Weight Training Log
You can tell whether you are making any progress with the gym workout by keeping a weight training log. When the weight training log does not show the results you expect, you need to revise your workout routine and identify the possible mistakes that you are making. Training too much or too little, these could be two of the problems. There are many ways to organize the weight training log: the traditional form is to have columns for all every set and workout so that you may know the sets you perform, their date and the resistance. Another system is to organize the weight training log not by the work out dates but by the weight increases.
Let's take a practical examples and see what things should be like. For instance, if last time you trained you did eight sets of bench presses with 205 pounds, on your new session you may hit the same 205 pounds but this time in nine reps. There is usually no growth in resistance, muscle mass or strength when you train at the same level all the time. Such a weight training log is not difficult to get, just search on the Internet or customize a workout sheet as you see fit and then print it.
The weight training log should include a special column in which you can record your weight before every workout. Although weight is not always relevant for the results of gym training, it is sometimes helpful particularly if you try to burn fat and replace it with lean muscle mass. The weight training log should further include a cardio section too. You can keep track of workouts in relation to the cardio exercises. Keep in mind that the intensity of the exercises drops if you perform the cardio routine before the training.
Such a section in the weight lifting log can help one better keep track of the evolution. Mood variations may help with training or can ruin it. Find out when you feel in the right spirits to train by including a mood section in the weight training log. Normally, you wouldn't be able to make a pertinent observation from one week to another, unless you have this weight training log to check. If high energy levels define your mood at 5 pm every Monday, then, that is a great time to train, but this is just an example of how you can use the mood section in your advantage.