The 10 Best Workout Journals
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in January of 2017. It’s nearly impossible to hit a target you can’t see, which is why many turn to workout journals in their pursuit of the perfect body. Instead of trying to guess how well training is progressing, health buffs use these to evaluate all kinds of data, from resting heart rate to nutritional intake. None of the options included here are date-specific, so you can start logging any time you wish. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Joe Oliver's Workout Log
2. NewMe Fitness
3. Track Your WOD
Editor's Notes
July 31, 2019:
On this update we've included journals to suit the needs of people with different fitness goals, including bodybuilding, running, and CrossFit. If you're training for a marathon or simply jogging around town to improve your cardiovascular health, our #7 pick, the Runner’s World Training Journal, is a popular option that should provide you with nearly everything you'll need — although its biggest flaw is that the room it provides you to write in the daily notes section is a bit lacking.
Bodybuilders and amateur weightlifters often prefer a no-nonsense, grid-oriented notebook to log the essentials, like sets and reps, 1-rep max, and current body weight. If you're interested in keeping things simple, look to #5, the Portage Fitness & Workout Notebook; #2, the NewMe Fitness; or #1, Joe Oliver's Workout Log.
As for CrossFit, any of the aforementioned bodybuilding-oriented journals would work pretty well, but #3, Track Your WOD, and #4, Strong Starts in the Mind, were specifically designed with CF practitioners in mind. Those looking for motivational quotes and positive reinforcement will appreciate the latter option, particularly for Lisbeth Darsh's manner of providing bits of encouragement without sinking into vapid wellness cliches.
Special Honors
Fitnotes If you'd rather not bear the burden of a notebook and pen when you're at the gym, this app is among the best digital workout logs that has been developed to date. It offers plenty of customization options, including a way to create personalized exercise categories, such as "olympic lifts" or "bodyweight exercises". Other features include a rest timer, cardio tracking, and progress graphs which show you your linear progression over time. The app focuses on simplicity, and manages to do so without having any ads. fitnotesapp.com
Jefit Elite Among the standard features you'd expect from a workout tracking application, this one also boasts in-depth training analytics, an enormous list of exercises with images and descriptions included, and an integrated progress-picture bank where you periodically save photos of your body. If you and your workout partner(s) want to hold each other accountable as a means to stay motivated, this app makes it easy to do so thanks to its social media integration. You can also access your account through the web on your computer. jefit.com
Strong PRO When you start a new workout by selecting your first exercise for the day, this app will automatically show you how much you lifted during your previous workout. Thoughtful features like this are what make this one so useful for bodybuilders and casual gym-goers. It also shows charts that make it very clear whether you're making progress or stagnating on your strength goals. It can integrate with Apple Watch and Apple Health, too. It's available on both iOS and Android, and is very inexpensive considering the features it provides. strong.app
4. Strong Starts in the Mind
5. Portage Fitness & Workout Notebook
6. EdictD Log
7. Runner’s World Training Journal
8. Fitlosophy Fitbook
9. I Love my Food and Exercise
10. Eat Drink Move Sleep
Daniel is a writer, musician, and frequent traveler with a bachelor’s in creative writing from the State University of New York. In recent years, his writing chops have developed alongside his musical skills, thanks to a rich double life. During the day, he apprenticed with “Rolling Stone” journalist and critic Will Hermes, and when the sun set, he and his NYC-based, four-piece band gigged at high-end venues across the northeastern United States. His affinity for sharing things he's passionate about has culminated in nine years of experience as a music teacher at elementary schools, where he honed his ability to simplify and elucidate concepts to the uninitiated. All considered, he feels most at home writing about instruments, audio electronics and backpacking gear.