2026 Strength Training Accountability Thread

[Dopey 2020]

I use Apple Watch as opposed to Garmin and log everything as functional strength training. I’m just tracking time, I have a pool of exercises that I pull from and track reps and moves in my head with a focus on getting a good full body workout. This is already ten times more structured than I was so for now it’s good enough for me.

 

[3princesandaprincess]

Haven’t checked in, as things have been crazy, but staying on running and strength. Currently still feeling my leg workout from Saturday… made running fun yesterday!
Abs & arms today.

 

[SheHulk]

I did my regular 30 min lower body workout today, but I did make a little progress: First, I increased my weights a little for squats & deadlifts. But also, my goal is eventually to be able to stack strength & running on the same day, so that I can keep the strength training when I'm actually training for a race. Up to now I've been warming up on an elliptical before strength, but today I (slowly) ran (only a mile) on the treadmill as a warmup! I have to say I think my HR stayed a little more elevated during my strength workout with a run warmup instead of the elliptical. I can never get my HR high on an elliptical. Not sure if that's good or bad.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

Nice work @SheHulk ! Always great to see progress.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Had a really strong night on the elliptical last night, even though my Garmin thought it was average. I try and gauge more by tension, pedal settings, and things like RPM vs. what the watch says. While I like it for putting in my outdoor miles, I really could not be bothered with most of the workout features...beyond being impressed that it knows I'm on an elliptical without setting anything in advance. I kept myself in a 70-90 RPM range and probably looked like a dancing fool at times. So, it's good. Other than that, pretty standard upper body workout after that. Well, minus me getting on the good ab machine and doing 1.75 sets, just to be informed it's broken. Yes, I missed an "out of order" sign that was right in front of my face. It worked...it was just making ugly noises. I did a few sets on the captain's chair at the end to make up for it.

 

[BradleyCB]

I log my strength workouts as "strength". But I find Garmin's exercise list and method of entering things way too fussy. Also, it doesn't have a lot of the different variations of exercises. I usually just put in a text note about the exercises, reps and weights. Then copy-paste it into the activity next time, if I'm doing the same or similar workout.

Shockingly, I print out a paper spreadsheet and write down the reps and weights, etc. on that as I go along.

I like Garmin for running stats, but I don't give a fig about stats it does on strength training, except adding up the time. I do like to see that I'm progressing on the number of reps or amount of weight, but I can do that with the paper record (and I also have my training blog here).

I love P90X....P90X2 is also very good. Sadly, I don't have the time to do these workouts any more, but I keep thinking I'll get back to them someday. Although my knees would now be very unhappy with all the lunges they have.

P90X is definitely where I got used to using paper worksheets to track things, and now I make my own. But I started that long before smartphones and apps were effective for it.

P90X!! I remember doing that back in the day. I'm pretty sure I have the DVDs around here somewhere. That was also my introduction to yoga. But man, 90 minutes of yoga felt soooooooo long.

Now if only I could find my old Tae Bo collection of tapes....

 

[JediKnightXan]

I have tried P90X a few of times I don't think I ever got more than three/four weeks in. I am very inflexible that yoga killed me, one try i actually subbed that out with some easier YouTube yogas. I will occasionally throw in one of the arm workout videos.

I have done Insanity a couple of times (the same company more cardio based no weights) I enjoyed that a lot more. The length of th videos probably made a huge difference there. When I could really stick with that I saw some good improvement particularly in my 5k times. I'm not sure I could handle the jump squats at the moment though.

I tried the rower in the gym today for about 15 min I don't feel I got a great workout there forearms got a workout but not sure anything else did. I'm guessing that means I had the resistance to high, anyone have any tricks for a rower? High resistance low speed or lower resistance higher speed? (I'm sure high resistance high speed the best but I'm not there).

 

[MissLiss279]

I tried the rower in the gym today for about 15 min I don't feel I got a great workout there forearms got a workout but not sure anything else did. I'm guessing that means I had the resistance to high, anyone have any tricks for a rower? High resistance low speed or lower resistance higher speed? (I'm sure high resistance high speed the best but I'm not there).

I’m used to water rowers at OrangeTheory, so I’m not sure how the change in resistance works for the rower you were using. But for rowing, I think it is supposed to be about 60% leg. So when you are rowing think about pushing off hard with your legs, and then after you’ve pushed off, pull with your arms, then lean back a little with the arm motion - keeping your arms in line (don’t do an arc), and pull to the center of your chest. Then release arms, then bend your knees back to start again. Don’t lean over too far with your arms, mine generally start from right above the feet.

Not sure I can explain it well enough with words. I hope that helps some, but mainly, I think the first goal is to concentrate on pushing hard with your legs first.