diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 68bc17f..d313846 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -158,3 +158,10 @@ cython_debug/
 #  and can be added to the global gitignore or merged into this file.  For a more nuclear
 #  option (not recommended) you can uncomment the following to ignore the entire idea folder.
 #.idea/
+
+
+# Exclude backup sql files
+**/*.sql
+
+# Exclude experimental juypter notebooks
+**/*.ipynb
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 60d7d27..d9d0f08 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from routes.export import export_bp # Import the new export blueprint
 from routes.tags import tags_bp # Import the new tags blueprint
 from routes.programs import programs_bp # Import the new programs blueprint
 from extensions import db
-from utils import convert_str_to_date, generate_plot
+from utils import convert_str_to_date
 from flask_htmx import HTMX
 import minify_html
 import os
diff --git a/db.py b/db.py
index 3029d09..f7ca627 100644
--- a/db.py
+++ b/db.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 from flask import g
-import pandas as pd
 from features.exercises import Exercises
 from features.people_graphs import PeopleGraphs
 from features.person_overview import PersonOverview
@@ -62,13 +61,7 @@ class DataBase():
 
         return (rv[0] if rv else None) if one else rv
     
-    def read_sql_as_df(self, query, params=None):
-        conn = self.getDB()
-        try:
-            df = pd.read_sql(query, conn, params=params)
-            return df
-        except Exception as e:
-            raise e
+
 
     def get_exercise(self, exercise_id):
         exercise = self.execute(
diff --git a/features/people_graphs.py b/features/people_graphs.py
index 054df55..9f89929 100644
--- a/features/people_graphs.py
+++ b/features/people_graphs.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import pandas as pd
-from utils import get_distinct_colors, calculate_estimated_1rm
+import polars as pl
+from utils import get_distinct_colors
 
 class PeopleGraphs:
     def __init__(self, db_connection_method):
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
 
     def get(self, selected_people_ids=None, min_date=None, max_date=None, selected_exercise_ids=None):
         """
-        Fetch workout topsets, calculate Estimated1RM in Python,
+        Fetch workout topsets, calculate Estimated1RM in Polars,
         then generate weekly workout & PR graphs.
         """
         # Build query (no in-SQL 1RM calculation).
@@ -51,15 +51,41 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
                 self.get_graph_model("PRs per week", {})
             ]
 
-        df = pd.DataFrame(raw_data)
+        # Explicitly specify schema to ensure correct types
+        schema_overrides = {
+            "Weight": pl.Float64,
+            "Repetitions": pl.Int64,
+            "StartDate": pl.Date  # Or pl.Datetime depending on DB driver, but usually Date for dates
+        }
+        
+        # Depending on how 'self.execute' returns data (list of dicts usually), 
+        # Polars can infer schema. For robustness with DB types:
+        try:
+             df = pl.DataFrame(raw_data, schema_overrides=schema_overrides, infer_schema_length=1000)
+        except:
+             # Fallback if specific schema injection fails due to mismatched input types
+             df = pl.DataFrame(raw_data)
 
-        # Calculate Estimated1RM in Python
-        df['Estimated1RM'] = df.apply(
-            lambda row: calculate_estimated_1rm(row["Weight"], row["Repetitions"]), axis=1
+
+        # Calculate Estimated1RM in Polars
+        # Formula: round((100 * int(weight)) / (101.3 - 2.67123 * repetitions), 0)
+        # Handle division by zero implicitly by filter or usage? 
+        # The original code only avoided div by zero if Repetitions == 0.
+        # Polars handles nulls/NaNs usually, but let's replicate logic.
+        
+        df = df.with_columns(
+            pl.when(pl.col("Repetitions") == 0)
+            .then(0)
+            .otherwise(
+                (pl.lit(100) * pl.col("Weight")) / (pl.lit(101.3) - pl.lit(2.67123) * pl.col("Repetitions"))
+            )
+            .round(0)
+            .cast(pl.Int64)
+            .alias("Estimated1RM")
         )
 
