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Best Workout Diaries Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Capacity
Diaries are all about recording things and of course you need space to do that. We looked for journals with large pages, and lots of space for your data. Having areas clearly laid each for specific things makes keeping information organized a breeze. You want lots of room to write things down in a neat fashion, making it more enjoyable when you go back to review you notes later.
Adjustability
Not all fitness programs start on January 1st and similarly, neither should all planners. Undated pages are a great thing to look for so you can start recording whenever you feel inspired. Many people enjoy have ‘free’ sections included, areas with no specific designation, so you can jot down whatever comes to mind at the time.
Ease of Use
Making any new habit stick is tricky business, and a new fitness plan or workout regime is no exception. Humans will adapt to new routines with less resistance if they are pleasant and enjoyable to follow. We’re more likely to open up, and use journals that have bright, visually appealing designs and layouts that we enjoy using.
Compatibility
Everyones has different goals and therefore, everyone will want to record different things. How compatible is the style of the journal and the layout of the pages to your specific goals and aspirations. Are there spaces for the things that are important for you to track? If not, is there free areas that would allow you to add them in? Are you simply looking to record your workouts alone, or are you looking for a tool that can help with a complete lifestyle overhaul. Are you the type that enjoys motivation quotes and daily tips and tricks, or are you a seasoned fitness junkie who would rather that extra space for recording and tracking.
Style
Tons of people love the convenience that spiral bound diaries offer. You can easily flip through pages with ease, and the book will lay flat and stay open, for easy recording right to the edge of every page. However, spiral bound books are not as durable as hardcovers or those bound with a seam, and it is easy for the pages to become loose, or even fall out, if you are prone to handling your items roughly. Many people love the luxurious feel of a hardcover book, however it is worth noting that these books are heavier and take up more space in a bag than their softback counterparts. Consider how much you will be travelling with your journal, and if your prefer the durability of a bound book or the ease of use from spirals.
10 Best Workout Diaries
1. Fitlosophy: Fitbook
Fitlosophy is a fitness company offering everything from nutrition and hydration equipment, to workout apparel and all fitness things in between. It's no surprise that an industry leader would have the best workout diaries on the market as well. The Fitlosophy: Fitbook has everything you need to plan for success, stay on track, and smash your fitness goals. Avid fitness enthusiasts raved it already had spaces to record everything they were already recording, and beginners loved that the journal was simple and easy to use.
Spaces to record everything
Almost every reviewer mentioned that the Fitbook had space for them to record absolutely everything! There are trackers for nutrition, vitamins, water intake, and daily sleep. Each day also has spaces dedicated to recording cardio, classes, strength training and flexibility. Inside the Fitbook is also bonus areas for weekly reflection, your starting weight and measurements and spaces to jot down thoughts and inspirations
Bonus Features
The Fitbook comes with a free download for the fitbook+ goal setting app. The app helps you set realistic, achievable goals and then provides a handy print out for you to display in your home or office. This app is a huge bonus, and a great tool to use in addition to your journal for added success on your fitness journey.
Cost and Value
The Fitbook comes with a pen, place marking strap and the free download of the goal setting+ app. Inside you will find places to record everything you would ever want and probably a bunch of things you never thought too.
2. NewMe: Fitness Workout Log Book
This is another top pick when it comes to organizing your fitness and lifestyle plans and tracking your progress to make improvements. The design is user friendly, and so is the price. With a simple, minimalist lay-out it is easy to see why this planner is often recommended by those who work in the military.
No Unnecessary Filler Pages
Lots of reviewer liked that back to basics journal was entirely dedicated to fitness and working out. If you aren’t trying to track your food and nutrition, then all those extra pages offered in some journals would go unused and be a waste. The main thing a fitness log should be is track your workouts and this book has tons of space dedicated to just that.
Made By Pros
Who knows better how to get people motivated and help them stay on track, than the very professionals that do that for a living. With comprehensive tracking capabilities to record every workout in detail, this is a great tool to use that is endorsed by military professionals and personal trainers. Extra bonus points for the infographs included inside which show which exercises work which muscle groups, and how to perform the body fat percentage test at home.
Cost and Value
This journal has great value. Loads of reviewers raved that they would definitely repurchase this item, and at such a great price point, you can easily afford to. The small size is lightweight and the sturdy lamanite cover is bend resistant, all key points for something that will spend time being carted around in a gym bag. NewMe is so positive you will love this journal, they offer a 100% money back guarantee if you dont.
3. BODYMINDER
This journal is made by the MEMORYMINDER company, that specializes in making planners. It has a super straightforward layout and simple black and white pages that are ready to be customized by you. There is a ton of allocated sections to record things like heart rate, calories burned, and personal bests. We love the user-friendly two page per day layout and undated pages, so you can start on any day of the week, or simply use the journal on the days you workout.
Two Pages for Everyday
The streamlined two page layout is divided into sections with the left page being dedicated to cardio and strength training and the right side incorporating notes on diet, miscellaneous exercises and reminders. We love the double page layout for its ease of use, and all the room available for comprehensive data recording.
