Issue No. 378 of Fitt Insider covered a quiet milestone: the American College of Sports Medicine revised its resistance training guidelines for the first time in 17 years. The new stance, drawn from 137 systematic reviews and more than 30,000 participants per the issue, is refreshingly simple. Any amount of lifting helps, and the best routine is the one exercisers will actually stick to.
That is a philosophical shift from perfect programs to real participation. And for fitness brands, participation is a retention problem Cadoo was built to solve.
Science finally says: consistency beats perfection
The updated guidance from the American College of Sports Medicine favors sustainable routines over rigid prescriptions, per the issue. Weights, bands, or bodyweight, at the gym or at home, all count. The takeaway the issue names outright is participation over perfection.
That reframes the industry's real challenge. Getting someone to start lifting is easy. Getting them to keep showing up, week after week, is the hard part that determines whether a membership survives.
Operators are chasing engagement, not just sign-ups
The issue's News and Notes showed how the biggest names are competing on stickiness:
- F45 debuted a hybrid fitness competition, per Fitt Insider, turning workouts into events members train toward.
- Peloton is rolling out commercial gym equipment, per the issue, pushing deeper into the in-person floor.
- HYROX keeps scaling competitive fitness through partnerships like Centr, per the issue, giving people a reason to keep training.
In Money Moves, pickup sports app GoodRec raised $6.4M, per the issue. The through line: the winners give members a reason to come back, not just a reason to join.
Cadoo makes the routine members won't quit
If the best routine is the one people stick to, Cadoo is the stickiness layer. Members bet money with friends on reaching fitness goals, so consistency stops depending on motivation and starts depending on friends and stakes. Recurring challenges keep the streak alive between sessions.
It stays honest and measurable, too. Cadoo-verified workouts confirm the effort: the camera counts reps only. Steps and distance come from Apple Health or Google Health Connect, giving operators real engagement data. Every finished challenge can also produce a skinned, shareable video, so members promote your brand while they build the habit.
Meet health-seekers where they are
The issue argued the industry must create accessible entry points to meet people where they are. A friendly, money-backed challenge is one of the most accessible on-ramps there is. It works for a first-time lifter and a seasoned member alike, because the goal is simply to show up and finish.
On our roadmap, not live yet, winnings could convert into credit or perks at your business. Explore it at cadoo.games/brands or reach the team at Tim@cadoo.io.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the new strength training guidance matter for retention?
The updated guidance says the best routine is the one members actually stick to. That moves the industry's focus from perfect programming to consistent participation, which is precisely the metric that separates a retained member from a lapsed one. Cadoo is built to lift that consistency.
How does Cadoo help members stay consistent between workouts?
Cadoo runs recurring challenges that members stake money on with friends, so there is a live, social reason to move between sessions. That sustained activity keeps a streak going through the gaps where habits and memberships usually quietly die.
Does Cadoo work for beginners and home workouts?
Yes. Because the goal is to show up and finish a challenge, Cadoo works for first-time lifters and experienced members, with weights, bands, or bodyweight, at the gym or at home. That matches the accessible, participation-first approach this issue highlights.
Can members redeem Cadoo winnings at my gym or studio?
Redeeming winnings for credit or perks at a partner business is on our roadmap and not live yet. Today, Cadoo's value is higher visit frequency, stronger retention, and shareable branded content members make for you.
