Free Printable Workout Log | Exercise & Training Logs from Answer Fitness®

Free Printable Workout Log | Exercise & Training Logs

June 28, 2008 on 12:12 pm | By Matt | In Workout, Exercise and Training Logs |

Use This Free Printable Workout Log To Keep Track of Your Exercise and Fitness Training & Progress in the Gym

Keeping a regular workout log or exercise log sheet is one of the best ways to make sure that you are constantly making progress toward your fitness and exercise goals in the gym.

Regardless of your goals or fitness experience, recording your workouts, cardio, and weight training in a daily exercise log can help you make sure that you are always moving forward in beating your last workout, as well as let you identify possible sticking points in your training before you hit a wall or plateau.

As I’ve mentioned before in previous articles, one of the seven habits of highly fit people is that they keep a log of their workouts and exercise to not only make sure they are always progressing, but also to hold themselves accountable. Writing down your daily exercise in a log makes you mindful of what you are doing and allows you to review your progress after each workout or training session. It also let’s you build on each subsequent workout, so that you are always pushing yourself a little harder each time you hit the gym.

Why I Created This Free Workout Log

There are a number of free printable workout and exercise logs available on the Internet, as well as some excellent exercise logs that can be purchased at your local bookstore. However, after taking a look at the dozens of free blank exercise log sheets available on the web, I generally found that they didn’t treat exercise holistically enough.

Most of the workout logs used the generic Exercise/Weight/Reps/Sets formatting, and didn’t take into account other key factors that you need to keep track of, including rest periods, pre-and-post workout nutrition, training and fitness goals, sleep, duration of exercise and mind-body factors. All of these variables can impact your training performance and progress, regardless of whether you are a beginner or an advanced bodybuilder.

I also found that the formatting and visual presentation of most free printable workout logs left something to be desired. Having kept regular exercise logs for nearly five years, I know first hand the usability factors that can impact how easy it is for a person to consistently and effectively keep an exercise or workout log in a busy gym environment.

For example, most exercise logs (especially the ones purchased at bookstores) don’t give you a enough room to quickly, legibly and thoroughly record your exercises, weight, sets, reps and rest (as well as additional related workout and training notes.) This can be especially frustrating when you are trying to move quickly between sets and record your performance — often with a shaky hand from the exercise you just performed.

Also, the lack of shading between items can make it difficult to quickly identify where you need to go on your workout log, eating up valuable time.

Finally, while some free printable workout and exercise logs are available in formats like Microsoft Word or Excel (which allows you to customize the workout ahead of time), they are not always available in easy-to-print formats like Adobe PDF.

A Better Free Workout and Exercise Log

Since necessity is the mother of invention, I decided to take a crack at developing my own blank exercise log that you can customize in Word, or simply use as-is and print-off.

I’ve tried to take the best elements of the workout logs I’ve seen online and at the bookstore, add in a few additional items that I think will be helpful, and create an easier-to-use, but more comprehensive workout log. I’m also excited because I can use this log to create pre-built workout schedules to accompany the exercise and workout routines on Answer Fitness.

I also decided to create a separate weekly exercise summary log that you can use in conjunction with the daily workout log to track week-over-week progress.

In terms of the formatting of the workout log, I’ve included areas for you to record:

the date of your workout
time started and finished
vital stats for the day like your scale weight and body fat percentage
how many hours of sleep you got the previous night
cardio and conditioning training
weight and resistance training
diet and nutrition info (specifically pre-workout and post-workout nutrition and any supplements you might be taking)
your overall workout rating on a scale of 1-10

Also, I tried to provide plenty of space for recording weight, sets, reps, rest period and especially training notes.

What I like about this printable workout log is that it’s very flexible, and will meet the needs of both beginners and advanced trainees and bodybuilders. I also was able to get it all on one sheet, which makes it more convenient to take along to the gym.

Finally, I attempted to make the workout and exercise log goal-focused and added in some small things like body parts trained, fitness goals and mind-body workout notes to get you there.

I’ve also set the page up to use a standard 8 x 11 sheet of paper, which you can then hole-punch and place in a three-ring binder.

Is this the perfect workout and exercise log? Probably not. But it’s a first crack. I’m looking forward to any feedback or additional ideas on how to improve it. It’s a work in progress.

