Check-in

I’ve been “checking in” (on Facebook in the past, and now here on my blog) with a comment about exercising for 15-ish years, and I have a spreadsheet currently containing 477 entries storing the check-ins that I use. What it looks like:

I don’t use one unless it’s been at least a year since I last used it. There are just a couple of exceptions to this, which are ones that are event-related (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the end of the calendar year).

The most I’ve used a particular check-in is 12 times, and there are 3 of them at that frequency:

• My goal was to lose 30 pounds this year. I only have 40 pounds to go.
• I’m sorry the size of your snow angel reminded you how much you need to get back to the gym. (Used after a snowfall in our area.)
• I hope you’re not too exhausted from your annual visit to the gym on New Year’s Day.

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AI analysis

I was curious as to the themes and frequency of words in my check-ins, so I asked Gemini AI to analyze all 477 of them. Its results:

The content primarily revolves around themes related to health, fitness, and body image. Here are the overall themes and supporting details:

Exercise and physical activity

Many entries discuss exercise routines, workouts, and general physical activity. Words like these are highly frequent, indicating a focus on physical exertion and fitness activities.

Body image and weight management

A significant portion of the content addresses concerns about body size and weight. Words like these highlight discussions around body perception and weight goals, and further emphasize the connection to weight management and eating habits.

Health and wellness concerns

With words like these, the content also touches upon broader health aspects, including interactions with healthcare professionals and personal health goals.

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This 2021 blog entry answers these questions frequently asked over the years about my check-ins:

1. How long have you been doing them?
2. Do you make them up?
3. Why don’t you give attribution to the ones you didn’t make up?
4. Where do you get them?
5. Did Planet Fitness pay you to post them? (I almost always posted them when I “checked-in” at Planet Fitness on Facebook.)
6. Why do you post them?
7. Do you have any criteria for their use?
8. How do you know how many times you’ve used one or how long it’s been since you last used it?