Anyone who has started a fitness routine only to stop it after a time would likely tell you that one of the reasons why they quit was that they lost motivation to continue. This is a common occurrence, but one that can be easily remedied through the use of an exercise journal. What is an exercise journal, and how can it help you meet your goals?

An exercise or workout journal is a written diary in which you record all of the exercise you get, how often you exercise, as well as the time spent and the intensity and type of the workout. Exercise journals are often used in conjunction with a food diary, in which you record the type and amount of food you consume at each meal. These two repositories of personal information help people trying to get into shape stay motivated for several reasons.

If your goal is healthy weight loss or weight gain, you need to keep a record of where you start, what your desired goal weight is, and then chart the progress that you make in order to reach your goal. If you know your start weight, then you will be able to track your progress over time concerning your weight loss or gain goals. You will have proof as you follow your plan that it is in fact working, and this will help keep you motivated to continue.

Another good reason for keeping an exercise log is to keep track of your workout schedule. To get in shape, you will want to follow a balanced plan where you spend some time on cardiovascular fitness, some on strength training, and some on improving flexibility. Keeping a journal helps you plan your workouts so you are sure to get in every type of workout you need during the course of a week, and this will also help you meet your fitness goals.

An exercise journal will also help you increase your fitness. If you start out capable of walking one mile, and your goal is to comfortably walk four miles, over time you will need to increase the distances that you walk, and also ensure that you add in a proper amount of rest for your muscles to repair in between workout sessions. A journal is a great aid to help you plan your workouts so that you are slowing increasing the duration or intensity, and this helps your stay on track with your fitness improvement plans.

Your exercise log is made much easier to use when it is online, because all of the templates are in place so that you can fill in your specific information easily. If you're not sure how to plan a fitness routine, there are several free workout plans ready that can be quickly and easily customized to your fitness needs.