Lifting Journal

[growstrong]

Who all actually records and keeps their daily lifting records. I personally do but do other?
I am referring to like writing down weight and reps for all lifts to track progress!
Yay or Nay? and please share if you feel it helps with growth!

[LBVT]

I used to, but I basically stopped when I got injured, and just never picked up that habit again after starting to lift again.

[growstrong]

think that messes with ability to beat past weeks reps and #'s? or not really?

[Harbinger]

I used to as well. I stopped after about 4 months. It became too demoralizing when I couldn't beat the prior weeks reps/#'s. I think ill probably start it up again while on my first ph cycle next week just for the duration to see the progress.

[Sonny]

I keep a journal. I record the weights, reps and I even out a comment next to the last one. Ex if the last rep was hard, I put an H meaning i could not have done another. If I had more,I put an E for easy. At the bottom, I will put comments on how i am feeling ex. shoulder was pinching on presses, hurt on pushdowns, form was off etc. A lot of F- bombs in the comment section over this past yr- lol! No way I can remember what I did exactly a few weeks ago or what numbers I was hitting before the last comp, especially because I mix it up. This how I can make adjustments and make progress since I still have a way to go.

[alden003]

When I get to the gym an find that I left my journal at home gives me the same feeling I get when I forget my cell phone for the day. Disconnected. The journal is a very important part of training. Most if not all professional athletes keep one. The point of the thing is to see where you have been, where and how you have progressed. With that you can then set a small goal for your self. I say small because if you go to the gym and say "I am going to add an extra 50 lbs. to my max bench to day" you will leave very disappointed. If go in wanting to add a rep or a couple of 2.5 lbs. plats then you might see your goal achieved. Also, the training log allows you to see if something is actually working for you. How well is that training split working? You made some good gains for the first 4-5 weeks but you haven't made progress in the last 3. Your muscle have adapted to that training split or the the lifts. Time to make a change and confuse those muscles again. If everyone got stronger every time they went to the gym, Big Ronnie would have be squatting your house for reps.

[Gixxer82]

I don't keep a journal, I memorize everything. I know the progress i've made, I don't need it on paper. I know what weight I did last week and the week before and the week before that, etc. I gauge my progress using my major lifts -- chest / shoulder / leg presses, close grip, etc.