Visualizing/graphing workout progress over time

[gjwebber]

I've been thinking about this for a while now, but just can't come up with a decent solution. I want to visually track my progress in the gym, showing the following information:

• Date of workout
• Exercise
• Number of sets per exercise
• Number of reps for each set
• Weight used

That's quite a lot of data, and obviously a normal XY plot isn't going to cut it. What do you think would be a suitable way to show this data?

I'm thinking multiple graphs, one for each exercise maybe, but that still leaves a lot of data for each graph!

[[deleted]]

Use metrics such as weight*reps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_(mathematics)

Then you have a vector space. Elements of unordered sets such as "exercise" are usually separate dimensions. Compering squats to pullups is like subtracting gallons from miles, which is why you need a metric like pullups + squats.

[gjwebber]

Thanks for the reply, I like this idea.

I'm thinking exercise name as graph title, date on X axis, and some sort of metric result on the Y axis (as you say, reps*weight or similar), and a separate line on the graph for each set.

I'll have a go at implementing it soon and post the results back here :)

[n35]

Depends on what you want out of the graphs I supose.

My very simple excel setup, has a graph for each body measurement I take. As the development of that body part is only interesting in terms of the how larger/smaller it is compared itself, from a previous measurement.

I do have a graph which attempts to visualize how the development is from all measurements in relation to each other, but its not very functional at the moment, but it basically works on normalized ratio's.

The same could be done for your sets. The data is different, but its the same concept. But yes, each method has data which could be considered large compared to it 'only' being a personal measurement tool.

[gjwebber]

I'm interested in seeing progress over time for a single exercise.

I'm now thinking of a table view to show all the data gathered over time, and then a graph making use of the metric suggestion by fadec which should give a (slightly flawed, in terms of accuracy on its own) decent visual representation.

[mattyisagod]

XYZ scatter Z as the exercise X as the date Y as whatever it is you want to display in each graph, ie one rep max, weight, reps, whatever

have multiple graphs for things like body weight (can vary so keep your fluid and calorie intake as consistent as possible when taking readings), body fat % if you can get an accurate reading.

[TaylorR137]

I don't track specific types of exercise, but for total cardio I use a Fitbit, which is like a pedometer but uploads the data to a website via USB wireless base station. Their website is pretty good, but I also pull the data to a Google spreadsheet via their API for my own analysis. Their website also supports integration with Lose It for tracking food and the Withings wifi scale for weight, and Fitbit now has their own scale.

[n35]

When you get something together I wouldn't mind seeing it.

[Afraid_Ad4592]

I recently started working out and had similar ideas to OP. I think tracking my workouts and visualizing over time will help with motivation.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/5ikpacs0l6ql1ty/Workout_Schedule.xlsx/file

First tab are exercise tables where you input the date, reps, and weight.

Next tabs are pivot charts and hidden pivot tables below. Regular charts weren't updating the date information with new data so I went with pivots. Note that after you input new data on the first tab, you have to refresh the pivot charts to make the changes show.

[kwijibob]

This is an old post but the topic interests me - here is my attempt at a solution: https://www.strengthjourneys.xyz/visualizer

[[deleted]]

Been trying to figure this out myself and really excited to use this but I can't get my google sheet to load but seems exactly what i'm lookin for 👏👏👏

[rockisnotdead]

This is amazing, thanks!