We are in a generation of people conscious of our total being. We study. We pray. And we exercise. When you were just a kid, all you could do was try some push-ups, and maybe lift some dumbbells. The basic ones. Now, you realize there is more than just push and pull and lifting. Those are strength exercises. There are more. There is balance exercise. There is flexibility exercise. There is aerobic exercise. There is stamina. There are no limits of doing an exercise. But how do you manage to do all of these?
Well, let us start by calling all of this as workout. Workout and not exercise? As if there is a big difference. There may not be any difference, and you may call the activity anyway you want it. But there is something in the word workout that entices the listeners. Work + out, meaning, you work out some parts of your body, your muscle. There is that positive vibe than when using the word exercise. The question is, does the preference of the word affect your discipline as an athlete? But let us just use the term workout, because it seems that is the trend these days.
Before anything else, let us have some trivia.
What do you call a person who works out?
Is it workouter? No? We will have some answers after these discussions.
The reasons why not everyone is into workout is because of the challenges it brings to the trainee. A workout is not a hobby. It is a discipline. It means, you have to follow some routines. And following a routine can be boring, and tedious, and boring, and tedious, and boring and tedious. Yes. That is what it sounds like when you are into workout. It is boring. It is tedious. Or unless you want some other terms, to make it less boring. How about tiresome? Adding new words will not make that much of a difference, a workout is always routinary. Do this and do that. Do this and do that tomorrow. And do this and do that, again and again.
That is what we meant by discipline. You do something regardless of your current feeling. A routine does not depend on anything. If you were supposed to lift something, lift it. If you are do it 5 times daily, then do it daily 5 times, no ifs and buts. That is discipline. But how?
The most effective way to discipline yourself is through the use of a workout log Excel. It is one thing to do plenty of workout, and it is another if you use a workout log even just a little.
A workout log is kind of a journal, but in a spreadsheet style. Although, there is a trend of using the term workout journal. To differentiate the two, let us assign workout journal as a recording of your workout through jotting some words, notes. Whereas workout log means something as a recording of your workout in spreadsheet. Which one of the two is best? It is up to you as a trainee. But let us just make emphasis on the workout log Excel type here.
In a workout log Excel type, the recording of exercise is more of doing an input of the numbers, rather than in writing words. Again, the preference is yours. If you are fond of writing, a workout journal may suit you.
Can you do a workout without a workout log? A workout is not the workout log, it is the activity that you do to form your muscles, from small to big, or the other way around. Depends on what you like. So, yes. You can do a workout without a log. But why use workout log?
Using a work out log has some advantages. It is sort of an organizer. But more than just an organizer, it can track the development of your workout, so you can tell when and how you were doing as a bodybuilder. You can track when the times when you were lazy and when you were enthusiastic.
Speaking of workout log, have you any? What do you use? There are many designs for a workout log. Many can be downloaded from the Internet. But if you make your own, would you do it in Excel or Word format? If you are more into inputting some data, your best choice is to do it in Excel. But if you like to do some jotting, describing how you were doing in your workout, then you should use a word template.
Who uses workout log, trainer or trainee?
You may be wondering how a workout is assessed even if you yourself, as powerlifter, are not using a workout log. If you are not using any, your trainer is probably the one doing the tracking, assessment, logging of your development. Even then, it is encouraged that the person doing the workout should have himself his own workout log.
Android apps or iOS
If using a pen or a pencil is too taxing for you, your best option is to use a mobile device. There are many applications or apps on either the android or the iOS. Check your phone. If it is an android, you can download some apps on Google Play, or App Store or iTunes if you are using an iPhone. The good thing with having a smart phone is that you can pair it with a smart watch.
What does a smart watch do? If you have a smart watch linked or connected to your smart phone, the former becomes an active tracker of your activities, from walking, jogging, even your heartbeat. Instead of doing a manual input, the smart watch will do it for you.
Transfer the log to your phone and then to your computer, and you can have your logs printed out, ready for your workout trainer to assess and rate your performance.
Online log
Others do an online log. In an online log, you can compare your performance to other gym rats. You can check how people are doing, and at the same time, they can check on you as well. You can exchange advice.
So, let us go back to the question, What do you call a person who does workout?
In the above, you would notice there are many terms used for someone who exercises, who works out at the gym.
If you remember, we said, trainee. Yes, a trainee, who is someone preparing himself for something else. The trainee here is preparing his muscles in a specific way he wants it to.
We also mentioned the word athlete. Yes, as in athlete who plays in the field. If you are readying your body into something else, then you can be called an athlete.
There was also the word powerbuilder. Although, not all people are into workout would want to be called powerbuilder. The word powerbuilder has some connotation that is about making someone look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And there was the word powerlifter. But how is it any different from the powerbuilder? It probably is coming from the practice of lifting heavy objects. A powerlifter is more into lifting, whereas a powerbuilder is more into shaping up his muscles.
And lastly, we mentioned the term gym rat. The word is probably a street term for someone who spends most of the time in the gym.
Do you really need a trainer to work out. No. But without guidance, and when you are on your own, chances are you will not reach your maximum capability. But even if without a personal trainer, it is important that you research on your own. You need to study what kind of workout you should undergo for a particular muscle, you need to know how much workout is needed.
Workout is not just about exercising, it is also about your diet. When you work out, you are spending a good amount of your energy, and that can affect your eating habit. Should you eat too much, should you eat a little? What are suggested foods when you are on a workout? These are some of the things to be considered.
But always remember to make use of a workout log. Without a workout log, it would be hard to keep track of your exercises. It does not have to be very sophisticated as the ones on your smartphone app, but at least is should give you a tracking of your development. By development, it means you can track if you were consistent in a particular exercise. How many push-ups have you been doing in the last two weeks, and how many this week? Have I grown some muscles in my left arm but not in my right arm? Did I increase weight from 370 pounds to 400? What have I improved?
Also, you should consider if the workout is affecting your health. Does it make you energized or does it give you plenty of body pains? If it is the latter, you need to seek advice from a trainer, from a workout expert. You may be doing it the wrong way.
