Dropping pounds the Web 2.0 way with Allen of CenterNetworks

Everyone, I would like you to meet Allen of CenterNetworks, a site that covers news, reviews, insights and interviews from the Web 2.0 and Social Networking industries. Now, what does all this geeky tech stuff have to do with beauty or body image issues? Well, Allen has created a Fat-Off where he is reviewing, in the 30 days in October, web-based applications designed to help people lose weight. I invited him here today so that he can share with us how technology can help you get trim and healthy.

BISJ: Hi Allen! Thanks again for letting us stop by to chat with you about your Fat-off. Before we begin, I do have to share with you that you are officially the first male to be interviewed on Back in Skinny Jeans. It’s a dubious honor. I promise that it will be a pleasant experience as we are all cool-io here.

Allen: That’s cool. I appreciate the interest in the Fat-Off and am excited to be the first male interviewee on Back in Skinny Jeans! This place seems really comfy and I can’t wait to fit into my skinny jeans.

BISJ:So let’s jump in. First, we give you a round of applause for taking action and sharing your experience with others. What was the inspiration behind your Fat-Off, and what do you hope to accomplish in these 30 days?

Allen: I started it because I am fat, super fat actually. This spring I was in Venice. That city is such a romantic place, and I wished I had someone to take a gondola ride with me. I realized that if I don’t make changes to my health, I may never have anyone to share the good (and bad) times with. I want to meet someone special and go on a gondola ride with her.

Also, because of the extra weight, I hate not fitting behind a booth in a diner. I hate flying first class because I can’t fit in economy. In fact, one of my goals is to fly to London economy next year. I hate walking around Paris with everyone staring at me because I am fat. I want to buy clothing in a regular store. As a personal goal, I want to tryout for the Amazing Race next year.

So, when I came back home from Europe, I started to review new web sites that were created to help people lose weight. And the light went off! Why not marry the two things I need to do: review web sites and lose weight. My hope is to spread the word about the Fat-Off because I am sure there are others in the same situation as I am and perhaps we can build a great Fat-Off social community.

BISJ: Now, you are using 5 different web-based applications in your Fat-Off: Traineo, Skinnyr, Gimme20, RunFatBoy, and then you added iTrainharder on day 11. Why did you pick these 5 apps?

Allen:  I looked at many web-based applications in the weight loss space. Sites like eDiets and Weight Watchers already have big presence, so I decided to find new players who could be rising stars. Since my weight loss will take much longer than 30 days, I have considered a rotation. The Fat-Off is about helping others find the right tool for their needs. I want to give people the information to make the best choices. And to be open, I did not accept any money from any of the companies I am testing to ensure the reviews are completely unbiased.

BISJ:  The reason I found your quest so fascinating is that you are utilizing technology as a way to help you drop pounds. This is a method, in practice, that is foreign to many of us, but one I think is an excellent life context in which to get more people to use technology in their everyday lives particularly women, which is why I wanted you to speak with us today.

The term “Web 2.0” means a lot to techies but honestly doesn’t mean anything to most everyday people. We just want the stuff to work and be easy at helping us get back into our skinny jeans. How do you think the techies can best bridge that gap between Geek and Oprah to help people lose weight and get healthy?

Allen:  To me, Web 2.0 is about community, sharing, and a better way to communicate with your friends and peers in the way that works for you. Web 2.0 is about building what the users want, not about what the site owner wants to make. It is similar to your article on How to explain RSS the Oprah way. Who cares what the technical definition means, tell me how it benefits me in a way I can understand so I can use it and make my life better.

The key to any web application is to make sure the technology is transparent. Give your users what they want in an easy and efficient manner. Technology is everywhere and the best services get you what you need without throwing fancy geek terms in your face. The average person doesn’t care that the code on your site validates, so why have a button for that?

I think the most important thing is to know your audience. A presentation that works for a Web 2.0 conference about your application probably won’t work when speaking to a group of ladies at Curves. It is ok to “geek-out” sometimes, but to always remember who you are talking to.

