Going for a run is no longer enough – Jenny Southan reveals how a data-driven approach to your workout can help you become fitter, faster and stronger.

My induction to Third Space gym in London’s Soho involves standing on a futuristic-looking weighing machine and gripping two metal prongs while an electric current passes through me (thankfully, I can’t feel it). On the screen, the outline of a figure begins to fill in, and readings show what percentage water, protein, mineral and fat I am. I won’t share the numbers, but it was certainly enlightening.

Weight is a crude reading of one’s physical make-up, while BMI (body mass index), derived from your weight divided by your height, is not much better. Using this calculation, someone muscular could be considered obese because muscle is heavier than fat.

The InBody Analysis machine is more scientific, giving comprehensive readings of your entire physiology – whether your skeletal muscle mass is normal, how much visceral fat you have around your internal organs (not too much, hopefully), how much water is in your system (both intra- and extra-cellular), and the distribution of lean mass versus fat around your arms, trunk and legs.

A typical gym induction might include a questionnaire about your lifestyle, the taking of a few vital statistics, and some advice on how to use the machines. At Third Space (thirdspace.london), which has four clubs in London, you won’t start training until your data has been analysed. The body scanner will also provide a meaningful map of your progress – work hard, and after a month you will see an increase in muscle and a decrease in fat.

Third Space’s free “Out/Set” biometric assessment was developed by personal trainer Luke Worthington. For £150, you can also take a DNA test to find out your genetic strengths and weaknesses. Worthington sets a series of exercises so he can see your movement capabilities – so if you don’t have perfect form when it comes to a hip hinge (effectively bending down to pick something up), he won’t put any deadlifts in your regime.

“The purpose is to get as much information as possible about people before setting them loose in the gym,” he says. “I come from a professional sport background so my idea was to bring some of what we did in that world to the public. The industry is very goal-oriented – get the beach body, run the 10k, get to point B, but without any conception of what point A is. That was where we were going wrong. Not all beginners are rubbish at everything, and even someone very advanced will have weak spots.”

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

As the demand for personal training continues, we can expect more gyms to offer data-based programmes – and more body scanning machines in reception. Fit3D scanners have recently been installed in high-end gyms such as Equinox, which has dozens of locations in the US, UK and Canada, while Styku 3D scanners are now available in more than 25 countries.

The technology is seen to be effective not only at getting people off the couch, but in motivating them to continue exercising as they see their body change. It also pairs well with wearable fitness trackers for real-time readings. In 2016, more than 50 million fitness trackers (not including smartwatches) were sold, according to research company CCS Insight. By 2020, they are expected to exceed 165 million.

Keen triathloner Gemma Taylor uses cycling and running app Strava. “It tracks all my activities so I can quickly see an overview of all the training I have completed over many weeks at a time,” she says. “This helps me to push harder and further. I am training for a marathon so I’ll use it to track my weekly mileage and make sure I’m hitting my targets.”

David Howaston, master trainer for fitness equipment manufacturer Technogym, says: “Apps and tracking devices have changed the way we approach exercise, making users more self-aware of their habitual movement. Technogym helps people to track their workouts via Mywellness.com. This [cloud-based platform] allows users to log into their own workout anywhere in the world, be it outdoors or in a hotel gym with Technogym Unity screens. When travelling, you can use the My Running Logbook to recreate your favourite outdoor run on a treadmill.”

GENETIC EFFECT

The final piece in the puzzle is the role your genes play, and the good news is DNA testing has finally become affordable and easy (see “All in the genes”, December 2016-January 2017 issue). In 2013, UK fitness trainer Matt Roberts began offering personalised training based on your genetic response to nutrition and exercise. East London gym Ethos (ethos.co), which opened in August, has followed suit.

Both partner with DNAFit (dnafit.com), which interprets 30 genes and their variants. Anyone can order one online and a saliva sample will, for example, highlight the ACTN3 “power gene”, which is common in Olympic athletes, and the FTO “fat gene”, which determines how likely your body is to store saturated fat. Other sensors indicate sports injury resilience and whether you are better suited to power or endurance activity. Roberts says a DNA test can show “exactly what it is about your body that would make training easier”.

Ethos co-founder Dr Theo Koutroukides agrees. “Knowing what genes one carries for fitness and which diet is best suited for each unique genetic profile minimises guesswork to achieve results more effectively, safely and in less time,” he says.

Ethos also has an InBody scanner, plus indoor WattBikes that track your performance across 40 parameters – data can be recorded on compatible apps and displayed on TV screens to boost competitiveness in groups. In the future, its “Fitlab” will offer tests for adrenal stress and food sensitivity, hormone status and your cardiometabolic profile.

