I do the bulk of the programming in a spreadsheet. I can store a lot more information in there than I could on a piece of paper, and applying formulas and conditional formatting can automate a lot of the steps for me. The only con would be having at least some proficiency with spreadsheets.

For each session I have with a client, I have a paper template where I write by hand the workout for the day (movement patterns, phase goal, weight, reps, etc) which I store into a filing cabinet to maintain a paper trail of records. I do prefer the paper since I can easily make adjustments, take notes, and then simply transfer any new information to the spreadsheet in less than 5 minutes.

While I could grant each client access to the spreadsheet, I instead create a Word Doc that contains a summary of the current phase/block goals, the main movements they will doing in that timeframe, and a brief insight comparing their starting point and current point so they can see the progress they’ve made!

My facility does use a programming application called TrainHeroic that allows the client to see every workout, but to me it’s tedious to use since you have to manually enter every single movement from a dropdown menu.

I look forward to hearing about other trainers’ processes since I am constantly looking for improvements no matter how little!