Fitness Goals That Aren't One-Size-Fits-All
Motion creates personalized goals based on YOUR fitness level, so a beginner and athlete can compete fairly - and both can win.
The Problem with "10,000 Steps a Day"
Picture this: You finally convince your friend to join a fitness challenge with you. You're recovering from an injury and happy to hit 4,000 steps. They're training for a marathon and casually knock out 20,000.
Week 1 results:
- You: 4,000 steps (40% of goal)
- Friend: 20,000 steps (100% of goal)
You feel: Defeated, embarrassed, ready to quit. They feel: Bored, unchallenged, guilty for winning.
Sound familiar? That's because pretty much every other fitness app, and off-the-shelf goal, assumes everyone is the same. And, that's just not reality.
The truth is:
- For a new mum, 5,000 steps / day is probably harder (or more effort 👀), that 15,000 steps / day for a runner
- Your easy workout might be someone else's personal best
- Progress + effort matter much more that the absolute numbers achieved
- Everyone deserves to celebrate their wins, and feel accomplished
How Motion Keeps it Fun and Fair for Everyone
Think of it like a golf handicap or video game difficulty scaling - everyone plays at their level, but the challenge is equal.
Step 1: Motion learns your baseline
- Motion connects to your phone / wearables / tracking apps, and pulls in your recent activity data
- Our AI system analyzes your natural patterns, preferences, and performance
- All your data is crunched into one simple "activity point" score, that represents your unique weekly activity level
Step 2: Personalized weekly goals
Motion prioritizes long-term consistency, rather than short-term intensity. So, your primary goal is to maintain your average level, and then you'll be incentivised to increase gradually when you're ready and able.
Let's have a look at some examples. We'll stick with steps for an example to keep things simple, but, in reality, Motion's effort-based goals work with any activity you do - walking, stairs, strength training, yoga, tennis, etc.
Sarah's Goal (Beginner)
- 12-week average: 5,000 steps/day
- Motion goal: 5,000 steps/day (maintain your level!)
- Weekly target: 35,000 steps
Mike's Goal (Regular Runner)
- 12-week average: 15,000 steps/day
- Motion goal: 15,000 steps/day (maintain that level!)
- Weekly target: 105,000 steps
Step 3: Fair Competition Based on Effort and Consistency
Now, anytime you compare or compete with friends in Motion, you'll compare based on how much of your own personal goal you've achieved - the "effort", not the absolute numbers. Let's see how that pans out for Mike and Sarah.
- Sarah tracks 42,000 steps this week = 120% of goal 🏆
- Mike logs 103,000 steps = 98% of goal
- Sarah wins this round! Even though she did a lot less activity, 42,000 steps was an impressive effort from Sarah, whereas Mike's 103,000 steps was about his normal level.
Step 4: Consistency for the Long Haul
- Hit 100% = Celebrate your wins! Staying consistent long-term is key to success
- Additional rewards for over-achieving incentivise you to push yourself when you're ready
- Motion's proprietory fitness-AI re-assesses your performance every week, and adjusts your goals to keep you consistent, challenged, but not overwhelmed.
Why Effort-Based Goals Change Everything
A goal that fits your life, not a generic one-size-fits-all target
Your goal is based on *YOUR* actual fitness level - whether that's 2,000 or 20,000 steps, it's a target that makes sense for your body, schedule, and reality.
Motion rewards maintaining your level, not burning out fast
The game is to maintain your current level, and slowly increase it at a pace that works for you. Not setting yourself up for failure with unachievable goals on day 1.
Competition That's Actually Fun
No-one want's to lose every week, and believe it or not, winning every week isn't that fun either. When everyone's goal matches their ability, it creates a more enjoyable and motivating challenge for all.
If you're trying, Motion sees you, and celebrates you
Someone working hard to maintain 3,000 steps gets the same recognition as the natural athlete coasting through 15,000. Your effort matters here.
Help keep the whole family active and healthy
Grandma (3,000 steps), Mom (8,000 steps), and Teen (15,000 steps) can all play together. Three generations, one challenge, everyone has a real chance to win Sunday dinner bragging rights.
Injured? Chronic condition? Just getting started?
Goals adapt and normalize to your ability. Motion celebrates what you CAN do, and lets you play seamlessly with others, regardless of everyone's condition.
Frequently asked questions
If you have anything else you want to ask, reach out to us.
How are Motion's goals different from other fitness apps?
Motion's smart goals are "effort-based", by normalizing against your own personal historic fitness data, you get a goal that is uniquely yours.
How does the 12-week average work?
Motion's goals AI constantly analyzes a 12-week window of your activity history to calculate your goals. If you naturally start doing more, your average slowly increases. If life gets tough, it gently decreases. No sudden jumps, no crushing targets - just your real, sustainable level.
Can a beginner really compete fairly with an athlete?
Yes, absolutely! The same way I (the 32 y/o founder of a super-popular fitness app 😉), can play fairly against my 70+ mum, and sometimes, she still comes out on top!
What happens if I have a really active week?
Celebrate, and the whole world celebrates with you! You'll earn bonus points and rewards for exceeding your goal. But here's the key: because our special goals AI always looks at a 12-week window, your goal won't jump up after 1 active week, it adjusts slowly taking account of any blips.
What if I'm sick or injured?
Your goal remains stable based on your 12-week average. One bad week won't affect your targets. If you need extended recovery, your average will gradually adjust down over time. When you're ready to return, you'll rebuild from a realistic starting point, and build back up at a safe pace.
Can I see how my average is trending?
Yes! Since we crunch everything into one simple numeric score, you can easily keep track of how much it has changed. And for our Hero users, advanced insights and trend analysis is availale right inside the app!
Your Fitness Journey Starts Here
Download Motion free and discover why this is the fitness app you'll actually keep using. Your future self (and your Motmot) will thank you.
