How do you keep track of your work out?

hair_dye · 11-09-2009, 01:11 AM

Hello everyone

I have been going to the gym for several years on and off but not in such a way that I have ever seen any major results. I am looking at trying to build muscle now rather than mess about on a treadmill! I just wondered how does everyone remember what exercises they need to do? I often go to the gym then get home an realise I have missed out an exercise, and never keep track of what weights I am lifting, does everyone write it down? Does anyone take a notebook to the gym with them??

Thanks

marioana · 11-09-2009, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hair_dye

Hello everyone

I have been going to the gym for several years on and off but not in such a way that I have ever seen any major results. I am looking at trying to build muscle now rather than mess about on a treadmill! I just wondered how does everyone remember what exercises they need to do? I often go to the gym then get home an realise I have missed out an exercise, and never keep track of what weights I am lifting, does everyone write it down? Does anyone take a notebook to the gym with them??

Thanks

I do have a notebook in which I write every exercise, the weight and the number of reps done. Also sometimes I make side notes, like to increase weight next time...
When I go to the gym I just take a look at what i did previously and write down on a new page all I want to do today. After each exercise I write down the weight and reps and see what comes next. At the beginning I had to look to see exactly what is next, now I kind of know them by heart. Although I will probably have to change them after New Year as I already do this routine for 2 and a half months...

Danceruk · 11-09-2009, 03:25 AM

I leave my notepad in my bag, when I finish I jot it all down before goin home..

Hannah73Louise · 11-09-2009, 03:25 AM

I'v started using a notebook too. Before, they wrote it all out on cards for me at the gym and you just filled in what reps & sets etc each time, but as I'm varying what I do each time now I need to write it down. I take my notebook round with me.

CharliC · 11-09-2009, 04:18 AM

I take a notebook around the gym with me and make notes when I'm resting between sets. I usually write down a rough plan of the workout beforehand, so I remember to include everything I planned on.

The one disadvantage with tracking every workout is that you sometimes find yourself going by numbers rather than the 'feeling' and fatigue- I've found it's beneficial to take a day every now and then where you don't count at all.

Nightbird573 · 11-09-2009, 04:59 AM

I write my weight training down, I have a food log, and I have a cardio log. I make my own workout routines and I will grab one of those cheap Walmart notebooks and just use it. I kind of make myself a "graph" or you might even call it a "table." I decide the number of reps and sets I'm doing on each body part, and then I write down the exercises I am doing. I have a page for every day of the week and the body part, or lack thereof, I am working on that day. I write down the weight I used, the sets, and the reps. I think it is very important to write it down. How do you know where you are going if you don't know where you've been??

triangle · 11-09-2009, 05:18 AM

I don't write anything down, I just remember.

But sure, if I kept forgetting I'd take a notebook.

Emoore · 11-09-2009, 06:18 AM

Spiral notebook. It's pretty cool to loock back and see how far you've come.

JC32 · 11-09-2009, 06:33 AM

I use the free bb.com workout book. I like it bc I can track everything there and flip through it for reference. I log full workouts, cardio, supplements (which & how much), calorie in and calorie out, etc. I can usually find patterns in what makes a productive workout. Plus, I make little notes as to what exercises I will add weight/reps/sets next. I think it helps. But I'm a really visual person, lol. I like to be able to flip back a month and see what has changed.

fitlover · 11-09-2009, 06:34 AM

I write down everything as I go.

gtwin · 11-09-2009, 08:15 AM

I log in every workout on my blackberry. I like looking back to see how far I've progressed and also to see where my weaknesses are, such as those exercises where the weight hasn't gone up in a couple of months or I haven't incresed in reps. Plus, keeping track of every workout is like a sense of accomplishment to me in a way. As far as food intake, I log in all that stuff on Daily Plate.

genia824 · 11-09-2009, 10:00 AM

I never go the gym without my workout journal! I use a Meade Student Planner and plan my workouts for the week. While at the gym, I log everything I do: lifts, reps, sets, etc...
I've been doing it for years. I don't know why I started...I guess because I am a perpetual list maker. And like someone else said, it is fun going back and tracking your progress.

DemetriaF · 11-09-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC32

I use the free bb.com workout book.

Did someone say freeeeeee? I love free. How does one get this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hair_dye

Does anyone take a notebook to the gym with them??

I only go to the gym on legs days, so I can remember without writing anything down.

When I work out at home I must keep a log or else I'll forget.

SophieM · 11-09-2009, 11:26 AM

I have a table printed out with my workout that includes the date, average and max HR, exercise, weight and reps. I have another table for cardio that has type of cardio, machine used if applicable, average and max HR, and distance if applicable.

