I'm wondering what kind of hard copy training logs or journals you all keep. For now I am using Maggie Wang's NROLFW log sheets and sliding them into a plastic report cover to take to the gym. But I'm ending up with a lot of loose sheets of paper with my workouts and measurements. I think I would like to have it all in a book, but I suppose I could also punch holes and keep it all in a binder. How do you do it and what is your favorite workout log?
I make my own with excel and take it to the gym. Each portion of a program is all on one sheet (ie NROL FLI is all on one sheet, Power Training Phase I is all on one sheets, etc) By the time I am finished with that portion of my program, the sheet is a mess! Then, I toss it into a folder and start on the next one. Nothing fancy going on here.
My measurements I just do monthly and jot them down on a piece of notebook paper. I think I'm ready to start a 2nd sheet. Again, nothing fancy.
I've thought about putting it all into a binder, but just haven't gotten around to it. If I need to look back on a past program or month, I just shuffle through all of my sheets. Pretty unorganized, but so far it hasn't bothered me. The most important thing for me is having ALL of my workouts on one sheet of paper so I can see, at a glance, what my previous lifts were while I am at the gym.
I do my workout logs in Excel also, and usually transcribe weights used when done (then toss the sheet). I log all other items (weights, measurements, etc.) in FitDay PC. I've also been tracking BF% in Excel (same file as the logs).
I make my own Excel sheets, and have these nice plastic binders that hold 3-hole-punch paper - so I just print and make my own 'book" of logs in there (that way it doesn't get all smushed and wrinkled with my gym stuff).
I don't keep a ton of sheets with me at one time - just my current program and maybe descriptions of exercises I might forget, or for Power Training I'll add the list of exercise options in case I want to change my mind...
I found a journal at Border's that has been perfect - by coincidence or design, the space for strength training is set up like the NROLFW workouts and there is plenty of space to write notes and personal commentary. Each day spans two pages. Although I don't use the food journal on the right side (I use an on-line food journal), it's the perfect size to hold a quickie cheat sheet I've made of each workout's pictures using my cell phone camera. The journal is called "I Will Get Fit This Time" - the title kind of bugs me but I love the bright red, easy to find cover and the spiral binding.
Oh man, my head's still spinning just trying to figure out how to start with the logs offered. Nice of them to offer, but have never seen such a horrendously complicated and information lacking log. And Gawd only knows where to place moi on the weight lifting expert totem pole, somewhere near the grass, but am sure have seen dozens of styles of logs. If this is the 'new' way, or I'm too uncool to know what a 'real' log should look like, then I don't wanna know.
Honestly, my eyes used every calorie available so no starting phase 1 today. I get it, have a degree and get what they want entered, but for the love of Pete is someone secretly laughing hysterically at us trying to log training sessions this way? I dunno, am sure it's prob me, but to log by exercise without even a way to enter the date, (don't need a diary), is beyond me.
I guess ya get to start as soon as you enter every exercise/work out on your personally designed form--ugh. Was sooo excited to receive this book--darn near attacked the hunk in the white jeep that brought it. Anyway, read it all in a day and could likely be brain drained. If anyone posts a copy of their logs for dl or sharing, you'll be a hero.
I just use my logs. I keep them in a binder. And, for those who've not been around long, you're welcome to them, of course.
We're looking into how much it would cost to then be able to sell them bound or padded, for those who don't want to cut and print their own paper. That should be coming in the next few weeks, hopefully.
I workout at home now, but used to use the gym.
When I used the gym, I could pretty much remember how much weight I used or how many reps I did until I could get home and log it (if I even wanted to). What I needed was just "the plan" - what exercises, what order, how many sets and reps for that day.
One day, cleaning the desk, I found a bunch of blank "refrigerator" magnets- imagine the kind that a take-away restaurant might give you with their logo, name & number - about the size of a business card. You stripped off some protective paper and the whole magnet face was sticky.
I made up my "plan" in a grid and shrunk the format until it would fit on a magnet when I printed it out. Did one for A and one for B. Printed them out and stuck them on a magnet.
