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Keeping a Fitness Journal

22 August 2022
Fitness Journal

By: Brendan Epps

If you need to remember something, write it down.  This includes recording your fitness goals and progress…and failures. Fortunately, technology has given us new and inventive ways to "write."  Computers and smartphones let us type, or record voice notes. Apps and wearables (i.e. FitBit, Apple Watch, Garmin, etc) can record the information almost automatically.  However, you keep track of your fitness, please use it as consistently as possible.  Your fitness journal can help you get on track, stay on track, and keep you motivated along the way.

Digital Journal Options
There's a range of apps that can help track fitness as well from basic (jotting digital notes) to advanced (automated and predictive).  Some apps keep it simple and are more like digital versions of a notebook and pen/pencil.  Other apps can synchronize with your smart devices and to track sleep, heart rate, and oxygen levels.  Many apps combine social media and fitness allowing you to share, compare, and compete with others virtually.  More advanced apps consolidate your biometrics (oxygen levels, heart rate, and more), compare them against medical info and other data, and offer suggestions to help you meet your goals and improve your overall wellness.

No School Like the Old School
Even with the wearables and smart devices, I still rely on notebooks, putting pen to paper, at least when I'm planning.  Writing, or drawing, out my thoughts helps me think through my goals and what I want to change.  I greatly appreciate the tech conveniences to record and summarize my work toward those goals.  To me, having even a bit of "old school" keeps myself engaged in my fitness goals.  I try not to automate to the point where my fitness is on auto-pilot.  I still need to make the effort to stay active.  The tools don't do the work for you, they help you do the work.

Make Your Fitness Journal Work for You
Remember, whatever method you choose digital or paper, it doesn't have to be fancy, it just needs to be what works for you. You could use a 50 cent spiral notebook or I've even seen a fitness journal at Dollar tree. You could use a custom designed app (paid or unpaid) or just type your notes in whatever notepad your phone has. You could use a spreadsheet like Excel or Sheets or just type your notes as you go.