Straight Forward Black & White Layouts
The spaces are large enough that you would be able to record a full days workout with being cramped. This is great for when you want to go back and analyze your notes, it will all be neat and easy to read. Everything is black and white and there’s no colors or graphics. For a minimalist or no-nonsense type of fitness buff who can really do with the motivational quotes, this is a perfect option to consider.
Cost and Value
This workout journal is a great choice if you want a ton of space for detailed, customizable recordings. The cover is made from durable leatherette and it is spiral bound, which is great for easily flipping through pages. There are bonus areas included to record fitness expenses, games and competitions and stats and goals. Adding more value, there is enough space in this journal for 91 days of training- that works out to be 13 weeks, which is one week more than most of the 12 week options on this list.
4. Daily Greatness Training Journal
The concept behind the Daily Greatness series of journals is ‘how we start our days determine how we spend our days. How we spend our days determines our future’. The journals are designed to be used each morning, and then throughout the day to help you clearly visualize your goals for the day. Even the Daily Greatness Original is a fantastic way to stay on track and achieve your goals, but the creators came out with a suped up, deluxe version geared towards fitness and working out, it’s like having your own personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. If you’re a women or a man who appreciates feminine touches, definitely look at this pick.
Eight Daily Steps for Success
The Daily Greatness team has a page for each day of the week with 8 steps to training guaranteed to help you see results in both fitness and all areas of your life. Diet, meditation, gratitude, intentions, stretching, health reminders and self-awareness are the 8 steps Daily Greatness has laid out for helping you set the foundation for a positive, success-filled day. With eight separate steps, clearly laid out and sections to record your thoughts for each, this journal isn’t just a workout log, it’s a complete lifestyle changer for anyone working towards a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Weekly and Monthly Check-ins
With the Daily Greatness program there are sections to track your progress the whole way through your journey. Regular check-ins keep you motivated, push you to work harder and help you stick to your plan.
Cost and Value
WIth all the special features this journal offers we think its a top pick. The pages are undated, so you can start on any day of the year. You will love the bold designs and bright, full color lay-out as well. Reviewers raved about how well the Daily Greatness helped them stick to their goals, motivated them to work harder, and achieve success in all areas of life. People said they would definitely recommend to a friend, and buy again for themselves. There’s plenty of space to write as much as you require and the diary is chock full of glossy pages with motivational quotes, tips and tricks to help you be the best version of yourself.
5. Moleskine Passion Journal: Wellness
Based in Milan,Italy, the Moleskine brand is synonymous with minimalist, luxury paper products. Originally making quality notebooks, Moleskine has now branched out into a whole range of organizers, stationary, writing utensils and more. The passion line of planners is specifically geared to helping you reach your goals, with the fitness version being specifically geared towards managing and planning a healthy, active lifestyle. This journal has all the features we love to see and loads of reviewers said it makes a great gift for any aspiring fitness enthusiast on your list.
Luxury Look and Feel
The journal comes in a sage green box imprinted with a health vibe design, which is a nice touch to make you feel like you really did purchase something from a luxury brand. Moleskine uses thick, ivory paper that is acid-free, and perfectly textured for daily writing with a ballpoint pen. The durable hardcover is also a sage green and has a minimal, embossed design that stays true to the Moleskine style. We love the elastic closure and double ribbon book markers that further add to the opulence of this planner.
Large Section of Bonus Material
The front of this journal is jam-packed with a ton of awesome bonus material. It is super handy to have all this useful information at your fingertips to use as a reference point. Some of the bonus pages include nutrition tips, exercises to increase muscle mass, and fitness facts.
Cost and Value
For the fitness buff who wants to stay organized and also enjoys the finer things in life, we think this Moleskine checks all the boxes. Everything from the box to the hardcover to the extra thick, ivory paper screams luxury and will make you feel grand every time you use it. There are four designated sections to break down health & care, personal goals, diet and fitness and a bunch of blank pages in the back where you can use to record any extra notes or exercises you may have. Bonus points- this hardcover, seam bound journal looks great stored on your bookshelf when your done filling it out, becoming a personalized and tangible archive of your fitness success!
6. Erin Condren Petite Planner
Erin Condren was a bored stay-at-home mom from Austin, Texas who was trying to find something she could do from home. She began making notecards for friends and selling them at ‘home-shopping’ parties in 2004. Since then her business has blossomed into a whole lifestyle brand of funky and functional planners, notebooks, stickers and so much more. Erin is known for her cheery, whimsical designs that are beautiful and sure to brighten your day. There is a selection of covers to choose from, all of them as cute as each other. We love the petite size of this planner, which makes it easy to throw in any gym bag or purse.
Twelve Months of Space for Recording
With twelve months worth of pages, this is the only journal you will need to buy all year. The two page a day layout has one side dedicated to activity and habits (water intake, steps and hours slept) and the other with clearly designated spaces for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Having a whole year worth of data in one journal makes analyzing progress easier, and is great for people who are prone to losing things. There is a whopping 74 pages dedicated to monthly progress and goal setting!
