Weight Training Log
You can tell whether you are making any progress with the gym workout by keeping a weight training log. When the weight training log does not show the results you expect, you need to revise your workout routine and identify the possible mistakes that you are making. Over-training or under-training, these could be two of the problems. There are many ways to organize the weight training log: according to the traditional variant, the columns should include the dates, the resistance level and the performed sets. Another system is to organize the weight training log not by the work out dates but by the weight increases.
Let’s take a practical examples and see what things should be like. For instance, if last time you trained you did eight sets of bench presses with 205 pounds, on your new session you may hit the same 205 pounds but this time in nine reps. If you’d stick to the same number of reps and weight, there would be no growth in the resistance, strength and muscle mass, and you’d only reach the much dreaded plateau. Such a weight training log is not difficult to get, just search on the Internet or customize a workout sheet as you see fit and then print it.
The body weight before the training should be put down in a separate column. Even if some athletes tend to believe that weight is not relevant for gym training results, you may find it helpful to learn how much lean mass you have put on. The weight training log should further include a cardio section too. The workouts can be kept track of in relation with the cardio performance. It seems that when performed before the weight training, the cardio routine reduces the intensity of the exercises.
Such a section in the weight lifting log can help one better keep track of the evolution. Did you know that mood for instance affects your training? If you include a section for mood in the log, you will be able to determine if the success of your exercises is not influenced or impaired by the way you feel when you train. Normally, you wouldn’t be able to make a pertinent observation from one week to another, unless you have this weight training log to check. If high energy levels define your mood at 5 pm every Monday, then, that is a great time to train, but this is just an example of how you can use the mood section in your advantage.
