The College Years: Plenty of Time, No Excuses
In my college years, I was active. Not elite-athlete active — just a regular guy who enjoyed moving. I ran consistently, sometimes hitting 1,000 km a year. I went to the gym 3–4 times a week. I experimented with bodyweight workouts at home. None of it was serious, but it was regular. And that's what mattered.
Back then, I had the one thing that made it all easy: time. I was single, my schedule was my own, and fitting in an hour at the gym was never a problem.
Then Life Changed
When my first child was born, the gym was the first thing to go — honestly, I'd already stopped going before starting a family. But running still worked. I could lace up my shoes, head out for 40–60 minutes, and that was my fitness for the day.
Then my second child arrived, and everything got tighter. Time became the scarcest resource in my life. I could still squeeze in a run early in the morning or late at night, but even that was getting harder. The trend line was clear: my activity was going down, and I didn't have an easy fix.
The problem wasn't motivation. I wanted to move. The problem was that every form of exercise I knew required a block of time — 40 minutes minimum just for a run, once you factor in getting ready and the run itself. And I simply didn't have those blocks anymore.
The Interview That Changed Everything
Then I came across an interview with Mark Sisson, and one idea stuck with me: micro workouts. The concept is simple — your training doesn't have to be a single, unbroken workout. You can split it into small bursts throughout the day and get the same benefit.
That was the lightbulb moment.
I thought: what if I set up a handful of exercises — push-ups, squats, pull-ups, whatever — and just did one set whenever I had two minutes? Between meetings. While waiting for the kettle. Before the kids wake up. After putting them to bed. That's the micro workout approach — and it fits perfectly into a busy life.
The Notebook System
I picked 8 exercises, 4 sets each, spread across the day. Nothing fancy. Just enough to move every major muscle group.
I grabbed a notebook and started tracking. Every time I completed a set, I'd mark it down. At the end of the week, I'd add up the numbers. At the end of the month, I'd see the bigger picture.
It worked. Really well, actually.
I kept this system going for almost two years. The notebook filled up with tally marks. I was moving my whole body daily, gaining some muscle, and staying active — all without ever needing a gym or a dedicated workout hour.
From Notebook to App
After a while, I started wondering: which exercises am I doing more? Which ones am I neglecting? I wanted to balance things out but I couldn't easily see the patterns in a notebook full of tally marks.
My first thought was to build an Excel spreadsheet. But then I thought — why not build an app? I'm a developer, and this would solve my exact problem.
So I built Stackrep. For myself. Just a simple tool to tap when I finish a set and see my progress across exercises, days, and weeks.
Why I Made It Public
After using my own app for a while, something clicked: I can't be the only person with this problem.
There are millions of people — parents, office workers, busy professionals — who don't have time for a 60-minute gym session but can absolutely find 2 minutes here and there throughout the day. People who aren't trying to be elite athletes. People who just want to keep their body active and their muscles moving.
The fitness app market is full of complex trackers that want you to log every rep, every kilogram, every rest period, every meal. That's great for serious lifters. But for someone like me? I just need to know: did I move today?
That's why I turned Stackrep into a real app. One tap per set. A progress ring that fills up. A calendar that shows your consistency over time. Nothing more, nothing less.
What Fitness Means to Me Now
These days, my approach to fitness is completely different from my college years — and honestly, I think it's better.
I don't run anymore. I walk instead, because while walking I can listen to audiobooks. Two birds, one stone. It's all about how best to utilise my time.
I'm not chasing personal records or six-pack abs. My goal is simple: keep my body active. Working an office job means sitting for hours. My 8 exercises spread throughout the day are my antidote to that. They keep my whole body moving, maintain some muscle, and take almost no time out of my day.
For me, fitness isn't about being extreme. It's about being consistent. And Stackrep is the tool that keeps me honest.