Gympact--new iPhone app makes you pay if you don't work out

[lostintranslatn]

Anyone heard of Gympact? Basically, it's an iPhone app that has you pledge to go to the gym a certain number of times each week and say how much you'll pay if you don't do that. Users who *do* go as much as they promised to get a share of the funds from others who didn't go. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/01/01/gympact-keep-it-or-pay/

I'm conflicted. Amused by the concept, annoyed that people need to be paid to work out, and tempted to get a slice of the pie.

[Lachy]

That's interesting, but could easily be scammed. You could just say you went, when you didn't in order to get dividends. I'm suprised it passed Apple's restrictions actually. Still, I haven't missed a workout in a while, maybe I should get me somma that pie?

[lostintranslatn]

I'm assuming you have to check in to the gym via GPS or something. It would be cool if the app somehow allowed for non-gym workout options, too...like if there were a heart-rate monitor aspect, and you got credit every time you got your heart above X beats per minute? Not sure how else that could work.

Anyway, we should go make money off all the people who don't fulfill their resolutions. (Though I'd honestly rather they succeed!)

[Ryan Sannar]

Sounds like a bunch of gyms made it to make more money.

[andygates]

It's a method that wouldn't work for me. Too much focused on punishment. I'd budget for the loss, then get blue, then angry, then lose the cash and quit.