Show HN: Get off your a** and do push-ups

8 itsharveenatwal 7 7/1/2025, 2:00:32 PM timm.so ↗
I built an app where you LITERALLY have to do push-ups to use Reddit (or whatever app).

My guy, this is the summer you get SWOLE! Build a massive chest instead of doomscrolling on Hackernews.

Also, it's FREE. You can set it on a schedule. You can set it on a time limit. You can set it after X opens. Or even after you come home from work.

The apps will remain blocked until you do your push-ups!

The app is built natively on SwiftUI. I use Apple's native Vision API to detect body parts and joints. I use Apple's Screen Time API for app blocking.

I don't know what else to say so go on now and get the app!!

Comments (7)

runjake · 8h ago
1. I don't think I'd use it. It feels too much like using an app to meditate. But it's a neat app.

2. What's up with the scrolling strikethroughed social media networks up at the top.

Aside: I've occasionally done "Be able to do 100 pushups" challenges. Nobody else's plans has worked for me.

What's always worked for me is stacking pushups. If I start and can do only 5 pushups comfortably, then I do 5 pushups at a time throughout the day. Say, 3 - 4 times a day to start. Then move to stacks of 10 throughout the day. When I get up to doing stacks of about 40, I can bang out 100 pushups. If I start and can only do 1 pushup (healed injuries, out of shape, etc) then I'll start a stack of 1 pushup.

I somewhat adopted this from my military days. It's worked remarkably well for me and I can from doing say, 2-3 pushups and get to 100 pushups in about 4 weeks. YMMV.

itsharveenatwal · 8h ago
That’s totally fair! The idea was that we often lose track of time on social media apps (hence the strikethrough) so what if there was a way to nudge us to get some push ups in during our down time?

Also, love the push up stack challenge. I’ll have to give that a try! 100 push ups in a day now that’s a goal I still have to hit

runjake · 7h ago
Good point about the notifications. That's a pain point of mine: remembering to do a stack throughout a busy day.
on_the_otherfoo · 8h ago
I’m a bit confused… it’s not Free
itsharveenatwal · 8h ago
What do you mean? Are you unable to get to the main screen after the personalization survey?

You should find the feature by tapping: “Add rule”, then select one of our rule types, then select “friction”, and look for “push-ups”

itsharveenatwal · 8h ago
If for some reason you’re stuck, you can also hold down the app and there will be an option to “try for free” which should take you straight into the app
revskill · 3h ago
Sorry, please no to Apple, such a bullshit company.