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The complete iFIT guide for beginners

If you are new to iFIT, there can be a lot to learn. This complete iFIT guide for beginners will cover everything you need including tips and tricks that can be easy to miss when you are just starting out. Whether you are using the iFIT app, a Nordictrack or Proform connected bike, treadmill, vault, or any other device, this guide is the perfect place to get started. 

iFIT membership guide

If you only plan on using the app, you can download it from the Apple or Google Store, or through your TV-enabled device like an Amazon Fire Stick and receive a free 30-day trial. If you wish to continue after the trial ends, membership currently costs $14.99/month or $180/year.

This is actually the same cost as an individual membership if you have an iFIT-enabled bike, treadmill, vault, or other device. But typically for these connected devices, people opt for a family plan that includes up to five memberships for $39/month or $396/year.

Video version of our iFIT guide for beginners

However, if you’ve purchased a new iFIT enabled device (like the S22i), it should come with a free year of the Family Membership. If you purchase more devices, you will get an additional year of the family membership for each one. This can save you a ton of money if you end up buying multiple products through iFIT. 

Once you are set up, it’s time to figure out which workout or program to start with. Since iFIT’s library has thousands of workouts and series to choose from, this can be a tough choice, so let’s look at some of the options. 

Option 1: live workouts

If you prefer the energy of a live workout, you can check the live schedule by tapping the “Live” tab if it’s enabled on your device. Live classes on iFIT have some cool features that you you don’t see on other platforms including:

Automatic Machine Adjustment. So even during live classes, you can choose to have the instructor control your machine’s settings and resistances. This allows you to focus on doing your best during the workout. 

Outdoor Live Classes. Yes, iFIT actually has live outdoor classes! So if you prefer the outdoor setting over being in a studio, this is a great option that I have never seen anywhere else. 

The Waiting Room. About 10 minutes before a live class, you can join a waiting room with your trainer. Here you can scan a QR code on your smartphone to text the trainer and they will often respond to your questions and comments live!

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Another unique part of iFIT’s live classes are that the trainers will often coach several times throughout the day. So you have more options to be able to work out with your favorite coach live, rather than on demand. 

If you miss a live class, there is no way that I know of to take it later. Luckily, there are thousands of other workouts on demand from which to choose.

Option 2: on-demand classes

For on-demand classes you can choose from individual workouts, take part in a designed series, or jump into one of the monthly challenges. 

If you want to find the perfect workout or series for you, make sure to check out the “Browse” tab where you can filter by coach, location, workout type, and more. If you are looking for a series, make sure you filter by series so that individual workouts don’t show up. 

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Option 3: build iFIT workouts with Google Maps

Most iFIT devices also allow you to create your own workout route through Google Maps by tapping on the “Create” tab on the bottom of the home screen.

You can search for any area you’d like to explore, and once you’ve found a destination, tap anywhere on the map to place your marker flags.

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The first flag pinpoints the “Start” of your route and the second pinpoints the “End” of your route. You can also select “Close Loop” to have your route loop back to the starting point. Once you start your route, you will be able to see Google Images of the terrain and the incline will adjust as if you are actually exploring the route yourself. 

Your route will be saved into the “My List” section on the home screen, and can be accessed any time under the “Created Workouts” tab.

Guide to scheduling your workouts

If you would like to schedule your workouts, you can add a class to your calendar by pressing the “Schedule” button at the top of the class description. Then if you go into your schedule, you will see all of your scheduled workouts as well as your previous completed workouts. 

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iFIT challenges

You also might consider checking out one of iFit’s several monthly challenges. To do so, click on the “Challenge” tab and you’ll see all of the monthly challenges available. These are usually a themed group of workouts taken from a variety of previous series.

One of the really cool things about iFIT is that if you complete a monthly challenge, they will actually mail you a special magnet designed for that challenge so that you can collect them on your device, fridge, or wherever you would like.

iFIT reward track

Of course we can’t forget about the rewards you can earn in this iFIT Guide for Beginners! You can earn a variety of prizes from the “iFIT Reward Track” that you can find on your iFIT-enabled device or App under the “Challenge Tab.” 

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The reward breakdown looks like:

100 workouts completed = free iFIT shirt
200 workouts completed = free month of iFIT
300 workouts completed = iFIT Flag
400 workouts completed = $100 gift card to the iFIT Shop 
500 workouts completed = free iFIT sweatshirt and a chance to tour the iFIT studio

Analyze your stats and set goals

If you would like to see and analyze your stats, you’ll need to log onto ifit.com. Here you can see your stats, also known as your “Fit Score,” which is a combination of your workout frequency, calories burned, net calories, workout time, and personal goals.

To set a personal goal, click “Add” under goals and you can select a weight goal, running goal, cycling goal, or fit score goal. 

5 more iFIT guide for beginners tips and tricks

Now that you know the basics, here are 5 more tips and tricks for our iFIT Guide for Beginners that I think will really help you out! 

1. To find all of the series you are currently taking or workouts that you have favorited, click on “My List” that can be accessed from the home and browse screens.

2. iFIT has 11 music genre stations to choose from during your workouts, at least in the United States. Outside of the US, you currently only have access to four stations. To change the music station, just press anywhere on screen during your workout, click “Audio and Music Settings,” select “Music,” and then you will be able to choose your music station. 

3. iFIT has a huge library, and while they have made significant improvements to their filtering system this year to help us sort through it all, it’s still missing a lot of what iFIT has to offer. For example, if you would like a stretching class, pilates class, or bodyweight strength class, they have a ton! But in order to find them, you are going to need to use the “Search” bar and type them in. Hopefully there will be filters for all of iFIT’s categories coming in the future.

4. iFIT has a dark mode option. To change to dark mode, click on “Appearance” in the menu and you’ll be able to switch back and forth between light and dark modes.

5. The Leaderboard, which you will find when using an iFIT-enabled Device, can be sorted however you would like. You can filter by different metrics like calories, distance, or effort score, and you can filter who is on the leaderboard by gender, age group, and more.

You can choose to get rid of it simply by swiping it away, and if you would like to just have the entire screen without any numbers, tap the screen and click “Full Screen.”

(Side note: If you see a yellow dot on someone’s profile, it just means they paused the workout at some point.)

There are even more features to cover for iFIT, like “Smart Adjust” and “Active Pulse,” which are currently only available on the treadmill but are in beta on other devices. We will be adding more to the iFIT Guides for Beginners soon, so make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date.

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Author

Avatar for Kayli Roberts Kayli Roberts

Kayli is an artist and yoga lover living in Ventura, CA. When she’s not testing out the latest fitness equipment, you can find her on the beach or painting in her studio.