Topic: Workout logs

You might want to keep track of those sets and reps. CrossFit members who logged their workouts most often did significantly more total exercise than those who did so least often, according to a recent Texas A&M University study.

The researchers noted six potential benefits associated with logging your workouts:

● It reminds you of your goals. You’re working toward something that’s meaningful to you.

● You experience higher engagement in each workout. You aren’t just going through the motions; you’re trying to improve over time.

● You have proof of achievement. When you do reach a milestone, it’s right there on paper or pixels. It’s now part of your permanent record (but in a good way).

● You feel a growing sense of competence when you see how far you’ve come. Making progress is a great motivator to continue.

● You enjoy it more, which is what happens when you have a written record of achievement and increasing confidence in your abilities.

● You’re more likely to stick with your routine and exercise consistently. Your log isn’t just a record of what you did when you showed up. It’s also a reminder of the times you showed up.

That’s a lot of good reasons.

But remember: Individual results may vary. For some people, logging workouts could be a hassle that takes the joy out of their gym time.

So always make sure to ask, “How’s this REALLY working for me?”

That’ll help you know what to do.

PMID: 35564327

Prochnow T, Amo C, Patterson MS, Heinrich KM. I CrossFit; Do You? Cross-Sectional Peer Similarity of Physical Activity Behavior in a Group High Intensity Functional Training Setting. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 19;19(9).