Most people are not big fans of using training journals when they start lifting weights. Why should I they think, I'm lifting weights to get bigger or stronger, not to become a writer. They are extra work and extra trouble and most of us just don't want to be bothered. Well, after a few weeks of floundering through the weight room without any results may have you changing your mind. At this point you might be motivated to try anything that will help you to show some improvement in your training. Introducing weight training journals, which really can make a difference in your weight training results.

I was never a big fan of them myself until I found out that charting your progress really does help you progress faster in the gym. Her are 6 very good reasons to start using a weight training journal:

1. The biggest key to success in weight training is constant improvement. To know that you've improved you need to know how much you were lifting yesterday, last week and last month.

2. You need to be able to analyze your progress to see where you're improving, where your not and what works to help you improve faster.

3. It is very helpful to be able to take notes while you're lifting. That way you can make changes next time. If you don't write it down you're likely to forget and to keep repeating the same mistakes.

4. It helps you with goal setting. If you don't know how much you benched last time how can you say you've benched more today. With a weight training journal you can chart your progress and can set realistic future goals based on your past performance.

5. It helps you to feel organized and like you've got a purpose when you're in the gym. There's nothing worse than going forward blindly.

6. Helps to stimulate your competitiveness if you know what your best lift is. Next time you can challenge yourself to beat it.

When you keep a weight lifting journal your workouts will be more organized, more productive and possibly even quicker. You will also be giving yourself positive reinforcement every time you reach one of your goals, even if the goal is just to add 1 rep or 5 pounds to a lift.

Weight training journals also help to make you feel more accountable to yourself. It's harder to skip a workout when you know you've set a goal for yourself in writing. Start keeping a weight training journal today and I guarantee that in 12 weeks you'll be amazed at your progress and you'll be glad that you did.