diff --git a/rowers/models.py b/rowers/models.py
index 78f15530..a15370a9 100644
--- a/rowers/models.py
+++ b/rowers/models.py
@@ -207,6 +207,27 @@ class AlternativeEmails(models.TextField):
         value = self._get_val_from_obj(obj)
         return self.get_deb_prep_value(value)
 
+# model for Planned Session Steps
+class PlannedSessionStepField(models.TextField):
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(PlannedSessionStepField, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def to_python(self, value):
+        if not value: return
+        return json.loads(value)
+
+    def from_db_value(self, value, expression, connection):
+        if not value: return
+        return json.loads(value)
+
+    def get_db_prep_value(self, value, connection, prepared=False):
+        if not value: return
+        return json.dumps(value)
+
+    def value_to_string(self, obj):
+        value = self._get_val_from_obj(obj)
+        return self.get_deb_prep_value(value)
+
 # model for Power Zone names
 class PowerZonesField(models.TextField):
 #    __metaclass__ = models.SubfieldBase
@@ -2288,7 +2309,8 @@ class PlannedSession(models.Model):
     is_template = models.BooleanField(default=False)
 
     fitfile = models.FileField(blank=True,null=True)
-    steps_json = models.TextField(max_length=10000,default=None,blank=True,null=True)
+    #steps_json = models.TextField(max_length=10000,default=None,blank=True,null=True)
+    steps = PlannedSessionStepField(default={},null=True)
     interval_string = models.TextField(max_length=1000,default=None,blank=True,null=True,
                                        verbose_name='Interval String (optional)')
 
@@ -2308,11 +2330,11 @@ class PlannedSession(models.Model):
 
         return stri
 
-    def update_json(self):
+    def update_steps(self):
         # read file
         if self.fitfile:
             steps = steps_read_fit(settings.MEDIA_ROOT+'/'+self.fitfile.name)
-            self.steps_json = json.dumps(steps)
+            self.steps = steps
 
         self.save()
 
@@ -2336,7 +2358,8 @@ class PlannedSession(models.Model):
             dct = trainingparser.parsetodict(self.interval_string)
             dct = [item for item in dct if item['value'] != 0]
             dct = trainingparser.tofitdict(dct)
-            self.steps_json = json.dumps(dct)
+            print(dct)
+            self.steps = dct
 
 
 
@@ -2386,20 +2409,18 @@ class PlannedSession(models.Model):
                 self.fitfile = None
             else:
                 steps = steps_read_fit(settings.MEDIA_ROOT+'/'+self.fitfile.name)
-                self.steps_json = json.dumps(steps)
+                self.steps = steps
 
-        if self.steps_json and not self.fitfile:
+        if self.steps and not self.fitfile:
             if self.pk is not None:
                 filename = settings.MEDIA_ROOT+'/session'+encoder.encode_hex(self.pk)+'.fit'
             else:
                 file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w+b',suffix='.fit',dir=settings.MEDIA_ROOT)
                 filename = file.name
-            steps = json.loads(self.steps_json)
+            steps = self.steps
             steps['filename'] = filename
             fitfile = steps_write_fit(steps)
             self.fitfile = fitfile
-            self.steps_json = json.dumps(steps)
-
 
         super(PlannedSession,self).save(*args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/rowers/plannedsessions.py b/rowers/plannedsessions.py
index 4797ef69..2b342bc9 100644
--- a/rowers/plannedsessions.py
+++ b/rowers/plannedsessions.py
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ def update_plannedsession(ps,cd):
         try:
             filename, path_and_filename = handle_uploaded_file(f)
             ps.fitfile.name = filename
-            ps.steps_json = ''
+            ps.steps = {}
         except FileNotFoundError:
             pass
 
diff --git a/rowers/serializers.py b/rowers/serializers.py
index 5ef818ad..5806ed88 100644
--- a/rowers/serializers.py
+++ b/rowers/serializers.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class PlannedSessionSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             'course',
             'approximate_distance',
             'approximate_duration',
-            'steps_json',
+            'steps',
             'fitfile'
         )
 
diff --git a/rowers/views/planviews.py b/rowers/views/planviews.py
index 622cbb5f..286f23a6 100644
--- a/rowers/views/planviews.py
+++ b/rowers/views/planviews.py
@@ -1927,8 +1927,8 @@ def plannedsession_view(request,id=0,userid=0):
     r = getrequestplanrower(request,userid=userid)
 
     ps = get_object_or_404(PlannedSession,pk=id)
-    if ps.steps_json is not None:
-        jsons = json.loads(ps.steps_json)
+    if ps.steps is not None:
+        jsons = ps.steps
     else:
         jsons = {}
 
@@ -2143,8 +2143,8 @@ def plannedsession_view(request,id=0,userid=0):
     comments = PlannedSessionComment.objects.filter(plannedsession=ps).order_by("created")
 
     steps = ''
-    if ps.steps_json:
-        d = json.loads(ps.steps_json)
+    if ps.steps:
+        d = ps.steps
         steps = ps_dict_get_description_html(d)