How many of you keep a training log?

[LiftHardOrDontLiftAtAll]

I have never really bothered to. Never been great with record keeping. I've heard it helps you keep track of your progress. Just wondering how many here keep one and how effective to your training is it?

 

[WarriorPL]

i kept one for like a week, whats the point of keeping track of ur progress anyways?

 

[LiftHardOrDontLiftAtAll]

I really don't know what the point is. At the gym where I go I see damn near everyone there writing something down about their workout. I use to think it was all bullshit, now I'm just trying to find out if there is any valid reason to keeping one.

 

[big4life]

I always keep one.
It helps me keep track of what
progress I've made over a certain
length of time.
How effective one workout is over
another.
I can go back and check previous
logbooks and see what has worked
or has not worked in the past.

They are a great help, you need to
try and start one.

 

[Phemomena]

i've tried to keep a log, and i'm not very good at it.... but there are times when it becomes very useful.... example, if you are planning on competing... write down not only your training, but also your diet, and all the little details (posing info, suits ect)... that way when it comes time for getting ready for the next competition, you can review what you've done, have a grounds to start from, know what worked, what didn't and instead of making all the same mistakes again, you can concentrate on finetuning things and improving on your previous result...

other than that, if you are a person who is motivated by seeing things on paper, numbers ect, then go for it... i find i forget it way too much... i have a good memory for my training, not for keeping notes though

 

[Daeo]

i kept one for like a week, whats the point of keeping track of ur progress anyways?

Hmm...I can think of a few. How about knowing what weight you used and how many reps you did the previous weeks without guessing. Along with writing down what weights and reps I also write down my bodyweight. Knowing all this allows you to know what has worked for your body. And chances are if it worked once it will work again. Also if you periodize your training(which you should be) it's almost a necessity. It also allows you to see where you've come from. Which is very motivating at times...

 

[endpoint]

My strength has been stable a couple weeks ago........no gains what so ever.

I looked back a few months in my log and found a real good section where i gained a lot of strength.
I then applied the outline to the current work outs and my strength jumped up again.

I found patches where i was doing things wrong. and learnt from the mistakes.

There are weeks where i forget what i did the last time on a certain exercise (if is an exercise i dont do often).....i look it up in my log, and jeez there it is.

It also gives me something to do inbetween sets........those long 5 min rests

 

[The mann]

Endpoint...thats is exactly why i keep one,i have logs that go back years.it's a personal thing i guess.you can look back and see where your strength was better and why.i have a notebook that already has the dats and i write down my workout which only takes a min.then after a set i can log the reps,sets...my goals are to always increase weight.some people don't want to waste their time and it doesn't mean they won't get stronger.anyway it's very valuable to me...

talk is cheap

 

[Phemomena]

definately not a waste of time... but its only as good as the information you put into it... i guess its like anything you want to make a habit, you have to force yourself to do it until you don't have to think about it... i wish i could remember to keep one... ya'll are motivating me to give it another shot...

 

[The mann]

phemomena.......give it a try.there is no way i will remember what i did lat week,2 weeks ago,etc.i literally have evry workout back 4-5 years.i compete in bench meets so very valuable for me to track weights,reps sets.i am always shooting for 5 more lbs.i track diet,weightloss...how it affects my strength..it really works for me.........

 

[MonStar1023]

I would definitely recommend keeping a training and diet log.. that way you know what diet and training routines work for you. With a training log you can record what intensity techniques you use, what type of weight your lifting, etc. etc.

 

[Abbaddon]

I have been doing this so long I dont keep a training log I just try to change up my workouts as much as possible. I think about it constantly. I do recommend that when starting out you should keep a training log to help you get used to it. I seem to be able to mentally do it now. So the only log I use is the scale and the mirror I do however keep a detailed log of my diet seeing is how that is something pretty easy to mess up and I would rather miss a workout than a meal.

 

[b fold the truth]

I have my very first workouts still in a log book. Back when I barely benched 95lbs and tried to squat the smith machine bar and couldn't come up with it for 1 measely rep.

B True

 

[Garza]

I have been keeping one for well over 2 months.

It can be a pain in the butt trying to remember where in the gym you left it but the info is invaluable.

Here is a sample or what mine would look like. Here is an actual workout of mine.

Monday July 23, 2001

Deadlifts 3x3 with 295.
(actual 1x2 and 1x1, damn grip!)

Bent over rows 3x8 with 135
actual 3x8

Pulldowns plate 110 3x8
actual 4x8

Preacher curls 4x5 75 lbs
actual 4x5

Shrugs 205 lbs, 4x5
actual 4x5


Here is a later entry

Monday, August 20, 2001

Back/bicep

Deadlift 2x6 with 265
actual 225 x 2x8 (didnt' want to hurt back again)

T bar rows 3x8 with 100
actual4x8

Pulldowns 4x8 with 120
actual 3x8 with 120 and 1x8 with 110

Barbell curls, standing 3x6 with 80 lbs
actual 1x6 1x4


See, I know exactly what I was supposed to do, and exactly what I did in each routine. If my actual is the same as what I planned to do then I raise my reps or weight. I like being able to refer back to all my workouts.

