Client motivation follows a predictable pattern: high in the first month, dropping in the second — and that’s when they start skipping sessions and canceling. Challenges are one of the simplest ways to get through that phase: they offer a short-term goal, some healthy competition and a reason to come back tomorrow.
Types of challenges
In the app you can create challenges based on:
- number of workouts (e.g., 20 workouts in 30 days);
- active days (consistency: trained that day or not);
- calories burned;
- steps;
- custom metrics.
Participants see a live leaderboard, and check-in photos show up on the challenge calendar.
How to set it up without mistakes
The goal is the total, not per day
This is the most common mistake. The form has Goal, Counting period (e.g., daily) and Limit per period (e.g., 1). It’s natural to read “Goal 1” as “1 per day,” but the goal is the challenge total.
- 30-day challenge, 1 workout per day: goal 30, daily counting, limit 1.
- 12 workouts in a month: goal 12.
With a goal of 1, everyone completes the challenge on their first check-in, and the leaderboard ends in a tie.
Use the limit per period to keep it fair
The limit per period stops someone who trains twice a day from finishing the challenge in half the time. For consistency challenges, daily counting with a limit of 1 is the fairest setup.
Keep it short
21 to 30 days is ideal: long enough to build a habit, short enough for the client to see the finish line.
Achievements: small wins along the way
Beyond challenges, the app automatically rewards milestones: first check-in, 7-, 30- and 90-day streaks and more. They’re small rewards that make clients want to keep the streak alive.
Challenge ideas that work
- 30 days of consistency: train every day (active days, goal 30).
- Summer challenge: 40 workouts in 8 weeks.
- 10,000 steps: daily average over 21 days.
- Comeback challenge: for clients back from vacation, 12 workouts in 4 weeks.
Pair it with workout stories: every week posted promotes the challenge (and you).
Conclusion
A short challenge, with the total goal set correctly and a live leaderboard, gives clients a reason to train right in the phase when they usually disappear — and that cuts no-shows and cancellations.
See also how to retain clients and reduce churn and check out Fitney for personal trainers.
