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Old 12-04-21, 10:14 PM  
cyana
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles76 View Post
I must be in a retro mood, because when I saw the title of this post I thought....Jane Fonda? That's the only exercise "record" I can think of
LOL, Bubbles! I still remember the day - WAY back in the dark ages - when my former neighbor called me on the land line (and on a corded phone, no less) and excitedly told me to hurry over to her house so we could work out with her new Jane Fonda album!!
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Old 12-05-21, 02:09 AM  
Venus
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NE
When I first started exercising, I didn't keep track of workouts. Later, I wished I could see which workouts I was doing then and how long I was working out most days.

A few years ago, I would put together a monthly sheet with a simple chart to log my workouts. At the top, I had the month, year, and focus/rotation for the month (if I had one). The simplest versions had a table with columns for "date", "day" (of the week), completion ("done" column with a checkbox), and "workout". Under "Workout", I would list the workouts if I had a rotation or leave it blank to fill in daily. Other stuff I would add included inspirational quotes, goals for the month, things to try that month (habits or exercise/food related), an image or photo I found motivating, etc. After a while, I noticed I would do fewer workouts if I had a set rotation. If I wanted to do a different workout, I had to cross out the scheduled workout. I didn't like seeing the workouts I "should" be doing crossed out. I would work out more consistently if I filled in the blank every day. If I wanted to do something different or a shorter workout, I didn't feel like I had failed.

These days, I keep track on a single sheet of notebook paper. If I'm consistent, I use a single sheet (front and back) for one month. I find single sheets work best for me, since they take up less space when I stack them. Not fancy, but it has worked better for me than a journal or calendar. I do like the calendar and stars/stickers idea, though!

I list the month, year, and rotation/focus (if I have one that month). I'll write a simple weekly rotation if I want to follow one. For example, last month I did a rotation with The Firm and followed the monthly Yoga with Adriene calendar. My rotation was M/W/F The Firm, T/Th Cardio and Pilates, Sa/Su option to add in an extra workout or catch up if I missed a workout (or do yoga only), along with daily yoga. Following the weekly rotation, I'll skip a space and then list the day and date (for example, M 11/1) followed by my workout(s) and time. I'll add very minimal notes, usually for weights used ("5 lb wts") or modifications ("didn't use chair") or anything else I want to note ("voiceover" or "Rest day- headache"). I used to add a bit more notes, such as if I liked or what I didn't like about the workout, how I felt, a short description. Now I keep it to the minimum. If I do a non-DVD workout (mostly YouTube) and I like it and would do it again, I'll make a little heart next to it. If I really like it, I'll fill in the heart.

On Saturday, my entry looked like this:

Sa 12/4 Firm: Power Half Hour; YWA Yoga for Vertigo 15m, Third Chakra Yoga- Show your gold 39m

This fit on one line. Above the Firm workout, I wrote "5 lb wts" and "Emily Welsh". I like keeping it as brief as possible. I tend to use 1-2 lines per day.

This might be more information than you wanted! It has been interesting to read how others keep track (or not), so I figured I'd share what has worked for me.
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Old 12-05-21, 08:44 PM  
gigi
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
I keep an excel spreadsheet for each month. My columns are labeled:
Date/Day, Planned Workout (and there is not always a plan), Actual Workout, Notes.
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Old 12-05-21, 11:41 PM  
aspidistra
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jane P. View Post
With the new year coming I'm thinking about how to record my workouts. I've just been writing them down in a notebook with no details added. I've also been posting them here once in a while. I'd love to know what others are doing. How much detail do you record? TIA
In my daytimer I write the total minutes and the type of workout. I also record it in my binder where I record weight, food, and exercise type and minutes. I've done this for a few years along with taking daily pictures. I can see at a glance what worked best.
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Old 12-06-21, 01:29 PM  
Jane P.
VF Supporter
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Colorado Springs
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyana View Post
LOL, Bubbles! I still remember the day - WAY back in the dark ages - when my former neighbor called me on the land line (and on a corded phone, no less) and excitedly told me to hurry over to her house so we could work out with her new Jane Fonda album!!

That is funny! I never thought of that when I posed the question.
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Old 12-06-21, 03:20 PM  
desie
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Canada
I put a month on one page and write down my workout names and how much I was active outside. And I note if I feel sore/pain and whether I slept well. I keep it as a list so that I can peruse it at month end and see if I can learn cause/effect on how I ended up feeling. Originally I had to track workouts to make sure I would do something sweaty every day, but now I also try to understand myself a bit better and learn from any mistakes I made.
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Old 12-07-21, 06:56 PM  
AnMrsDe
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
1) I keep a running tally on "Just the Workouts" check-in, which I love to see at a glance what workouts I did each month.

2) I also keep track in a Pembrook planner from Aldi's:

A) Which workout(s) I did as well as notes about the workout(s), what weights used, how I modified certain exercises, etc.
B) Any yard work/shovel max minutes
C) Daily Meditation minutes
D) How many minutes I work out each month
E) How many days each month each instructor is used, so I have totals for each instructor used throughout the year
F) When I purchased new cross trainer shoes/runners so I know when to purchase again


I enjoy the "old school" way of writing things down. And yes, I have a box full of old planners from past years! I really need to throw them out, I guess!
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Old 12-13-21, 05:04 PM  
Dancing Queen
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
I post my daily workouts in the Just the Workouts check-in with a running total of monthly minutes spent on cardio, strength, and meditation/yoga. At the end of the month, I calculate a daily average for each category.

I have a DayTimer calendar with two pages per month where I do a lot of habit tracking - I put a colored circle on each day I do cardio, strength, and yoga and a sparkly star sticker every day I meditate. I put my daily average for each category on an empty block in the calendar - this way, I can flip through and see general trends and where I might want to focus more attention.

I also have a spreadsheet of all my workouts, with different lines for each premix / workout. I keep a variety of info in the spreadsheet for each workout (time, workout type, intensity level, fun factor, notes). I put the date I do a workout in one column and color-code all the workouts I do that year the same color. (I'll delete the row for any workout or premix that I never want to do again and purge the DVD if there are no keeper sections on it.) At the end of the year, I record how many unique workouts I did that year and then remove all the dates. I can tell roughly how long it's been since I did a workout by the color of the text, so given a choice between two workouts of the same length and type, I'll choose the one I did least recently.

My system seems complicated, but it helps me accomplish my goals - I work out consistently, can easily see if my workout program is unbalanced, reduce boredom by prioritizing workouts I haven't done in a while, and declutter DVDs I no longer enjoy.
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Old 12-13-21, 05:34 PM  
imhere2dance
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Virginia
I don't because I just "know" what to do each day. For example, what I've been doing for a long time now is I start every day with a 3 mile Leslie Sansone walk. I do a second workout later. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is strength - (KCM, Denise Austin and/or Tamilee Webb) followed by 10-20 minutes of abs and a stretch. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday is 30-40 minutes of cardio or fusion (usually Leslie Sansone, Denise Austin or Ellen Barrett) followed by 30 minutes of Pilates. I rotate between a handful of favorites. I'll reach for something different if the mood strikes, but it rarely does.
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Old 12-13-21, 05:43 PM  
alisoncooks
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: TarHeel country
I don’t usually keep records, but I’m planning on doing so this coming year. I know I work out, but I don’t have much to show for it, lol. Maybe seeing it on paper will give me a greater sense of accomplishment.
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