Computerized Training Log on SL5x5

[brosephiroth]

I think what would be awesome for this site is some sort of automatic fill-in-the-blank training logs. That way, you can browse through "profiles" that show people's starting weight, height, etc. then you can go through and see what they have done. It can have space for comments and such.
Not that I don't like this forum, it's great, just would like to separate the raw numbers from the bulk of conversation. I would still support having regular threads called "So-and-So's Training Log" where people would discuss their workouts. Just instead of having everyone's different ways of writing their logs and stats, we would streamline the effort with a "Check out my Training Log under the name "Brosephiroth" and let me know how I'm doing!"
The Training Log could have profile you have to fill out. Age, Gender, Weight, Height, and Date started SL 5x5. Then for each day there would be room for about 5-6 Exercises and next to each one is 5 empty boxes where you fill in how many reps you completed. The Exercise box could have automatic choices of Squat, Deadlift, Bent Over Row, Bench Press, Overhead Press, and then a few option on the bottom where you can fill in your own. Just in case someone is doing a Seated Press or something. I'm sure this could be done!
For instance, I haven't been posting new updates with EVERY workout. But, it would be nice if this site had some sort of "Member Training Log" area so I could keep track of things just like I do on the Excel spreadsheet Mehdi provided.
Thoughts?
 

[mishka]

I just type it out.

[turtle]

Your right, that would be great.  I have been working on putting something together for myself but if there is intrest, maybe I will put some extra time into it so other can use too.

[jacob]

It seems this would be easy enough to do using google docs ... sounds like a good idea. I'll try to draft something up using mehdi's spreadsheet if I have a chance. Then anybody who wants can create a google doc spreadsheet with their workouts, and link to it in the forum.  

[jdurando]

Good Idea Jacob - that would be helpful to pull up on a pda while working out too, a greener workout - no paper wasted.

[Mehdi]

I've seen that stuff before on other sites. Even have been approached for it. I don't seen any benefits. As mishka said, just write it out. Copy paste previous workouts, correct the weights/date to current. Selecting exercises, filling in fields, etc so much work.
Feel free to surprise me with anything you have/can make, but I doubt anyone can come up with something superior in terms of efficiency that simply typing it out.

[jacob]

Hmm. Mehdi has a point in terms of simplicity of use. As I think about this more, it's also easier to read text in the forum than it is to click a link to an external doc site.

[brosephiroth]

I'm not refering to an external link, but a tab on the top just like "Blog, Forum, etc" that is "Training Logs". That way each member can put in all of their stats for EVERY workout without the clutter of individual workout posts with all of the discussion in between. I'd like to be able follow step by step someone's path without having to read the comments if I don't want to. I think that ease of use would be attractive to newcomers to the site.
For instance, let's say Mr. 190 lbs,  6'  1", age 40 come to the site. He would probably wander to the training logs section and see a profile for Mr. Member 42, 180 lbs, 6' and find it very interesting to be able to go right down the line and see how they progressed. This section would be organized by Member Name, Genger, Age, Height, Weight, and date started SL 5x5. Within the section there would be the ability to post weight at certain point etc. I don't want to talk down the current forum. I would encourage to continue them just like they are. But, in conjuction with a nice clean workout training log section.
This can be as easy as a couple clicks. You could even have a button under every person's name in each post they make that says "Member Training Log". So, when a newcomer visits the site and finds themselves on the Blog first, understandably, then wander to the Forum and start reading random threads. They like what someone says or sees them mention how they are this weight, or that weight, or something specific about being a mid 50's woman. RIGHT under their name they notice a button labeled "Training Log". One click brings them right to a easy and clean log where they can see EVERYTHING from start to finish. Not only do they immediately get to see how that person improved on the Overhead Press over the span of 6 months, but they can easily find other people with similar stats.
This all originated in my head when I wanted to find someone similar to myself. I had to spend like 5-10 minutes to find one guy that seemed close. That made me think about how newcomers could perhaps not have enough inspiration to STAY with the site unless they could IMMEDIATELY find people similar to themselves. Building Muscle and Losing Fat through Strength Training is incredible, but a mid 40's, 240 lb man's stats don't nearly mean as much to me as someone similar to myself. His posts about persistence, inspiration, and such are all very important, I just think the RAW stats would work great in a nice log section of the site.

[Rugger]

That actually sounds like a kick ass idea Brosephiroth, it could be great if it was implemented properly. If I recal correctly bodybuilding.com has a little graph thing for the users on their forum that can track bodyweight as well as strength on certain exercises. It would be cool if we had something like that on here, maybe even having a user-wide strenght gain graph.
EDIT: Don't knock BB.com, it may be mostly full of teens wanting to get "huge guns and a ripped 6 pack", but it was where I first heard the name Rippetoe, and if I wasn't searching for bent-over row form videos on youtube I probably wouldn't have found SL when I did.

[woodsier]

I do a lot of web application construction.

There would be a simple way to add in a module to this blog where everybody can have their own statistical profile, and each user can browse these stats. They could in theory be loaded into any kind of display, including an online excel-like spreadsheet or comparison tool.

EDIT* and if anyone is interested i would be happy to further develop this idea in my spare time. I also just read the previous two posts and i had a very similar thing in my head.

[Mehdi]

Profile stuff is interesting yes. If anyone got the time & want to make it, I'll implement it if it's good.
 

[vman]

Why not incorporate results as well?
Maybe members can update their results once a month or something showing progression.
Maybe also include PR's in the profile - gets a bit hard to follow someones PR's when there's over 200 comments - Keep that page going mind you, coz it shows everyone you have beaten a previous PR!!
 

[Shoebox]

I'm the new guy but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

I think I'm in agreement with vman when he says it's hard to follow personal records when there's a really long thread. I also like the idea of building it into the profile.

It'd be nice if you could have your weekly/daily/last set/whatever for any given routine/lift in an 'excel style' table in your profile possibly with personal bests next to it and then you could hit a 'back button' on the table to go back to any specific week or day in the workout from day one all the way up to present time. This would be cool if it were something accessible to all.

Let me know if that needs any clarification, I'm tired and it could be muddy.

And again, it would be cool, but I think the current system works well.

[Mehdi]

Ok for the strength comparative stuff. Here's a simple way to do it, it's also what is being done on other forums

• Races. Race to 1x body-wegith squat, 1.5x body-weigth squat, 1 plate bench press, 2 plate bench press, etc. First post has (manually updated) participants, starting point, progress.


• StrongLifts.com's strongest man. Idea from sherdog. Members by weight category, manually filling in weights, wilks coefficient to rank members. Example: www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php