If you don’t have access to a gym that provides you with a biometric workout, DNAFit can provide one for you virtually. Once you have your results, you can sign up for one of its “Elevate” programmes (100 Day Fat Burner or 100 Day Muscle Builder), which use the “world’s first and only proven genetic training algorithm” to create a bespoke schedule. Knowing, for instance, that you have the potential for fast recovery and that you respond best to power training means you could cope with daily weight lifting and spinning classes.

Still, personal trainer and former Royal Marine Commando Philip McDougall warns that it’s also important to listen to your instincts: “Fitness tracking tools can help beginners to gauge things such as pace and distance, but I’m personally against tech being involved in fitness monitoring for regular exercisers, apart from a simple stopwatch or interval timer. Runners should plan their route, memorise distance markers and rely on feedback from their own bodies.”

SAMPLE FITNESS STATS, AND WHAT THEY MEAN*

  • 160bpm: use the beats per minute your heart is pumping to reach optimal fat burning (the number depends on your age and how fit you are)
  • 180bpm (HR Max): measures the maximum number of beats per minute your heart should pump when fully exerting yourself (the standard formula is 220 minus your age)
  • 200 metres (elevation gain): a measurement of elevation using a built-in altimeter to show how hard you have worked going uphill or upstairs
  • 8.12km/h: your average pace is measured by the time it takes to run 1km
  • 185spm: your steps per minute or “cadence” is vital to showing how efficient your running form is (tracking allows you to target an optimal number)
  • 250 milliseconds (ground contact time): the amount of time your foot makes contact with the ground when running – the quicker, the better (an Olympic sprinter might be 190 milliseconds)
  • 10cm (VO): vertical oscillation is the amount you bounce up and down when running – it typically ranges between 6cm and 13cm, with pros leaning towards the lower end of the scale (the more you bounce, the more energy you waste)
  • 40ml/kg/min (VO2Max): you will need to test your VO2 Max, which is a measurement of how efficiently your body can consume oxygen, in a laboratory – the fitter you are, the higher the number (49ml/kg/min would be a good result for a 35-year-old man)
  • 1,235cal (BMR): your basal metabolic rate is a measure of how many calories you burn over 24 hours without any exercise or effort
  • 162cals (EPOC): excess post-exercise oxygen consumption is an indication of the amount of calories you continue to burn after a workout

*NUMBERS QUOTED ARE ILLUSTRATIVE AND WILL VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON

FITNESS TRACKERS

TomTom Touch

This fitness tracker measures body fat and muscle mass composition, steps, calories, sleep time and heart rate. You can also log your workouts and receive incoming call/SMS notifications so you don’t have to worry about checking your phone.

FitBit Charge 2

Standout functions include GPS connection to your phone and SmartTrack, which records activities such as cycling and hiking. It also shows your cardio fitness score and creates guided breathing sessions in time with your heart rate.

Moov Now

Designed to “coach” you with voice commands and real-time stats, Moov Now’s 9 Axis Omni motion sensor will track your form in 3D. It can assess your boxing technique, swimming stroke rate and the landing impact of your feet when running to help avoid injury.

Samsung Gear Fit 2

This GPS sports band will track your running route independently of your smartphone so you can leave it at home. Its heart rate monitor will show you when you hit high-intensity zones and can tell the difference between cycling and elliptical trainers.

Microsoft Band 2

Calculates your running pace and personal bests, tracks the elevation of your bike ride, and uses GPS to show you how far away holes are from you on the golf course. Cortana voice-recognition is embedded.

UP3 by Jawbone

Track your resting, passive and active heart rate, as well as deep, light and REM sleep. You can also log your food intake in the app and set alerts to encourage you to exercise if you need that extra boost. It comes in six colours, including black, silver and navy.

UA Band

Under Armour’s device counts your steps, workout intensity and calories burnt (and consumed, if you input what you eat). Set goals, see your progress and control the music you are listening to on UA wireless headphones.

Garmin VivoFit HR+

Measure the number of floors you have climbed, get social media alerts and see how hard your heart is pumping. You can also view the routes you have walked or run on the app. Move IQ discerns between different types of motion.

Misfit Ray

You can swim in this fitness band, as well as track steps, calories and the distance and time you have run. Receive a phone call or message and it will vibrate. You will need to replace the batteries every four months.

MyZone MZ-3

This activity belt is worn around the chest, and claims to give more accurate heart rate readings than wrist trackers. When synced with its own app or the likes of Apple Health, you can view your effort readings and compare with friends.