Whether you prefer high-intensity workouts like running or workouts that let you move with your breath, like yoga, sticking to a fitness routine isn’t easy. With scheduling conflicts, distractions, and the ups and downs of any health endeavor, it can be easy to lose track of your goals. That’s where a fitness journal comes into play. Fitness journals provide a space for tracking progress toward goals and jotting down metrics like weight or body composition. With a fitness journal, you keep track of healthy habits and jot down how you feel throughout your fitness journey. These journals can be customized based on interests, intentions, and schedule.
To choose the best fitness journals on the market, we found ones that appeal to different needs—while weightlifters may want a journal that lets them track weights used each week, those more interested in tracking nutrition may need a journal with a different format. We found top fitness journals that allow you to track your preferred metrics and keep your schedule in mind.
Compare Top Picks
Compare Top Picks
Best Overall
Papier Wildflower Wellness Journal
Best Overall Papier Wildflower Wellness Journal
papier
$35
$30
Goal, sleep, activity, gratitude, reflection
Full Review
Best Budget
NewMe Fitness Journal
Best Budget NewMe Fitness Journal
Amazon
$10
Weight, sets, reps, exercises, cardio, goals
Full Review
Best for Weight Loss
Cossac Fitness Journal & Workout Planner
Best for Weight Loss Cossac Fitness Journal & Workout Planner
Amazon
$10
Weight, exercise reps/records, goals, calendar, and more
Full Review
Best for Weightlifters
Habit Nest The Weightlifting Gym Buddy Journal
Best for Weightlifters Habit Nest The Weightlifting Gym Buddy Journal
Amazon
$40
$32
Exercises, sets, and reps
Full Review
Best for Runners
Gone For a Run Day-by-Day Run Planner
Best for Runners Gone For a Run Day-by-Day Run Planner
Amazon
$20
Pace, distance, placement (on race days)
Full Review
Best for Yogis
Fitlosophy Fitspiration Journal
Best for Yogis Fitlosophy Fitspiration Journal
Amazon
$20
Gratitude, goals, movement, nutrition, energy level
Full Review
Best Design
Erin Condren Focused Wellness Log
Best Design Erin Condren Focused Wellness Log
Amazon
$15
Activity, nutrition, goals, water consumed, steps taken, hours slept
Full Review
Best 12-Week Planner
Fitlosophy Fitbook: Fitness Journal
Best 12-Week Planner Fitlosophy Fitbook: Fitness Journal
Amazon
$18
Workouts, food intake, mood trackers, and reflections
Full Review
Credit: Papier
This 12-week wellness journal is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also comprehensive in its ability to track progress, which is why we named it our top pick. Detailed daily pages include space for goals and intentions, as well as space for tracking habits that contribute to a healthy lifestyle, like sleep and meals.
The journal dives even deeper, prompting you to confront your thoughts and feelings as they relate to your overall wellness with questions like, “What meals nourish me?” Regular goal check-ins also help you stay on track, whether you’re focusing on setting a new PR on your next run or weight loss.
Key Specs:
Duration: 12-weeks | Size: 6 x 8 inches | Trackable Metrics: Goal, sleep, activity, gratitude, reflection | Nutrition: Daily meal tracker and “meals that nourish me” sheet
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
This high-quality, low-budget fitness book has 126 daily workout pages, leading you to track progress in multiple areas. The journal begins by having you fill out initial stats, including weight, allowing you to look back and see how far you’ve come after the dedication that follows that first step.
From there, each workout page consists of daily stats, as well as a section to write out workout notes or nutrition details for the day. The largest section of the page—the exercise chart—provides space to track the specific exercises and sets done, allowing you to better track progress over time.
Aside from the daily workout pages, there is a sheet dedicated to writing down goals, a calendar, a list where you can add “my exercises,” and a guide explaining exercises that target specific muscle groups.
Key Specs:
Duration: 126 workout pages | Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches | Trackable Metrics: Weight, sets, reps, exercises, cardio, goals | Nutrition: Small section to use for either nutrition or additional notes
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
Pros
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Calendar
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Ample goals section
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Durable exterior
This thorough workout book contains 140 pages to track your daily workouts. Each page allows you to fill in your exercises (as well as sets) and cardio. There’s also a small section to rate your workout and add any supplements (like pre-workout drinks) that were taken that day.
The goals section allows you to write out both short-term and long-term goals before asking you to choose a deadline and forming a plan for you to accomplish these goals. Additional pages with personal records for specific exercises, as well as calendars, keep you accountable as you progress through your weight loss journey.
Key Specs:
Duration: 140 workout pages | Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches | Trackable Metrics: Weight, exercise reps/records, goals, calendar, and more | Nutrition: Can use blank note space to track if desired
Credit: Amazon
This 12-week journal doubles as a training program. It takes you through customized workouts that focus on two muscle groups at a time, providing a weight training plan that ensures you don’t miss any muscle group.
Workouts include the target muscle groups, specific exercises for those groups (and pictures to show you how to do them), as well as sets and rep goals. A cardio tracker is also included with each workout, encouraging you to maintain a balanced fitness routine.
This easy-to-follow process takes the guesswork out of weightlifting, making it a great resource for rookies hoping to learn or seasoned weightlifters needing a refresher.
