A Game of Fitness: RPGing Your Workouts

Lately I've been trapped in a monotonous training routine (basically, I've gotten bored), going through the motions without enjoying myself. This either changes, or I should simply stop and find another thing to do. Fitness, as many other hobbies, should be enjoyable, and, since I'm a gamer at heart, I thought I'd make it as close to an RPG as I could.

Why make it a game

To make it fun again. Playing fitness like a game is a fun and easy way to track, plan and workout. It allows me to see where I stand, where I want to go and what I need to address. So, I'm making this a game. I'm RPG-ing my routine.

Why make it like an RPG?

The structure of an RPG game makes perfect sense: you've got everything. But we'll focus only on the character aspect and how to level up ourselves:


Character statistics: This shows where you are. Strength, Conditioning, Constitution levels, as well as flexibility and mobility.
A way to level up: This is when your stats improve. You get stronger, more flexible, leaner, better conditioned, etc. and you gain new skills and abilities.
Skills: These are the things that you can do. Practicing them will level you up and improve your stats.



It makes perfect sense from a tracking and planning viewpoint. You start at level 1/whatever level it is you are at, you plan on what you want to improve and maintain. Plan your workouts with that in mind! If you need to be stronger you may start doing Deadlifts as the meat of your workouts while maintaining your other stats.

How to play the game

Only rule: be honest with yourself

You start where you start, period. This is important. There's no point in going above your level and get destroyed by any enemy there (you'll injure yourself or won't be able to perform). If you have to, you start taking out the lowest of the lowest of enemies. Why? Because you can, it will be hard at first, but you'll level up. And as you get better, so should your "enemies" and challenges.

Leveling up

This is the fun part of any RPGish game. Your stats increase and you get new skills. It'd be awesome if this would work that way in real life. You walk 30 minutes a day and you become stronger, flexible and powerful. It doesn't (unless you're not even at beginner level). It's more complicated. You get better at skills that relate to character stats. Getting better at the bench press will make you stronger, but it won't do jack for your flexibility. So this is how it works:

You level up as you practice your skills and these affect your stats. You get better at a skill and you get stronger, better conditioning, more flexible, etc. Some even make you better at more than one aspect. You go through the progressions of a certain skill and you reap the benefits (example the pistol squat). Practicing push-ups makes you stronger, once you get strong enough you can start practicing the next exercise in the progression towards the one armer, you practice jogging and you get closer to kenyian level, you get my drift.

One thing to keep in mind: As well as any other RPG, leveling up in the higher levels takes a lot more time than when you just start (so enjoy being a noob if you are one!)

Skills

You practice skills and your stats get better. It's pretty straight forward. You squat and your squat gets stronger, you add weight/difficulty and it keeps getting stronger as you get stronger. It's simple enough, so get to it!!

Of course, and as in many great RPGs, once you get up to a certain level in a skill, others will need to stronger in order to keep progressing, this is where accessory exercises come into play. Let's take the bench press for example: you strengthen your back, shoulders and triceps to help your overall bench. In RPG terms: your equipment must be strong enough (kitchenware is not strong enough for stronger monsters).

HP

In the beginning your HP will be low, annoingly so. That's why we start slow. You start killing weak monsters, and each hit you take takes a toll, but as you level up, your HP increases as well as your resistance to hits. So, not only do they take a smaller percentage of your total HP but in numbers it is still smaller. You can do more before you need to get to an inn.

In fitness it's much of the same. You start with easy, with exercises that take enough out of you as to advance you. You start lifting only the bar, or a broom stick, or you start with standing rows. You don't jump to double bodyweight squats or one arm chins directly, you slowly progress to them.

Recovery

As HP gets drained you need to recover in order to go back out again and level up. You do this by feeding, resting and sleeping. So eat enough and sleep well. There's nothing else you can do as effective to get back out there!

Treasure Chests

No dungeon is without its prizes. You go through one and you expect, nay, you demand a treasure chest filled to the top with new weapons, gold, and assorted items. In this game, there are no dungeons, so you'll have to reward yourself for every accomplishment you manage. Just keep a simple rule: Your prize should help you in achieving the next goal (those dungeons on the game were left with things that would help you in your quest). Award your fat loss goals with new, smaller workout clothes. Award your pull-up progress with a home pull-up bar. Get a new training book.

Potions

No RPG is complete without recovery potions. But, in a game of fitness you should consider most potions as you would in a Fallout game. Some, the better ones, will help you recover, others, will have some serious drawbacks. It's your game and your life, play it as you wish. Just be well informed beforehand. (Example: Protein shakes, amino acids, steroids, inform yourself before you use any).

By the way, potions won't ever be able to replace food and sleep. They'll work supplementing them.

Character Creation

This will be you in your game of fitness.


HP: XX
Strength: X/100
Conditioning: X/100
Balance: X/100
Flexibility: X/100
Mobility: X/100
Agility: X/100
Power: X/100
Recovery: XX
Weight: XX
BF%: XX%



Embrace it, because this is where you start.

Now, imagine your level 50. Have a clear picture of what that end person can do, how he looks and how he moves and his end stats. Put it in paper. Now notice what skills you'll need to improve to get there, and what tools you'll need.

Once you have those skills, make a progression map of them, put all the skills between you and your goal (if a strict muscle up is the end goal, you'll need to get pretty good at dips and pull-ups). Make a road out of it. Every skill you achieve is a +1 for the stat it affects. Only multi-joint skills count (calf raises don't add to your stats, but will help you to build up on skills that do), and some skills will improve on more than one stat (Pistol squats, for example, will be awesome for balance and strength).

Sports are great for this, since they're always a blend of many attributes. Think about rock climbing: you'll need strength, balance, endurance and flexibility; Martial arts will as well.

Some tips to win

Think of it as an actual RPG game. You'll have to put in the hours.

Choose your party wisely. You want people with similar goals that will keep you accountable and help you through your stumps. Remember similar goals. You don't want to be a strength junkie with an endurance training partner.

Use the tools at your disposal. Don't leave them for "later" or you'll end up with a full stock of elixirs that would've made the whole game easier.

Always face a boss with full hp, play it safe.

Press start to play.


Motus Virtute

If you enjoyed this post, you're welcome to [http:///www.motusvirtute.com] to learn more about my take on fitness and strength training. I'll be going deeper into the "Fitness Game" theme!

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