That's all I took to the gym - it was small, easy to carry, stuck to the cage or bench if I needed it to and wasn't a little post-it that could get lost.
Oh man, I'm jealous. And very un-as-crafty as that. Once I get all the logs done per session, am sure it'll be fine. Was bummed at first, but personalized ones are prob best anyway. Thanks.
Oh man, my head's still spinning just trying to figure out how to start with the logs offered. Nice of them to offer, but have never seen such a horrendously complicated and information lacking log. And Gawd only knows where to place moi on the weight lifting expert totem pole, somewhere near the grass, but am sure have seen dozens of styles of logs. If this is the 'new' way, or I'm too uncool to know what a 'real' log should look like, then I don't wanna know.
Honestly, my eyes used every calorie available so no starting phase 1 today. I get it, have a degree and get what they want entered, but for the love of Pete is someone secretly laughing hysterically at us trying to log training sessions this way? I dunno, am sure it's prob me, but to log by exercise without even a way to enter the date, (don't need a diary), is beyond me.
I guess ya get to start as soon as you enter every exercise/work out on your personally designed form--ugh. Was sooo excited to receive this book--darn near attacked the hunk in the white jeep that brought it. Anyway, read it all in a day and could likely be brain drained. If anyone posts a copy of their logs for dl or sharing, you'll be a hero.
Has anyone had trouble with Maggie's logs? My excel program shuts down every time I try to print them. I have to copy into another file and then print. I even downloaded them twice. I'm not sure what the problem is.
OMG outofcontrol! Was doing back flips after getting your msg, then followed the link to this Maggie genius, downloaded and it wouldn't open!! Checked what an .xls file is and it's from Excel--which I don't have!! Arrrrgh! Oh man, am thinking it might be worth buying just to see her logs. Am struggling a tad at the starting gate. For stage 1 w/o A, am thinking you do A, B1, B2, B1, B2...and the same with C1 &2--switch them back and forth. Odd since pgs. 128 sounds like he's NOT for alternating exercises and 129 sounds like maybe he was. Man, sure wish I could've seen the work outs laid out together/in order. So bummed.
if you don't have the Microsoft office products you can download Open Office - it is an open source suite of products that allow you to work with the basic MS Office file types (Word, Excel, etc.)
I do have Grave's Eye disease and the pressures are high lately, but the font size doesn't come across very large at all on my screen. ? At 3-4, it looks like 12-14 on Yahoo email, so I dunno. Thanks for the info.
I do have Grave's Eye disease and the pressures are high lately, but the font size doesn't come across very large at all on my screen. ? At 3-4, it looks like 12-14 on Yahoo email, so I dunno. Thanks for the info.
I'm sorry if it sounded harsh or the like, didn't mean it that way. But I think the "font size" here is a multiplier, so it's 3-4 times bigger than the normal font. Makes it tough to read. Not tough to see, but tough to read.
Anyway, since I now realize I didn't explain, for new people who weren't around when the original posts were up… we have logs for new rules and new rules for women at our site (in my sig, werkit.com) which has everything already listed and ready to just print and take to the gym.
Honestly, my eyes used every calorie available so no starting phase 1 today. I get it, have a degree and get what they want entered, but for the love of Pete is someone secretly laughing hysterically at us trying to log training sessions this way? I dunno, am sure it's prob me, but to log by exercise without even a way to enter the date, (don't need a diary), is beyond me.
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I had basically the same thoughts. You think it's hard to figure out what's next when you're rested and sitting around, try it after a hard set of squats. In fact I was in the middle of writing a post on that very topic when you posted this. Please excuse the opportunistic link whoring... Werkit Workout Logs: Why other training logs suck
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisaS
One day, cleaning the desk, I found a bunch of blank "refrigerator" magnets- imagine the kind that a take-away restaurant might give you with their logo, name & number - about the size of a business card. You stripped off some protective paper and the whole magnet face was sticky.
