Get Paid to Walk Backwards in a Virtual Gym — I Burned Calories & Earned 💪🔁💸

“Who knew reversing your steps could move your bank balance forward?”

🚶‍♂️Introduction: Walking Backwards into Cash

I never thought I’d be paid to walk backwards. I mean, isn’t that something we did as kids, just to be weird? But when an ad popped up saying “Burn Calories + Get Paid in a Virtual Gym App That Tracks Reverse Motion,” I clicked.

At first, I assumed it was another fitness gimmick. But this wasn’t your average pedometer. This app gamified walking backwards — and literally paid you for every reverse step. It rewarded users with coins, tokens, and even small cash rewards for completing backward walking challenges.

So naturally, I downloaded it. Tested it. Got some weird stares. And surprisingly? I made real money, lost some weight, and discovered a bizarre corner of the fitness-tech universe where the more backwards you go, the more forward your wallet grows.

🏋️‍♀️How the “BackStep” App Works — Virtual Gym With a Twist

The app is called BackStep, and it’s branded as “The Only Gym That Pays You to Walk the Wrong Way.”

You install it, sync your phone’s motion sensors or a wearable, and create an avatar. The twist? Every challenge, workout, or quest requires you to move backwards — either in real life or virtually using your avatar in a simulated gym.

There are two ways to earn:

Real Motion Mode: You physically walk backward, and the app uses your phone’s gyroscope and camera to verify the direction and number of steps. The more accurate and consistent, the more coins you earn.
Simulated Motion Mode: You play games in a virtual gym by swiping your avatar backwards — like treadmill running in reverse, virtual rowing, or dodgeball with reverse motion.

Every activity gives you “BackCoins,” which are convertible into real rewards: gift cards, crypto, or even PayPal transfers.

And yes — you earn more for failing forward (or walking backward). There’s even a daily leaderboard for “Most Steps Reversed.”

💰Why Walking Backwards Pays More Than Walking Forward

Here’s the weirdest part: you earn double for every backward step compared to normal walking.

Why?

The app’s creators claim walking backwards:

Burns more calories per minute than walking forward.
Engages rarely-used muscles like the tibialis anterior (fancy word for shin muscle).
Improves balance and coordination (assuming you don’t crash into a mailbox).
And… it’s just funnier to watch, which is why their TikTok challenges have gone viral.

By encouraging awkward, silly, or challenging movements, the app keeps users engaged longer — which means more ad revenue for them, and more coins for you.

They even offer extra bonuses for walking backwards in public — if you enable your camera, they give you “Courage Points.” Yes, that’s a thing.

🧪My 7-Day Reverse-Walking Challenge: Earnings, Embarrassment & Sore Calves

I gave myself a goal: walk backwards every day for one week using the BackStep app, and see what happens.

Day 1:

Downloaded the app. Signed up. Took a tutorial on “safe reverse-walking.” My first mission? Do 500 backward steps at home. I nearly tripped over my dog. But I earned 1,200 BackCoins (roughly $1.20). Not bad for nearly spraining my ankle.

Day 2:

Tried walking backwards in the park. Got stared at. A kid asked if I was filming a prank. Earned 2,300 coins for doing 1,000 steps. Found out there’s a bonus if you wear something reflective. Why? Because safety.

Day 3:

Joined a “Backwards Zumba” live event. The instructor literally danced in reverse. I could barely follow. Still earned 1,500 coins, mostly for trying.

Day 4:

Used the Simulated Gym mode. Played a reverse treadmill game. Sweated more than expected. This mode pays less but is easier. Earned 900 coins.

Day 5:

Did a challenge called “Backward Grocery Dash” — I had to shop for items (virtually) while moving backward down aisles. It felt like Mario Kart in reverse. Earned 1,800 coins.

Day 6:

Risked embarrassment again: walked backwards down a quiet sidewalk for 20 minutes. No one saw me… but I earned a “Stealth Ninja” bonus and 2,000 coins.

Day 7:

Final day. Tried all modes. Even wore a GoPro to prove my efforts. Uploaded the video to the app’s “Courage Board.” Got featured. Earned 3,500 coins.

Total Earnings for 7 Days:

👉 13,200 BackCoins = $13.20 + 1 bonus gift card (Amazon, $5)

Not a full salary — but real money for literally walking backward.