         # Build the weekly data models
-        weekly_counts   = self.get_workout_counts(df, period='week')
+        weekly_counts    = self.get_workout_counts(df, period='week')
         weekly_pr_counts = self.count_prs_over_time(df, period='week')
 
         return [
@@ -67,43 +93,48 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
             self.get_graph_model("PRs per week", weekly_pr_counts)
         ]
 
-    def _prepare_period_column(self, df, period='week'):
+    def _prepare_period_column(self, df: pl.DataFrame, period='week'):
         """
-        Convert StartDate to datetime and add a Period column 
-        based on 'week' or 'month' as needed.
+        Convert StartDate to proper date type and add a Period column 
+        represented as the start date of that period.
         """
-        df['StartDate'] = pd.to_datetime(df['StartDate'], errors='coerce')
-        freq = 'W' if period == 'week' else 'M'
-        df['Period'] = df['StartDate'].dt.to_period(freq)
+        # Ensure StartDate is Date/Datetime
+        if df["StartDate"].dtype == pl.String:
+             df = df.with_columns(pl.col("StartDate").str.strptime(pl.Date, "%Y-%m-%d")) # Adjust format if needed
+        elif df["StartDate"].dtype == pl.Object:
+             # If it's python datetime objects
+             df = df.with_columns(pl.col("StartDate").cast(pl.Date))
+             
+        # Truncate to week or month
+        if period == 'week':
+            # Polars doesn't have a direct 'to_period' like Pandas. 
+            # We can use dt.truncate("1w") which floors to start of week (Monday usually)
+            # Postgres/standard weeks usually start Monday.
+            df = df.with_columns(
+                pl.col("StartDate").dt.truncate("1w").alias("Period")
+            )
+        else: # month
+            df = df.with_columns(
+                pl.col("StartDate").dt.truncate("1mo").alias("Period")
+            )
+            
         return df
 
-    def get_workout_counts(self, df, period='week'):
+    def get_workout_counts(self, df: pl.DataFrame, period='week'):
         """
-        Returns a dictionary:
-          {
-            person_id: {
-              'PersonName': 'Alice',
-              'PRCounts': {
-                Timestamp('2023-01-02'): 2,
-                ...
-              }
-            },
-            ...
-          }
-        representing how many workouts each person performed per time period.
+        Returns workout counts per person per period.
         """
-        # Make a copy and prepare Period column
-        df = self._prepare_period_column(df.copy(), period)
+        df = self._prepare_period_column(df, period)
+        
+        # Ensure Period is string for consistent pivoting
+        df = df.with_columns(pl.col("Period").dt.strftime("%Y-%m-%d"))
 
         # Count unique workouts per (PersonId, PersonName, Period)
         grp = (
-            df.groupby(['PersonId', 'PersonName', 'Period'], as_index=False)['WorkoutId']
-              .nunique()
-              .rename(columns={'WorkoutId': 'Count'})
+            df.group_by(['PersonId', 'PersonName', 'Period'])
+            .agg(pl.col('WorkoutId').n_unique().alias('Count'))
         )
-        # Convert each Period to its start time
-        grp['Period'] = grp['Period'].apply(lambda p: p.start_time)
-
+        
         return self._pivot_to_graph_dict(
             grp,
             index_col='PersonId',
@@ -112,46 +143,47 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
             value_col='Count'
         )
 
-    def count_prs_over_time(self, df, period='week'):
+    def count_prs_over_time(self, df: pl.DataFrame, period='week'):
         """
-        Returns a dictionary:
-          {
-            person_id: {
-              'PersonName': 'Alice',
-              'PRCounts': {
-                Timestamp('2023-01-02'): 1,
-                ...
-              }
-            },
-            ...
-          }
-        representing how many PRs each person hit per time period.
+        Returns number of PRs hit per person per period.
         """
-        # Make a copy and prepare Period column
-        df = self._prepare_period_column(df.copy(), period)
+        df = self._prepare_period_column(df, period)
 
-        # Max 1RM per (Person, Exercise, Period)
+        # Max 1RM per (Person, Exercise, Period) - 'PeriodMax'
         grouped = (
-            df.groupby(['PersonId', 'PersonName', 'ExerciseId', 'Period'], as_index=False)['Estimated1RM']
-              .max()
-              .rename(columns={'Estimated1RM': 'PeriodMax'})
+            df.group_by(['PersonId', 'PersonName', 'ExerciseId', 'Period'])
+            .agg(pl.col('Estimated1RM').max().alias('PeriodMax'))
         )
 