As the web continues to grow and expand, I think there will be a growing need for good marketing/PR professionals. It is easy to get geeks to like geeky things, that’s a given. But to get mainstream success, you must craft the right messages to the right audiences.

BISJ: You mentioned in Day 6 that all the apps should have backing from a nutritionist/doctor/trainer. I am in total agreement. The other big thing I think that all of these web-apps need to have is a woman’s perspective because no one knows weight loss better than women. I’ve looked at all these apps myself, and they all feel geeky, male, which is not a bad thing.

My assumption, though, is that most of them would like to go mainstream. Throwing in my 2 cents, Traineo is the most well-rounded of the group, To your knowledge, do any of these companies in your Fat-Off have women involved in the development of the application? Also, to your knowledge, do any of these companies have partnerships with any well-known companies that have complimentary benefit like a Gold’s Gym, 24 hour Nautilus, Spas, etc.?

Allen: I think it is so important to really understand your product and the group to which you are targeting.

When I look at these fitness sites that have advice on food or workouts, I want to be assured that the advice is right for me. Some of them allow other members to share their workouts. While this is great, it is so important that workouts be addressed according to skill and fitness level, and currently all these sites are lacking in this feature as well as nutrition guidance. I think it would be fine to charge a small fee for advice from a professional.

I am not sure that any of the sites I am testing have women involved. And you are right, if a site wants to go mainstream, women must be just as well represented as men. I wonder if men and women can be served in the same way online when it comes to health and fitness sites. The nice thing about a web-application is that you could tailor it and create two versions: one for men and one for women.

To my knowledge, none of the apps I’m reviewing have partnerships with the gym chains you mentioned. I think creating ways to tie-in gyms and fitness centers with web sites would be a time saver. For example, imagine sticking a card into the treadmill, and your workout is automatically updated in your fitness web site. It would be cool also to attach the scale to the computer so your weight is automatically plugged into your weight loss progress chart.

BISJ:  I like your idea of the timer/reminder for workouts. And I am surprised that only one has a store. Merchandise means mullah folks. One thing I think would be cool would be ideas for workout song lists. I’m always trying to think of new music to add to my iPod for working out, and of course we all have different types of music for different types of exercise. The yoga playlist is obviously different than the kickboxing list.

You are half way into the Fat-Off. Are things going above or below your expectation? And, are the apps making a difference above what one can do with paper and pen?

Allen:  I agree about the store. Again, it is about that one-place to get what you need. I think for me the most difficult part is getting to the gym – because of time and because frankly it is easier to just stay home and eat an Oreo. I would almost love hourly reminders. And yes, music plays a big part for me as well.

As for progress, it is coming along. CenterNetworks along with my other sites require a lot of care and feeding. And so I don’t think I have hit the gym as much as I need to. But the weather is getting cooler and so maybe I can walk more outside. I will also be in NYC next month and plan to do a lot of walking in my favorite park, Central Park. I will be the one wearing the CenterNetworks t-shirt.

I think this crop of web applications is just scratching the surface of what can be done. I expect things to only get better from here. It is such an exciting time for the web. Things we only dreamed of 10 years ago are now possible. It is too bad that technology can’t actually lose the weight though, I still have to do that myself!

BISJ: Thanks so much for your time Allen, and for educating us on the benefits of technology in weight loss. We also hear that you are doing a marketing blitz, which includes contacting Oprah. We wish you loads of luck. We love the O!

Keep us in the skinny on your progress, and we wish you the best in your goal to vibrant health!

Allen: Stephanie, I really appreciate the time and interest in the Fat-Off. You are my first Fat-Off press contact! I think your site is great and is really providing a good base for realistic information. Isn’t it cool that on the Internet we are all the same size, all the same neutrons and protons. We talk to each other in ways that we may not if we met in person because of what someone looks like. I am not sure if I am Oprah-worthy yet, but maybe Rachael Ray? I spent a day on her FoodTV set last year and she is really cool. I am thinking she might be interested in my cause.

And if any of your site visitors have any promotion tips or want to get involved in the Fat-Off, send me an email (allen-at-centernetworks.com). I love hearing suggestions and would love to get more people and companies involved! Thanks again and I hope we can partner more in the future!