About Me
Hi, I’m Jacob. I’m a real human being who’s been writing software for over twenty-five years. For my day job, I run a software group at a company that creates implantable neurostimulators. FitHalo is my hobby project, and one I’ve been working on for a long time now. I draw on both my software background and my work in healthcare to make FitHalo a fitness app backed by good research and real data.
FitHalo’s History
FitHalo began with a simple idea: a group of friends wanted to stay healthy together but struggled to track progress when everyone was doing different activities. Some were walking, others lifting weights, practicing yoga, dancing, or cross-training. Comparing such different workouts wasn’t easy, so we set out to build a unified scoring system that could bring all activity types together in a way that was both fun and meaningful to share.
Getting the formula right took many iterations. The goal was never to simply tally calories or VO₂ max, but to create a system that helps anyone stay active and make progress, no matter their starting point. Consistency was key; even a brisk daily walk counts, and FitHalo rewards you for working out every day. We also recognized the value of variety. Those of us who are weight training benefit from adding yoga. Those focused on cardio gain from resistance training. FitHalo, likewise, gives bonus points for doing a variety of workouts.
FitHalo Harvests No Data
From the beginning, privacy has been a core principle. FitHalo lets you share your workout progress without exposing your underlying personal health data. Likewise, if you want to share your weight loss (or gain!) progress, FitHalo displays only the change, never your actual weight. Nothing leaves your device unless you choose to share it. The app collects no personal data, and I never see anything unless you email me directly.
FitHalo Is Free
You may be wondering: if FitHalo is free and collects no data, how does it make money? Simply put, it doesn’t. FitHalo actually costs me money to create. Not a lot, but a bit. I license the exercise animations and images you see during workouts, I pay for equipment and development tools, and I pay to host this website. You get the idea.
Today, FitHalo remains a labor of love. I release it freely, without expectation of anything in return, because I believe that fitness is easier and more fun with friends. I continue to improve it alongside the FitHalo user community, refining the experience for casual movers and dedicated athletes alike.