When you start tracking your exercise progress, you will have a clear picture of what you’ve already achieved and what’s yet to come. Delve into this blog post to discover some of the most effective ways to track your exercise progress!
Do you think a decreasing number on the weight scale is the only metric that determines your fitness levels? We must tell you—there are many ways to track your progress.
To gain a comprehensive assessment of your overall exercise routine, you need to go beyond the numbers on your scale. By utilizing different tracking methods, you won’t be limited to just one dimension. Instead, you’ll get a complete report card covering every aspect in detail which you can discuss with your personal trainer to make necessary adjustments to your exercise routine.
Here’s how you can start tracking your exercise progress, along with expert tips from Athleaders’ top personal trainers in Singapore to help you stay on track and achieve your fitness goals!
6 Effective Ways to Track Exercise Progress
1. Keep a Check On Your Body Measurements
Body measurements can be one of the most effective ways to track your exercise progress. Measuring different areas like the waist, chest, arms, and thighs can help determine body composition progress more accurately than just measuring body weight.
Since body weight can fluctuate throughout the day due to various factors such as hydration, stress levels, and digestion, it might not always provide an accurate picture.
Tips by our personal trainer to take accurate body measurements:
- Always use a flexible tape and make sure it’s held snugly against your skin.
- Have a friend, exercise partner, or personal trainer help you measure difficult areas.
- Make a schedule to measure yourself daily in the morning to avoid misleading results caused by bloating, water retention, and other factors.
2. Never Skip On Photos
Pictures don’t lie. Don’t get disheartened if your weight remains the same even after spending hours at the gym—it could be because you’re losing fat but building muscle. That’s why progress photos are essential.
Check out tips from the personal trainer at Athleaders given below before you take your pictures:
- Wear the same (or similar) clothing each time
- Take photos at the same time of day (preferably in the morning)
- Ensure good lighting
- Capture from different angles- front, side, and back angles
You might not notice daily changes, but comparing a picture from today to one from three months ago will amaze you!
3. Create a Journal
A workout journal is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to track all your fitness goals, from weight loss and muscle gain to endurance boosts and overall fitness.
Here are some of the tips by our personal trainer to help you create a workout journal:
- Whether you prefer a traditional pen-and-paper approach or a workout app, make sure you update your journal regularly.
- Record details like water intake and which foods best support your fitness journey.
- Don’t forget to include motivational quotes in your journal to start your day with enthusiasm.
4. Use Fitness Apps & Wearable Tech
In today’s fast-paced technological landscape, where there are apps and fitness trackers for everything, you can use them to log workouts, track calories, monitor heart rate, count steps, and more.
At Athleaders, our personal trainers in Singapore consider these trackers invaluable in a fitness journey.
Check out some of the expert tips mentioned below when choosing a fitness tracker:
- Buy a gadget that aligns with your lifestyle and your specific fitness needs.
- Ensure the battery’s life expectancy before purchasing
- Ensure your device’s compatibility with a fitness app you’re comfortable using.
5. Track your 1RM (1-Repetition Max)
1RM, or One-Repetition Max, is the metric determining the maximum amount of weight you can lift for a single repetition. Before the absolute limit is checked in a single go, know that the process ascends gradually—checking your ability to complete up to 10 repetitions, as long as the last repetition is performed to failure (or close to failure). Tracking your 1RM is a valuable tool in weight training, helping to assess strength levels and guide progressive overload.
When offering personal training in Singapore, our trainers keep note of our client’s 1RM right from the beginning of their fitness journey to keep track of their progress.
Not only does this help you monitor your gains, but it also ensures your training plan is optimized for results. And if you’re wondering about the personal trainer cost in Singapore, rest assured that investing in expert guidance is the best way to maximize your strength and performance effectively.
6. Determine Body Fat Percentage (BF%)
Rather than focusing purely on the weight on the scale, BF% provides you with a breakdown of your body composition into lean mass and fat mass. The objective of a sustainable weight loss and strength training program is to increase the amount of lean muscle mass. This is crucial as we all lose muscle mass after the age of 30; plus, lean muscle mass contributes to a healthy metabolism, and ensures that weight stays down and that body fat gets reduced.
Final Thought
When it comes to determining the best ways to track exercise progress, there’s no one-size-fit-all approach. While some people love detailed tracking with apps and spreadsheets, while others prefer taking photos and listening to how their body feels.
At Athleaders, our personal trainers in Singapore always suggest using multiple methods to get a well-rounded view of your progress, while staying motivated and making informed adjustments to your fitness routine.
If you’re willing to kickstart your fitness journey but do not have time or resources to step out of your home, Athleaders has got you covered. We have skilled at home personal trainers in Singapore that can not only help you begin your journey but also guide you with personalized workout plans, nutrition advice, and a lot more in the comforts of your home. So, let’s get started today!
FAQs
What is the best training protocol for busy individuals/ if I only want to train 2/3 days a week?
A Cross-body training style – meaning alternating between an upper and a lower body movement – has proven to be the most effective training style for people who train 1-3 days a week. At Athleaders, all our trainers know how to customise this particular training style to the personal objectives and requirements of busy individuals.
What is the price of personal training in Singapore?
The price of personal training in Singapore typically ranges from SGD $100 to SGD $350. The cost of training is based on a variety of other factors like trainer’s experience, location, and program complexity.