Problem description: We've all heard the warnings about how we need to get moving more, but how do we increase our current statistics of less than 5% of adults participating in 30 minutes of physical activity each day, or only one in three adults receiving the recommended amount of physical activity each week? Physical activity used to be a natural part of surviving, but we've engineered ourselves into a corner where we must now make the time to be physically active, as well as locate a convenient enough space to get that physical activity accomplished. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, only about one in five homes have parks within a half-mile, and about the same number have a fitness or recreation center within that distance. Many people, especially busy professionals and mothers, struggle to find a program that works for their logistical challenges of time and location, as well as their need for affordable workout design and coaching.
Solution description: The SKFitLife virtual fitness training programs offer a solution to the issues of time, location, programming considerations, cost, and flexibility. The SKFitLife 12 Week Online Fitness Challenge provides monthly workouts (video links included), weekly cardio routines, a 30 day meal guide with recipes, and virtual coaching. The workouts are designed to use minimal equipment and can be performed anywhere from the living room to a hotel room to a backyard, and of course in a traditional gym. The workouts can be broken up just in case you are trying to squeeze them in between napping kiddos. Busy professionals, you can close your office door and get your workout in during lunch (or while on a conference call... no one has to know). The workouts, along with the accompanying weekly course information, are also designed to make you look as fit as you are. No more chalking up stubborn bodyfat to age or genetics. The virtual small group coaching aspect creates a community atmosphere where the SKFitLife accountability and support is the real differentiator. SKFitLife makes money by charging for the 12 Week Program upfront and then members continue on as monthly clients for a monthly fee.
REWRITE: Based on the feedback I received, I have added the following information:
Great point about building in more incentives. I have always struggled with this because when I first launched the program, I offered cash and other prizes. I knew I needed social proof so these prizes encouraged people to also share their stories. After the first year, I kind of got away from the incentives and prizes for a couple reasons:
1.) I just couldn't sustain the prizes I had given out in the beginning. Deep down I knew this would be the case since I had so many friends and family supporting my launch. My hot market would quickly turn into warm market, then I would have to reach out to my warm market's warm market, etc. This is exactly what happened but I was ok with that because I had anticipated it.
2.) What I didn't anticipate was how prizes would perpetuate the problems we currently face in fitness. Everyone feels like they must have yet another carrot to keep them going. My message and mission is to empower people to do it for the sake of doing it. I recorded a 4-part podcast series on disordered eating, dangerous dieting, and getting back to health if anyone would care to hear how the industry position to "fix" the problem is actually perpetuating it. This is how the fitness industry stays in business and I fully understand this is also how I stay in business. Finding that balance between encouraging continued interest/commitment and a genuine health has been an ongoing challenge for me.
3.) I have not been committed to chasing people around to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. For the $497/month price point, I absolutely do follow up and follow up some more. We have bi-weekly calls and frequently email, but for the $57/month, clients get their training and access to the small group coaching where they are encouraged to be accountable to me and to the other members of the group.
I will think about how to incorporate more engagement, but honestly, the friendly competition and positive peer pressure has worked wonders! As the "expert", I give advice every single day, but for some reason people continue to listen to each other better than they listen to me on some things. A perfect example is wine... I have explained how drinking 2-4 glasses of wine each day will at least keep the pounds on if not cause the pounds. Some choose not to listen to me like I am just being the fun police, but as soon as one of my clients starts showing more results, and reveals her secret.. she gave up the wine, they are all on the give up the wine train. I tend to try to use these unconventional methods for encouraging compliance.
REWRITE: Based on the feedback I received, I have added the following information:
Great point about building in more incentives. I have always struggled with this because when I first launched the program, I offered cash and other prizes. I knew I needed social proof so these prizes encouraged people to also share their stories. After the first year, I kind of got away from the incentives and prizes for a couple reasons:
1.) I just couldn't sustain the prizes I had given out in the beginning. Deep down I knew this would be the case since I had so many friends and family supporting my launch. My hot market would quickly turn into warm market, then I would have to reach out to my warm market's warm market, etc. This is exactly what happened but I was ok with that because I had anticipated it.
2.) What I didn't anticipate was how prizes would perpetuate the problems we currently face in fitness. Everyone feels like they must have yet another carrot to keep them going. My message and mission is to empower people to do it for the sake of doing it. I recorded a 4-part podcast series on disordered eating, dangerous dieting, and getting back to health if anyone would care to hear how the industry position to "fix" the problem is actually perpetuating it. This is how the fitness industry stays in business and I fully understand this is also how I stay in business. Finding that balance between encouraging continued interest/commitment and a genuine health has been an ongoing challenge for me.
3.) I have not been committed to chasing people around to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. For the $497/month price point, I absolutely do follow up and follow up some more. We have bi-weekly calls and frequently email, but for the $57/month, clients get their training and access to the small group coaching where they are encouraged to be accountable to me and to the other members of the group.
I will think about how to incorporate more engagement, but honestly, the friendly competition and positive peer pressure has worked wonders! As the "expert", I give advice every single day, but for some reason people continue to listen to each other better than they listen to me on some things. A perfect example is wine... I have explained how drinking 2-4 glasses of wine each day will at least keep the pounds on if not cause the pounds. Some choose not to listen to me like I am just being the fun police, but as soon as one of my clients starts showing more results, and reveals her secret.. she gave up the wine, they are all on the give up the wine train. I tend to try to use these unconventional methods for encouraging compliance.
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