How and Why to Start a HIIT Workout Journal
Whether you’ve been a member with HIIT Logic since our inception or have recently joined us at Bend West, starting and keeping a log of your workouts can keep you motivated and help you reach your goals. While you may see some recurrent movements, HIIT Logic has and will never repeat our programming. How can you start a HIIT workout log and how can you utilize it to keep you motivated and fuel your progress?
Keeping a log of your workouts can be as detailed or as minimalist as you’d like depending on your goals and what you’d like to get out of your journal. For example, if your goal is more concentrated to using a yellow (#35) kettlebell for swings during your HIIT workout, write how many kettlebell swings that you’ve gotten with blue and continue to build off of that. As your endurance and strength increases, you can incorporate the yellow kettlebell into your workout until you’ve built up to using it in your full workout. If your goal is more broad and to gain overall muscle mass and strength, you can focus on using weights that are heavier and focus on less, quality reps. Continue to write down your reps and weight so you have something to reference. If you have a specific goal but aren’t sure how to execute it, be sure to ask your primary coach for guidance.
In addition to guiding you towards reaching a goal, keeping a log of your weights and workouts is extremely motivating. Looking back at the weights that you used months or years prior can give you a great indication of the progress that you have made. It’s easy to get caught up in the present, get down on ourselves, and find our shortcomings; looking back on where you once were can give great perspective when you are having a day that you didn’t feel well or weren’t performing your best. Beyond weights and reps, another important detail to write down in your HIIT journal is how you were feeling going into the workout. How our body feels on any given day can depend on a myriad of factors. For example, comparing the weights you used on a day where you were hydrated, had enough sleep, had minimal external stressors, to a day where you were just coming back from illness wouldn’t be a fair comparison. Looking at the overall picture can give you a better indication of where true progress has been made.
Starting and maintaining a HIIT journal should not be a one size fits all approach. Prior to starting, figure out what works best for you and determine your goals. If you aren’t great with written journals, start it in the notes app on your phone. If you can’t commit to it with every workout, set a reminder in your calendar or on your phone to write something down twice per week. We want you to feel successful in your workouts and to keep showing up for yourself. Being able to see your progress through a tangible, wider lens, will be an awesome motivator to keep you coming back for more.