Training logs and the gym

**docholiday** · 27-03-2009 10:51 AM

Just curious how many people take logs to the gym, I am the only one that does so and I feel like such a nerd. I'll do one set, then log it. People stare, and it makes me feel awkward. Nobody else does it.

**Tomskiii** · 27-03-2009 10:57 AM

Ive done it all the time ive been training and its wonderful to look back a couple of years and compare weights. What i did do when i first switched from my tiny rugby club gym to a big uni gym was record it all on my phone for abit (untill i got annoyed by it and comfortable in the gym).

p.s. since i started recording meals i bought myself a nice kind of leatherbound book to record everything in, gotta treat yourself

**Ripped Barbarian** · 27-03-2009 10:59 AM

I train at home and log everything in my black bible. (along with nutrition, injuries, general notes etc)

Don't worry about what people look at you like in the gym.

**Monkfish** · 27-03-2009 11:02 AM

I used to, and found it really useful in terms of making sure I was always achieving bar weight/rep progression.

Lately I've been training to try and up my compound lifts, so can easily remember these between session... the pain remains, haha!

I also find that I will do different supporting exercises for each of these lifts depending on how I feel, what still aches and what I think my weak points are, so I've found my training has become much more 'instinctive' over time. I dont know whether these instincts are necessarily right!

Sod what people think though mate, if it helps you to progress then keep doing it! If you cant handle the stares tho, buy a Derren Brown book and learn to memorise the figures to write down later

**adamdavies_8** · 27-03-2009 11:17 AM

I use a little notepad! Always have. Got through 4 of them now. Every now and then its nice to look at the first one and see how weak i was in comparison to now!

**Victoria** · 27-03-2009 11:35 AM

Me, I do

Especially if I've started a new programme, like this week, in which case I'm glued to my sheets of paper.

I do feel a bit dumb with my spreadsheets sometimes, but it's worth it to see what you're doing and how you're progressing. I've got so many spreadsheets I'd forget the figures before I got to a PC!

For those who are doing the same routine every time or not progressing much, there wouldn't be need for any logs I don't suppose. Or those with a very good memory!

**Martinb** · 27-03-2009 11:45 AM

After a run or gym session i just log straight onto MP and write it in my journal on here.

Have to be quick mind, leave it more than half an hour and the memory is gone!

**Superhuman** · 27-03-2009 11:45 AM

i make a note of what i do at the gym and then come on here and log it i also have a diary which i use for my log too

i feel it helps with progression etc

**kalmis** · 27-03-2009 06:13 PM

If you are serious about your lifting you need to log it on way or another. I would ignore the people giving funny looks.

**Presty** · 30-03-2009 11:36 AM

Those people giving you funny looks will properly all have one thing in common, they do the same routine week in week out, and most likely lifting the same weights, or very little difference. Those are the people that dont have the knowledge we have to appreciate what your doing, and blindly go about doing the same thing month in month out getting nowhere. Looking the same they did a year ago.

Personally i dont give a **** what people think about me when i am logging my lifts, or doing barbell exercises when i could be using a comfortable machine (bentover row/seated row for eg) just like i dont give what they are doing much thought, im only there to do my thing. Nothing else matters.

Notebooks are perfect sources of information, it tells you there and then in black and white, you are/are not stronger than you were x months ago. No kidding your self you are lifting more poundages than before even though you aint, just to try and feel better:P, provides me with great motivation and makes me strive to beat last weeks lifts.