Key Specs:
Duration: 12-weeks | Size: 7 x 9.5 inches | Trackable Metrics: Exercises, sets, and reps | Nutrition: Not available
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
This journal was designed by runners, for runners. It has two different workout sections—one for daily runs and one for race days. The daily run pages let you track distance and pace, as well as the route you took, the terrain, and the weather. This way you can see how you perform on hills, in the rain, or in other variables that may impact your pace.
The race day sheet helps you keep all your races in one place, noting PRs or milestones that may move you toward your goals. Longer-term goals can be stored at the front of the book, reminding you what you’re working toward every time you open it. Lastly, you can track your long-term progress with weekly and monthly summaries.
Key Specs:
Duration: 160 workout pages | Size: 5.5 x 7 inches | Trackable Metrics: Pace, distance, placement (on race days) | Nutrition: Not available
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
This 16-week journal takes individuals through daily entries that include a gratitude list, a daily goal, and sections to track daily movement, nutrition, and reflection. There’s also blank space for journaling and a “fit tip” for further inspiration.
This journal not only encourages physical wellness but also focuses on the intentions and mental boost that yoga provides. With space to reflect freely and prompts that help you better understand your daily mood, both beginners and seasoned yogis can utilize the journal for holistic wellness.
Key Specs:
Duration: 16-weeks | Size: 6.5 x 8 inches | Trackable Metrics: Gratitude, goals, movement, nutrition, energy level | Nutrition: Included in daily entries
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
The Wellness Log from Erin Condren provides a concise yet thorough approach to everyday health. The 80 pages of weekly tracking include an activity section, a habits tracker (water consumed, steps taken, and hours slept), a nutrition section, and a space for weekly wellness goals.
Monthly progress check-ins are included, making it easy to see continual progress. It also includes a starting page with instructions on how to create wellness goals that are achievable while still challenging individuals to push farther than before. There are additional blank pages in the back of the book for more notes and reminders.
Key Specs:
Duration: 80 pages | Size: 5.7 x 8.25 inches | Trackable Metrics: Activity, nutrition, goals, water consumed, steps taken, hours slept | Nutrition: Daily food tracker
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
This 12-week planner begins with a stats sheet that lets you track weight, body fat percentage, and nutrition goals for the duration of the notebook. It also provides space to write down what the motivation behind your goals is—to remind users of their “why” when the going gets tough. The planner can work in conjunction with a fitness tracker to help you reach your fitness and nutrition goals.
From there, the journal is split into weeks with workouts and nutrition sections for each day. Every week starts with a new stats sheet for continued progress tracking. Lastly, the journal comes with specific workout sheets, with a place to track strength training sets and reps, cardio, and any classes you’ve taken.
Key Specs:
Duration: 12-weeks | Size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches | Trackable Metrics: Weight, body fat percentage, goals, daily meals, exercise sets, and reps | Nutrition: Daily meal tracker
What to Look for in a Fitness Journal
Time Frame
Fitness journals allow you to track time frames that range from a month to a year. If you’re doing a specific program, make sure that your journal won’t run out in the middle of it (or prepare to refill its pages). Generally, the most common time frames are either 12 weeks or one year.
Size
Your fitness journal should be able to travel to the gym with you. Leave any extra-large journals behind; you need a book that won’t weigh down your gym bag.
Trackable Metrics
Fitness journals provide a variety of metrics for you to track. This could be simple, like the amount of weight you’ve lost or the number of steps you’ve taken. Many journals will also provide space to track full workouts, down to the sets and reps you do for every exercise. You can also use it as an additional log of key metrics from your favorite fitness tracker.
Nutrition
Many fitness journals will include a section to track your nutrition. This should include your water intake, food, and perhaps a grocery store list for future meal prep. Some journals may also help you track macros and calories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of fitness journals and tracking?
Studies show that wearable fitness trackers, such as high-tech smartwatches and pedometers, are effective at increasing physical activity. You can combine your journal with these devices to keep an additional log of metrics and progress toward workout goals. Plus, research shows that writing by hand increases brain connectivity patterns that promote learning. This makes handwritten journaling a great choice when starting a fitness plan.
What do I put in a fitness journal?
What you put in your fitness journal is up to you, but it’s recommended that you track your workouts, as well as your daily nutrition. You can track these things at the surface level with metrics like what workout you did and what you ate, or you can go deeper with rep counts and macros for each of your meals. No matter how you utilize your fitness journal, it should help you track and plan for progress.
How do I set up my fitness journal?
Most fitness journals will already be set up for you. You just have to fill in the appropriate blank spaces. Many journals will provide space to put in current metrics (like your weight), so you’ll be able to track progress as you move through your fitness journey. Fill out all the preliminary information and make a plan for how often you’ll update it. You may want to pick days to use it and use symbols or abbreviations for particular workouts or counts.
Why Trust Verywell Fit
As a fitness coach, long-time wellness enthusiast, and Verywell Fit health editor, Lily Moe understands the importance of equipment that is made to help you reach your fitness goals, whether outside or in the gym. Most importantly, Lily always looks for research and first-hand reviews when it comes to deciding on a product.