JC32 · 11-09-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemetriaF

Did someone say freeeeeee? I love free. How does one get this?

Spend more than $99 @ bb.com and it's one of the free gift options. Or you could just purchase it for $2.99 here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bbcom/workoutlog.html.

I like it, simple yet lots of space to write stuff down.

Hannah73Louise · 11-09-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtwin

I log in every workout on my blackberry. I like looking back to see how far I've progressed and also to see where my weaknesses are, such as those exercises where the weight hasn't gone up in a couple of months or I haven't incresed in reps. Plus, keeping track of every workout is like a sense of accomplishment to me in a way. As far as food intake, I log in all that stuff on Daily Plate.

How do you use your blackberry to log it? I don't know half the things mine does.....

erinlee01 · 11-09-2009, 12:27 PM

Spiral notebook. I like to look back at old workouts every now and again. I also use it because between everything I need to remember for work, kids, etc., I find I can't remember my weights for most exercises.

If I carry my notebook, I can look back and see what I did last time.

RebeccaG · 11-09-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erinlee01

Spiral notebook. I like to look back at old workouts every now and again. I also use it because between everything I need to remember for work, kids, etc., I find I can't remember my weights for most exercises.

If I carry my notebook, I can look back and see what I did last time.

x2

gtwin · 11-09-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah73Louise

How do you use your blackberry to log it? I don't know half the things mine does.....

Oh it's nothing fancy...there's a "memo pad" under applications that I use to enter in all my workouts. It's just easier for me to log it into my phone than writing it down..plus I might misplace or lose a notebook if I used that instead.

zombieang · 11-09-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtwin

Oh it's nothing fancy...there's a "memo pad" under applications that I use to enter in all my workouts. It's just easier for me to log it into my phone than writing it down..plus I might misplace or lose a notebook if I used that instead.

I do this too. I started carrying around a journal with me to write things, been a good year of doing that and one day i lost my pen in the gym some place. So I started logging into the crackberry and wahla!! so must easier and faster =)

mommalu · 11-09-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

Spiral notebook. It's pretty cool to look back and see how far you've come.

X2!! I'm on my second book

BiancaNoir · 11-09-2009, 09:00 PM

Spiral-bound memo book. I got two of them for $1 at Big Lots.

hair_dye · 11-10-2009, 01:06 AM

Thanks everyone

I wrote everything down yesterday when I got back, I would never remember what I had done or weights if not, will try and keep it up!x

swindled · 11-10-2009, 10:44 AM

I personally make an excel spreadsheet up, print it and take it to the gym. I staple the weeks worth of workouts together, and when that week is done I take the pages and put them in a binder...

I just find it faster, and that way I know my workouts for the week, so I can plan out my time accordingly. Also, some of the BB.com weights workouts come with their own print out training logs, which might be helpful if you are still pretty new to weightlifting

DemetriaF · 11-10-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC32

Spend more than $99 @ bb.com and it's one of the free gift options. Or you could just purchase it for $2.99 here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bbcom/workoutlog.html.

I like it, simple yet lots of space to write stuff down.

Thank you! This is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been using a notebook, but I spend more time constructing and setting up pages than I do entering information.

aussiemommy · 11-10-2009, 03:28 PM

I have just started but I printed out one of the workout programs on BB.com and have put that in a binder. It is very simple and easy to fill in and I need it because I am hopeless at remembering what weigts I lifted.

Net1 · 11-10-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triangle

I don't write anything down, I just remember.

But sure, if I kept forgetting I'd take a notebook.

I wish I had that kind of memory

I, like so many others, write out a plan of attack, then I attack!! I write it all down, date it, notes regarding what to do next (raise weight, raise reps, focus was spot on, ect.), any aches and pains, any problems with form (getting the picture - I write it ALL). Like someone else posted, how do you know where you are going if you don't know where you have been? Better yet, how do you know what to try next, if you can't clearly remember what has worked in the past and what hasn't? Workout logs are so worth it...

aznprincess · 11-10-2009, 03:57 PM

Net1 - that's an amazing tattoo.

yes, i have a journal for workouts that i take to the gym with me and fill out as i go along. i track cals etc on my iphone.

aussieangie · 11-10-2009, 05:14 PM

A journal/exercise book is the way to go to jot down your training, reps and sets. Much easier than remembering what to do if you forget.

Z-doll · 11-12-2009, 02:42 PM

I too do the journal thing. It's also fun to save so you can read how much weight you used to do like a year ago and so on. I have info saved from a bunch of years ago.