My Story
For over a decade, I struggled to get in shape, failing at every attempt. All I wanted was to feel healthy, but I couldn’t even motivate myself to do a single workout. Then, in December 2020, I decided to make a change. Instead of criticizing myself for being overweight, I focused on a simple goal: a set number of exercise minutes each week. To stay accountable, I invited my dad, who was also struggling to live a healthy lifestyle. He agreed to join me. At 61, he set a smaller goal of 1.5 hours per week, while I chose 2 hours and 15 minutes. Our goals were manageable but big enough to move us toward our bigger weight loss targets. The key was consistency over intensity—something I didn’t realize at the time was the real foundation for lasting change. We even added a small penalty for unmet goals, which made it fun and kept us engaged.
We kept our word and hit those goals together. Consistency became easy, and every workout had added purpose, motivating us to push through distractions and stay on track. In just 18 months, I lost 40 lbs., and my dad lost 30 lbs. and cut 8 strokes off his golf handicap (which he’s especially proud of).
This system made living an active lifestyle so much simpler and enjoyable that I had to share it with others. A year ago, I turned this approach into the Compete NG app, which has already been downloaded by over 400 people! I’m excited to connect with anyone who struggles to incorporate health & fitness into their busy lives—just like I did for over a decade. Together, we can make fitness easier by setting small, achievable goals and making the process fun and social with friends and family for shared success and added accountability.
- Nick Gaul
Founder, Compete NG