Clear answers to common UK gym and leisure centre questions about setting up machines, starting weights in kg, the 1-1-3 tempo, and the 5-machine rotation.
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Gym.Coach supports 95% of all commercial pin-loaded (selectorized) strength machines worldwide. It works directly at Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Anytime Fitness, PureGym, The Gym Group, David Lloyd, Basic-Fit, McFIT, FitX, Smart Fit, Jetts, Snap Fitness, and independent clubs equipped with Matrix, Technogym, Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Precor, Hoist, Panatta, or Gym80.
Never wait in line during peak hours. Tap "Swap machine" on your screen and Gym.Coach immediately selects a biomechanically equivalent pin-loaded machine targeting the same muscle group (for example swapping Lat Pulldown for Seated Row, or Chest Press for Pec Fly) so you finish within 30 minutes.
Yes. Guided pin-loaded machines move along a fixed mechanical path so you never have to balance a wobbly barbell. For sensitive shoulders, use the neutral grip handles (palms facing each other) and set the start position so your elbows stay in front of your torso. For sensitive knees on the Leg Press, place your feet slightly higher on the footplate and keep your knee bend at 90 degrees. You can also swap any machine with 1 tap.
Clinical exercise research (Westcott, 2012; Schoenfeld et al., 2017) shows that training all major muscle groups twice per week with 3 controlled sets per movement reverses age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and builds balanced strength. By pairing 5 complementary patterns (Leg Press, Upper Push, Upper Pull, Hamstring Curl, and Core/Lower Back), you stimulate 100% of your major muscle groups in 30 minutes.
The 1-1-3 tempo means: 1 second smooth press or pull (concentric), 1 second pause at peak contraction without locking out your joints (isometric), and 3 full seconds lowering the weight under control (eccentric) without letting the weight plates crash. Each rep lasts 5 seconds (50 to 60 seconds of Time Under Tension per set of 10 to 12 reps), maximizing muscle stimulation while protecting tendons and joints.
Every machine guide provides a safe, realistic starting weight (such as 55 lbs / 25 kg for men and 35 lbs / 15 kg for women on the Chest Press). Gym.Coach uses Double Progression: you start at 3 sets of 10 reps. Once you complete 3 sets of 12 clean reps in the 1-1-3 tempo, the app automatically increases your target weight by one micro-step (+5 lbs or +2.5 kg) for your next session and resets your target to 3 sets of 10.
Yes. Commercial machines from Matrix, Technogym, and Life Fitness use numbered yellow or red adjustment levers. You set your seat height once in 20 seconds using our anatomical landmarks (such as handles at mid-chest level) and save the number in Gym.Coach so every future set-up takes 3 seconds.
No download is required. Gym.Coach is a fast Progressive Web App (PWA) that runs directly in Safari or Chrome and can be added to your home screen in two taps.
An electronic EGYM circuit costs a gym over $100,000 in proprietary hardware and often requires members to pay an extra monthly upcharge while waiting in a fixed rotation. Gym.Coach brings the same guided experience (saved seat settings, 1-1-3 tempo pacing, and automatic progression) to the standard Matrix, Technogym, and Life Fitness machines already on every gym floor.
Gyms, studios, and physiotherapy clinics can join for free ($0 / £0 / €0 setup cost, zero hardware required). Partner clubs receive custom QR onboarding kits and earn a recurring 30% partner commission on every member who upgrades to Gym.Coach Pro. Contact partners@gym.coach to get started.
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