For anyone looking to get in shape or stay in shape, keeping a workout log is a must. These logs are foundational tools for improving your overall health as they can provide you with a wealth of information, will maximize your gym sessions, provide accountability and focus, help you to reach your fitness goals and so much more.
Benefits of Keeping a workout Log
Setting and Accomplishing Goals
Not only does keeping a workout log help you to create realistic fitness goals, it can also be the blueprint for accomplishing them. Regardless of whether they are short-term or long-term goals, workout journals allow you to track your efforts, work sensibly toward your goals, keeps you on schedule and ensures that you are doing all aspects of your routine.
For more info on the importance of setting and tracking goals, check out this post by Coach magazine.
Maximize your gym time
Workout logs help you to maximize what little time you may have in the gym. For busy people, these logs or journals are essential to overall success. Workout logs allow you to create and follow a workout schedule each and every week. Instead of just wandering aimlessly through the gym during your session, you will know in advance what workouts and exercises to do. Additionally, you will have a good idea of how long you need to complete each workout, which makes it easier to fit your gym sessions into your busy schedules.
Notice Patterns
Logging your workouts lets you view the data over a period of time and identify any potential patterns. For example, you might be able to figure out why on some days you can work out like a beast and other days you can’t. Additionally, you might be able to learn what workout times work best for you, if the sequence of your exercises work best one way or another, if you are hitting your goals each day and more. Identifying patterns might just be the ticket to busting through plateaus and reaching those goals.
Inspires You
Seeing what you have accomplished over time can inspire you to keep working hard. In fact, it may just be the motivation you need to reach your goals and keep on going. Consider your workout log as a motivational map along your fitness journey.
Evaluate Progress
Keeping a workout log is the best way to track and evaluate your progress. Whether it’s over a period of a week or a few months, evaluating your progress will help you to make changes when needed, inspire you to work harder, and it allows you to view your accomplishments. Without this data, you won’t be able to learn how to effectively move on from a workout, increase or decrease workout volume, and assess or modify other factors that can help you to reach your goals.
What’s the Best Way to Keep a Workout Log?
Using a notebook and pen or pencil to design a DIY workout journal has been the longstanding method for keeping a workout log. It’s simple and inexpensive. However, this is not the best way anymore. In fact, this method is outdated. With advancements in technology, and the fact that everyone has a smartphone or tablet these days, using an app like GrowBIG is the best way to keep a workout log and, here’s why:
The GrowBIG app allows you to track every workout, even down to the tiniest of details. Additionally, you can add past workouts or schedule new workouts, track all body measurements, view your workouts on a calendar, add custom exercises or view a library of exercises with videos, and so much more. But, the best part, you can view all of your workout and body measurement data over a period of time via impressive visuals in the form of charts and graphs.
It’s easy to forget or misplace a notebook but, most people always have their smartphone on them. So, you will always be able to access your information, analyze data, add content and evaluate your progress. Consider making GrowBIG your go-to fitness and weight lifting tracker app and start crushing your fitness goals today!