Free Fitness App 'Sweatcoin' Will Pay You To Get Active

If you're lacking in fitness motivation, new app Sweatcoin could be just the thing you need.

The app, which launches in the UK on Wednesday, effectively pays Brits to get active.

It issues users with a digital currency called "sweatcoins" depending on how many steps they have taken in a day.

Sweatcoins can then be traded for a whole host of goodies which are available to browse on the app's online market place.

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A Sweatcoin user will receive one coin for every 1,000 steps they take.

Within a few weeks, they could have enough coins to trade for rewards including Vivobarefoot running shoes, Kymira infra-red clothing and fitness classes from Wonderush or BOOMCycle.

Four London-based businesses have already signed up to use the app as part of their employee reward programme.

Members of staff will be able to trade sweatcoins for an extra day off, a subsidised healthy meal or a free massage as a reward for upping their fitness.

sweatcoin

The app is the brainchild of a group of London-based Russian entrepreneurs, Oleg Fomenko, Anton Derlyatka, Egor Khmelev and Danil Perushev.

Although current rewards mainly consist of fitness goodies, the founders say the app could eventually supply cash benefits to users.

"This whole business is pegged to making movement valuable," Fomenko told Reuters.

"Eventually, sweatcoin is going to have a rate of exchange tied to the British pound."

The smartphone app will be available to download from the Apple Store for free from Wednesday. The makers have said an Android version of the app will become available in the next few months.

Exercises That Fitness Trainers Would Never Do

Presses Behind the Head (01 of05)

“Anything behind the neck puts your shoulder muscles in a vulnerable position. So don’t do presses, chins and pull-downs behind your head,” Pomahac said. “It's an unnatural and unsafe position and puts your shoulder joint into an extension, external rotation position which places a large and unnatural strain on your rotator cuff muscles. I recommend military (front) presses or dumbbell presses, both of which work front delts much more safely. I never lower the weight below chin level. You'll notice this is about as far as you can go without your shoulders dropping. I usually perform military presses on a Smith machine, or dumbbells which lets me roll my palms back and find a more natural position.”Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Exercises that Fitness Trainers Would Never Do

Seated Leg Machines (02 of05)

“I stay clear of the seated leg extension and seated hamstring curl machines,” said U.S. Track and Field Star and ACE Certified Personal Trainer Monica Hargrove. “When the leg is fully extended, that puts a lot of stress on the knee joints, ultimately risking injury. Squats and lunges are a safer and more effective way to work the quads.” She recommends trying front squats, back squats, split squats, walking lunges, stationary lunges, and reverse lunges.“When it comes to working my hamstrings, I'm more concerned with functional performance and the hamstring curl strengthens a motion not designed for running or sprinting. Straight leg dead lifts and good mornings are two exercises that train my hamstrings in better positions for running.”Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Exercises that Fitness Trainers Would Never Do

Crunches(03 of05)

“I rarely ever do crunches,” said ACE certified pre- and post-natal fitness trainer Sara Haley. “To me it’s a waste of time -- too much risk of doing them wrong... I’d rather be more efficient and work my entire core with exercises like dead bug and plank variations.”Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Single-Leg Plyo Box Jump(04 of05)

"One exercise that I see people attempt, but I would never do is a single-leg plyo box jump (using the high platform). This is a move that is unnecessary and extremely dangerous,” said Basheerah Ahmad, a celebrity trainer and lifestyle coach. Click Here to See Exercises that Fitness Trainers Would Never DoPhoto Credit: Shutterstock

The Tricep “Bench” Dip(05 of05)

“This exercise places extreme stress on the acromioclavicular joint as well as the labrum,” said Chief Clinical Officer of Orthology Dr. Josh Sandell. “[Which] can lead to all kinds of shoulder problems and perpetuates the problems on anyone who has forward head posture.”Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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