Do you keep a workout journal

Y

yong54321

0
Does keeping a log necessary in weight training to gain muscle? I am just a beginner and does not have much luck in weight lifting in the past. I wonder if keeping a a log will produce result. I would appreciate if you share with me whether you need a log in weight training and how do you go about it? I find using paper log inconvenient enough in the gym or is using mobile phone software a better choice? Thank you very much.

Robert
 
Certainly helps to remember what weights you should be lifting compared to the last time you lifted. Also, keeping a log of what you've lifted online or anywhere else each day can be very motivational... You can look back at the numbers and see how far you have come since you started.
 
I keep a log, and I log what I eat, and post it for all to read. It is a great way to be accountable. I also workout with a heartrate monitor, and I track my heartrate, duration, calories burned with it.
 
a log is absolutely necessary! how else can you track progress? how else will you know that 2 months ago your bench press was 20lbs lower? or 10 lbs heavier?!

nothing fancy. I use a Lil Fat spiral notebook, and a black pen. I have every exercise and set planned before I enter the gym. I don't wander around aimlessly trying to figure out what to do. I'm in, I'm out, and its documented.
 
If your a begginer, the best thing about keeping a log is that you can post it up on the forum and we can help you change and tweek your program so you get better results.
 
I have logs going back to when I was in highschool. They are critical. I don't only track my reps, sets, weights in there. I track my weight, rate my workout 1-5, write down thoughts during workouts, etc. KEEP A LOG!
 
You should definetly have a workout planned, so you can achieve goals..however, don't spend so much time with it as you'll be thinking of that too much. Keep a rough draft on paper..but everything you are doing should be up in your mind. Also if you are having troubles with building muscle, then i suggest you try partial reps after you max out on your normal sets. That is, move the weight half way instead of full way..thus being partial. This is a way of training after failure, to maximise results. I suggest you do it mostly on bench press, barbell bicep curls, deadlifts and shoulder presses.

Here's as link that should help....
 
Yes, it's necessary. You want to know where you're at. The goal of every workout is to set a new record (Rule #5, "New Rules of Lifting," Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove). This could be more reps, more weight, more volume, better tempo, etc.

You won't know if you set a new record if you don't know where you were.
 
I keep up with everything in Microsoft Excel. I have printouts of workouts that will last a couple of weeks, but then I key the entries into my PC when I get back to work. A log is a very helpful, plus it's fun to look back at your progress.
 
TheGhozt said:
You should definetly have a workout planned, so you can achieve goals..however, don't spend so much time with it as you'll be thinking of that too much. Keep a rough draft on paper..but everything you are doing should be up in your mind. Also if you are having troubles with building muscle, then i suggest you try partial reps after you max out on your normal sets. That is, move the weight half way instead of full way..thus being partial. This is a way of training after failure, to maximise results. I suggest you do it mostly on bench press, barbell bicep curls, deadlifts and shoulder presses.

Here's as link that should help....
Click to expand...


I don't think this is a necessary recommendation to a newbie to the weight room.
 
I can see what you mean, but when i started..my uncle told me to develop faster by doing that..and i'm really moving forward. So yea i can understand it being unessesary, thats what i thought when i first started..but it's worked for me.
 
anytime you 'start' something, you'll make fast gains because its new stimulus for the body. that's why newb trainees can shed fat and gain muscle simultaneously, for the first month or so. Then reality sets in and they gotta choose to bulk or cut.

a newbie could overtrain and still put on muscle for a few weeks too.
 
thank you...

thank you for all your comments, i would start note taking, hopefully i am discipline for at least 6 months on it. As I have a full time job and have only 30 minutes the most a day for training, what would be a good 2 day split routine? Would appreciate for any link too. Thank you! :D
 
Just wondering, why cannot see anyone with a log in the gym

Hi, thanks everyone for the help. I have start a log but to my surprise, there is not any one in my gym recording workout. I do not see anyone with a log book except me. Even those big boys do not carry one. It makes me wonder since in this forum, the issue of workout log is argued to be very important. Could anyone answer my obervation?
 
Don't worry, I only know of one person who keeps a log in my gym. He is the trainer mind.

Allows me to see just how lazy I've been in recent months.
 
I usually just remember what I did at the gym and record it at home, guess I have a good memory :confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top