ChuckaZulu
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
I just finished writing this and thought I'd share it with our MC family.
We’ve all seen that one guy in the gym carrying a notebook of some sort from station to station during the course of his workout. He is often seen hunkered over his journal scribbling away as if he were writing his Last Will and Testament just waiting for something fatal to befall him. Is he obsessed with his training or is he actually on to something here? What is the significance of keeping a training journal aka “The Log Book”?
It wasn’t until I started competing as a bodybuilder that I realized the importance of maintaining a log book. Now, with a clear objective in sight, it became one of the most important tools in my preparation. The log book allowed me to chart my progress and helped to identify trouble areas. I also found it to be a great source of motivation forcing me to thrust past the weight and repetitions I did during the previous workout. There would be no cheating or lying with my log book. Everything was recorded on those pages for me to witness whether I liked it or not.
I would always study the log book briefly prior to each workout. I would then scribe out the day’s workout in its entirety just before starting. While resting between sets, I would use visualization to prepare for the upcoming set, performing each repetition slowly and deliberately while utilizing proper form in my mind. I may make notes on how I was feeling during a particular set or if my form was off a bit, etc. During my post workout meal I would review the completed workout and write any additional notes. The above stated practice would allow me to remain focused and have a more productive workout. There would be no distractions and nothing was going to stop me from accomplishing my goals for that days training session.
I may recognize some problem areas or identify probable signs for a potential injury while doing a particular exercise. If I’m doing behind the neck shoulder presses and feel some discomfort, I will definitely go to the log book and refer back to the last time I performed that exercise. If there is a note stating that there was a problem while doing the exercise, I may drop it completely from my routine. If I find I have hit a plateau where I have not improved my repetitions or increased the weight with an exercise such as standing barbell curls, I will drop that exercise in favor of something new.
I posed the question “why is the log book is important to you?” to an explicit group from the bodybuilding community and received a great deal of feedback. The word motivation could be found in almost all their replies. Some would even use the phrases “it’s time to destroy the log book” or “I have to beat the log book” which is their way of conveying that they are about to surpass all the repetitions and weight performed during their previous workouts.
It’s not difficult to maintain a training journal or log book. It can yield so many positive things such as developing motivation, giving direction, displaying progression, and providing the user with at sense of accomplishment. Then, why isn’t everyone in the gym keeping a training journal? Is it because it’s awkward carrying it from station to station, or is it just outright embarrassing to have in plain sight? If you’re serious about your training and go to the gym to improve your overall performance, then the use of a training journal is a priceless tool and a required facet in your training regimen.
We’ve all seen that one guy in the gym carrying a notebook of some sort from station to station during the course of his workout. He is often seen hunkered over his journal scribbling away as if he were writing his Last Will and Testament just waiting for something fatal to befall him. Is he obsessed with his training or is he actually on to something here? What is the significance of keeping a training journal aka “The Log Book”?
It wasn’t until I started competing as a bodybuilder that I realized the importance of maintaining a log book. Now, with a clear objective in sight, it became one of the most important tools in my preparation. The log book allowed me to chart my progress and helped to identify trouble areas. I also found it to be a great source of motivation forcing me to thrust past the weight and repetitions I did during the previous workout. There would be no cheating or lying with my log book. Everything was recorded on those pages for me to witness whether I liked it or not.
I would always study the log book briefly prior to each workout. I would then scribe out the day’s workout in its entirety just before starting. While resting between sets, I would use visualization to prepare for the upcoming set, performing each repetition slowly and deliberately while utilizing proper form in my mind. I may make notes on how I was feeling during a particular set or if my form was off a bit, etc. During my post workout meal I would review the completed workout and write any additional notes. The above stated practice would allow me to remain focused and have a more productive workout. There would be no distractions and nothing was going to stop me from accomplishing my goals for that days training session.
I may recognize some problem areas or identify probable signs for a potential injury while doing a particular exercise. If I’m doing behind the neck shoulder presses and feel some discomfort, I will definitely go to the log book and refer back to the last time I performed that exercise. If there is a note stating that there was a problem while doing the exercise, I may drop it completely from my routine. If I find I have hit a plateau where I have not improved my repetitions or increased the weight with an exercise such as standing barbell curls, I will drop that exercise in favor of something new.
I posed the question “why is the log book is important to you?” to an explicit group from the bodybuilding community and received a great deal of feedback. The word motivation could be found in almost all their replies. Some would even use the phrases “it’s time to destroy the log book” or “I have to beat the log book” which is their way of conveying that they are about to surpass all the repetitions and weight performed during their previous workouts.
It’s not difficult to maintain a training journal or log book. It can yield so many positive things such as developing motivation, giving direction, displaying progression, and providing the user with at sense of accomplishment. Then, why isn’t everyone in the gym keeping a training journal? Is it because it’s awkward carrying it from station to station, or is it just outright embarrassing to have in plain sight? If you’re serious about your training and go to the gym to improve your overall performance, then the use of a training journal is a priceless tool and a required facet in your training regimen.
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