One of the first things you should be doing when you start training regularly is keeping a journal. It is fairly fundamental. If you set goals for weight loss, muscle gain, or endurance, how else will you know when you reach them without a journal to look at? Such a journal can be as simple or as sophisticated as you like.
If you are interested in real numbers, a heart rate monitor is really essential. Polar makes some great ones, though there are many other brands to choose from. I’d recommend one of these for everyone anyway, as it’s the best way for you to see how much your workout exerts your heart. It will also help you avoid under training if that’s your tendency or over training as some of us are prone to. Some of these heart rate monitors come with a history function, so you can save past performance profiles. The best ones even allow you to sync that information with your computer.
Well if that idea has piqued your interest, take a look at what Garmin has come out with. These Forerunner watches are the proverbial kitchen sink of workout data collectors. They’ve managed to fit GPS receivers in these babies providing you with precise information on how far you ran. They also feature AutoPause a technology which notices when you slow down or stop at a traffic light. Couple these amazing features with the usual heart rate monitor, and stop watch and you have an incredible device. But with these at-your-wrist computers, you can also set a distance and pace, and have the watch push you like a personal trainer would. Top all that off with a USB syncing feature that brings all this data into your computer, and you’ll have endless new training data. They even have a website Motion Based which will let you upload your data, and provide you with workout analysis.
If you’ve reached a wall with your workout routine, this device will surely assist you in pushing past it.
Thanks Noorin.