How come I'm the only guy with a clipboard?

[Synpax]

At my gym there are training worksheets and clipboards and pens at the front. The worksheets are organized for men and women, and then by last name.

I get my worksheet out every day - I have three, one for each split - and I can trace my work back 6 months with these. How much I lifted, how many sets, how many reps, and how much I weighed at the end of the workout.

Yet I am the ONLY PERSON I ever see walking aruond with the clipboard. Sometimes the newbie types who quit after 1,2 workouts walk around with the one that their trainer wrote up at the first training session, but none of the more regular guys I see there.

How can you track your progress without writing it down? I can see steady progress in my chart, and I need the chart because when a particular exercise becomes too easy (I can complete all sets/reps without having to pause), I put a + mark in the column to tell me to put more weight on next time.

Do you guys walk aroudn the gym with a clip board or not? Why not?

 

[cheesecake]

Do you guys walk aroudn the gym with a clip board or not? Why not?

Not a clipboard, but we use a small spiral binder. It does the trick.

I would forget everything that I did without it. Some guys, like Exodus and Louie Simmons remember every lift that they've ever done without writing anything down. I'm not like that though.
...chad...

 

[from zero]

I remember, and then type it up when I come home.

 

[revexrevex]

That's what Excel is for bro

 

[t3c]

i remember it all but i still write it down in a notebook

 

[ConstantChange]

I carry around a little spiral binder.

I write my workout down before I hit the gym and then record the weight & reps of each set.

 

[Synpax]

right right, notebook samething. I once saw a guy with a printout. I guess my memory is such $#$% that I can't remember. I also make little comments on it sometime that are helpful. It just makes most stense to me to write it down as I'm doing it else I get lazy and not do it.

 

[hellboy]

Little spiral notebook. About the size of a 3x5 card. I'd forget everything if I didn't. Mine goes back to December of last year and it's really fun to read.

 

[longarms]

I use a little notebook. sometimes a spiral 3x5 card book.

 

[rjl296]

binder hereyo

 

[Seashell]

Little spiral notebook. About the size of a 3x5 card. I'd forget everything if I didn't. Mine goes back to December of last year and it's really fun to read.

Me too! I'm also the ONLY person in my gym writing anything down....

 

[Synpax]

I guess the folks on this board (obviously) are my serious than the typical gym denizen.

 

[FitFossil]

I carry a little spiral book. My body has changed so much since I started keeping a training log. It's my secret weapon. Not many people at my gym write anything down. One thing I've noticed through the years though, is the loggers as a whole tend to have better physiques than the non-loggers.

 

[bigguns15]

I remember everything and then write it down when I get home.

 

[FatRat]

After going back to carrying a spiral bound book with me I really believe that my progress has improved. I have been using DC and 5x5 so constant progression in small increments is important.

 

[benevolent anarchist]

<snip> How can you track your progress without writing it down? I can see steady progress in my chart, and I need the chart because when a particular exercise becomes too easy (I can complete all sets/reps without having to pause), I put a + mark in the column to tell me to put more weight on next time.

Do you guys walk aroudn the gym with a clip board or not? Why not?

You’re right—a log book is an essential tool. I can sort of understand the average Joe or Jane not keeping a log, but what really puzzles me is when I see PT’s not logging their clients’ workouts. How are they tracking their client’s progress? Not to mention that the poor souls will be lost after their final session when they have to go at it alone.

Log Books

I’ve used several types over the years but the one I have settled on and like best is Stuart McRobert’s Muscle & Might Training Tracker. It’s very easy to customize and uses the columns for days and the rows for the movements so you can easily view your previous lifts. I like it so much that I bought 2 more…

 

[bifteck]

I make a print out my routine to track my progress on

 

[Mike_Rojas]

I always write down my workout. How else can you track your progress?

 

[Blade66]

I can see steady progress in my chart, and I need the chart because when a particular exercise becomes too easy (I can complete all sets/reps without having to pause), I put a + mark in the column to tell me to put more weight on next time.

Hi

I have a similar system.
A Logbook is very important to me now. In the beginning, I didnt really use any. It was horrible. But then I decided to get my shit togther, and now you won't ever see me in the gym without the logbook.


btw, I also have never seen anyone else using any kind of log.

Arrrrrrr!

 

[Nonerz]

Little spiral notebook. About the size of a 3x5 card. I'd forget everything if I didn't. Mine goes back to December of last year and it's really fun to read.

same here...mine goes back to December of last year as well.

 

[Becoming]

I use the same TrapperKeeper I have been using since 4th grade...
Plus I got that neato pouch to keep my spare pencils in...
Oh yeah, and I like the sound the velcro makes when I open and close it....


For real though, I just remember and excel the data (Revex- us great minds think alike)... plus I can do cool stuff with it like plot my gain curves, etc...
Helps with long term planning/workout analysis

 

[Nonerz]

I'd love to put my information on an excel spreadsheet...does anyone have a template I can use?

Please and thank you!

 

[MULE1]

Nonerz I have one I'll attempt to send it to you do you have and e-mail

 

[MULE1]

microsoft works 2000 has it ...Nonerz I mailed you a copy of the outilne

 

[Nonerz]

Thanks Mule--I got your email. I think I need it as an attachment, not in the email itself. That way I can modify the worksheet. Sorry to be a pest, but is there anyway you can resend it to me as an attachment?

Thanks man!

 

[BabyMuscles]

At my gym there are training worksheets and clipboards and pens at the front. The worksheets are organized for men and women, and then by last name.

I get my worksheet out every day - I have three, one for each split - and I can trace my work back 6 months with these. How much I lifted, how many sets, how many reps, and how much I weighed at the end of the workout.

My gym has the exact same setup. I have two worksheets with a split on each side of both worksheets. I am a newbie, but I'm sticking with it though. I brought home the one my trainer made and layed it out how I prefer so that I can follow it while I'm working out alone. The same way you put a + to increase weight, I had started putting an up arrow. There's no way I could remember all that stuff.