kettlebells
Can you allow the option for the user to type in their preferred tool, ie kettlebells or sandbag? It may not fit into the predefined programs you already created with the typical lifts you prescribe, but it would be nice to have a section to "customize" your own program with the tools you want or have access to most readily.
Hi Jessica!
Thanks for taking the time to write.
You can already create custom exercises and programs inside the app. So, for example, you could create a kettlebell swing.
When you do that, the app will try to adjust your weight up or down to match your reps and progression. If you don't have a full rack of kettlebells, that might be a problem.
If you'd like to restrict the app's recommended weights to only what you have, please vote for this feature: https://muscle.userecho.com/communities/1/topics/67-weight-control-for-available-dumbbells-and-plate-sizes.
Thanks!
Intensity periodisation
Hi, when I was training under you, you had me do some "banking" for my rep. Like the first week of training, keeping 2 rep in banks. Second and third one, 1 rep in bank and the last one before break, going all out. Can we introduce that kind of periodisation as well?
Hi Ioan,
That you for that smart suggestion ;)
In fact, we were already cooking an update that applies this concept in an even more powerful way. It's out now on Android and under review by Apple (give it 2-3 days). For full details, check out:
http://drmuscleapp.com/news/reps-in-reserve/
I'm marking this as "Completed".
For beginners, have a video/explanation of the exercise.
For beginners, images/videos of the exercises so we can be sure we're doing the right movement. For example, I have to look up exercises on BodyBuilding.com to learn. Having this in the app would be much more helpful.
Hi Samantha!
Thanks for that suggestion.
Many people have already voted for a similar one (https://muscle.userecho.com/communities/1/topics/12-images-for-exercises). So, I'm merging your suggestion with the other, and will mark this one as "Planned".
For now, for videos, I can't recommend enough http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html. They have hundreds of exercises for all major muscle groups, with detailed instructions, photos, and videos. And it's all free.
In our app, we've used the same names these guys used. So you should find all the exercises you're not familiar with there. They even have a search box (http://www.exrx.net/Lists/SearchExercises.html) where you can type in the names.
All the best,
Carl
working set and warm-up set number
I think that the warm-up sets should start at 1 and the working sets should start at 1 because it can get confusing when looking at the screen of your phone and see more sets done than you needed to do but you still are not finished when all you had for your working sets was four or five.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your suggestion. This was completed some time ago. Warm-up sets are now marked as W and work sets start at 1. I'm going to mark this as completed.
Cheers,
Carl
"+" and "-" for weight recording in error
After I've decreased the weight for a set and clicked "Save set", the weight resets to the original (which I presume it's supposed to do). However, when I click "-" to decrease the weight again, it actually adds weight! then when I click "+", it subtracts weight.
Plateau Buster
Everybody hits a plateau once in a while, hence I think that if the app recognizes that you use the same weight for several weeks for the same exercise then it will be helpful for the app to suggest a method or strategy for overcoming a Plateau because everybody hits one once in a while, and I have been doing this for a long time and still have trouble breaking plateaus so some help with this issue can be very helpful
Hi Peter,
Thank you for your suggestion.
I have good news: the app already has a feature for that. It's the deload feature. To learn more, read:
Deload: How To Break Your Plateau And Start Building Muscle Again (http://drmuscleapp.com/news/deload/).
I'm marking this request as completed.
Cheers,
Carl
Progression
I would love to be able to enter the rate of progression manually.
On some days I just don't feel like going all out to have my 1RM go up like 6%or so.
I'd like to just enter the rate and then have the app work out the best intensity and volume for me.
Hi Dan,
That's an interesting suggestion, thanks.
I can see how it would be useful. For now, what you can do is lower your weight a bit or do 1 fewer rep than recommended. That should turn a 6% increase into a 4% increase or so.
Plus, when you're done and you tap "Finish exercise", if you change your mind and you're not happy with your progression, you can always go back to that exercise and do another set with more weight or one extra rep.
Thank you for that suggestion. Cheers!
You sure can!
You can add custom exercises this way:
Home screen >
Exercises (bottom icon) >
Custom (top right nav) >
Add my own
You can swap in the exercises you like using swap feature (http://drmuscleapp.com/news/swap/).
If you prefer to create a totally custom workout, you can do it almost the same way:
Home screen >
Workouts (middle icon) >
Custom (top right nav) >
Add my own
Next, you can order your workouts into a program this way:
Home screen >
Workouts (middle icon) >
Custom (top right nav) >
Programs (top right nav, 2nd row) >
Add my own
Simply put, the steps and structure are: exercises > workouts > program.
Surefire 1RM progression
We can set the number of reps and the weight to our likings and THE AI computes the new 1RM.
So far, so cool 👍
But it would be much cooler if we can get an instant alert of the 1RM being in "danger" of dropping when changing the suggested Dr Muscle variables. So we can instantly make adjustments to the sets/reps/weights BEFORE lifting "in vain" 😌
Hi Dan,
Thank you for your suggestion.
Would implementing your other suggestion (https://muscle.userecho.com/communities/1/topics/60-a-dynamic-progression-display) also take care of this one?
If you ever lift "in vain", and you're disappointed by your 1RM progression, you can go back / return to that exercise and do one more set with more weight or 1-2 extra reps. That way, you'll have made progress on that day for that exercise. Would that work for now?
A dynamic progression display
A cool feature would be to show in real time what 1RM progression is to expect when playing with the numbers of sets or reps.
Like when you are setting the rep number "X" higher the expected 1RM goes up to "Y"
Hope yall understand
Customer support service by UserEcho