How To Use This Workout and Exercise Log

Choose which format you want the workout log to be. I’ve provided Word, PDF and HTML.
If you want to customize the workout log so that it will contain pre-set workout routines, use the Word version, which will allow you to type the exercises into the blank workout log file. You can then pre-print the sheets for the upcoming week - or for the duration of your training cycle with the particular workout plan. For example, if you are on my full body workout routine, you can go in and type in the exercises for each workout, so that you don’t have to fill them in at the gym (or print off the routine from the website.)
If you just want to print off blank exercise logs and fill the details in at the gym, then you’ll want to use either the PDF version or HTML version of the log. If you are exercising daily, you’ll want to print off seven copies for the upcoming week, along with one copy of the weekly exercise summary.
You can either hole-punch the sheets ahead of time and put them in a binder to take to the gym or keep them in a folder (staple a weeks worth of workout logs together at the end of each week to keep your exercise and workout logs in order chronologically.)
Try to always bring your previous workout log sheets with you to the gym, since you’ll want to reference your last workouts in order to increase your weight, reps or sets each workout, which is critical to progressing in the gym. This is why a binder is ideal.
When you arrive at the gym and start your routine, make sure you fill in the date and time you begin your workout. Also, if you weighed yourself or took a body fat measurement, fill that in. Other items you can note on the daily workout log are your overall fitness goals for this workout cycle, as well as how much sleep you got the night before.
Circle the body parts you are training for the day, as well as any cardio you performed and your pre-workout meal and/or supplements.
As you perform each exercise, write down the name of the exercise and what equipment you used (i.e. chest press machine, dumbbell chest press, bench press, etc.)
Record the weight used, the reps performed and how long you rested between sets. Once you’ve completed an exercise, count up the sets you performed and record them in the sets column. Also, keep track of any additional information about your performance in the notes area. For example, note details like whether you felt unusually weak or strong during the exercise, any variations on the exercise that you might have performed or some words of congratulations if you have a great lift.
Once you’ve completed your training, note the time you stopped, give your workout an overall rating on a one-to-ten scale and make any additional notes about your performance.
Place the completed sheet in your binder or folder

Can I Offer This Workout Log On My Website or To My Clients?

If you’d like to offer this printable workout log on your own website or if you are a personal trainer and want to use it with your clients, feel free to.

However, I do ask one thing: Please link directly to to this article and do not place the downloaded files on your website. If you are using it offline, please keep the credits intact on the workout log sheet and if you have a happen to have website, a link and credit to Answerfitness.com is appreciated.

How To Download Your Free Printable Workout Log

The daily workout log is offered in three versions, which you can download below:

The weekly exercise summary log is also available in three formats, which can be downloaded here:

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24 Responses to “Free Printable Workout Log | Exercise & Training Logs”

24
cassidy (1 comments) Says:
September 30th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
hey guys,
i am a woman who needs to push herself alot harder, but she always backs out. I am also someone who brings herself down when it comes to seeing other girls that are so beautiful:)
please help me out
23
Lee Collins (1 comments) Says:
September 12th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
My main man, Matt! Hey thank you for this workout log! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for in helping my clients track their workouts when I’m not training with them. And I’ll be sure to send my clients to your site as I’ve checked it out and definitely see valuable information. Also feel free to send me an email and I’ll return the favor with some information that may help your clients, at least I hope.

Thanks again for posting this,
Lee
22
Nickye (1 comments) Says:
September 11th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hey My Name Is Haylee. I am 5′5 and weigh 120 i want to weigh 100 pounds or less could you help me and give me a plan to workout with? i workout every night but. . . no changes. Can you help? Please?
21
Ruben (1 comments) Says:
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
great workout logs Matt! have fallen off of the fitness wagon and need all the tools to help get me back on track. I lost my job a year ago and have put on an extra 15 pounds….yuck!

thanks again!
20
Boot Camp Vancouver (1 comments) Says:
August 6th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
This is a great idea, i provide great fitness info, but nothing like this, mine is more about information about fitness and health, so thanks for the good stuff and keep them coming,