-        # Sort so we can track "all-time max" up to that row
-        grouped.sort_values(by=['PersonId', 'ExerciseId', 'Period'], inplace=True)
+        # Sort so we can track "all-time max"
+        grouped = grouped.sort(by=['PersonId', 'ExerciseId', 'Period'])
 
-        # For each person & exercise, track the cumulative max (shifted by 1)
-        grouped['AllTimeMax'] = grouped.groupby(['PersonId', 'ExerciseId'])['PeriodMax'].cummax().shift(1)
-        grouped['IsPR'] = (grouped['PeriodMax'] > grouped['AllTimeMax']).astype(int)
+        # Calculate AllTimeMax representing the max UP TO the previous row.
+        grouped = grouped.with_columns(
+            pl.col("PeriodMax")
+            .cum_max()
+            .over(['PersonId', 'ExerciseId'])
+            .shift(1)
+            .alias("AllTimeMax")
+        )
+        
+        grouped = grouped.with_columns(
+             pl.col("AllTimeMax").fill_null(0)
+        )
+        
+        grouped = grouped.with_columns(
+            (pl.col("PeriodMax") > pl.col("AllTimeMax")).cast(pl.Int64).alias("IsPR")
+        )
+
+        # Ensure Period is string for consistent pivoting
+        grouped = grouped.with_columns(pl.col("Period").dt.strftime("%Y-%m-%d"))
 
         # Sum PRs across exercises for (Person, Period)
         pr_counts = (
-            grouped.groupby(['PersonId', 'PersonName', 'Period'], as_index=False)['IsPR']
-                   .sum()
-                   .rename(columns={'IsPR': 'Count'})
+            grouped.group_by(['PersonId', 'PersonName', 'Period'])
+            .agg(pl.col('IsPR').sum().alias('Count'))
         )
-        pr_counts['Period'] = pr_counts['Period'].apply(lambda p: p.start_time)
-
+        
         return self._pivot_to_graph_dict(
             pr_counts,
             index_col='PersonId',
@@ -160,38 +192,47 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
             value_col='Count'
         )
 
-    def _pivot_to_graph_dict(self, df, index_col, name_col, period_col, value_col):
+    def _pivot_to_graph_dict(self, df: pl.DataFrame, index_col, name_col, period_col, value_col):
         """
-        Convert [index_col, name_col, period_col, value_col]
-        into a nested dictionary for plotting:
-           {
-             person_id: {
-               'PersonName': <...>,
-               'PRCounts': {
-                 <timestamp>: <value>,
-                 ...
-               }
-             },
-             ...
-           }
+        Convert Polars DataFrame to the nested dict structure expected by visualization.
         """
-        if df.empty:
+        if df.is_empty():
             return {}
 
+        # Pivot
         pivoted = df.pivot(
+            values=value_col,
             index=[index_col, name_col],
             columns=period_col,
-            values=value_col
-        ).fillna(0)
-
-        pivoted.reset_index(inplace=True)
+            aggregate_function="sum"
+        ).fill_null(0)
 
+        rows = pivoted.to_dicts()
+        date_cols = [c for c in pivoted.columns if c not in [index_col, name_col]]
+        
         result = {}
-        for _, row in pivoted.iterrows():
+        for row in rows:
             pid = row[index_col]
             pname = row[name_col]
-            # Remaining columns = date -> count
-            period_counts = row.drop([index_col, name_col]).to_dict()
+            
+            period_counts = {}
+            for dc in date_cols:
+                val = row[dc]
+                # If val is 0, we can skip if sparse behavior is desired, 
+                # but let's keep it to match original behavior exactly if possible.
+                # Only adding if val > 0 or if we want full zeros?
+                # Original Pandas pivot keeps all columns (dates) for all rows, filling NaNs (0).
+                # The iteration later in 'get_graph_model' determines what to plot.
+                
+                # Parse date string back to date object
+                try:
+                    d_obj = datetime.strptime(str(dc), "%Y-%m-%d").date()
+                    period_counts[d_obj] = val
+                except ValueError:
+                    # Should not happen if we controlled the format
+                    print(f"Warning: Could not parse date column {dc}")
+                    period_counts[dc] = val
+                        
             result[pid] = {
                 'PersonName': pname,
                 'PRCounts': period_counts
@@ -201,18 +242,8 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
 
