Keeping track of strength training: what do you put in your logbook?

Write down what you actually did

Record the weight used and the repetitions per work set for each exercise. Take the concrete variant: bench pressing with dumbbells is different from bench pressing with a barbell. With a plank, the holding time is more relevant than a number of repetitions.

Agree with yourself how you will record weights. If you use the weight per hand with dumbbells, keep it consistent. For machines, note which device you use; cable proportions and constructions may differ.

Keep warm-ups and work sets apart

A light preparatory set has a different function than a working set. Keeping those separate prevents additional warm-up sets from looking like more strenuous training. If necessary, note how many repetitions you thought you could still do at the end of a work set: your RIR.

Compare the same exercise under similar conditions

Twelve repetitions with a shorter movement are not necessarily better than ten full repetitions. Rest time, exercise order and a different piece of equipment can also make a difference. A short note will help you later understand why a workout was different.

Look at a series of workouts. Your logbook describes achievements; it does not directly measure muscle growth or recovery. In Vytrix you can track your work sets and training history and look back at what you did before.