GymPact - earn money for exercising

[Mad Rocker]

So this seems pretty cool:

http://www.gym-pact.com/

 

Say how many times you want to exercise per week and if you make it, you'll earn a few dollars, paid for by the people who don't keep to their commitment. 

 

A bit like 21habit, except instead of only having the motivation of losing money if you don't exercise, you get the bonus of gaining a little if you do. 

 

I don't know if it's something I'd do as it seems to be forceful motivation - a better tactic is probably just to find something you like doing - but it might be helpful. (In other words I like the sound of it but am too scared I'll fail and I don't want to lose the money...)

[Warwolf]

This seems like such a good idea, I'm really surprised more people aren't on this.

At the very least it's a great motivation to get me back into running, daddy's got bills to pay...

[huSTLer]

This looks awesome! Who wouldn't want to get paid to work out?

[katscratch]

This does look awesome.  Totally tempted to try this, but wanna make sure it would check me in properly before I commit money, ha.  Looks like the reviews for the new Android version on HTC phones so far are working, so I may have to jump

[Namednoname]

Sounds awesome, but how does it know your actually working out? I mean what is stopping people from just saying they worked out and then they get money off the being who haven't worked out but are at least being honest?

[Evicious]

It looks like a great idea, but I'm going to hold off on signing up due to the fact that is still a very new app and (from what I've read thus far) has several bugs. Until its track record can show at least a 95% consistency for payout, my credit card information stays on my card: right now, roughly half the problems people are having result in $0 to their accounts. I'm not going to pay so that I can earn it back.... maybe.

 

Better idea, just set a certain amount you have to pay into your savings account for missing workouts. You lose nothing except maybe your weekly spending money. Or pay a friend, like Steve suggests - just as long as they don't use the money to pay for your beer next weekend out! :-P

[katscratch]

I'm a sucker for trying stuff out if it's not going to cost me more than a couple bucks, I have the Android version on an HTC phone- so far the reviews I read that specified HTC were decent but I'll definitely add my two cents to the mix after a couple months.   

 

NomadJamie- you have to have your 3G/Wifi and GPS turned on, click Check In when you get to the gym, then Check Out when you leave (at least 30 minutes for the workout to count).  It pinpoints your location and you verify the gym you're in - in my case it could tell when I had walked to my car, once I was about 50 yards from the building I was automatically checked out. 

 

You do give your credit card info, they will charge you if you work out less than your pact - you can pick the dollar amount at stake and how many days per week you want to work out - I picked $5 and 3 days/week.  The current average payout per workout is between $0.50 and $0.75, redeemable via PayPay once you rack up $10.  I am not a runner so I didn't add the RunKeeper mix in.

 

You can cancel/delete your account, and freeze for holidays etc.  There have been some reports of people cancelling and their $5 being charged that week anyway, but I always expect a week overlap with auto-debits so I'm not too worried.  But I'm going to hit the gym 3 times/week anyway so I have no reason to be worried

[sylph]

My gym is in my basement, so apparently this would be a no-go for me.

I like the concept, though.

[ellystar]

I tried it out for a week, but then I realized I would never remember to turn it on before I got to the gym. Plus if my husband drives, I sometimes don't bring my phone. Great concept, but not for me.

[BeautifulBeast]

This is an interesting idea. Thanks for sharing!