Fitness Logs
Hey everyone! Carmen here, and I want to talk today about the importance of a fitness log.
Workout logs go by different names for different users. Sometimes they are exercise journals, some are workout check sheets, others are diaries that people use to record notes from their workouts. Whatever you call it, it’s important to a successful workout routine and wellness plan.
Even some of the fittest people in the world profess they would be lost without their fitness logs. Olympians have professed being lost without their logs. Some of the world’s top athletes say that they draw all of their inspiration and motivation from their logs. If those people don’t convince you, consider all of the average Joe’s who admit getting a fitness log was their one key step towards succeeding in losing weight. Why?
It’s a Solid Record of Progress
When you keep a log and record it as you go, you are creating a concrete record of where you are everyday. So while you may workout for weeks and feel like you haven’t made much progress, your log will say otherwise. You’ll realize that two weeks ago, lifting a certain amount of weight was a lot harder than it is now, or that you couldn’t run a full 5K when you started but you can now. Your fitness log will keep you aware of just how well you’re doing, even when you think you’re under-performing.
It’s the Bookmark to Your Workouts
So let’s say your leg day is Monday and you’re able to leg press 100 pounds. Awesome, great day! You spend your week plugging on through your other workouts and, come Monday, you totally forgot what weight you left off on. So you do a few sets at 75 pounds just to be safe, but you’re really just wasting time since that’s not pushing your muscles far enough. Or you overestimate yourself and you do some sets at 125 pounds before you realize that is way too much weight and you’re hurting yourself. Having a log spares you the guess work and you can see exactly where you left off a week ago, so you know exactly where to pick back up! No muss, no fuss.
It’s a Perfect Motivator
While inspirational quotes are amazing, hearing someone else tell you that you can do better isn’t the best feeling when you’re not all fired up. And while music can be great, sometimes you just don’t get the jams you need to really get the engines burning enough to kick into a good workout. And that sucks when you’re just hitting the gym, like any random day- it’s sooo much worse if that day is an important day (like, you’re running a marathon, or if the following day is weigh-in day). When you’re feeling down on yourself, one of the best motivators is looking back through your fitness log. Seeing how far you’ve come is an amazing inspirational tool. While external validation can be a great tool and motivator, there’s nothing quite like finding pride in your own accomplishments to get you inspired to go even further.
So now you’re wondering how to log well. That is a whole other question and we’ll try to give a quick and easy answer. Some things that are important to take note of in your fitness log include:
Daily Workout
Water Intake
Food Intake (what food and when)
Sleep (time and quality of sleep)
Mood
Health Overview (feeling ill? On your period?)
Cardio Notes
Strength Notes
Flexibility Notes
Inspirational Quotes
Daily Goals
Weekly Goals
Long-Term Goals
Whatever the hell you feel like.
When it comes down to it, your fitness log is yours. Personalize it. Make it your own. Even if you have a plain notebook, you can have an awesome fitness log. If you need more guidance than that as you start logging, I recommend hitting the bookstore or looking on Amazon for some templated logs. I’ve been using Suzanne Schlosberg’s Ultimate Workout Log (Fourth Edition) for years now and I love it.
Just remember to talk to yourself positively in your logs and remember to support yourself as you go on this journey. You are your greatest ally and greatest critic, so don’t be too negative- even on your hardest days.