0:00:10.761,0:00:12.771 (repetitive music imitating a game app) 0:00:12.949,0:00:16.226 (Molly Wood) Fitness is a big trend [br]in gadgets and apps right now. 0:00:16.226,0:00:17.772 But if you're trying to get in shape, 0:00:17.772,0:00:21.100 can a fitness app, and maybe [br]a calorie counter do the job? 0:00:21.100,0:00:23.895 Or should you go old school [br]and get a real personal trainer? 0:00:24.258,0:00:26.061 I decided to find out. 0:00:26.099,0:00:28.481 (exercising music) 0:00:28.501,0:00:30.537 I'm launching a month-long [br]fitness challenge, 0:00:30.545,0:00:33.448 comparing an app called Fitstar, [br]which does personal training, 0:00:33.448,0:00:36.285 and counting my calories [br]with MyFitnessPal 0:00:36.285,0:00:39.494 Going up against Fitstar is Alison. 0:00:39.494,0:00:42.003 She's a personal trainer[br]with multiple certifications, 0:00:42.003,0:00:44.305 and she'll also help me create[br]a nutrition plan. 0:00:44.308,0:00:47.611 I'll evaluate which trainer keeps me [br]most motivated, accountable, 0:00:47.611,0:00:49.872 and which works best for me [br]in the long run -- 0:00:49.905,0:00:52.554 and of course, [br]which one kicks my butt the most. 0:00:52.593,0:00:55.854 (exercising music) 0:00:55.854,0:00:57.700 (Alison Roessler) I never do [br]two workouts twice 0:00:57.723,0:00:59.778 and I'm always constantly changing 0:00:59.778,0:01:01.947 the different things [br]that I throw at my clients, 0:01:01.947,0:01:04.100 the different stresses [br]that I throw at them 0:01:04.100,0:01:07.260 throughout exercises,[br]because really, it'll get boring 0:01:07.260,0:01:09.735 and it's not sustainable[br]if there's not enough variety. 0:01:09.735,0:01:12.195 (Journalist pants; [br]Alison says something inaudible) 0:01:12.195,0:01:14.267 (Journalist) Alison seemed overwhelming[br]at first. 0:01:14.267,0:01:16.352 Her workouts were really scary, 0:01:16.352,0:01:18.938 and she sent me home [br]with tons of cardio homework 0:01:18.938,0:01:21.825 and this long food journal [br]that was in a spreadsheet. 0:01:22.362,0:01:24.627 Plus, each session with her[br]is 100 bucks. 0:01:25.127,0:01:26.845 Not sure I'm going to be able [br]to keep that up. 0:01:27.528,0:01:29.657 So I just finished my first full session[br]with Alison 0:01:29.657,0:01:31.459 and I'm sweaty and starving, 0:01:31.459,0:01:36.304 and I've definitely underestimated[br]how hard that workout was going to be: 0:01:36.304,0:01:40.030 it was fantastic, but I'll clearly have[br]to up my game with Fitstar 0:01:40.030,0:01:42.601 because Tony Gonzalez is no Alison 0:01:42.602,0:01:44.367 (Tony) Reverse shoulder-up 0:01:44.730,0:01:47.547 (Molly) Fitstar was easy and [br]convenient from the get-go. 0:01:47.547,0:01:50.486 The app is free or $40 a year. 0:01:50.486,0:01:52.843 I chose the pay version [br]to get more work-outs 0:01:52.843,0:01:56.719 but I loved that you can do it anywhere:[br]no gear required. 0:01:56.719,0:01:58.552 That is sustainable 0:01:58.552,0:02:01.419 (Dave Grijalva) It' like in a workout DVD[br]and the experience is very similar to that 0:02:01.419,0:02:02.548 but different every time, 0:02:02.566,0:02:04.591 and it's different in the way that [br]it actually adapts to you. 0:02:04.591,0:02:07.480 We wanted the experience to feel authentic[br]and feel real, 0:02:07.480,0:02:09.344 and we wanted to put real people on [br]the screen, 0:02:09.344,0:02:12.274 and having Tony's personnality [br]that really helps a lot. 0:02:12.659,0:02:13.499 (Tony) Good job. 0:02:14.030,0:02:16.922 (Molly) I like how the workouts [br]include a variety of strength and cardio 0:02:16.922,0:02:20.750 and you can specify your fitness level[br]and rate each exercise 0:02:20.750,0:02:22.134 in terms of how hard it is. 0:02:22.134,0:02:24.224 I found that Fitstar did progress over time, 0:02:24.224,0:02:26.696 but it didn't really push me as hard[br]as Alison did, 0:02:26.696,0:02:30.567 and even though it reminds me to work out,[br]it's still kind of easy to skip -- 0:02:30.567,0:02:33.392 like, I totally ignored it [br]when I went on a vacation. 0:02:33.392,0:02:36.028 Even though I kind of dreaded [br]my workouts with Alison, 0:02:36.028,0:02:38.295 I did not miss a single one. 0:02:38.295,0:02:40.700 Plus, she was able to modify [br]those workouts 0:02:40.700,0:02:44.034 for this kind of nagging foot injury [br]that I have and that was great. 0:02:44.034,0:02:48.751 She also held me very accountable[br]for my food, my sleep and my stress. 0:02:48.761,0:02:52.734 (Alison) I don't think that an app[br]can take the place of human interaction. 0:02:52.734,0:02:55.885 I think that they can be positive[br]pieces of the puzzle, 0:02:55.885,0:02:57.791 but I don't think that it's going [br]to ever replace 0:02:57.791,0:02:59.338 working with a trainer 1 on 1. 0:02:59.338,0:03:01.088 (Dave) You know, personal [br]trainers provide a lot of things 0:03:01.088,0:03:02.639 that are really hard to do with software. 0:03:02.639,0:03:06.232 And so, what we're trying to do is [br]provide that type of an experience, 0:03:06.232,0:03:09.872 in a way that's accessible to everyone,[br]and really convenient. 0:03:11.443,0:03:13.053 (Molly) When I started [br]this challenge, 0:03:13.053,0:03:14.759 I hadn't really worked out [br]in about a year. 0:03:14.759,0:03:18.650 So if I were just getting started [br]with only Fitstar and MyFitnessPal 0:03:18.650,0:03:23.353 I would see progress, but I might be slow[br]and I could get frustrated and give up. 0:03:23.353,0:03:27.475 Alison was definitly a huge jump-start[br]in terms of getting back in shape, 0:03:27.475,0:03:30.333 but one month with her was $400. 0:03:30.333,0:03:30.793 Ouch! 0:03:31.082,0:03:33.434 And ultimately, sticking [br]with the workout plan 0:03:33.446,0:03:35.160 is about creating good habits. 0:03:35.160,0:03:37.502 So while Alison kicked my butt [br]in the short term, 0:03:37.502,0:03:40.679 in the long term, Fitstar is the one[br]that fits into my life. 0:03:40.679,0:03:43.654 After that initial push, [br]the app is where it's at. 0:03:43.739,0:03:47.999 (music)