Staying fit takes a lot of commitment, and it’s not uncommon to see people having a hard time with it. That’s why using different strategies, such as keeping a fitness journal, really helps you achieve your fitness goals.
But what exactly is a fitness journal, and why is it important to have one if you are to achieve your health and fitness goals?
What is a fitness journal?
In a nutshell, a fitness or an exercise journal is a record of your exercise and your progress. It can be a notebook or even an online document where you can track your daily exercise, weight loss, as well as your desired fitness goals.
Having a journal not only helps you track and monitor your progress, but it also helps keep you accountable for your actions. You’ll be able to see if you’re slacking off, or if you’re working really hard to keep yourself healthy.
At a glance, you’ll be able to check if you’re actually improving, or if you’re plateauing. It’s also a great way to motivate yourself, since it helps you visualize just how much exercise you’re doing each day.
It’s great for people who tend to have a hard time sticking to routines. That’s because writing stuff down makes it easier for you to remember things. Having a journal where you can plan your exercises everyday can help make sure you don’t miss important exercise days.
Having a journal keeps you on track
If you’re having a hard time choosing which exercises to do, or which body parts to work out, keeping a journal can help you out.
That’s because you can clearly see if you’ve been focusing too much on a single type of exercise, or if you’re neglecting certain muscle groups. It helps mix things up and motivates you to try different exercises so that you can keep your body fit.
Another way that having a journal can benefit you is that it helps you create your own exercise program. Once you figure out what types of exercise suit you best, you can create a personalized program that you can do in order to maximize your workouts and make them more efficient.
Having a journal also helps you schedule your exercises, so that you won’t be missing any days of exercise. It’s a great method to make sure that you’re sticking to a healthier and fit lifestyle.
It can be useful for those who have a trainer
If you have a trainer, keeping your own journal can make things a lot easier. While most personal trainers do keep journals for their clients, having a journal of your own can help you make sure that you’re doing your exercises even without your trainer.
There will be times when you won’t be able to go to the gym, or you might be traveling abroad. Keeping a journal can help let your trainer know that you’ve been sticking to your program, and it makes it easier for them to do their job, since you’ve been tracking your exercises.
It’s great for those who are on a diet
Aside from keeping track of your exercise, having a fitness journal also helps you keep tabs on the types of food you’re eating.
If you’re trying to eat healthier, or if you’re counting calories, then a fitness journal is definitely going to be your best friend.
You can write down the meals you’ve eaten, how many calories they have, as well as if you’ve been eating enough healthy foods. Writing down the foods you eat helps put things into perspective since you can clearly see if you’ve been eating too much junk food or fatty food.
All in all, keeping a journal is a great way for you to be healthier and ensure that you stay that way for the foreseeable future.