Everyone’s fitness journey is different. For some people, the fitness journey is solo and all about individual perseverance and endurance through hardship as they lose weight or build muscle. Others, like ZOZOFIT user Alessia Risi, find a lot of value in the power of friendship and accountability partners to stay motivated in pursuing her fitness. 

Developing Healthy Habits Through Relationships

Originally from Italy, Alessia gained weight when she first moved to the US. Prior to her move, Alessia often worked out and was very fit. 

“When I came here I didn’t gain healthy weight, I gained weight. That made me very fatigued and I just didn’t love it.” 

Alessia had a pattern of losing weight and then gaining it back in high school, college, and graduate school. 

“Four years ago I moved back to Michigan [and lived] with my parents,” she said. “My mom cooks really healthy food, so I was able to get to a point where I was happy.” 

Working with someone else to achieve a healthier lifestyle can be a powerful tool in making lasting, sustainable changes to support overall wellness. Just like how Alessia was able to remain accountable to healthy eating through her mother, she has been able to work toward her fitness goals alongside a friend. 

“I moved to my own apartment and a new gym opened up next door and my friend really wanted to start going to the gym, but she needed motivation.” 

Alessia began going to the gym with her friend three times a week.

“We’ve been going a lot and I think I just got in that working out mindset where [now] weeks I don’t go, I feel more tired than if I did go.” 

Staying consistent has helped Alessia form healthier habits and stay motivated to work toward her fitness goals. 

After missing a week of gym sessions, Alessia and her friend went back to the gym for a tough workout session. At one point, Alessia said her friend wanted to quit and go home, but Alessia reminded her that sometimes the first day back is the hardest. 

“Just do it today and then tomorrow will be easier,” Alessia told her friend. 

“I think having her really helps me and I really hope having me helps her.” 

Letting Go of the Scale 

Alessia first learned of ZOZOFIT when researching fitness tools and healthy habits. 

“I tried it on and I was like, this is the coolest thing because my weight on the scale? I don’t even know honestly what it is,” she said. “It shifts with gaining muscle and things, so that number really doesn’t tell me much and it’s frustrating when I look at myself in the mirror and I think I look good, but then I look at the scale and it says 70 [kilograms].” 

“I wish it was a different number, but if I look good, then why do I care what the number is?”

Because the scale has such a negative connotation in our current culture — and because it doesn’t always actually show a true picture of our health, using the traditional scale as our primary tool for tracking health can lead to a lot of frustration. Many people have a hard time staying fit and working toward their goals because instead of progress, the scale shows them in a plateau or backsliding. 

“It’s just better for my fitness goals because it shows me my progress… It shows me what the differences [are] between measurements.” 

Since ZOZOFIT can take a 3D scan of your body with just your phone, it’s an easy, approachable way to have the fitness info you need at your fingertips. And for individuals like Alessia, who are trying to maintain fitness or maybe even gain muscle, ZOZOFIT provides a visual way to see how your hard work has translated to success.

To stay consistent, Alessia set a weekly reminder on her phone to do a scan with ZOZOFIT. Even though she misses a few days here and there, she ultimately is able to keep up with her progress. By using the app, Alessia has not only gained a tool to track her fitness progress, but also can know she doesn’t have to look at the scale and feel anxiety. 

“I’ll look at the [past] ZOZOFIT scans and see where I was happy and felt the best in my body. I’m really not off [those measurements] by that much, [so] maybe that’s where I need to get myself to. I need to just push a little harder, get back to that, and I’ll feel more energized and excited.”