 

[FitFossil]

I've been keeping a training log for about 1 1/2 years. Starting a training log was a CRITICAL turning point for me. Before, my workouts weren't as focused. I'd waste time figuring out what weight to use for what exercise, or what exercises to do.

Once I started planning my workouts beforehand, I was a lot more efficient. I was also a lot more motivated. If I ever found myself wavering on whether to go to the gym or not, I'd think about that workout I'd written out. I am a list-person, and I like checking things off. The thought of leaving that whole workout blank guilt-tripped me into the gym.

I also like looking back over past workouts and seeing my progress.

 

[Welsh power house]

always have, always will!


it helps you to keep track of how much weight you've gained/lost.

it helps you keep track of strength progress......it alows you to look back and see what worked, what did not.........and helps you keep track of what you eat, cals, protein, carbs and fat intake


logs rule!!!

 

[bigpoppadrew]

I've been keeping a training log for about 1 1/2 years. Starting a training log was a CRITICAL turning point for me. Before, my workouts weren't as focused. I'd waste time figuring out what weight to use for what exercise, or what exercises to do.

Once I started planning my workouts beforehand, I was a lot more efficient. I was also a lot more motivated. If I ever found myself wavering on whether to go to the gym or not, I'd think about that workout I'd written out. I am a list-person, and I like checking things off. The thought of leaving that whole workout blank guilt-tripped me into the gym.

I also like looking back over past workouts and seeing my progress.

I totally agree with that, that is why I keep a log. It's great motivation because if you leave a day blank you will feel like an idiot for missing it. It's also good to keep track of your progress, when you look back at the progress you have made it is also a great motivating factor. I would strongly reccomend starting a log if you do not already.

 

[Skeeter1]

I have done them in the past,and after gathering all the info, reps, sets, wt, diet,ect. in the end, so what. the essence of training is intergration into a lifestyle, for me as long as I train consistantly, record keeping is best for finances. training is to feed my inner being, logs are awaste of time. IMO

 

[tag166]

I write down all my workouts and also diet courses and other courses if you know what i meen.I have done this especially the diet and other courses so when it comes to competition time i am not using to much guess work!

 

[Mjollnir]

Definitely keep a log.

I use a Palm V Palm Pilot, which is very small and fits easily in a pocket, and immediately write down what I've done after each exercise change.

There are numerous weight lifting programs available for cheap, but I just use the Memo Pad function.

It is indeed helpfull to look back to see, for example, how much I did in the lat pull or dead in Aug 2000 to compare to what I've done this August.

YMMV.

 

[Stiffler]

I use to keep one for about 6 months but then I just kind of forgot about it, and havent started it back up again.
but i might someday soon I hope.

 

[karellan]

i kept one for like a week, whats the point of keeping track of ur progress anyways?

well, wizkid, I guess you don't have much to keep track of when you aren't making progress on the only two lifts you're doing, tricep pushdowns and cable curls

 

[MuSuLPhReAk]

I think I'm going to start one !!!

 

[strengthmonster]

I don't fill one out whilst I train, I wait until I get home. It includes my workout, what I have done, what I have eaten, drug regimes, body measurements and weight etc. That way you can look back at a particular training method and study what works for you and what doesn't. Allowing you to tailor future workouts/diets/stacks etc. to your best combinations, therefore speeding up your progress.

 

[malhavoc]

I keep one with my weights, reps, and sets. I fill it out after I leave the gym, and then refer to it right before I go in for the following weeks workout. This way I know exactly what to shoot for. Plus it's interesting to see how much you've progressed over a year by looking back at an old log book.

 

[mekannik]

Big aid in lifting from a couple of perspectives:
1) When somebody says you're looking good - look back at what excercises and schemes work for you
2) Ability to switch excercises around - run the gamut on all your recent back excercises - look back 1 year ago and I'll bet there's one or two you have forgotten about
3) Gauges.
I note if I took: Caffeine, Ephedrine, Yohimbe, Tyrosine (or any combo of them)
Also note: date, start time, end time, warmup and length, weights, reps, sets, time between sets, use wrist straps or not, mixed grip (esp. on deadlifts)

Sounds like alot of work - but once the habit starts - an extra 10 seconds after a set is no big deal. And the benefits of having all the info to look back on is invaluable.

 

[tbr258]

I always kkep a log, its important to be able to look back to previous years and see your progress, also for complex programs to make sure you are increasing weight.