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Workout logging is an interesting product/User Interface problem. There are a lot of workout logger apps, but not a single one has emerged as a clear leader in

Workout logging is an interesting product/User Interface problem. There are a lot of workout logger apps, but not a single one has emerged as a clear leader in the space. Why is that? Also, a lot of tech savvy people that go to gym, still use the trusted pen'n'paper approach. Why is that? One reason is that training regimes differ a lot - a single app is unlikely to be a good for strength training (training is build around 3-5 big movements with a few auxiliary exercises), body-building (more movements) and crossfitting. Other reason is that convenience of pen and paper input is still hard to beat, and for reason or another, people don't get enough value from the digital views to their training history and performance.

_pmf_ 9y ago
> Also, a lot of tech savvy people that go to gym, still use the trusted pen'n'paper approach. Why is that? Speaking for me: I need to track partial sets, shady reps, circle training setups and posture/alignment/speed reminders/observations to myself. Free text works best; the last thing I want to do when I'm shaking and sweating profusely is diddle around with how to enter something in a convoluted app setup. (To be fair, I do my "creative", i.e. SW design/architecture notetaking mostly on paper, too.)
wheresvic1 9y ago
THIS! I have been working out for the past 13 years and I've had exactly the same problem. I still leave my phone in the locker, take my iPod from 2007 for music and log my workouts on pen/paper. Recently, I've been hitting some plateaus and I desperately wanted to see what my progress has been over the years as a motivator and that's what lead me to make Ewolo. I'm starting to use it to log workouts directly in the gym but old habits die hard, haha.
- NicoJuicy 9y ago
  Can you upload a demo of the sheet you are using ( the paper one)?
  - wheresvic1 9y ago
    Sure you can just email me vic@ewolo.fitness and I'll be happy to send you a scanned sheet. Cheers,
ozim 9y ago
One thing is that if your usual machine/stand is occupied you have to improvise with other exercise which for paper is trivial to do where in app you usually end up going through loads of menus to add custom exercise. I do not want to spend time waiting for stand or fiddling with app, I want to do my workout in 1 hour or less and go home do something more interesting.
Denzel 9y ago
Exactly this. Using a phone/website/app while I'm lifting weights in the gym is the last thing I want to do. So, I use pen-and-paper and copy over to Google Sheets weekly. That way I have the raw historical data: I can track progress, derive metrics, and create graphs with ease. But that's not to say I don't want a better solution! Workout logging is primarily an exercise (pun not intended) in intense user experience design. The designer must understand the task context. There's one killer input modality in my mind -- an Apple Watch. I have no issue wearing a watch while I'm working out. And it'd be fantastic if an app could: - Track my daily exercise ordering (i.e. it knows what I'm supposed to do next) - Show my rep/weight history for the current exercise and allow input of results after sets - Monitor and record my HR throughout my workout and estimate my rest intervals/vibrate when my rest interval is up - Offer alternative exercises when requested - Etc. There's so much you could do with a watch as the primary mode of input. The watch is what you use in the gym. And the computer/tablet is what you use for analysis later. If someone were to execute this properly, I'd be all over it.
innopreneur 9y ago
For me, its about not unlocking the phone everytime (i am used to screen locks) after minute (typical set duration) and log my stats. So I prefer pen and paper. What would be cool though is the ability to log my stats using voice input and that would be easier and more convenient as I am almost always with my headphones (with mic support). So, then I can simply say something like "exercise 1..set 2.. 12 reps.. 80 pounds" and it should log it. This will save lot of efforts to take out my phone and log workouts manually..
- jjar 9y ago
  I'm assuming you have a home gym because I can think of nothing more silly than being the guy sitting on a bench in my crowded commercial gym speaking his stats into a phone.
  - innopreneur 9y ago
    No. I don't have home gym. But, my gym is nearly empty during my workout times (6 am mornings). But, I wouldn't care and use mic even in crowded gym if its more convenient. :P
nxsynonym 9y ago
Honestly the only two things I need from a workout logger are: 1) A timer - tracks rest periods (1.5 mins, 3 mins, 5 mins) and alerts when rest is over 2) set/rep tracking - I just want to know which set I am on and how many are left everything else is icing on the cake. Would love a smart watch app that can track rests and sets/reps and upload to spreadsheet/db, which I could access from my phone or laptop once I'm home. The biggest annoyance to me currently is having to take phone out of pocket, unlock it, tap to log.

