How should you keep a workout journal? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

How should you keep a workout journal?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Many people find that it is easy and convenient to create a workout journal on their computer using programs like Word or Excel.
  • Others love the fact that they can download and personalize workout journals online.
  • Others still prefer using a pen and notebook to keep their journals.

Many people find that it is easy and convenient to create a workout journal on their computer using programs like Word or Excel.

Others love the fact that they can download and personalize workout journals online, while others still prefer using a pen and notebook to keep their journal.

How you keep a workout journal is totally up to you!

If you are trying to figure out the best method for you, then you need to think about how you do things most often.

Just make sure that you remember to update it regularly. If you choose to use a notebook, consider writing in pencil rather than a pen.

This way if you make a mistake you are keeping your notebook clean and easy to read. You can also change your goals, if necessary, as you go along; something that would be more difficult if you kept your journal in pen.

If you’d rather not carry around a notebook, sign up for our PRO plan today for access to training logs, goal trackers, and more!

Why Should I Keep a Workout Journal?

Keeping a journal is a way for you to keep track of your exercise goals. Your journal can include weight loss goals, BMI goals, weightlifting goals and so on. Journaling can help you:

  • Manage time: In addition, you can keep track of your exercise schedule this way. Working out effectively requires some variation in your workout. If you are like millions of other people, your workout isn’t the only thing on your mind. To ensure you never forget where you are in your schedule, you should keep track in a journal.
  • Analyze results: You can also use a journal to note what is working for you and what isn’t. Sometimes your body type prohibits certain types of exercises working as they should. When you keep track of what exercises you are doing for each part of your body, it is easy to track what is working and what isn’t. Then you can make the necessary changes accordingly.
  • Be aware of your body: A journal is also a good way to simply talk about how your body feels after a workout. Are you sore? Was the workout too hard to complete? Or too easy to be beneficial? Again, you can make changes to your workout by keeping track of what is going on with what you are currently doing.
  • Monitor food intake: Many people also use a workout journal to monitor what they eat as well. Having everything in one location is easier than having separate food and workout journals. If you use the computer to journal your workout, then you can create hidden notes, side notes, etc. to put your food intake in whatever location suits you best.

If you are trying to lose weight and/or inches, then your journal is an excellent way for you to monitor this progress as well. You can set up your journal to provide you with a place to record your weight and inches after every session or once a week or month, whatever suits your needs.

The bottom line is a workout journal records your progress. There is something about seeing the positive changes that you are making on paper that makes it easier to continue on with your workout program.

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How Can I Set up My Workout Journal?

Setting up your workout journal is much like choosing your workout journal; it is all up to what you prefer to see. You can choose to make your journal into several pages for each month with each page dedicated to a specific goal, such as weight loss. Or you can create your journal as you go along, changing it as you need.

One of the benefits of creating an electronic journal is that making changes is as easy as copying information to a new location, adding a column and so on. However, if this isn’t what you are comfortable with, then you need to be prepared to makeover your journal several times until you get it the way you want it.

Can I Buy a Premade Workout Journal?

Yes, you can purchase workout journals, but keep in mind that if you buy a workout journal in a store, you won’t be able to customize it the way you want. There are plenty of free downloadable workout journals online that you can customize to suit your needs.

Track your workouts by going PRO today for access to goal trackers, workout trackers, training logs, and more! Go PRO now.

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