The Muscle Booster app is currently offering a 61% discount for new users, and has been praised by fitness newbies and veterans alike – but does it live up to the hype?This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
I tested the personal training AI app with a home workout in my small living room(Image: Tom Capon)
The gym can be a daunting place, right? With muscular men dominating the weights area and mirrors reflecting every potential mistake, it’s easy for beginners to feel like they’re under intense scrutiny. It’s enough to make you think: I can’t do this.
But that’s where most people misunderstand the gym. The mirrors are there for you to check your form during rest sets, or to correct your posture. And those beefy guys are more than happy to help if asked – I’ve seen two of them rescue fellow gym-goers from a bench press blunder (I was too absorbed in my own reflection). The real hurdle is not knowing where to start.
That’s where an app like Muscle Booster comes into the picture. Currently offering a 61% discount for new users, the app uses a brief quiz to create a personalised fitness programme, acting as a virtual personal trainer, according to the Mirror.
Muscle Booster is now 61% off
61% off
Muscle Booster
Erik Gutiérrez says of the Muscle Booster app: “One year ago today. What a year of consistency and dedication can do. March came and left, and turning 33 this year made me reflect on all the blessings and achievements I’ve made – taking care of my health being a huge part of that. I’m proud to say I’m in the healthiest state of my life, both mentally and physically. A year ago, I went from 190 lbs to 175. Today, I’m at 163 lbs. Time to bulk up. Thank you @musclebooster_app”
With impressive reviews, including a 4.6 from 122,800 ratings on the Apple App Store and 4.4 from 234,000 reviews on the Play Store, it’s already creating a buzz among both fitness novices and seasoned gym-goers. As someone who spends 80% of their time pondering the gym and food, I decided to give the app a whirl to see if it lived up to its reputation.
How the Muscle Booster App Works
Upon installing the app, I was prompted to fill out a questionnaire outlining my current fitness levels and objectives. However, providing inaccurate information doesn’t confine you to a specific workout routine; once you’re fully engaged with the app, the settings can be readily modified.
After completing the quiz, the AI creates a daily fitness plan displayed in a straightforward calendar format. Depending on your preferences, it will arrange rest days and workouts centred around either gym or home exercises.
The home workout actually managed to put me through my paces – it’s ideal for a quick holiday workout(Image: Tom Capon)
The app also monitors your steps, a vital element in encouraging weight loss. Additionally, the app provides a meal plan complete with corresponding recipes.
These recipes detail the ingredients (helpfully in metric) along with your macros, ensuring you’re getting sufficient nutrition.
The recipes can also be adapted to serve multiple people, making it ideal for couples or families working towards their fitness goals. I set mine up for weight gain (I’m currently in a bulking phase after a year of cutting), and it suggested three meals and two snacks.
When I totalled up the macros, it came to 1,827 calories, significantly below my current intake of 2,700 calories. It did provide enough fat at 132g, but fell short on protein at 99g, when I require a minimum of 198g (2g per kg of body weight), and carbs were only 51g when I need 132g.
The home workout managed to hit every muscle group in a full body workout(Image: Tom Capon/Muscle Booster)
I would propose that using an app like MyFitnessPal as a starting point is beneficial, as it allows you to monitor your nutrition and identify any areas that may need supplementation.
For instance, a low-fat Greek yoghurt paired with some fruit, such as raisins, could help bridge these nutritional gaps. However, it’s crucial to remember that this should be used as a guideline rather than a strict rulebook.
The app also presents various challenges, including mobility, core and calisthenics, which are fantastic for those who thrive on a bit of competition to keep them motivated.
Workouts
It wouldn’t be a complete review without trying out a workout myself. Although the app provides daily workouts, it also allows you to tailor your routine, including altering the body part targeted, duration, and available equipment.
While I’ll touch on the gym workouts shortly, I believe the home routines are where the app truly shines. I arranged a full-body workout lasting just 15 minutes, with the difficulty level set to ‘hard’.
Within moments, I received the day’s session, which included:.
12x Reverse Lunge leg kicks15x Squat Bounce16x Lying Alternate Frog Kick45x Astride Jumps45 secs x Iso Push-up hold15x Lying Floor Row with Bent Knee22x Scapula Push-up15x The Superman22x Diagonal Mountain Climbers
Each workout is accompanied by a virtual person demonstrating the exercises, making it easy to follow along even with unfamiliar exercises (The Superman…?). Upon first glance, I found myself questioning: Is this really hard mode?
Despite having already had a full workout earlier in the day, I found this 15-minute routine to be quite challenging and effective at engaging all the major muscle groups. For regular gym-goers, these equipment-free home workouts are perfect for when you’re on holiday.
The recipes are very easy to do and can be adjusted depending on who you are cooking for, a feature I’ve not seen in many other places(Image: Tom Capon/Muscle Booster)
Even if your hotel has a gym, it’s often equipped with just a handful of dumbbells, a Smith machine that’s seen better days, and if you’re lucky, a cable machine. This allows you to keep up with your fitness regime during your limited free time as a tourist, between sightseeing, sampling local delicacies, and enjoying a few drinks.
As for the gym workouts, they serve as a good starting point. The flexibility of the routines, including the option to adjust which muscle group you want to target (especially if you’re following the ‘Bro Split’), makes them broadly appealing.
For example, the chest workouts include the Golden Three – bench press, incline, and flies. So, if you’re new to working out, it’s quite useful. However, I did encounter an issue where it kept suggesting floor workouts even though I specified having access to a bench. Specifically for chest workouts, this means missing out on the full range of motion and not maximising the workout.
You’ll need to tweak it slightly to make it fully effective.
Would I recommend Muscle Booster?
For novices, I would wholeheartedly endorse it. One of the most daunting aspects for gym newcomers is not knowing where to begin, and this app resolves that issue.
For those with more experience, I’d recommend it for its Challenge features or step tracking, though a FitBit could serve as a suitable alternative.
The meal planning feature also alleviates much of the mental load, and the recipes are straightforward, making it particularly beneficial for those working 9-to-5. Moreover, it’s the perfect holiday companion, ensuring you don’t have to skip a workout while on vacation.
It’s a solid all-purpose app with plenty to offer individuals of varying fitness levels. Muscle Booster is currently offering a 61% discount for first-time users.
In search of something different?
The Simple App is particularly effective in aiding weight loss (you can read my review in The Mirror). The NHS also offers basic home workouts on their website, while PureGym provides free templates for those with some gym knowledge.
I tested the personal training AI app with a home workout in my small living room(Image: Tom Capon)