As more and more companies scramble to incorporate artificial intelligence into literally everything, I find myself becoming increasingly desensitized to the prospect of using AI for truly anything. I hate the anti-creative power of generative AI in text and image creation, and I really hate products branded with AI for no reason (I’m looking at you, Samsung Family Hub AI Vision refrigerator). .
But there’s one area in my gym-bound life where AI has proven essential for over a year: enhancing my workouts. Last year I was introduced to PUSH. PUSH is an AI-powered workout app and gym tracker designed to help you build muscle as quickly as possible by taking a scientific approach to creating workouts.
I have been using PUSH every week, 6 days a week for over a year, with or without a few injuries and vacations. I’ve done hundreds of workouts, and in that time I’ve learned more about exercise than I ever did in any gym experience. This is definitely one of the best fitness apps I’ve ever used.
PUSH is very easy to use and has a great interface, rest counter, custom workout plans, and more. Even more valuable than the joy I got from using the app is that PUSH taught me valuable lessons about building muscle in the gym. I can’t wait to share it with you all. This is all I learned.
progressive overload is really important
(Image credit: Future)
If you’re new to the gym or building muscle, you may have heard the term “progressive overload” thrown around. As a longtime gym goer, I was familiar with the concept, but I never really thought about it until I started using PUSH.
Hyper-tuned to allow you to gradually increase the weight you lift over time, PUSH is a proven method for building muscle. I bench pressed at 70 or 80 kg (about 175 lbs) for years, and occasionally pushed the boat up to 85 kg when I was feeling good.
Thanks to PUSH, I was able to consistently bench press up to 100kg for multiple sets of 5 within 12 months. Because PUSH doesn’t allow you to take your foot off the gas, it has increased the power and weight of all my movements and lifts overall. Once you reach your desired number of repetitions with a certain weight, PUSH uses an AI algorithm to calculate the next increment. If you fail a set or can’t reach the end of a certain weight, it automatically calculates a plateau break exercise (usually less reps and more weight) to help you break through the next barrier.
With PUSH in your pocket, you no longer have to guess your training weight or retread the ground. I am clearly making consistent progress each week.
It’s time to end the sibling division
(Image credit: Future)
Most people tend to divide their gym programs into body parts. Chest on Monday, back on Tuesday, then legs, shoulders, arms, etc… In gym circles, this is known as the “sibling split.” If it works for you, that’s fine, but PUSH’s bespoke program uses AI and peer-reviewed scientific research to calculate a plan that trains your entire body at the optimal cycle.
For example, some days I work out my back, legs, arms, and shoulders all at once. It took me a while to get used to – it’s not fun to do lateral pulldowns right after a squat – but I was able to train my muscles in a more targeted way rather than just doing chest pumps once a week on Monday, etc. I’ve found that by training carefully, I can make quite a difference. My fitness has become more stable and manageable, and my recovery has improved. You can choose to push, pull, or do splits in the PUSH app if you want, but I trust the AI algorithm and its unconventional muscle groups and will never go back.
rest is important
(Image credit: Future)
The aforementioned muscle groupings help with long-term fatigue over weeks to months, but PUSH also has a built-in rest timer that you can use between sets. I spent probably six years in the gym guessing how long it would take between sets and deciding when to start my next workout based purely on the vibe and whether or not I was finished browsing Instagram.
PUSH’s planned rest timer taught me the importance of training to exact rest times, depending on the type of exercise you do. If the time between sets is too short, your muscles won’t recover and you won’t be able to push as hard as you should. If it’s too long, your muscles will fatigue and you won’t be able to make any progress.
Again, PUSH uses AI to determine your ideal break time, but gives you the final say in how long you take, so you can slightly adjust your break time depending on your mood. . By setting rest periods between exercises, I’ve significantly improved my progress in the gym while actually spending less time in the gym.
It takes time to grow
(Image credit: Future)
We live in a world of instant gratification, but PUSH helped me understand that growing and building muscle takes time and effort. Even if you don’t see visible results right away, being able to see your weekly progress in the app is critical to staying motivated.
Seeing consistent strength gains each time you return to the gym can be a great motivator and distract you from trying to make big jumps in performance or expect big changes in your physique. It’s done. Plus, knowing you’re on a steady upward trajectory takes ego-boosting and overexerting out of the equation, and the measured increase greatly reduces your chances of injury, Of course, it also reduces embarrassment.
Is it worth investing in the program?
(Image credit: Future)
I pay £15.99 ($21 / AU$23.49) a month for the privilege of using PUSH. It’s expensive for a monthly subscription app, but for me this investment is priceless. With PUSH, we’re confident you’ll get plenty of value from the app. It’s well built, regularly updated, and most importantly, has proven effective for me. However, it’s even more motivating to think that if you’re paying £16 a month for a workout app, you should make the most of your money instead of wasting it.
This is the same logic that suffers from the idea that buying the best running shoes will help you exercise, or that paying for a gym membership means you’re more likely to get out of the house every January. It may not work for everyone, but I’m financially committed to this app, which makes me want to use it more.
There are many others
(Image credit: Future)
PUSH has even more features. It has a great library of exercises to help you plan around busy gyms and lack of equipment. The large amount of peer-reviewed source material is well presented and makes for interesting reading. Daily insights let you know which muscles are growing and which are stagnant, which is also great motivation. It’s not a perfect app and it’s not for everyone, but after 12 months of having it in my pocket, it’s become my indispensable training partner.