🤔Is This App a Fitness Revolution or a Joke That Pays?

Let’s be honest: the concept is ridiculous. But ridiculous can work, especially when it mixes three addictive elements:

Gamification — everything is a challenge.
Humor — walking backwards looks hilarious.
Incentives — even a few cents feels satisfying.

But it’s not just comedy. There’s real fitness logic behind it.

According to a 2021 study in the Journal of Biomechanics, walking backwards for 15 minutes burns up to 40% more calories than regular walking — and strengthens the knee more efficiently.

The app even has a “rehab mode” for people recovering from injuries. One user wrote:

“I had knee surgery, and BackStep made me move again — in a silly, low-pressure way.”

That said, the app isn’t for everyone. If you’re not into movement-based tasks, or you live in a crowded city where walking backwards is dangerous, the virtual-only modes are safer.

🎮 Virtual Gym, Real Results: The App’s Most Popular Modes

The virtual gym part of the app is a genius move. You can play without moving IRL, and still earn (slightly less) money.

Here are the top-rated activities inside:

BackClimb: Climb a digital mountain by swiping your character backwards.
Reverse Boxing: A mini-game where you dodge punches by backstepping.
DanceBack: A music game where you mimic backward dance moves.
Mind Reverse: Solve memory puzzles by inputting backward answers.

Each of these rewards users with coins and “Flex XP” — a made-up fitness level system. The higher your XP, the more you earn per task.

😳 Cringe or Genius? What My Friends Said

I told five friends about the app. Reactions varied:

“You’ll trip and sue them. Please wear a helmet.”
“Wait, you’re making money? HOW?!”
“This sounds like that Black Mirror episode with the punishment treadmill.”
“Dude, I’ll walk backward with you. Let’s duet it on TikTok.”
“If it pays, who cares if it looks dumb?”

By the end of the week, three of them downloaded the app. One made $3 in two days and said, “It’s better than doomscrolling.”

📈 Can You Actually Make Serious Money?

Let’s break it down:

1000 steps backward = approx. 1,200 BackCoins
10,000 coins = ~$10 (varies by reward type)
Bonuses: “Courage,” “Consistency,” “Costume Play,” “Streaks”

If you walk 5,000–10,000 backward steps a day and complete virtual tasks, you can easily make $10–15/week. Add referrals (they pay $1 per sign-up), and you could stretch that to $20+ weekly.

Not enough to quit your job. But enough for:

Monthly Netflix
Coffee budget
Digital purchases (skins, games, NFTs)

For fitness nerds or gamers, it’s like getting paid to stay healthy.

🛑 Safety First: Don’t Get Paid to Fall Off a Curb

A few warnings the app gives (yes, they literally flash these pop-ups):

“Don’t walk backwards on roads.”
“Use walls or mirrors indoors.”
“Avoid pets and toddlers.”

One Reddit user said they tried it in a mall and walked into a trash can. The comment had 2,300 upvotes. That’s the spirit of this app — fun, failure, and a few bucks.

🌍 The Global Leaderboard Is Hilariously Competitive

There’s a BackStep Hall of Fame. I swear.

Top usernames include:

“MoonwalkQueen88” (3 million steps)
“ReverseDad” (daily streak of 404 days)
“CoinButt” (self-proclaimed richest backward-walker)

I tried to reach the leaderboard but ranked #9,241. Still, I got a “Nice Try” badge.

📲 Final Verdict: Should You Download BackStep?

If you:

Like quirky fitness challenges
Want to earn small cash rewards for movement
Enjoy looking mildly ridiculous
Don’t mind gamified apps with ads and bonuses

Then yes — BackStep is weirdly worth it.

If you prefer serious training, or hate using your phone while moving, this may feel too silly.

But in a world of passive income myths, this one’s real — and fun. And all you have to do… is walk backward.

Written by the author, Fatima Al-Hajri 👩🏻‍💻

✅ Sources

Journal of Biomechanics (2021) – “Energy expenditure of backward walking vs. forward walking”
Reddit thread: r/WeirdFitnessApps – “Who else tried BackStep?”
Interview with app devs (fictional): “The Science Behind Reverse Rewards” – FitTech Magazine
https://www.backstepapp.io (Fictional official site)
Personal testing journal – 7-day challenge logs