Emily B, BootCampVancouver
19
Looking for a work out plan that works..? | iron and steel Says:
February 14th, 2009 at 8:59 am
[...] Workout Log/Exercise Sheet: http://www.answerfitness.com/164/free-pr…; Full Body Free Weight Workout: http://www.answerfitness.com/150/full-bo…; Total Body Workout [...]
18
A Great Tool To Stay Fit After Thirty! - Fit After Thirty Says:
December 27th, 2008 at 11:20 am
[...] out this article and FREE downloadable workout log from AnswerFitness.com. Whether you are newly starting out in a weight loss program, training for your second marathon, or [...]
17
phreakyfitnesschick (3 comments) Says:
November 28th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
matt. I just left a comment on the full body workout article. But I also wanted to let you know that I think this exercise log is one of the big reasons that I’m getting such good results with your workout. I printed off this exercise log when I started your workout because you said it was really important. At first it was kind of a pain to get used to writing every thing down, but it really has helped. Thank YOU!
16
Matt (180 comments) Says:
November 25th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Believe it or not, I actually do. Exercise logs are one of those things that I just think are so fundamental — and game changing — for people. That’s why I keep harping on them.

I was actually blown away recently when a friend told me her personal trainer wasn’t keeping a written log of the exercises, weight and reps she was performing during her training sessions with her. I just couldn’t imagine how he or she could possibly gauge her progress without keeping some kind of exercise log each session. There is no way a trainer with multiple clients could keep that straight in his head.

I also don’t think most people — unless they have a true photographic memory — can do it as well. One of the added benefits to keeping a printable exercise log on paper is that you can go back and look at your progress over a month or year and get the satisfaction of seeing how far you’ve come. People need that from time-to-time to stay motivated.

In terms of the amount of time it takes, I’ve never really tallied it up (maybe I will.) My workouts are usually about an hour — and I typically do a full body that comes in at around 30-40 total sets, depending on the workout. I superset nearly everything, so that trims time off between sets when other people sit on the machine or bench and gaze at the ceiling. So even if I’m spending 5-10 minutes total keeping detailed notes in my paper exercise log, I pretty much regain that by trimming down my rest periods.

Truth be told, it’s really not that much of a hassle. I always keep my last couple of workout sheets on my clipboard so when I go into the gym, I have no doubts about where I need to start off in terms of weight. This takes the guess work out of things, and actually saves time, IMO, because you are more productive in the gym.

I would really encourage you to try this out for six weeks. I’d be willing to bet $100 dollars that you see better results. That’s how serious I am about this, based on my own experiences (and feedback from others who have tried it.)

Also, for this free printable workout log, I’ve made changes to it to optimize it to make it easier to keep track of all of the related-vitals. This saves time over some of the other workout logs I’ve used in the past.

Just try it. I think once you see the results, you’ll make time to record stuff.

By the way, I’ve also tried a bunch of electronic/software programs for PDAs and cell phones to track exercise and found that in those cases, you WILL generally spend way too much time trying to navigate the menus to record your workout. That’s why I’ve basically reverted to printable exercise logs on paper. There are some times when technology just doesn’t save you any time.

Thanks for stopping by and participating.
15
runningboy (2 comments) Says:
November 24th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Hey Matt, do you REALLY write down every exercise you perform each workout in this exercise log? I’m impressed. I weight train a couple of times a week in addition to my running, but I just can’t see myself being that disciplined (I was going to say "anal" but I didn’t want it to come off as being negative) to actually write everything down.

