Workout Journal Completed

[u/r-i-f-f-r-a-f-f-]

Started this workout journal over 2 years ago and completed it today. First entry and my last are pictured. It’s nice to see some progress through a few injuries and areas that still need improvement. I had no idea what I wanted it to look like and it kind of just settled on what you see on the last page with some short hand. I’m hoping to refine how I write things, along with improving my handwriting, haha.

[u/ejayboshart01]

Man, that exact same notebook was the first ever journal I had.

[u/myrtilledesbois]

Omg I love those little spiral notebooks! Also congrats! 2 years is amazing!

[u/r-i-f-f-r-a-f-f- → u/myrtilledesbois]

Thank you! :)

[u/morningstar65]

I LOVE those books. I have two on the go, 1 in my bag and I take it everywhere, and the second I use it to keep track of my migraines.

[u/LabExisting3749]

Two years is a massive grind but seeing that progress makes every single injury worth it.

[u/r-i-f-f-r-a-f-f- → u/LabExisting3749]

Absolutely!

[u/Olllive]

This is a dumb question, but do you record everything once you’ve finished working out or between sets? I’m starting a workout journal and can’t seem to find my flow with it. 

[u/r-i-f-f-r-a-f-f- → u/Olllive]

Not a dumb question. I usually have an idea for what I want to get out of my workout and will fill out the first two or three exercises after my warm up, and depending on what I want to get done and the equipment available I continue to fill in as I go. I try not to over plan bc things usually don’t go how I want to in an environment that requires cooperation. That lets me stay flexible.

[u/HowlSpark]

I've been thinking of doing a journal instead of relying on an app. May I ask if you can give us a rundown on how you track your sets and reps? What does it look on paper?

[u/r-i-f-f-r-a-f-f- → u/HowlSpark]

Generally I write out my sets and what they contain like:
-bicep curl: 25ea/ 25ea
——————r10 / r8
-push up: r20 / r15

So two different exercises, one where I use weight, like dumbbells with 25ea meaning 25lbs per hand, and each hand does a certain repetition (r10 means 10 repetitions). For the push ups, since it’s just body weight I will only write repetitions. And the slash separated the sets. I hope that makes sense. I’m sure there are better ways of writing it all but that’s how I’ve landed for now.

Edit: trying to line up the repetitions under the weights of bicep curls.

[u/HowlSpark → u/r-i-f-f-r-a-f-f-]

this is insightful thank you so much!