Record the exercise, equipment, set number, actual reps or time, and load. Keep planned targets separate and use the same naming and weight conventions each time.
Choose a name you can recognize next week
“Row” can describe a cable row, dumbbell row or machine exercise. Pick a name that identifies the movement and record the equipment. If the setup matters to comparison, keep a short note such as the machine setting or the grip used.
Consistency matters more than elaborate naming. Two sessions with the same label should describe similar work. If you deliberately change the exercise or setup, make that change visible in the record.
Separate the target from the completed set
| Set | Planned target | Actual result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 reps at 30 kg | 10 reps at 30 kg | Completed as planned |
| 2 | 10 reps at 30 kg | 9 reps at 30 kg | Keep actual reps in the log |
| 3 | 10 reps at 30 kg | 8 reps at 30 kg | Do not copy the target into the result |
This example records 27 actual repetitions, not the planned 30. If you copied the target into every result, your history would overstate the work completed. The same principle applies when you change the load, stop a set early or substitute a timed movement.
Define your weight and time conventions
For a barbell exercise, be clear whether the entered load includes the bar. For paired dumbbells, choose whether your record describes one dumbbell or the combined external load. Keep that convention consistent and mention it in the exercise note.
Did You Lift uses kilogram targets for strength sets and seconds for timed movements. If your equipment is labeled differently, convert deliberately before entering a target. Do not mix pounds and kilograms under the same label and then compare the numbers directly.
For bodyweight movements without added load, record reps or duration even when weighted volume is zero. The absence of an entered external weight does not make the exercise disappear from your session.
Add only notes that help a later decision
A short note can explain why two sessions differ. A different machine, a changed order or an interrupted session may be useful context. You do not need to record every detail of the day.
At review time, compare similar exercises and check actual reps, load and the relevant context together. A single higher number is not enough to establish that every aspect of training improved. Use your existing program or a qualified coach to decide how targets should change.
Put the template into Did You Lift
Build your planned day, add exercises and set the intended reps or time for each set. During the workout, enter actual reps and weight, then complete the set. The app moves into the rest countdown and keeps the next set visible in sequence.
Some comparison and planning features are part of optional lifetime Premium, including seeing last logged values when an exercise returns. Check the current listing for details. Your actual session record remains distinct from an exported routine: sharing a plan sends targets, not your completed workout history.
To understand the arithmetic behind sets and load, continue with the workout-volume guide. To organize several days, use the weekly-planning worksheet.
Common questions
Should I record warm-up sets?
If you record them, label them consistently so you can distinguish them from the working sets you intend to compare. The important part is not silently changing what a total includes.
Should I log planned reps or actual reps?
Keep both if useful, but label them separately. The actual result is the record of what you completed.
Published by Moocsoft, the independent studio behind Did You Lift. Examples and worksheets are illustrative. App features can vary by platform and version; see the store listing for current availability and in-app purchases.