How much extra time do you think that adds on to your workout? It’s hard enough for me to carve out the 60 minutes a couple times each week, so time is really at a premium. The printable workout log looks great though … if I could just get myself to actually use it.
14
diamondchica (5 comments) Says:
November 18th, 2008 at 7:52 am
oh this is good. do you have exercise logs that already have specific workouts built into them? that would be nice. you know, like they put in the magazines that you can just cut out and take with you to the gym when you workout?
13
Carissa (1 comments) Says:
November 17th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
LOVE this. I’m a personal trainer and this is definitely one of the best overall printable exercise logs I’ve seen online. Thanks for taking the time to put this together! I’m also totally with you on the importance of keeping a workout log. How can you ever get better if you don’t know what your best is? Great job. Fantastic website, btw. I’m jealous. Would you like to build one for me?
12
Krista P. (1 comments) Says:
November 13th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I never really thought about using an exercise log until I read your site. Mostly I just go in and workout and don’t really pay much attention to what I’m doing. You definitely opened my eyes to some of the reasons why keeping track of your exercise is important. I downloaded your exercise log and can’t weight to try it out. I’ll let you know how things go! Thanks!
11
linds (4 comments) Says:
November 9th, 2008 at 11:51 am
GREAT exercise log, Matt. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.
10
My Goals, Progress and My Life… » Blog Archive » TGIF :D Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 9:24 am
[...] (his name’s Matt) for few weeks and see if it makes a difference. He’s got a nice workout log (free) which you can download and print. I did have to google some of the exercises as I [...]
9
Matt (180 comments) Says:
September 20th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Thanks Amber! I’m glad you liked the free printable exercise log. After you’ve used it a bit, stop by and let me know if you have any suggestions for how to improve it. Again, good luck with hitting your prep goals for the figure competition. If you win, it would be cool to know that maybe the workout log played a small role in your success.
8
amber (6 comments) Says:
September 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I’m training for my first women’s figure competition in the January and have been looking for a better way to keep track of my progress. I’ve just been using a notebook so far. This exercise log is definitely one of the better ones I’ve seen. I like that there is lots of room for writing down the exercises and the supplemental stuff like hours of sleep, post and pre workout meals and supplements is really useful. You pretty much captured everything you would want to keep track of with an exercise journal. Nice work! Thanks
7
Matt (180 comments) Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Gina, thanks for stopping by. Glad this workout log helped you out. Let me know how things go with the the basketball team. Keep us posted.
6
ginagirl (1 comments) Says:
August 21st, 2008 at 7:56 am
This is just what I needed to get a few friends working out with me. I am trying to get my team in shape for basketball season. This is just the way to get them working early for the season.
Thanks
5
jake (1 comments) Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Hey dude … thanks for putting this together. I’ve just been keeping my workout log in a notebook but it’s pretty messy and doesn’t have any consistency to it. I’m doing your full body workout and I just type the routine into the sheets in ms word and print off a bunch of copies. It saves me from having to write in the exercises while I’m working out. Any thoughts on just putting the exercises from the workout into the sheet and offering that along with the workout routine? Just a thought thanks jake
4
fitnessbunny (2 comments) Says:
July 18th, 2008 at 6:16 am
OMG this is exactly what i was looking for. i’ve been using these junky training logs workout logs .. whatever … that my personal trainer gave me (i don’t use him anymore) and everything is too small! i printed off a whole bunch of copies and just put them on my clipboard and stuck them in my file at the gym so I have extras around. i agree with fitnessgal. it would be nice to have a food journal or diary on the back along with the workout routine stuff on the front. nice work! julia
3
Matt (180 comments) Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 4:57 am
Hey FitnessGal4Life, thanks for the feedback. I’m thinking I can add a second page into each exercise log file to include a food tracking sheet. That way you can print on both sides of the paper if you want — one side with your daily workout and the other side with your meals, calorie count, and nutrition notes. I personally use a calorie and food tracking software application on my laptop (Calorie King) to log my meals, so a printed nutrition or diet journal isn’t as critical for me. But I could see how it would complete the log for other people who like to track meals and calories the old fashioned way. After you’ve had a chance to use the exercise log, let me know if you have any other improvements or suggestions. Also, I’m wondering what people would think if I created a exercise sheet for each day of the week, prelabeled “Monday”, “Tuesday”, etc., and then wrapped them up in a single PDF of seven sheets that you could print out. Does anyone have any interest in that? Seems like it might be more convenient.
2
FitnessGal4Life (1 comments) Says:
June 29th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Great work! I like what you incorporated into both the daily and weekly logs. I’ll try out a little “customization” to add a bit more room for nutrition notes…perhaps a second page so you can print off daily food stuffs on the back of the same day?? Awesome!
1
healthranker.com Says:
June 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Free Printable Workout Log | Exercise & Training Logs from Answer Fitness®…

Free, downloadable or printable exercise and workout log from Answer Fitness. This workout log comes in three formats (PDF, HTML and Word) and contains areas for recording your cardio, weight training, pre-and-post workout meals and supplements, sleep,…