Bonus Sticker Sheets Included
We love the super bright sticker sheet that comes as an added bonus with this planner, perfect for making reaching your goals fun at the same time! The stickers are a great way to make organizing and recording your data visually appealing. After all, why should children be the only ones who get to have fun with stickers?
Cost and Value
This journal offers a whole year worth of room to record your fitness journey, which is way more than average! What it lacks in room for detailed notes, it makes up for with the bright and colorful designs. We also love the deluxe paper this journal is printed on since the Erin Condren brand is known for luxury paper products after all. If you’re looking for a colorful, fun way to get your fitness goals on track, certainly check this planner out.
7. Chiefs and Tribes
The Chiefs and Tribes brand founded in 2017 and comes to us all the way from Germany. The small size makes this super convenient to throw in your gym bag and carry around the gym between sets, so you never forget to record anything. Thick paper and a rugged, heavy-duty front and back cover further add to this no-nonsense, utilitarian design.
Super Simple Design
The Chiefs and Tribes planner markets itself as being ‘no frills and no distractions’. It has a ton of room to record even the longest strength training workout and not much space for anything, but I mean, why would you need it? There are a few bonus pages included for adding notes about supplements or cardio.
Geared Towards Strength Trainers
While there aren’t as many sections allocated to record things like your water intake and your daily hours of sleep, that might not be what you want to track if your main goal is to get as swole as possible. With loads of blank space on each page for exercises, weight and reps, this was designed for comprehensive recording of some serious muscle pump sessions.
Cost and Value
If daily motivations and inspirations are what you’re after, this may not be the pick for you. It is definitely less of a planner or journal and more of a logbook style. If you’re after a great way to organize and record your strength training regime, this is absolutely the choice you want to consider. Bonus points for the durable hard cover with TRAIN HARD slogan and easy to open spiral binding
8. SaltWrap
Made by athletes for athletes, this super intense planner has literally got a space for everything. The journal works by first allocating space for you to plan the daily exercise and nutrition goals, and follows up with room to record your actualachievements.
Designed for Serious Athletes
This is one of the most in-depth planners on our list. It may be a little over the top for workout beginners, but for serious gym-goers and dedicated fitness professionals, this journal is a dream come true. The SaltWrap gives you all the tools you need to plan a personalized program, built just for you. A weekly check-in section asks you to weigh in on important parts of our wellbeing that are often overlooked by asking you to rate your mindset, energy levels and joint health.
Sixteen Weeks Worth of In-Depth Recording
With sixteen weeks worth of pages, this planner means business. No detail is overlooked. The food portion goes as in-depth as macro and micro tracking, meal timing and calorie counting. The workout pages are customizable to either circuit or strength-based programming. The weekly and monthly check-ins have areas to measure performance and strength goals, as well body fat composition.
Cost and Value
For serious or professional athletes and people looking to ramp their physical training up to the next level, the SaltWrap Daily Fitness Planner is the choice for you. Made by athletes for athletes, absolutely no detail has been overlooked. Reviewers loved that this journal prompted them to track things they never would have thought of, and many stated that this was the first planner that they actually stuck with using. We love that there are 16 weeks worth of pages in this journal, and bonus points for all the pages dedicated not just to recording but to planning as well.
9. Portage Fitness Notebook
This is the bare bones, entry level pick on our list. The smallest pick, these notebooks are sold in handy three pack, so you won't have to worry about running out anytime soon. What they lack in space to record detailed information, they certainly make up for with a more than affordable price point!
Super Small in Size
The smallest on our list, these little notebooks are compact enough to fit in your pocket! Around the same size as a common scratch pad, you won't need to worry about taking up a ton of space in your gym bag.
Comes in a Three Pack
These notebooks are sold in a pack of three. Each book has 140 pages- that's space to track over 200 workouts in each book, and 600 workouts for the whole pack!
Cost and Value
While these may be one of the most basic items on our list, the value is amazing! Three notepads come in one pack! You will have more than enough space to record your workouts for well over a year with this product. If you would rather spend your money on whey powder and pre-workout, this is a perfect option to consider.
10. Fitlosophy: Fitspiration
Made by the Fitlosophy company, this journal is a great pick for people looking to get a little more out of their fitness log. It has a ton of quotes and motivational sayings, is bright and cheerful to look at and offers up ample space for journalling and recording what may be on your mind.
Three Cover Designs to Choose From
This hardback style planner has three glossy cover designs to choose from. This lets you be original and select something that reflects your personal style. Bonus points for the luxurious look and feel of this item.
Prompts You to Reflect
One of the key features we like about this journal is it often asks you to reflect on certain areas of your fitness journey and provides space tor record your musings. Reflecting on what works, and what doesn't is a great way to help make long-lasting healthy habits.
Cost and Value
If you are trying to incorporate more gratitude and reflection along with your fitness journey, this is a great option to consider! It offers a ton of motivational quotes on every page, which many people find helpful. While it may not be the most comprehensive when it comes to data recordings, having a strong mind is an integral part of living a healthy life and for that reason, we love this pick. Extra points for the glossy hardcover, which will look great on your bookshelf once the journal is complete.
