Strength training app - any recommendations?

[Omegamanic]

For recording workouts, I use the free version of Heavy Set.

[walkerwek1958]

Whatever training or fitness regime is adopted, it's essential to write down and record everything, I`ve recently rediscovered this basic fact. Years ago when I ran seriously I always kept a training diary, when I had to stop I also stopped keeping diaries or any record of training /fitness sessions. Last Christmas, faced with advancing years and an expanding waistline (never a good look for a bloke with a small frame) I bit the bullet and resolved to get seriously fit again. From January all gym and running sessions have been recorded in an A4 desk diary, it's all in there, I can see exactly what I've done complete with comments and any relevant data such as timing runs or calories burnt on the infernal cross-trainer machine at the local gym. After 4 months I can review everything, see how many days included no exercise (and why), it's like reading a bank statement. Training is like drip-feeding money into a bank account, regular inputs mount up to something substantial and reviewing the account statement proves this. Doesn`t need to be anything computer or phone-based, write it in a diary. There's something cathartic about the act of writing it in following a hard session, likewise the days with a black penstroke denoting no exercise can provide a gentle kick up the arse and stimulate self-motivation, especially if there wasn`t a good reason such as illness etc.

Forget the apps, just do it, and be sure to record what's been done. It also helps to plan out a schedule in advance and review progress after 3-4 weeks. Weight lost, inches lost, reduction in resting heartbeat, ability to do more reps at higher weight, running faster, all are means to quantify progress, but the most important one is how you actually feel.

In my own case, I`ve exercised on 91 out of 120 days , 2 bouts of mild illness, after-effects of a shingles jab, a short holiday plus a few days where a rest was needed are the reasons for not achieving better than 75%. Weight has dropped from 12 st 4 to 11st 6, resting heart rate is down to 48, 5-6 mile runs are now achievable albeit slower than I`d like, and clothes now fit much better. Plenty of proof that my own fitness regime works, improved diet has also played its part but I`ve still eaten well and drunk plenty of beer. What I did find hard was the slow progress over the first 4 weeks, prior to Christmas I`d been getting in the gym 2 or 3 times/week so I wasn`t starting from scratch, but it took a while to see (and feel) much progress. Looking at the diary I can see why, a cold/viral illness in early January flared up again twice so I only managed 50% exercise days , without the diary that wouldn't have been so obvious.

Next phase for me is holding the gains and (hopefully) doing more running. May hasn't started well, I'm currently suffering with the cold from hell plus a mild hamstring pull but I plan to get back on the exercise horse over the next few days. Looking at the diary and seeing how much I put into the first 4 months is helping and it'll be good to start filling in some exercise sessions rather than the black penstroke!

Just do it, and write it down, be self-motivating.........it works!