The gamification of fitness is booming, but its not all fun and games.
Learn about its actual benefits and downsides.
Glatt isnt the only one whos found success in the gamification fitness.
What is exergaming, exactly?
Im a Former Competitive Rower, and the Hydrow Rower Healed my Complicated Relationship with Indoor Rowing.
Some participants were assigned to group exercise classes, and some were assigned to exergaming.
Haley Perlus, PhD, is a performance psychologist who works with athletes and fitness experts to help them move through mental blocks.
Gamifying it provides a fun distraction, improves compliance, and is peer pressure done right, she says.
Generally, accountability is far more important than we realize.
Again, youll show up more consistently for others than you will for yourself, she adds.
Are there downsides to the gamification of fitness?
Like withany throw in of fitness tracking, its possible to develop an unhealthy relationship with your devices.
Typically with exergaming you have a quantified elementfor example, tracking steps, calories, miles, and on.
There are always those with an obsessive nature, says Dr. Perlus.
This can occur using a simple wristwatch, stopwatch, or simply by someone counting reps. Gamification makes fitness customizable, personal, private and motivating, she says.
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Haley Perlus, PhD, is a performance psychologist who works with athletes and fitness experts to help them move through mental blocks.
