In today’s video I’m upstairs with the Speediance Gym Monster 2s running the new V3 software, and I want to break down why this update is both an upgrade for me and a frustrating step backwards for a lot of power users.I’ll walk through what actually changed in the V3 UI, why Free Lift partner mode disappeared, how the new Safety Start feature is supposed to work, and why my 2S currently shows a dead “firmware too low” button. I’ll also explain who the Speediance is not for—especially if your spouse wants a fully coached, English‑speaking female trainer experience—and why, even after 10M lbs on Tonal and over 1M lbs on Speediance, I still consider this hardware an upgrade.We’ll talk about why I mute coach audio and only use system sounds, how I set up eccentric‑focused custom workouts, and why bringing the handles back under load to the rubber stoppers is one of my favorite advantages over Tonal’s plastic‑on‑plastic design. I also dig into Speediance’s “family” and Workout Plus marketing, why you still can’t truly do custom partner/family workouts together, and what a good partner mode implementation should actually look like in Free Lift and Wellness/Workout Plus.If you’re debating Tonal vs Speediance, wondering what V3 really changes, or trying to decide whether this smart gym will work for you and your partner, this video should give you a real‑world, heavy‑use perspective instead of just brochure specs.Timestamps (adjust as needed):0:00 Intro – V3 software and who Speediance is NOT for2:10 Female coach situation (English vs Spanish) and guided workouts5:25 Why Speediance was an upgrade over Tonal for me8:40 V3 UX changes, sliders, and nagware they finally removed13:05 Free Lift partner mode: what we lost in V318:30 Safety Start, firmware issues on the 2S, and my lifting style24:10 Hardware limitations, Tonal 2 parallels, and new features only on newer units29:00 “Family” / Workout Plus plan and why it still isn’t real family training34:00 What I want from partner mode and final thoughts on V3If you like deep‑dive smart gym content, honest UX breakdowns, and real training talk (not just promo reels), hit like, drop your questions in the comments, and subscribe so you don’t miss future Speediance and Tonal updates.

Welcome back to Toby On Fitness Tech! In this video, I finally answer a question I’ve been getting since my extreme six‑month transformation: “What training split do you use?” Instead of a simple “push–pull–legs” or “bro split” answer, I walk through why the real answer is: it depends on your goals, your recovery, and your schedule today.I break down the exact Arnold Blueprint–style push–pull–legs program I used on Tonal in 2023 to go from morbidly obese to fit under a massive calorie deficit, including how I modified it into blocks to make it work on a smart cable machine. Then I contrast that with the full‑body (minus legs) Speediance programs I built afterward, how I structure warm‑up sets vs. hard sets, and why I stopped trying to lift every single day.You’ll also hear how a daily “lunar challenge” forced me into a classic bro split, what actually grew best on that approach (hello, arms day), and how jiu-jitsu, running, and injury history shape my current split and priorities. The goal of this video is to help you pick the split that you’ll actually stick to—whether that’s PPL, full body, or a body-part split—so you can build muscle safely and sustainably with the time and tools you have.If you’re into smart home gyms like Speediance or Tonal, cross‑training with jiu‑jitsu, or just trying to figure out the best way to structure your week without burning out, this one’s for you. Like, comment with your current split, and subscribe for more deep dives into training, tech, and real‑world physique buildingTraining Splits & Philosophy[00:04] Intro: Answering the "What training split do you do?" question.[01:02] Transformation Context: Training used to lose weight vs. training used today.[01:54] The Arnold Blueprint: Using PPL (Push/Pull/Legs) on Tonal for initial physique building.[05:24] Workout Structure: Explaining the 6, 12, 15, and 25 rep sets.[06:57] Machine Efficiency: Adapting exercises based on attachment height (L0-L3 vs. L6-L9).[09:57] Transition to Full Body: Moving to a "full body minus legs" variant for maintenance.[15:39] The Bro Split: Switching to targeted muscle days for the Speediance Lunar Challenge.[17:15] Final Verdict on Splits: Choose based on your current lifestyle and goals.Safety & Cross-Training[18:25] Free Weights vs. Digital Weight: Safety concerns and the "two spotters" argument.[21:25] Training to Failure: Why machines are safer for solo trainers.[23:50] Managing Primary Objectives: Balancing lifting with running and Jiu-Jitsu.[25:41] Tracking Strain: How different activities (like Jiu-Jitsu) impact recovery and "Body Battery."Fitness Tech & Wearables[27:53] Garmin vs. Whoop: Comparing trackers and why the Whoop is preferred for combat sports.[29:10] The Whoop 5 & Sensors: Thoughts on the new generation and subscription costs.[31:50] Whoop Strength Trainer: Criticisms of the "walled garden" approach and manual entry.[34:13] Garmin Daily Suggested Runs: Issues with max heart rate settings and cross-training data.[39:40] Value of Cardio: Why cardio is important beyond just "calorie burning."[01:00:44] Choosing a Device: Why the 265S was chosen for its lightness and sleep tracking.Personal Updates & Future Content[50:00] Weight Progress: Preparing for a race while maintaining a higher body weight (225 lbs).[52:55] Speediance Updates: Teasing a future video on the V3 software changes.

This video breaks down how Speediance calculates one‑rep max (1RM) and PRs, why the “Customize” section caps manual entries at 220 lb, and how to legitimately reach 260 lb in programmed lifts like deadlifts using dynamic modes instead of free lift. It also walks through real on‑screen examples where a heavy deadlift session updates 1RM from the 200s up into the high 300s after 260 lb sets, proving the machine isn’t limited the way a frustrated buyer claimed. What you’ll learn • How Speediance’s Gain Muscle, Stamina, and Strength modes use your 1RM and PR history to set working weights and warm‑ups. • Why typing over 220 lb in the Customize field gets auto‑capped, and how to bypass that by letting the dynamic modes handle heavy sets. • The difference between workout‑level stats and lift‑level stats, and where to actually find your true 1RM, max weight, and volume history in the app/device. • Why extra reps with “Unlimited Sets” turned on usually do not create new PRs unless you also increase weight, and how that shapes safer, slower progression. • How Speediance currently handles progression (or doesn’t) between workouts, and why manual overload is often required on the latest software. Who this is for • New Speediance or 2S owners confused by the 220 lb cap and worried their machine can’t hit full stack in real workouts. • Tonal and smart‑gym converts who want to understand how Speediance’s 1RM and PR logic differs from strength scores and aggressive auto‑progression. • Home lifters who care about tracking, progressive overload, and using dynamic modes (especially eccentric) to get more out of every rep. Call to actionIf you’re running a Speediance and want smarter progress, not random numbers, watch this breakdown, dial in your 1RM correctly, and start using dynamic modes the way they were designed. Hit like, subscribe to Toby on Fitness Tech, and drop any Speediance or Tonal questions you want covered in future deep dives.