One of the easiest and simplest ways of seeing progress in the gym is to log and track your workouts. You can use a notepad, notes app on your phone or even dedicated workout apps designed for logging workouts and for something you can do whilst resting between sets, the benefits are numerous!

It keeps you honest.

How many times have you walked into the gym without a clear plan of what you wanted to do? Having your workout written out ahead of time in your exercise log eliminates any mental struggle or skipping out on some exercises.

Progressive Overload

The human body is very good at adapting. To grow and get bigger and stronger you need to constantly force the body into changing, therefore you need to utilise progressive overload. This is done by lifting more weight, using the same weight for more reps or using the same weight whilst taking shorter rest periods. Simply keeping a record of your workout means you can look back on it the following session and see where you need to add weight or reps, in order to be constantly progressing and forcing your body into new adaptations.

Setting goals & Targets

When setting a weight loss target you use the scales as a way of tracking progress, therefore when setting goals in the gym you will need to track these in a similar manner. Having this written down each workout allows you to see how you are progressing over time and also how far you still need to go. This can have a powerful psychological influence and set a clear guideline for each workout.

You'll exercise harder

Keeping a workout log will give you the desire to write out a good workout each day. Dips in motivation and focus happen at the gym, but often the thought of detailing a a less than stellar workout will motivate you not to skip the exercise or leave the gym early.

Accountability

Keeping a log of your workouts keeps you accountable for your progress. When you don’t track workouts it’s easy to say you’ve had an ‘off day’ and will make up for it next time or that you’re not in the mood to train legs today so you do some bicep curls instead because it’s easier. Making a note of your training, good and bad sessions, will truly keep you accountable for your progress.

You'll get inspired

One of the most rewarding aspects of keeping track of your workouts is being able to flip back through and look over the work you have done. You'll see results where you burst through plateaus and and help you stay focused and motivated.

To see and evaluate progress, you need to track and log workouts to see where you currently are, and what you need to do moving forward in order to reach your goals.

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