Local designs motivation app

It’s designed to keep you motivated and keep your health on track.

Created by a Kelowna resident, Motivation Engine is a lifestyle app with access to personal trainers and coaches who help each individual develop a habit plan that is right for them.

CEO and Founder Ryan Gallagher says a habit plan isn’t the same as a workout plan.

“It’s not about how many reps you do, it’s more about how many times are you doing the things that you want to do,” he explains. “So, maybe you want to exercise three times a week, and maybe you want to eat healthy everyday and avoid snacking, whatever it might be we are there to help.”

Gallagher wanted the app to be an uplifting experience, something that was easy to use and would only take a minute a day.

“We are just tracking did you do it, are you happy with what you did today about your nutrition, are you happy about your exercise today. You are the one who is best to judge that, and that is what we are really trying to focus on is the internal reflection that happens when you think about it,” says Gallagher.

“I think that is what will form the habits better than passive systems that just collect, how many steps you’ve taken.”

Those who register for the app will asked a series of questions about their lifestyle, as well as how much they know about fitness and nutrition.

The program will then partner each user with a coach who are experts in such areas as motivation, physiotherapy, and nutrition who will help to develop a habit plan that fits that person’s lifestyle ,as well as send uplifting messages to users each day.

Drew Vincent used to be inconstant with his work outs and eating habits, unable to stay on track, but for the last three weeks he has been using Motivation Engine.

“It’s been odd because I am consciously thinking about when I am going to make those decisions,” Vincent explains. “If I am skipping a workout I have to check in and somebody is going to see that I didn’t get that workout and if I am doing things that are negative for my health, I actually have to log in and be honest with myself with those and keep track of them.”

Motivation Engine is parented by the company Upward Health, a start up that got off the ground with the help of Accelerate Okanagan.  The app kicked off last December and so far has gained hundreds of users from around BC.

Nancy Brown is another user who says the last six months of her workout and health routine have been stagnant, but since joining the app four weeks ago she has seen a huge improvement.

“For me it’s the whole continuous improvement philosophy and it (Motivation Engine) supports that. So when you do check in and you are rating yourself on a scale of one to five how did I meet my goals, if I had a great day I would rate myself as a five but if I had over indulged I would rate myself lower,” she says. “Then it invokes a reflection, it prompts you to reflect on that, ‘so why did I make that choice, why did I over indulge. So next time I am in that circumstance, you have different strategies to conquer it.”

Gallagher conducted an eight week study over the spring in conjunction with University of British Columbia and the H2O Centre YMCA, on the results of individuals using Motivation Engine compared to those not using the system.

Dr. Mary Jung, a health and exercise psychology researcher for UBC, says the result was positive.

“By the end of the eight week period, individuals using Motivation Engine were engaging in - on average - 7.59 bouts of strenuous/moderate physical activity per week, whereas individuals not using Motivation Engine were only engaging in 3.58 bouts per week. That’s an increase of over 200 per cent.”

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

Gallagher helps Vincent at the H2O Centre