Why You Should be Documenting Your Fitness Journey

Many of us have an idea of what we’d like to achieve in our fitness journeys, and it’s tempting to get started without ever looking back. One thing I wish I would’ve done a better job of during the start of my journey would be to clearly document my starting points and my progress from there. There’s plenty you can gain from documenting your overall fitness journey, not just take a look back at your humble beginnings, but also to help you in the present and give you direction as to where you’re going in the future.
Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons as to why you should document your fitness journey.
It Establishes Your ‘Point A’
What exactly do I mean by ‘Point A’? Well, you can think of your fitness journey as a path, starting from ‘Point A’ and ending at ‘Point B’. ‘Point B’, meaning you reaching a specific goal you have in mind. By clearly documenting your starting point, such as recording your weight, body composition, lifting numbers, etc., you give yourself a point of reference in which you can check on as you progress through your journey. Without documenting your ‘Point A’, your progress becomes muddled.
You Need to Track Your Progress
For beginners, it’s easy to see progress with your new exercise and diet regimen. That’s because you’re introducing your body to new and resisting forces (exercise), and an overall refined diet. That said, you’ll find it harder and harder to see significant progress as you continue your fitness journey. This is likely due to your body adapting to these lifestyle changes. In order to overcome these plateaus, you’ll want to take a more direct approach by keeping track of your diet and workouts with the goal of progressing through tangible numbers.
It Helps with Motivation
Working to achieve a healthier lifestyle can get daunting at times. There will be days where you don’t feel like working out, eating healthy, or simply even getting out of bed. That said, if you’re able to clearly document your fitness journey, your ‘Point A’ reference will serve as a great motivational factor. Looking at where you were and how far you’ve come shows you that the hard work you’ve been doing is definitely paying off. Sometimes, having that reminder is the push we need to get back in gear and take care of business.
All things considered, there are many benefits we can gain by documenting our fitness journeys. They’re also fun to share among friends, and make for a more enjoyable experience when we uplift one another as we work toward our goals. There are more ways than one to document our journeys, but any documentation certainly beats out none! How have you been documenting your fitness journey? Please let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you as well!