Keeping a Workout Journal allows you to keep track of your progress. Keeping Yourself honest by writing down your goals, plans, and progress will keep you accountable and self-motivated for staying on track. If you go to the gym with an idea in mind and no plan to follow, it's easy to slack off on your workouts or go easy on yourself, particularly if you don t have close physical workout equipment nearby and no one knows when you are cheating. Having a record of your progress, helps you focus on the plan and the tasks at hand rather than self-destructing. By keeping a detailed log of your workouts, you can:

-Keep track of your progress in the mirror. Whether you are keeping a journal to track your physical activity or your progress in regards to your nutrition, seeing yourself consistently demonstrate improvements is important to stay motivated. Seeing yourself in the mirror while you are training or doing your daily exercises can be a comforting sight as you work towards your fitness goals.

-Keep track of your progress in relation to your goals. Keeping a written journal allows you to track your goals in a concrete manner. By keeping track of how many repetitions you hit, how many calories you burn, or even the inches you improve, you will be able to see immediate results that may surprise you. Also, seeing your progress will give you incentive to continue on your path to fitness mastery.

-Keep a record of your food intake. This may seem like common sense, but food is a vital component of any fitness journey. By keeping a written record of your food intake, you can track everything you eat and when you eat it. This enables you to make healthy choices and give yourself an extra boost on those days when you eat too much. Plus, keeping a food journal allows you to have a handy reference for future workouts and/or nutrition tips.

-Don't forget your gym membership. While most people associate a gym with getting in shape, many also associate a gym with losing weight. While the two may be related to each other, many fitness goals can only be achieved with the proper exercise regimen and the commitment to stick to that routine. When you keep a workout journal, not only will you be able to see your progress, but you will be able to see the progress of your friends and neighbors as well. In addition, if your goals are unachievable at first, simply looking at your stats at the end of each month will give you encouragement.

By keeping a written record of your exercise history and your food intake, you can monitor your progress and find new motivation to keep you going. If weight loss is one of your goals, try looking at your daily intake of calories, carbohydrates, fat grams, and workout time during the morning, afternoon, and evening. For fitness goals such as building muscle or burning belly fat, focus on lifting weights, cardio workouts, or swimming/diving. As always, consult with a personal trainer or doctor before beginning any new exercise program to ensure your safety and health.