Get Updates in your Feed Reader
Hacking your health with HyperStrike
May 23, 2006
Earlier this year, as my thirty-first birthday neared, I decided to step up my physical fitness and enter into a regular workout routine. Having previously tried to start up something in the past, I didn’t follow through because I didn’t have the knowledge of how to put together a sensible (and effective) workout. This is where HyperStrike comes in. HyperStrike is a new-ish online service that offers extensive assistance in creating a fitness plan for tailored for you. HyperStrike is your virtual personal trainer (yeah, cheesy, I know). You get a workout plan, step-by-step instructions for each exercise (including animated movie demonstrations) and a progress indicator. It’s actually quite slick.
Hyperstrike has three training programs - Lean, Fitness and Performance - with four levels of training (beginning, intermediate, advanced and elite). Each program and level is customized to meet the specific needs for weight reduction, physical conditioning and sports performance. When signing up with Hyperstrike, you select one program. Your current state of fitness and strength are separately measured to determine the program level.
When you first set up HyperStrike, you’ll be guided through some questions to help their software (they call it the HyperStrike Fitness Engine) tailor your workout (exercise type, length and repetitions) to your body, experience and goals. After completing that you’re ready to plan your workouts. Choose your days, workout type and then let it guide you to fitness.
Drawing upon a vast database of information, the Engine rapidly creates workouts with multiple variations faster than a personal trainer can research, create and implement one. The flexibility and versatility of Hyperstrike workouts not only provides the customized training desired but the multiple variations keep you interested, challenged and prevent ‘plateauing’.
The animated demonstrations of each (and every) exercise I found to be not only helpful in being sure I don’t hurt myself but also to boost my knowledge in what certain exercises mean and why I’m doing them. In the beginning, I reviewed and practiced new exercises the evening before. I also printed out my workout sheet, so I could easily reference exercises, length and repetitions while at the gym. I do less and less of that now since I’ve become comfortable with the different exercises and have taken a little freedom in structuring my workout.
After each workout session report your actual exercise time or repeitions to HyperStrike and it will add those to your completed workout and show your progress toward completing your goal.
Of course, while HyperStrike takes care of planning and managing the details of your workout, it’s still up to you to get to the gym and do the work. I’ve had a lot of success doing my workout first thing in the morning. This means getting up shortly before 6 AM and being at the gym a few minutes later. I add extra energy to my day and don’t push my workout to the end when I’m tired from a day’s work fighting with IE [insert any version here].
Since starting working out (again), I’ve felt more energetic, less stressed and more rested after a nights sleep. Sure, sometimes I am sore and, yeah, sometimes it takes a little extra push to get going so early, however the benefits far outweigh any of the so-called inconveniences.
HyperStrike helped me get started and learn proper technique, build confidence in my workout and push me towards results (I felt accountable to the software, believe it or not!). Hacking my health with HyperStrike was an important part of me getting back into a regular and aggressive workout routine.
As of this writing, HyperStrike is in beta2 and still free. I anticipate they will eventually charge for their service, so give it a try now.
Update: HyperStrike emailed me to let me know that they are working towards always having a free version of their site available to members.
Later Update: HyperStrike is now a subscription-based service. It’s a solid service they’re offering, so consider joining now and get a 14-day free trial.