Do most people here keep a workout log while they are at the Gym? I.e. So they can see what they did last week and write down what they acheived this workout.

The reason I ask is although I'm still new to Gyms, I've only seen a few other people at the Gym use a log or write anything down. The rest just do their workout without any kind of log. So I'm thinking they either remembered what they did last time, or they just do what they feel like each session.

Are we in the minority who have a plan and try to improve our 'performance' each time? :confused:

Do most people here keep a workout log while they are at the Gym? I.e. So they can see what they did last week and write down what they acheived this workout.

The reason I ask is although I'm still new to Gyms, I've only seen a few other people at the Gym use a log or write anything down. The rest just do their workout without any kind of log. So I'm thinking they either remembered what they did last time, or they just do what they feel like each session.

Are we in the minority who have a plan and try to improve our 'performance' each time? :confused:


I used to think I could remember everything from one workout to the next... then my trainer suggested I keep a notebook with everything in it and try to increase either weights or reps EACH workout... then I noticed that I had made little to no progress what so ever by trying to "remember"... write it down, it makes a HUGE difference... unless of course you have a photographic memory.. but even then it's nice to be able to look back a few months and see how far you've progressed since then :tu:

I always use a little notebook and record every lift, every weight, etc. I rarely see anybody else using any method of recording. I can't tell if I'm the smartest one (ensuring maximum results) or the dumbest (I can't remember what I did last time).

For the last few months since I started reading more from this site I've been writing my workouts down. I was just puzzled why so many other people (including regulars) don't seem to bother. :)

When I was in High School I used a log- only because they were provided by our football coach. But, now days, I have no problems remembering reps/weight for my workouts.

I log everything at home in a spreadsheet after the workout, and use it to plan the workouts. I guess most of the people in here have a plan for what to do when they enter the gym - even if it's in the head and not on paper.

I don't care what other people think at the gym....I seem to be one of the few that carries a little day planner that I record all my sets and reps in. Since I do a boring BB type body part split.....I definitely need a log to know previous weight/reps etc.. because I'm horrible for remembering what I did the other day....let alone, last week!. It also helps becuase I throw little annotations in there indicating when it's time to up the weight or how the exercise felt...etc.

Seems I'm starting to suffer from old-timers disease....thanks Dad. Sh!tty memories are par for the course on my Dads side of the family.

Do most people here keep a workout log while they are at the Gym? I.e. So they can see what they did last week and write down what they acheived this workout.

I'm a logger. I like to do so for a number of reasons.
I like to gauge progress on a weekly, monthly and even yearly basis.

I also use it to remember where I "left off" at the previous workout. If I used X amount of weight last week, I don't want to go backwards and use a lesser amount during the current workout.

I guess another reason(altbeit a small one) I do it is so I can update the information in the "Iron" portion of my blog.


The reason I ask is although I'm still new to Gyms, I've only seen a few other people at the Gym use a log or write anything down. The rest just do their workout without any kind of log. So I'm thinking they either remembered what they did last time, or they just do what they feel like each session.
Are we in the minority who have a plan and try to improve our 'performance' each time?

It's a decent mix at my gym. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks and see if that number increases with the new years crowd.


Jason

When I used to go to the gym I used a pocket sized notebook. Now that I train at home, I have my spreadsheet open and log it right in. There is a new tab for every day, and it works slick. It does help with remembering weights, and intensity levels for cardio.

I walk around the gym with a folding clipboard that holds my plan for the week. It's a printed spreadsheet that has a column for the exersise, seat position, carry weight, 4 sets, and notes. The four columns for the sets and the notes column is blank and filled in during the workout. The "carry weight" holds the weight that I intend on starting with this week. This is determined based on the sets/reps and notes from the previous week. This is determined at the beginning of each week, for every exercise for the entire week. The spreadsheet is divided into 3 sections, as I'm currently on a three day split.

I often wonder why nobody else at my gym does something similar. The only time I actually pay attention to what others are doing is when they are currently using a machine that I want to use. I watch them from afar and notice that they typically don't really know what weight they should be using. They'll do a set at one weight, then add a plate or two for another half a set, then take a plate off for another half set etc... It seems they are just guessing or something. This technique would stunt progress to some degree I'd imagine, but of course, I'm far from an expert.

Cheers,
Heavy

If you look around at your gym, you'll probably also notice that most of these people never make any progress or very little of it. A log is essential, not only for remembering what you've done, but also for gauging your progress over time and keeping track of what you've done and what's worked best.

I carry a scrap of paper into the gym, record everything, and then transfer it to my log (online here at JSF) while I'm drinking a shake or having my creatine PWO. I know if I had a notebook, I'd lose or misplace it and then everything would be gone. Of course, something catastrophic could happen and I could lose my newest entries online as well, but John regularly backs-up the server so I trust that at least most of my log will be retained. My JSF journal can also be printed out to back it up.