Look at my very first training journal (cir. 1994)
I did some digging through my old junk and came across my old training journals from high school, this was way back in 1994… I was only 14 years old!
If you are not keeping a training journal, start one NOW! It’s the best way to ensure increased intensity over time as well as a great way to motivate yourself based on improvements.
My Strength Camp athletes and those who are training with my Football Strength System understand the importance of a training journal.
You’re gonna love this video!
Do you keep a training journal?
Tell me what your very first Bench Press was? – haha!
Related posts:
I remember when I was 14. I had not even bench pressed 100 lbs yet! I was 6’0 115 lbs!
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As Salamu alaykum Elliot. Which means May the peace and mercy of God be upon you.
I always press upon my athletes and clients that what gets measured get improved.
I started with my first training log around the same time, however, I was just going into the Marine Corps.
Keep up the great work. You inspire me to take action.
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It’s pretty funny to see this post today. Last night I was looking back at my running log from last summer. I ran 2 miles, walked 1 mile, then ran 2 more all at 9:30 min/mile pace. I remarked that I was “very nervous” about my 7 mile run that weekend. Now an easy day is 8 miles at 8:30 min/mile pace. I’ve come a long way in just over a year but I still have a long way to go.
I think it’s easy to get caught up in short term fluctuations in ability, or get discouraged by a bad workout here and there. It’s definitely helpful to look back at where long term, consistent training has brought you…no matter what you’re training for.
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My frist logged bench press was June 2003.. 165lbs and it was all I had to get it up. My BW was 315lbs and I was sitting around 42% BF
6 months later I was at a 315LB bench press at 265lbs, 28-30%. Just a little bit of lower carb dieting, cardio and newbie gains.
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[...] free to start a Training Journal with over 20 other on the GS FaceBook site [...]
Hey Elliot, good stuff bro. I noticed it was your goal to nearly double your BP to 400 in just a little over half a year. Did you acheive it?
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Kevin,
No, i didnt bench 400 until AFTER college! I was built to squat and pull… pressing took me a while to develop and is still my weaker lift.
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Jon
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January 3rd, 2012 at 6:53 pm
im good at the bench, but i havent really squatted much. I want to squat more for football I started squatting for about 2 months now. Ive gained like 15 lbs on it. Do you have any tips to increasing it faster
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ill try im only 13, so i guess i should start now!
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Yeah, you’re right. But for rookie, i dun know how to organise a timetable, cuz i dun even know wt to do.
Great man, gotta love it.
God bless.
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Great post Elliott!
I’m 60 years old and I still have journals from several years back.
I emphasize to all my athletes to keep a journal and explain to them the inmportance of them and how they apply to their individual progression.
“Without a sense of history, one is ill equipped to evaluate the present or the future.” Winston Churchill-One of my favorite quotes. Pretty much says it all as to the importance of keeping a journal.
Keep up the great work. And, by the way, I am currently on your “Lean Hybrid Muscle”/Super Strength Building Program right now for the second month. I’m making great progress. I’m not at the heavy weights I used to lift (315 for 2 reps and 275 lbs for 20 reps on the squat just below parallel, both at 155 lbs bodyweight and at age 45) but feel great and having great fun!:)
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Hey Elliott, top advice about the training journal. I started keeping one about 4 years ago, and they are essential for tracking progress! As an experiment I stopped using mine for about 12 months, and guess what, my weights actually dropped! So all you people who want to get stronger, as Elliott says write it down.
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Elliot:
That’s great that you had your uncle to guide you early on; I’m sure it helped minimize the number of bad starts you might otherwise have had.
I too use colors to augment the info I record on myself — over time I have “evolved” my workout regimens and revamped my logs to accomodate different routines, ( whole Body / compound and isolation sets) so that I can record any variance of them on a single (8.5 X 11inch) sheet of paper (I highlight the type of workout for the week; have a day/date calendar at the top and break down my activities by columns — have a weight column, type of equipment column [Crossbow / Barbell / Dumb bell/ Body Weight) and Reps & Sets column. I also have a notes section at the bottom.
I have been utilizing workout logs since my days in the military (circa1963), but have not retained them for more than current year workouts. I wish I had archived all those years — it would have been interesting to see how my commitment to the lifestyle evolved from its beginnings. If I had to do it all over again I definitely would keep the history {and will from this day forward}.
Keep the faith and thanks for sharing!
kEN p
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Hi Elliot
!!!!PIONEERING NEW PLATEAUS EXECLLENCE!!!!
You are a really interesting guy Elliot.
I found the bit about your Uncle and him training you and your brother really interesting – any chance of hearing more about him and his influence on you.
I was just eating that up!
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Elliott
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May 20th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Thanks Mark, I talk about him a lot in my Gridiron Strongman book and there is an interview with he and I in my Lean Hybrid Muscle book / program.
Best.
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I love this nostalgia thing! I have a picture of me at 14, on Christmas, in a Gold’s Gym t-shirt, rockin a Brian Bosworth “sports mullet”, weighin 130#, opening my first weight set! As far as journaling, I won’t train myself, or anyone else, without journaling it. My wife is far too hard on herself, so I frequently refer to our old journals when she would deadlift with a 32# kettlebell. She can now workout with 165 a year later. She can’t help but smile when I pull out old journals and it’s right there in front of her!
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nice man i do the same stuff i am 15 years this mounth i and my 1st bench was 22pounds and now it is littel over 110 pounds
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95×6 in gym class after wrestling 65×1 then I started working out for football!
Now 295-300 after 3-4 years!
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