Start an Exercise Diary

Why do I need an exercise diary?

A diary can be a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your exercise routine. You don’t know how your body will react to certain exercises, so it can be helpful to record how you feel to discuss with your doctor later. You can also use the diary to monitor your progress.

Just like you keep track of budgets, bills, grocery lists, and other parts of your daily life, keeping an exercise diary is a great way to make sure you are staying on track or making note of things that aren’t working for you.

What should go in my exercise diary?

• How you feel before you exercise: Start by writing down what you feel like, both physically and emotionally, before you begin working out. That will give you a “baseline” to compare to
• Type of exercise and duration: After you are done, record exactly what you did and how long it took (for example, “I walked a quarter mile in 15 minutes, with a 2-minute break halfway through”)
• Your mood after your exercise: Once you’ve had a chance to cool down, write down how you are feeling again

After a few weeks, you will hopefully begin to see what types of exercise, if any, make you feel the best. Share the results with your doctor, so you and your doctor can adjust your exercise plan to fit your needs.

Where can I find one?

There are several ways to start an exercise diary. Some examples include:

1. Start a diary online. There are a lot of websites you can try, such as Mynetdiary.com
2. Download an app for your computer, phone, or tablet
3. Find a device, such as a pedometer or sensor, that can track how many steps you take, how well you sleep, and other health-related stats
4. Use a notepad as your diary