Who writes things down?

[gopnik]

I don't ever see people at my gym write their weights/reps down. On the other hand, we are supposed to keep track of our progress. Do you guys write things down as you workout or do it later? How do you remember different weights/reps for various exercises?

[Nikonguy]

I train at home but I never train without a plan (program) and keeping notes.

My half-assed journal is also my training log.

[hardNheavy2011]

I've been writing in my journal going on 20 years now. I know it takes a little time to do it, but the cool part is that I don't have to try and remember what I did last week.....I just look in the journal. I know plenty of guys/girls who've never written anything down and they look great! So, I don't think it's necessary for everyone, but it is for me.

[Brackneyc]

Train at home. Computer is on the table. Every rep of every set is logged in real time. Diet is tracked as well. Very important component of my training.

[flat6nut]

Just started back doing it this year for my journal. I thought after my first 6 months lifting I had everything in my head. I did make good gains doing it, but....there is no substitute for keeping track. It goes way beyond just tracking weight used. After awhile it can tell a story...It will also keep you very honest with your workouts...if you are serious about making gains.

[Corbi]

I write down all my workouts, started doing that when I began working out almost 2 yrs ago but wasn't religious about keeping up with the notes. Since joining Anytime 5 months ago I have logged every single workout and I see quite a few others also keeping logs.

[djflex]

I keep a handwritten journal and always have. However the notes are brief. Usually just bodyparts and general comments about my energy or injuries and how they feel etc.
If i hit a pr i write that down.

Lately i have been playing with jefit on my phone to track sets and reps. We will see how it goes

[HoustonTXMuscle]

I print out the Excel worksheet from the previous A or B FTP and carry it and a pencil out on the floor. Make notations as to changes or the order of exercises and usually the time each exercise takes. Once home, it takes less than 3 minutes to make the new worksheet and print out 2 copies (1 for the following week and 1 hard copy for my log book).

[IronCharles]

I've never found the need. I can remember what my working weights are for every exercise. Once the weight becomes to easy, or exceeds my target rep range, I increase it. Writing things down would just be a distraction to me.

[1Dewayne]

I train at home and do keep track of all my workouts on my Kindle Fire. Found a really cool app call Jefit Pro it has most exercises in the program or I can make custom moves. And also has a countdown timer for rest between sets really helps me alot. It's much easier than paper for me.

[Jtbny]

I write everything in a notebook. Makes it easier to look back. Also I recently ordered some trutein from bb.com and they sent me a cute little notebook to log everything I do as a free gift so I'm using that right now.

[flat6nut]

I've never found the need. I can remember what my working weights are for every exercise. Once the weight becomes to easy, or exceeds my target rep range, I increase it. Writing things down would just be a distraction to me.

Thats exactly how I felt and it works for some of us. My reason for restarting a journal was a new routine I was starting......and that went out the window after the first week. Think I keep up with it now for my journal here. I do have plans to switching things up a bit soon.

[-=FLEX=-]

My GF and I both have notbooks and we both write everything down as we go.

I almost never need to consult mine to post my workout in my online journal, though; I am very focused on my workouts and I just don't foget by the time I get home or to the office to post.

[MecGen]

Hello
I train at home, and I use a whiteboard with dry erase pens. I log how many reps and at what weight for what exercise. When I find things are going too easy I write an arrow in the up position telling me next w/o I have to up the weight or reps. I only keep the last 2 w/o or so just for reference.

Keeping a long term log does not interest me, that sounds too much like a job....for me

Regards

[Iceman1800]

I have workout logs going back at least 10 years

[JerryB]

I write out all workouts as they progress. I write the muscle group I'm training, followed by the exercises with the weight and reps for each set. I somethings evaluate the workout as OK or great. The only bad workout is if there is an injury. If I fail to achieve the poundage planned for the workout, it's just a minor setback. I have written down my work outs during the sessions since I started over twenty five year ago.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I have always written down my workouts. To me it's just the way it's done I can't imagine working out without recording everything. I also record any injuries etc.

[BillReilly]

I keep my journals in a spreadsheet. I print out the week in advance and then log everything at the end of the week. I work out at home so it is not a big deal for me. I also log my cardio for time and distance. I track my diet as well, which includes calories, carbs, fat, protein, fat, heart rate at various times of day and BP morning and evening.

[VanHermanator]

I log everything using the GymGoal app on my iPhone. I'm listening to my music on the device anyways, so it's easy enough to do while I'm waiting the 60 secs between sets. I spend the first 5 minutes of every workout warming up on the bike setting the workout (or copying from a previous one) ahead of hitting the weights. I've got 2+ years of great info now. Totally worth it.

[trev71]

Gym Buddy - iPhone app.

Graphs it... cheers me on... hell it does everything but spot me.

[billb7581]

I keep a notebook for my wife and I.. I would never be able to remember all those working weights for the both of us.

[MikeNX]

I use my Ipod touch and an app called workout tracker. Log every workout then move it to bb.com to see my progress.

[chodan9]

I am more like IC, I dont track mine in a written or digital log,
but I can tell you what my rep ranges and workout weight were1 month 6 months or a year ago.
Tracking my strength progress doesn't really apply as much though as I had been either dropping fat or going for hypertrophy over the last year, neither of which are conducive to a lot of strength building.

[Chaan]

No I can't write - it would disrupt my focus. I tend to forget one exercise and remember it later, and edit, no damage done. I've done exercise journals since 2006 elsewhere.

[latebloomingmom]

I train at home but I never train without a plan (program) and keeping notes.

My half-assed journal is also my training log.

well maybe you ought try a little harder in your lifts and quit half-assing it all the time? just an idea
what am I not quite understanding that right?





OP: I write mine down.

[Kraken]

I record for a few reasons.

1. I am terribad at remembering my weights/numbers
2. I like to look back and assess the last several weeks at times
3. It's kind of neat to look back and see where I was a year ago.

I have all of my training logs since I start lifting. I have a book that has my first 6 months of training in it and it's funny to see "Bench press 95x6x5x5". The worst part is, I was in my early 20s and I had the strength of a 10 year old girls.

[cowboybiker]

Notebook, pen and plan.
I check it off as I go.
I can add to it if I go over.

[teiganb]

I write everything down, I carry a notebook and pen, and people stare sometimes, I could not care less if they stare. At least I know where I am progressing and where I need to pay more attention and can recognise any signs of over training. When I am training for a show, I use a clip board with my workouts on it my coach gives me. I also photograph my food when I have to eat out, because I can't always write it down. I try and keep on track if I can.

[2nd_chance]

I don't ever see people at my gym write their weights/reps down. On the other hand, we are supposed to keep track of our progress. Do you guys write things down as you workout or do it later? How do you remember different weights/reps for various exercises?

You're 38 and you're not aware that most people use smart phones to track their workouts?

[MichaelCJ]

I just keep track of it all, in my head. For the hell of it, I keep an offline journal, but even that's kinda redundant. It's not like I ever have more than two days' rest, so yeah, it's not exactly challenging to remember a few numbers, that generally have either not increased, or have done so in a predictable way.

Then again, I'm not going dozens of different exercises, newb that I am, lol. Seven altogether, in fact.