The Lift League Podcast

Find a workout app that fits your goals with Workout App Index:

https://workoutappindex.com/?utm_source=lift_league_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep_19849070_fitness_app&utm_content=show_notes

The Lift League and Caliper Cal are both chugging away in testing while I make small revisions and improvements. All major feature implementations are on hold until I can gather real, substantial user feedback.

So, I decided to build something else: Workout App Index. I’ve spent many years building, researching, comparing, and testing fitness apps, and the field is only becoming more saturated. I figured it was about time someone put together a place to cover each app - its strengths, weaknesses, features (or lack thereof), and what makes it original.

In this episode, I break down the different ways body density and body-fat percentage can be measured, from lab-based methods to practical field tools. We dig into skinfold calipers, why consistent technique matters, and how Caliper Cal turns your measurements into clear, useful starting estimates for tracking progress over time and determine what your macro targets are.

I can easily break my life down into chapters. Most of them were good. Some of them were bad. Some of them are inevitable. As much as I love throwing myself into work and lifting, there are things you just can't hide from. Nor should you. Life is what it is and every one has gotta nut up at some point.

Having specific flavors for you project is essential when going to production but I seem to have found a way to make flavors less helpful. Also, now having been chin-deep in Google Play closed testing for about two weeks, I can confidently give a few recommendations to anyone out there that is considering entering this new level of hell.

We have begun closed testing on Google Play and that means for the first time, strangers are in the app and we're all familiar with stranger danger. All I can say is, people are weird. But that's okay. The weirder people are, the better you can prepare your app for launch. The toughest part of closed testing is the requirements put forth by Google. Not only is it difficult to meet the requirements, it's difficult to even understand the requirements.

This episode covers getting Training Circles up and running in The Lift League, along with the decisions we made to preserve the motivating side of social media without bringing along the unhealthy parts. There is real power in seeing others show up, put in the work, and stay consistent, especially when it comes to fitness. The goal is to channel that shared motivation into something positive, supportive, and focused on progress. Plus, my dog got bit by a copperhead. Sucks!

I was really worried I had missed a few things when rebuilding the database for the new app. But I was able to blast thru that issue, which motivated me to keep working at a break-neck pace. As a result of that sprint, I now have the bulk of the app in place and working well. Have a listen to see where I'm at.

I spent some more time on the website. I realized it needed a CTA above the fold and what better CTA is there than an email gathering field? Let's get the list going! I also spent some time trying out new AI body fat estimators. They're interesting but I'm not completely sold.

I'm finally back to lifting, at home. It was a long break but it feels really good to be back under the bar. The app is in a place where I can test full blocks and check-ins which makes lifting much more productive. I've also spent some time honing in on UX. Rather than stick to the exact same plan from the previous build, I left room to make changes based on usage. 

I finally broke down and bought a new laptop. It wasn’t easy, but Costco helped soften the blow. Once I had the new machine set up, I realized there was only one thing I could do: start over.

So I went on a super build sprint and got more done in one month than I did in eight months during the first build. It’s amazing how much better a project can come together the second time around. I realize now that I really did learn quite a lot during that first build. I’m no longer struggling with the basics.

Tune in and see where I’m at.