I made up my "plan" in a grid and shrunk the format until it would fit on a magnet when I printed it out. Did one for A and one for B. Printed them out and stuck them on a magnet.
That's all I took to the gym - it was small, easy to carry, stuck to the cage or bench if I needed it to and wasn't a little post-it that could get lost.
Just a anecdote.
Ok, that's just plain brilliant! I hope you don't mind when I steal your idea, Lisa. I'd love something like that for warmups or swimming practice workouts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by newrulesnewme
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Man, sure wish I could've seen the work outs laid out together/in order. So bummed.
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If you haven't already, check out the links missjane posted, a lot of folks had the problem. If you end up printing our werkit logs I donno if it's obvious but a straight set has a checkbox and an alternating has a single checkbox for both exercises. I'd been meaning to post some explanation about that. There's some examples in my training log linked in my sig, if it doesn't make sense without seeing it.
Had fun filling them out at the start of each new phase, and stuck the two sheets in the side of my gym bag. If I forgot the sequence, I could run to the locker room and sneak a quick peak.
Has anyone had trouble with Maggie's logs? My excel program shuts down every time I try to print them. I have to copy into another file and then print. I even downloaded them twice. I'm not sure what the problem is.
I have all kind of trouble with Maggie's logs. I like them a lot but they are a pain in the arse.
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Yes, I've given up on Maggie's logs for now. It crashes excel every time I use them. And as much as I like the layout and look of the Werkit logs, I really want to have at least 4 workouts per page because I do not like having to re-fill-out a page with previous weights--it's also a lot of paper. Aoife, did I miss the sheets with multiple workouts on them? Or do you only have the one-workout-per-page format? (You are a goddess, btw. : ))
I do my workout logs in Excel also, and usually transcribe weights used when done (then toss the sheet). I log all other items (weights, measurements, etc.) in FitDay PC. I've also been tracking BF% in Excel (same file as the logs).
That's exactly what I do, except I use DietPower b/c that is what program I have, and it can track measurements and bf as well
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elisabethd
Yes, I've given up on Maggie's logs for now. It crashes excel every time I use them. And as much as I like the layout and look of the Werkit logs, I really want to have at least 4 workouts per page because I do not like having to re-fill-out a page with previous weights--it's also a lot of paper. Aoife, did I miss the sheets with multiple workouts on them? Or do you only have the one-workout-per-page format? (You are a goddess, btw. : ))
I haven't had any problems with Maggie's logs, but I wanted to x2 the comment on Aoife's logs. I really liked them, but I wanted the entire stage on one page as well. (At least a page for A and a page for B)
That's exactly what I do, except I use DietPower b/c that is what program I have, and it can track measurements and bf as well
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I haven't had any problems with Maggie's logs, but I wanted to x2 the comment on Aoife's logs. I really liked them, but I wanted the entire stage on one page as well. (At least a page for A and a page for B)
x3
I had two copies of Maggie's logs on my hard drive--one I have no problems with, the second one crashed when I opened one of the sheets (I think Stage 1), so I deleted that one. Actually, though, I made my own in Excel a long time ago using the layout in the book. Basically just duplicated the workout log in and included the exercise names, designated sets, reps and rest periods. But I like to see how other people do these. Aoife's are definitely the prettiest and have nice features, but I don't like using so much paper. I also like seeing what I did last time, and the time before.
All of my spreadsheets that I made for NROL have all of workout A on one page and all of workout B on one page for each stage. If anyone wants them, just shoot me a PM WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS and I'll try to get them sent out to you this evening.
Maybe I'm just sweatier than you ladies, but a single piece of paper doesn't survive one workout, much less a whole phase. I have kinda wanted something like that to summarize a plan at the end, though. Hmmm...
Otto, if you and Aoife want to see what I put together in Excel (sorry!), let me know. Maybe you can work them into something better looking -- they are certainly nothing professional looking at all. For me, the point of having it all on one sheet is so that I can easily look at my past workouts to gauge where I want to increase weights, and see what I've done throughout that specific stage of a program.
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