     def get_graph_model(self, title, data_dict):
         """
-        Builds a line-graph model from a dictionary of the form:
-           {
-             person_id: {
-               'PersonName': 'Alice',
-               'PRCounts': {
-                 Timestamp('2023-01-02'): 2,
-                 Timestamp('2023-01-09'): 1,
-                 ...
-               }
-             },
-             ...
-           }
+        Builds a line-graph model from the dictionary.
+        This part remains mostly standard Python as it manipulates dicts.
         """
         if not data_dict:
             return {
@@ -229,8 +260,21 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
             all_dates.extend(user_data['PRCounts'].keys())
             all_values.extend(user_data['PRCounts'].values())
 
+        if not all_dates:
+             return {
+                'title': title,
+                'vb_width': 200,
+                'vb_height': 75,
+                'plots': []
+            }
+
         min_date = min(all_dates)
         max_date = max(all_dates)
+        
+        # Ensure min_date/max_date are comparable types.
+        # If they are strings vs dates, that's an issue.
+        # We tried to enforce conversion in _pivot_to_graph_dict.
+
         date_span = max((max_date - min_date).days, 1)
 
         max_val = max(all_values)
@@ -269,3 +313,5 @@ class PeopleGraphs:
             'vb_height': vb_height,
             'plots': plots
         }
+
+from datetime import datetime
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index f73558c..af49ce6 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ minify-html==0.10.3
 jinja2-fragments==0.3.0
 Werkzeug==2.2.2
 numpy==1.19.5
-pandas==1.3.1
 python-dotenv==1.0.1
 plotly==5.24.1
 wtforms==3.2.1
@@ -17,4 +16,6 @@ flask-wtf==1.2.2
 Flask-Login==0.6.3
 Flask-Bcrypt==1.0.1
 email-validator==2.2.0
-requests==2.26.0
\ No newline at end of file
+requests==2.26.0
+polars>=0.20.0
+pyarrow>=14.0.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 8613658..3e4c560 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import colorsys
 from datetime import datetime, date, timedelta
 import numpy as np
-import pandas as pd
+
 import plotly.express as px
 import plotly.io as pio # Keep for now, might remove later if generate_plot is fully replaced
 import math
@@ -110,32 +110,7 @@ def get_distinct_colors(n):
         colors.append(hex_color)
     return colors
 
-def generate_plot(df: pd.DataFrame, title: str) -> str:
-    """
-    Analyzes the DataFrame and generates an appropriate Plotly visualization.
-    Returns the Plotly figure as a div string.
-    Optimized for speed.
-    """
-    if df.empty:
-        return "<p>No data available to plot.</p>"
 
-    num_columns = len(df.columns)
-
-    # Dictionary-based lookup for faster decision-making
-    plot_funcs = {
-        1: lambda: px.histogram(df, x=df.columns[0], title=title) 
-        if pd.api.types.is_numeric_dtype(df.iloc[:, 0]) else px.bar(df, x=df.columns[0], title=title),
-
-        2: lambda: px.scatter(df, x=df.columns[0], y=df.columns[1], title=title)
-        if pd.api.types.is_numeric_dtype(df.iloc[:, 0]) and pd.api.types.is_numeric_dtype(df.iloc[:, 1])
-        else px.bar(df, x=df.columns[0], y=df.columns[1], title=title)
-    }
-
-    # Select plot function based on column count
-    fig = plot_funcs.get(num_columns, lambda: px.imshow(df.corr(numeric_only=True), text_auto=True, title=title))()
-
-    # Use static rendering for speed
-    return pio.to_html(fig, full_html=False, include_plotlyjs=False, config={'staticPlot': True})
 
 
 def calculate_estimated_1rm(weight, repetitions):