Please recommend a good workout journal.

July 21, 2005 1:33 PM

I'm looking for a small and durable workout journal.

I'm starting to exercise regularly and want to keep track of my progress. I would like a small logbook that I can carry around the gym or keep in a pocket. It should be bound in plastic or some other waterproof material so it doesn't melt from sweat. A notebook that is designed specifically for this purpose would be ideal, although any suitable small notebook with lined or gridded pages would be ok too.

posted by brain_drain to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

I prefer the ones pushed for by ExRx
posted by geoff. at 1:43 PM on July 21, 2005

For years, I've used tiny notebooks from Mead (I think). I don't know what they're called, but they're maybe 2-1/2" wide by 3-1/2" tall. They have about 80 college-ruled pages per book, and are bound with tape stuff (not wire).

The binding is not ideal, I admit, and the paper cover becomes worn with time, but really everything else about these little gems is perfect. They fit in any pocket. They have just enough space on each page to jot down times and distances and reps and weights. They're light. They're cheap as can be (about a buck, as I recall). They're plain and simple, no-nonsense notebooks.

I've tried other workout journals, but they're all over-designed, if you know what I mean. And because of this, they're non-customizable, meaning you have to use each page and each line for the stuff the journal says you should put there.

I might also now consider the thin Moleskines (I forget what they're called). I'll go try to rummage up some links.
posted by jdroth at 2:08 PM on July 21, 2005

The one I've used in the past is The Ultimate Workout Log It is too big to really fit in your pocket but has pretty durable covers. I usually enter the information after my workout as part of my post workout ritual so I don't manhandle it too much.

The page layouts provide room to capture the exercises, reps, etc, as well as making notes on food and "other" for things like weather, mood, etc. It sucks the "inside the book" images of amazon don't show the workout pages, only a the text up front which is a brief description on why to keep a workout diary -- put in there to read in the bookstore I'm sure.

It isn't perfect, but I've used it off and on when I work out. The only reason I don't use it is when I'm not working out (like now) but I just bought another one as the start to get my ass back in the gym.
posted by birdherder at 2:09 PM on July 21, 2005

I second the very small Mead notebook recommendation. I only do 8 exercises that I record, so with one page/day and one exercise/line it works out well.
posted by devilsbrigade at 3:41 PM on July 21, 2005

I'm home now, and have found a blank little notebook.

It's a "Square Deal" Marble Memo notebook, part #45421, from The Mead Corporation. It has 80 sheets inside. It's 4-1/2" x 3-1/4". Its UPC is 43100-45421. (The part#/UPC may have changed to 45417.)

You can buy them in bulk here (second item on the page). Hey! I just found them at Amazon. Really, though, they should be available at a nearby grocery store or stationiers.
posted by jdroth at 5:13 PM on July 21, 2005

Rite in the Rain makes notebooks that stand up to rain, sweat, humidity...combine these with a good pencil and I think you're set.
posted by ColdChef at 8:00 AM on July 22, 2005

Response by poster: These suggestions are very helpful. Thanks!
posted by brain_drain at 2:41 PM on July 22, 2005