Show HN: My workout app earns –$1000/month. I decided to build a new one

Hey HN

A little over four years ago, I built a weightlifting app for 5/3/1 with the goal of making $1000 total. Five months later I had reached that goal and made it to the top of HN [0]. It’s been earning between $1000 - $1300 every months since.

After that a lot happened. I got a job, then had kids, so I put the project on ice. When I grew too disappointed with my job, I decided to try to raise some money and build on the success of my 5/3/1 app by addressing the main feedback I kept getting: the ability to create your own programs.

Thus, Vis was born.

The initial idea was to create a platform where gyms and trainers could build programs and define them using formulas so they could be derived from parameters like 1RM. I built what I think is the best workout editor out there, but I quickly found out that B2B sales is hard (or maybe I just suck at it). It also just didn’t feel like a big enough sell for gyms.

So I pivoted and decided to focus on the iOS app for now. You can check it out at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vis-next-generation-workouts/id6743175121

It builds on the strengths of my previous app with a workout experience that focuses on what you are doing right now instead of a spreadsheet-like UI. Rescheduling workouts is now a breeze with a Jiggle Mode style interface. And it is now a fully native SwiftUI app (as opposed to Flutter), which made it easier to use stuff like Live Activities so you can work out from your lock screen.

Right now it comes with well known programs like 5/3/1 and more, and it will soon have the ability to create your own, powered by the same engine.

It has been quite a journey and I wouldn’t recommend doing this with two young kids, but I am really proud of what I built.

Please check it out and let me know what you think!

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31508009