After losing over 30 pounds exercising in VR for six months, it's worth it

I bought a Meta Quest 3 hoping to recapture the early VR magic, and at the start of 2026 I committed to exercising in VR as an experiment in my future health. I tried a decent few apps in January but quickly settled into using my FitXR subscription almost exclusively, looking for something convenient I could slot into the day.

The headset’s immersion pushed me further than I usually go in a normal workout. Half-hour sessions left me panting and sweaty, and the ease of popping the headset on for ten or fifteen minutes beat the preplanning of a gym visit and the self-consciousness that comes with working out in public.

There are downsides: I still pay around $10 a month for the subscription, I don’t get any gym equipment, and a sweaty faceplate is distinctly unpleasant. I cope with a wipe-down, airing it out and a spare faceplate. I also set simple ground rules to stay consistent, using Apple’s exercise rings—especially the green 30-minute target—and promising myself to keep exercising even on days when I’ve already hit those rings.

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