Fitness for Every Body
Strava for Gym Workouts: Where 2 Hours of Training → 'Jim worked out'
You just crushed legs, hit the treadmill, and finished with abs. Strava's take? One generic 'Workout' post that looks exactly like someone's 10-minute stretch. Your gym dedication deserves better.
The Gym Experience on Strava (Spoiler: There Isn't One)
A Day in the Life of a Strava Gym User
6:00 AM: Arrive at gym, ready to crush it
6:05 AM: Warm up on treadmill... wait, should I log this separately?
6:15 AM: Move to weights... can't track this on Strava
6:45 AM: Hit the stairmaster... another separate activity?
7:00 AM: Core circuit... definitely can't track this
7:15 AM: Cool down row... I give up
7:30 AM: Post one sad "Workout - 90 minutes" to Strava
7:31 AM: Watch it get buried under someone's morning jog
What Strava Thinks Gym Means
"Workout" - The Catch-All Category
Whether you did CrossFit, Zumba, HIIT, circuit training, or played basketball - it's all just "Workout" to Strava. No context, no details, no recognition of what you actually did.
The Multi-Activity Nightmare
Did cardio AND weights? Too bad. You either create multiple posts (annoying everyone) or combine everything into one meaningless "Workout" that underrepresents your effort.
No Equipment Tracking
Treadmill? Bike? Rower? Elliptical? Strava doesn't care. Even though these machines have data (distance, pace, calories), Strava can't capture it unless you manually enter everything.
Class Invisibility
That brutal spin class? The HIIT session that left you gasping? The pump class that destroyed your legs? All reduced to "Sally worked out for 45 minutes." Zero context, zero engagement.
What Gym Users Actually Need from Fitness Apps
Recognition for Diverse Training
Multiple Activities, One Workout
Real gym sessions involve cardio, weights, stretching, classes. You need an app that understands a "gym workout" is often 3-5 different activities, not one homogeneous blob.
Effort-Based Credit
That 30-minute HIIT class might be harder than a 60-minute jog. Your app should recognize intensity, not just duration. Gym work is often high-intensity, shorter duration.
Equipment Agnostic
Whether you're on machines, free weights, in classes, or doing bodyweight work - it all counts. You shouldn't need GPS or special sensors to get credit for working out.
Community That Gets Gym Life
You want to connect with people who understand that leg day is an achievement, that getting to the gym at 5 AM is hardcore, and that consistency matters more than distance.
How Motion Handles Your Gym Life
Built for Real Gym Users
Log It All as One Session
30 minutes cardio + 45 minutes weights + 15 minutes stretching? In Motion, that's 90 minutes of activity toward your goal. No splitting, no choosing - it all counts.
Intensity Matters
Motion's effort-based system lets you mark that HIIT class as high-intensity and get appropriate credit. Your 30-minute circuit can count as much as someone's hour-long walk.
Works with Gym Equipment
Got a fitness tracker? Motion works with all major brands. Treadmill has Bluetooth? Connect it. Using gym apps like Strong or Hevy? Your workouts count.
Mix and Match Training
Gym Monday, run Tuesday, yoga Wednesday, gym Thursday? Motion treats it all as valuable movement. Your weekly goals work with YOUR routine, not forcing you into one activity type.
Community of All Fitness Types
Motion's community includes serious lifters, cardio bunnies, class addicts, and casual gym-goers. Everyone understands that there's no "one right way" to stay fit.
Apps That Actually Work for Gym Users
Strength-Focused Options
For Weight Training:
- Strong: Detailed lifting tracker, integrates with Motion
- Hevy: Social lifting app with progress graphs
- Fitbod: AI-generated workouts based on equipment
For Cardio + Weights:
- Motion: Counts everything equally, great for mixed training
- Apple Fitness+: Tracks gym workouts with proper metrics
- Garmin Connect: Excellent gym activity profiles
For Classes:
- Mindbody: Check in to classes, track attendance
- ClassPass: Track variety across different studios
- Motion: Log any class type, get full credit
The Smart Combination
Many gym users run:
- Specialized app (Strong/Hevy) for detailed lifting logs
- Motion for overall activity goals and community
- Maybe Strava for occasional outdoor runs
This way your gym work gets properly tracked AND counted toward fitness goals.
Frequently asked questions
If you have anything else you want to ask, reach out to us.
Can I connect gym equipment to Strava?
Not really. Some treadmills can export runs to Strava, but most gym equipment can't connect. Even when it does, Strava treats your treadmill run as inferior to outdoor runs. Elliptical? Rowing machine? Stairmaster? You're manually entering everything.
Why doesn't Strava care about gym workouts?
Strava's built around GPS tracking and outdoor segments. Gym workouts don't fit their model - no routes, no segments, no leaderboards. They added 'Workout' as an afterthought but never developed it because gym users don't drive their premium subscriptions.
How does Motion handle multiple activities in one gym session?
Just log your total gym time! Whether you did cardio, weights, and stretching or just one activity, Motion counts the total time toward your weekly goals. No need to split activities or choose categories.
What's the best app combo for serious gym users?
Use Strong or Hevy for detailed lifting progress, Motion for overall fitness goals and community, and maybe a studio app if you take classes. This gives you detailed tracking where needed plus recognition for ALL your gym work.
Should gym users bother with Strava?
Only if you also run or cycle outdoors regularly. If you're primarily gym-based, Strava will make you feel like you're not 'really' exercising. Your 2-hour gym sessions deserve more than a generic 'Workout' label.
Can Motion track specific exercises or weights?
Motion focuses on overall activity time and effort rather than specific exercises. For detailed lifting logs, pair Motion with apps like Strong. Motion ensures your gym time counts toward goals, while specialized apps track your PRs and progressions.
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.
