Writing Workout In Training Log

How to track your workouts with a training log to make real progress. Plus FREE customizable workout templates.

Should I track my workouts with a training log?

Yes.

Tracking your workouts with a fine-tuned training log is essential for longterm success. A good training log provides a record of

  1. where you’ve been
  2. where you are now
  3. where you need to go to achieve your health/fitness goals

Sure. You could try to remember your workouts in your head. You could keep a mental record of the number of sets you did, the weights you used, the amount of reps you performed, and so on. But first you must consider this – what did you eat for lunch last Tuesday? And the Tuesday before that? And the Tuesday before that?

What is this lunch thing you speak of meme with baby

Exactly my point. Write it down or forget it.

When you train, you should be aiming to improve your performance every week (or as often as possible). If you don’t know what you did, how will you know what to do?

Herein lies the difference between exercising and training.

Exercise Training

What is exercise?

Exercising is acutely performing any activity which requires physical effort, in order to improve health.

At first glance, this sounds fine but it’s missing something. It’s a bit vague and immediate.

Simply put, exercise is physical activity for the sake of physical activity.

Maybe you want to burn some Calories, or get the blood flowing, or sweat through your shirt so you can feel like you’ve made up for that donut you ate this morning… that’s what exercise is for.

Don’t get me wrong. Exercise is still great.

The American Heart Association has conducted several studies proving that some exercise is better than none.

Exercising is definitely better than just Netflixin’-and-Chillin’ all day, but after a certain point it’s not going to elicit major adaptations in your body for longterm success.

If all you do is exercise, you are not going to build muscle, burn fat, or move better like you really want to. This is because exercise focuses on the activity itself, not the results of the activity and the progress made because of it.

If exercise is taking one step forward →, and Netflixin’-and-Chillin’ and eating donuts all day is taking one step backward , then training is taking one step up a staircase . It’s on a whole different level.

What is training?

Training is consistently performing specific activities which require physical effort, in order to produce a desired outcome.

When you exercise, you are taking steps just to take steps. When you train, you are taking the necessary steps required to achieve a specific goal.

Training is goal-oriented and it requires a growth-mindset.

  • It’s playing offense – not defense.
  • It’s getting the body to adapt to imposed demands.
  • It’s specific and individualized.

Question: Do you ever hop into the driver’s seat of a car and cruise around haphazardly, hoping that you will somehow wind up at the airport?

Answer: No.

It’s much more likely that you hop into a car with a specific destination in mind – the airport. You already have a plan for getting there because you did your research. You already know the necessary steps that you will have to take in order to arrive at your destination.

The airport is just off exit 53 on I-376W. Now, all you have to do is take action. Drive.

Exercising is like driving anywhere. Training is like driving to a specific destination.

Training doesn’t focus on the activity itself, but rather the result of the activity performed and the progress made because of it.

You will experience results like never before when you upgrade your exercise routine into a training routine with these 4 simple steps.

From exercising to training in 4 simple steps:

  1. First, you need a goal.
    • That’s up to you.
  2. Then, you need a plan.
    • That’s up to your trainer, or the internet, or even yourself (if you think you know what you’re doing).
  3. Then, you need the self-efficacy, consistency, and will-power to actually execute the plan.
    • Again, that’s up to you.
  4. Finally, you need a system for tracking your progress as you go about executing your plan.
    • That’s what I’m here for! 🙂

If you want to achieve anything through proper training, you must first set your goal, design your plan, and show up with consistency.

During the execution of your plan (you know, the place where you spend a majority of your time as a trainee), you will need a bullet-proof system of tracking. This system will keep you accountable towards slowly progressing your body over time. Progress is easier to read on paper than it is to see in the mirror. Trust me.

Writing Workout In Training Log

How I track my workouts with training logs.

In the video below, I will show you exactly how I track my workouts with easy-to-use training logs. I have been refining this simple system for nearly a decade of training.

*Please know that you do not have to track exactly like I do. As long as you can find a system that works for you, that’s all that matters. Some folks like to use the notes feature on their smartphones. Other folks like to use specific workout tracking apps like Stacked, HeavySet, Strong, and so on. (Personally, I don’t like spending too much time on my phone during workouts.)

Dog on my chest while on my phone during workout - bench press
Maebell does not approve when I’m on my phone between sets. Especially on bench day. Tehehe.

My favorite method of workout tracking is the tried and true industry standard. It involves a pen and some paper. This video breaks down exactly how it works (you can skip to 5:00 for the setup tutorial).

https://youtu.be/xP_3pBxeCkE?t=300

Starting each day’s training log from scratch and tracking as you go is great if you are a beginner or if you train in a public gym and don’t know what equipment you’ll have access to on any given day. This simplistic approach will give you lots of experience designing countless programs.

That being said, if you’d like to save a ton of time setting up your workout logs, keep reading.

How to save time while tracking your workouts.

With the help of technology, I’ve upgraded this pen-and-paper method to make it more user-friendly.

I now create printable PDF training templates for quick and easy tracking. You will save hours by using these PDFs (especially if your training routine is intelligently designed with plenty of consistent workouts).

You can write your program once, and print out several logs of it. I recommend that you store these logs in a folder to make it easy to go back and review. If the workouts don’t need to change, then neither do the logs.

How to track your workouts using training templates - store them in a folder.

These printable logs follow the same structure as the handwritten logs, but they make tracking way faster and easier.

For my online coaching clients, I have also been hyperlinking exercise demo videos directly onto digital training logs. This has been super helpful for them to reference when they receive their new program. Technology is cool.

If you need help creating an individualized training program to achieve your specific goals, I’m always here. Whether you want to build muscle, burn fat, or move better, there is a simple path to success. I can not promise you that it will be an easy path to follow, but it will be simple.

Your body is not a mystery. What defines us as a species is our similarities. Others have done it. You can too. I promise.

Shameless plug: I’m here to take all of the guess-work out of fitness for you so that all you have to do is take action. Check out ChaseBarron.com/Coaching to start taking action today. Or just go for it on your own. Whatever floats your boat, dude!

If you’re ready to make real progress and experience real results, then click the button below. You’ll find a FREE Workout Tracking Log. This log will help you evolve your exercise routine into a training routine.

The days of uncertainty are over. From this point on, it’s about planning, executing, tracking, and transforming.