_pmf_ 9y ago

> Also, a lot of tech savvy people that go to gym, still use the trusted pen'n'paper approach. Why is that? Speaking for me: I need to track partial sets, shady reps, circle training setups and posture/alignment/speed reminders/observations to myself. Free text works best; the last thing I want to do when I'm shaking and sweating profusely is diddle around with how to enter something in a convoluted app setup. (To be fair, I do my "creative", i.e. SW design/architecture notetaking mostly on paper, too.)

wheresvic1 9y ago

THIS! I have been working out for the past 13 years and I've had exactly the same problem. I still leave my phone in the locker, take my iPod from 2007 for music and log my workouts on pen/paper. Recently, I've been hitting some plateaus and I desperately wanted to see what my progress has been over the years as a motivator and that's what lead me to make Ewolo. I'm starting to use it to log workouts directly in the gym but old habits die hard, haha.

NicoJuicy 9y ago
Can you upload a demo of the sheet you are using ( the paper one)?
- wheresvic1 9y ago
  Sure you can just email me vic@ewolo.fitness and I'll be happy to send you a scanned sheet. Cheers,

ozim 9y ago

One thing is that if your usual machine/stand is occupied you have to improvise with other exercise which for paper is trivial to do where in app you usually end up going through loads of menus to add custom exercise. I do not want to spend time waiting for stand or fiddling with app, I want to do my workout in 1 hour or less and go home do something more interesting.

Denzel 9y ago

Exactly this. Using a phone/website/app while I'm lifting weights in the gym is the last thing I want to do. So, I use pen-and-paper and copy over to Google Sheets weekly. That way I have the raw historical data: I can track progress, derive metrics, and create graphs with ease. But that's not to say I don't want a better solution! Workout logging is primarily an exercise (pun not intended) in intense user experience design. The designer must understand the task context. There's one killer input modality in my mind -- an Apple Watch. I have no issue wearing a watch while I'm working out. And it'd be fantastic if an app could: - Track my daily exercise ordering (i.e. it knows what I'm supposed to do next) - Show my rep/weight history for the current exercise and allow input of results after sets - Monitor and record my HR throughout my workout and estimate my rest intervals/vibrate when my rest interval is up - Offer alternative exercises when requested - Etc. There's so much you could do with a watch as the primary mode of input. The watch is what you use in the gym. And the computer/tablet is what you use for analysis later. If someone were to execute this properly, I'd be all over it.

innopreneur 9y ago

For me, its about not unlocking the phone everytime (i am used to screen locks) after minute (typical set duration) and log my stats. So I prefer pen and paper. What would be cool though is the ability to log my stats using voice input and that would be easier and more convenient as I am almost always with my headphones (with mic support). So, then I can simply say something like "exercise 1..set 2.. 12 reps.. 80 pounds" and it should log it. This will save lot of efforts to take out my phone and log workouts manually..

jjar 9y ago
I'm assuming you have a home gym because I can think of nothing more silly than being the guy sitting on a bench in my crowded commercial gym speaking his stats into a phone.
- innopreneur 9y ago
  No. I don't have home gym. But, my gym is nearly empty during my workout times (6 am mornings). But, I wouldn't care and use mic even in crowded gym if its more convenient. :P

nxsynonym 9y ago

Honestly the only two things I need from a workout logger are: 1) A timer - tracks rest periods (1.5 mins, 3 mins, 5 mins) and alerts when rest is over 2) set/rep tracking - I just want to know which set I am on and how many are left everything else is icing on the cake. Would love a smart watch app that can track rests and sets/reps and upload to spreadsheet/db, which I could access from my phone or laptop once I'm home. The biggest annoyance to me currently is having to take phone out of pocket, unlock it, tap to log.