The brush itself combines rigid brushes with softer, almost plastic-like brushes.

The overall brush performance is average I would say. The vibration is not as strong as I would like it to be, but it still managed to fix the superficial cleaning. However, it is not effective at removing stuck pieces of food from between your teeth. Therefore, floss is still required. I appreciate that it comes with a tongue cleaner, which you don't often find.

Hum from Colgate Smart Toothbrush AppJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

You can brush your teeth in two ways: on your own or with the mobile app. The former have vibrations that indicate when it is time to move on to another area of ​​your mouth – while the latter visually showed me how long and where to brush. I prefer the app experience as it makes sure I cover all areas of my mouth properly. On the other hand, it's nice that the toothbrush saves data from my brushes for up to 10 days. So you don't have to bring your smartphone with you every time you clean.

Incentives for brushing

As a smart toothbrush, the Colgate Hum does not exceed any of my existing expectations. It can tell where I'm cleaning and whether I'm cleaning fast enough. You can find this in every other smart toothbrush on the market. Where it stands out from the crowd are the incentives Colgate has for you to brush your teeth and in some ways it's a brilliant idea.

Whenever you brush, you will earn “smile” points – one point every time you brush, no matter how long or how well you do it. Reaching 100 points equals USD 1 in credit that can be used to purchase replacement heads (USD 10 for a two-pack) or a new toothbrush. It's worth noting that there is a hard cap of three allowable brushing sessions per day so you can't do something outrageous like brushing 100 times in a single day.

Currently the shop has a relatively limited selection so I hope more things have been added to it. Maybe toothpaste or floss? While it seems like it takes forever to collect enough points to get a significant discount, the app has Activities that you can use other ways to collect more points.

I was able to fool Colgate's buzz by pretending to brush my teeth.

This is without question the smartest thing that can happen to the smart toothbrush in a while. Oddly enough, I was able to fool Colgate's buzz by pretending to brush my teeth. In fact, I don't think it can actually sense whether it's in my mouth or not – so it depends on movement more than anything. It's not a bad thing in and of itself, especially considering how many points you can earn in a day.

Our opinion

Functionally, the $ 70 Hum from Colgate is no different from any other smart toothbrush on the market. What's special about this is how Colgate promotes the brushing experience by collecting points for discounts on actual products. It's a smart move and motivational tool to get you to brush more often.

How long it will take?

The all-plastic construction makes it feel light and hollow, but I'm confident that it will hold up well over time. There is a two year limited warranty that covers defects.

In my experience, the battery drain is around 3% to 4% for every three minute session. It's not terrible, but you'll get at least a handful of brushes before you need a recharge.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to cleaning and features, there are others out there who do a better job. The iO series from Philips Sonicare and Oral-B have impeccable cleaning capabilities. If this is the most important thing to you, then they are the better recommendations.

Should you buy it?

If you're on a tight budget and can overlook its mediocre cleaning performance, then definitely buy it, especially if there is an incentive to brush your teeth.

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