The bodybuilding training log: useful or not?

Our body is an art form that we can shape as we wish. Bodybuilding is one of the best ways to sculpt your physique. However, this activity requires a great deal of effort and organization. So, what is a training log, and is it really useful? How do you use it?

What is a training booklet?

It can be a notebook in the literal sense of the word. In it, you record the details of each workout session. It serves as a reference point for recording your performance and tracking your progress. It also helps you remember the last exercises you performed, so you can progress and reach your goals.

Finally, it can contain comments, to give you an idea of the positive and negative sides of your training. It can be on paper, but these days it's much more practical to have a digital record.

Another simple solution is to record this information in our smartphone, which we always have to hand.

Is a training log useful?

This notebook allows you to follow your progress. Indeed, to have satisfactory results, it is necessary to be well organized. You will have to define how to divide your gym sessions, which muscles you are going to work, what day, etc.

It contains all the important details of each session. It also serves as a sports memory aid: which dumbbells you used last time, which equipment, or how many reps you did. Therefore, having a training logbook is essential for any motivated athlete.

Let's take an example: You have followed a 3-month weight training program and you decide to renew it for 12 weeks. If you have noted your performance somewhere, the goal of the renewal will be to do better than the previous time. You can add a little extra weight because chances are that by the end of the first one you will have gained strength.

What to put in your notebook?

You are probably asking yourself "what should I put in my notebook? "Here are some important fields that should be included in your notebook:

• The date and time It is essential in my notebook. Indeed, they allow to maintain the regularity of the activities. They also allow you to rebalance your sessions, in case you have missed one.
• The name of the exercise With the muscle group worked. But don't forget that the most important thing is to do the exercise. So you can just put a simple name on it, what matters is to understand.
• Sets and repetitions Sets are the number of repetitions, spaced by rest time. Repetitions are the number of times you do the exercise continuously. You can use the notation "number of sets and number of reps" in your log. Tempos as well: All about tempos in bodybuilding
• The load: This is the weight used during the session
• Recovery time or rest time.

It is very important to recover between exercises. However, you must be careful that the time does not exceed.

This will compromise your training. Limit rest time and stick to it.

• The difficulty of the exercise This is also a parameter that you should not forget. You can use a rating system, from 1 to 5 or 10 for example.
• Your comments.

To improve, you need to take into account the feelings you have during and after exercise.

You can put your measurements for example. The commentary also allows you to detail the different weights and techniques you used.

Finally, a workout book is a practical tool to help you get organized. It is mainly a memory aid and contains your training program.

Need a complete program to build muscle?

It is necessary to bring it with you to the workout sessions. However, it is possible to use a digital notebook that can be uploaded with your workout plan. In this case, you will simply need to add the info through your smartphone to mark them all during the training session.

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