I used this AI-powered workout app for an entire year – here’s 5 things I learned

PUSH has pushed me further than ever before

Features By Stephen Warwick published 29 September 2024

As more and more companies scramble to jam artificial intelligence into literally everything, I find myself becoming increasingly desensitized to the prospect of using AI for really anything. I loathe the anti-creative powers of generative AI for text and image creation, and I’m so over products carrying AI branding for no reason (I’m looking at you, Samsung Family Hub AI Vision fridge).

As a serial gym goer, however, there’s one area of my life where AI has proven indispensable for more than a year, and that’s in powering my workouts. Last year, I was introduced to PUSH, an AI-powered workout app and gym tracker designed to help you build muscle as quickly as possible by taking a scientific approach to workout creation.

Give or take a couple of injuries and some holidays, I’ve used PUSH six days a week, every week, for over a year. I’ve done hundreds of workouts, and in that time I’ve learned more about exercise than all my previous years of experience attending the gym. It’s definitely one of the best fitness apps I’ve ever used.

PUSH is a delight to use, it’s got a great interface that’s very easy to use, rest counters, custom workout plans, and more. Yet more valuable than the joy I’ve had using the app, PUSH has taught me some invaluable lessons about building muscle in the gym I can’t wait to share with you. Here’s everything I’ve learned.

Progressive overload really matters

If you’re new to the gym or building muscle, you might have heard the term ‘progressive overload’ bandied around. Even as a long-time gym goer, I was familiar with the concept, but until I started using PUSH, I’d never really taken it seriously.

PUSH is hyper-tuned to help you gradually increase the amount of weight you’re lifting over time, a tried and tested vehicle for building muscle. I’d spent years bench pressing maybe 70 or 80kgs (175lbs-ish), occasionally pushing the boat out to 85kgs if I was feeling sprightly.

PUSH has helped me elevate my bench press to a consistent 100kgs for multiple sets of five in less than 12 months. Across the board, all of my movements and lifts have increased in power and weight because PUSH doesn’t let you take your foot off the gas. As soon as you can achieve the desired number of reps at a certain weight, PUSH uses its AI algorithm to calculate your next increment. If you fail a set or can’t see a certain weight through to completion, it’ll automatically calculate a plateau-breaker exercise, usually an increased weight for fewer reps, to help you smash through your next barrier.

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