Base Program
Base Programs
Understanding base programs and how they work.
A base program is a ready-made program you build in advance for new clients to follow when they are onboard. Rather than starting from scratch for every new client, you create a base program for each goal for example fat loss, maintenance, or weight gain — and simply choose the right one when someone joins. It's the program a client follows during their learning phase, giving them clear structure from day one while the app gets to know them.
[ Screenshot: the Base Programs library ]
What a base program is
Base programs are pre-made and goal-based. You build them once and reuse them with every new client. When someone onboards, you pick the base program that matches their goal — so a client whose goal is fat loss is given your fat-loss base program to follow. From there, everything is set up to move them toward that end goal.
The learning phase
Every new client starts on a base program during their learning phase — a set window at the very beginning of their journey. You choose how long it runs: 7, 14, 21 or 30 days, and you can end it early at any time if you feel the client is ready to move on.
Once the learning phase is complete, the client moves onto a more personalised program. Because the learning phase has run its course — and data has been gathered from their wearable — you now have far deeper insight into the client, so their ongoing program can be tailored much more accurately.
[ Screenshot: choosing the learning phase length ]
What goes into a base program
A base program is made up of three things:
Activities — the movement side of the program. This covers workouts, strains (other physical activity such as sports — for example cricket), and recovery (things like meditation or sauna).
Fuel (nutrition) — built around the client's TDEE, captured during onboarding. You set the plan to a calorie deficit for fat loss, maintenance to hold weight, or a surplus for weight gain — matched to the client's goal.
Journal entries — you decide what you want tracked within the program. As well as manual entries, you can switch on automatic items such as steps, medication, sleep and supplements, so the data flows in without the client logging it by hand.
[ Screenshot: a base program showing activities, fuel and journals ]
Building a base program
You build a base program by adding its three parts (activities, fuel and journals) yourself. When you add an activity (a workout), you can build it in one of four ways:
Step-by-step — select your preferred duration, intensity, focus area and equipment, and the workout is built for you.
Freestyle — describe the workout you want and we'll build something that fits.
Manual — create your own workout from a blank canvas.
From previous — use an existing workout that has already been created.
If you'd like a head start on the whole program, Areela, your built-in AI assistant, can help you create base program templates to build from.
Tracking adherence
You can see how clients are getting on with their base programs from the Base Programs menu. It includes a Top Performing tab, so you can quickly see which base programs are working best across your clients.
[ Screenshot: the Base Programs menu with the Top Performing tab ]
Related Articles
Create a base program
Add activities: workouts, strains & recovery
Set fuel goals from a client's TDEE
Introducing: the Learning Phase
Create base program templates with Areela