Working Out by the Numbers

You’ve seen the numbers on your screen: Output. Resistance. Speed. Incline. Strive Score. (Just to name a few.) Metrics play a part of nearly every Peloton workout, whether it’s an instructor suggesting how heavy to make a climb or an end-of-workout calculation that lets you know you just hit a new PR. Tracking your metrics can help you get stronger, sure, but there are psychological benefits too. Here are four reasons to play the numbers game.

Metrics Help Monitor Your Progress

Without metrics, it would be a challenge to figure out if your workouts from one month have improved over the month before. But with a total output number at the end of every class, it’s easy to compare your performance from one day to the next.

An instructor calling out numbers like incline or speed during a class “gives you a nice structure to frame your activities,” says Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist and member of the Peloton Health and Wellness Advisory Council. “You know where you stand on the playing field, and it can be powerful to get timely feedback that you are moving along towards your goals.”

Metrics Provide a Sense of Accomplishment

It doesn’t get better than seeing a gold star at the end of a workout denoting a new PR (Personal Record) based on the total output you had in a class. Or seeing you’ve walked or run farther in 30 minutes than you ever have before or that your Strive Score in a strength or cardio class is exactly where you hoped it would be. Metrics make it possible!

“That feeling of accomplishment makes you feel confident and like you have some mastery over the process, which in turn motivates you to come back the next day and do it again,” explains Dr. Lakshmin. “In order to feel motivated to change our habits and to develop more healthy behaviors, we need to feel confident in the actions we are taking.”

Metrics Give Your Workout Guardrails

Having target metrics called out by an instructor on a ride, like 90–100 cadence, 40–45 resistance or Zone 3, ensure that you’re working out according to the instructor’s plan. (Saying “pedal fast” or “medium resistance” would leave much more room for interpretation.) “Clear instructions help us understand what’s expected of us, and in the setting of a workout, having an instructor who is giving us a specific target helps us understand what’s expected,” notes Dr. Lakshmin. “Psychologically, when you have that mental framework for each workout, not only does it feel comfortable and familiar, it also always allows you to track your performance, which can be motivating.”

Remember, though, that not every metric is meant for everybody. No two Peloton Members are exactly alike, so don’t go overboard trying to hit a number that’s out of your comfort zone. “Be mindful about your own medical history,” advises Dr. Lakshmin, “and make sure that you are working within your own physical capacity and not overdoing it just because an instructor is pushing you!”

Metrics Can Define Your “Why”

Setting a goal to hit specific metrics is often just scratching the surface when it comes to discovering your true motivations. “Especially in times of transition—like after a surgery or after childbirth—it’s so important to connect with your ‘why’ of your values,” says Dr. Lakshmin. “While metrics can provide short term ‘carrots’ or goals, the best way to stay engaged with a lifelong practice of taking care of yourself is to be connected to the values underneath your goals.”

Say your goal is to achieve a certain output. Dr. Lakshmin continues: “Try reflecting on the value underneath that goal: Is it because you want to stay healthy and active to play with your grandkids? Is it because you love your #PelotonMoms crew and enjoy showing up on the Leaderboard with them? The why is going to be different for everyone.”

“The reason that metrics are so powerful is because they provide us with an external structure and motivation to keep us working within our values. Make sure you are using the right measuring stick—it’s less about the numbers and more about the fact that you are showing up each day.”

Don’t just take our word for it. See how target metrics keep you motivated in classes like Power Zone rides.