5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection

J. · September 9, 2019

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } This journal is fantastic. It has made tracking my fitness and nutrition so easy. The leatherette cover is high quality and very sturdy. I like that it doesn't have some obnoxious logo or image on the front, so it is discrete enough for me to have on my work desk. It serves as a sturdy surface to write on. The spirals are also pretty sturdy, and I haven't had a lot of problems with them bending out of shape. The pages turn easily, and stay put with the elastic band. I can throw this book in my gym bag and not worry about it getting beat up.The format of the pages is excellent. I am doing a 12-week cut, so this journal was perfect for me. The book opens up to any one date and you have your nutrition and training lods for the day all right there. Each week starts with a section to comment on your progress, struggles, etc from the last week and goals for the next week. I'm a fairly advanced weightlifter and I find that this has actually helped me to stay motivated. There's also a section in the back of the book for you to record measurements - this is one suggestion I have to improve, to have a body measurement be a part of the weekly check-in instead. I forget that it exists and as a result haven't been consistent with the measurements. The training logs are very easy to follow, have enough room for someone with larger handwriting, and some areas for comments. Same with the nutrition log. I love that I can easily flip back to other days to compare notes on training or refer to a good nutrition day and repeat it. For me, it's preferable over an app on my phone.I pack my lunch/breakfast for work the night before, and so I often use this time to fill in that part on the next day's nutrition log. Then it's done and I have an idea of where I am at on cals/macros, so I can make an informed decision on dinner. I start my day by writing out my workout plan in the training log, so it's ready to go once I get to the gym after work. I've developed some habits around tracking now, and I actually enjoy it, for the first time ever! Way to go Salt Wrap - I will be purchasing more of these journals for all my bulks/cuts from now on, and am going to look into other products offered. It's been a game changer for me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Low Tech, Wins Out Over High Tech

V.H. · April 10, 2018

Low tech beats high tech in a big way...at least in this arena. None of us need more gadgets and apps getting in the way of our process and goals, let alone the very pace of our sessions. Is there a tweak or two I would make, yes; but nonetheless what you get here is a straightforward, sturdy (will not fall apart under actual gym use), simple, readable, highly usable and helpful way to track both the exercise and the all-important and equally important nutrition you are consuming alongside that effort to "get there." You'll get a "prep and hint" helpful pdf document to get started the minute you order so that by the time the planner arrives you will have a good handle on the simple sophistication of it. It arrives very quickly and you will be impressed with quality and layout. Is it the cheapest planner out there? No. I'm glad it's not; I've tried the apps and the cheap stuff. I'm serious about what I do in the gym and this, like my diet, is no place to cut corners in my humble opinion. Tweak: a version that assumes Time Under Tension v. reps. A lot of us are moving there or very often have a hybrid style workout. My work around is simple; I ignore the rep/weight and simply enter TUT and rest; thus, for my purposes rep count becomes Time Under Tension and the "weight" becomes my rest interval and then when using rep/weight it is what it is so I end up with a hybrid solution. It works. I do like the elastic band that keeps it closed or acts like a bookmark (my use for it). As you can tell, I highly recommend the planner. It is worth the price tag.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Fitness Planner (by a country mile)

D. · October 22, 2017

Why use a fitness planner? And, in this context ‘fitness’ encompasses exercise, nutrition, and health. Paraphrasing the introduction (which you can avoid, but I’d advise against that); find what works for you and measure it. Sound a bit like a chore? It’s not with this functional and well-thought-out planner. From the easy-to-use daily exercise and nutrition logs to the goal setting and progress reviews, I have found completing and reviewing the planner to be motivational rather than a chore.Initially, I thought that the training log was too strongly skewed towards resistance (weight) training. Fortunately, though, once I started using the planner, my initial preconception was wrong - the layout is excellent for almost any form of training (boxing, cardio, HIIT, cycling and even rehab. exercises). Admittedly, I’m an exercise/nutrition junkie, but at my age (59) I’ve been suffering from motivational issues, and even in my ‘prime’ I struggled with keeping personal records. After six weeks of using this planner, I’m absolutely hooked on it. And, on this score, it is suitable for all levels of fitness whether beginner or serious athlete.In summary: Is it perfect? No, I’d make a few very trivial changes. Is it worth the cost, (Bolo and the time-invested)? ABSOLUTELY! I’ll be buying more and not just for my use.P.S. For those of you who think pen and paper are passé, give it a try – you’ll be surprised at how it focuses your mind and motivates you.23 March 2018: Update. I'm on week 8; day 6 of my second SaltWrap Daily Fitness Planner i.e. 24 weeks of continuous use. Daily use has become habitual, and my health, exercise, and diet are way better (and structured). Honestly, I would not have managed it without this planner.************************************************15 September 2019: I am now on (about) my 10th SaltWrap Daily Fitness Planner and can't do without it - it goes everywhere with me, including a recent holiday to Japan. However, there's still one very minor issue which I communicated to the publishers about 2 years back and which, by now, I hoped they might have fixed. The planning schedule page for the week (Weekly Fitness Planner page) comes immediately before Sunday, yet this page only allows me to fill in the plan for the week starting Monday. The planner should either have the planning page schedule starting on Sunday or have the schedule page placed after Sunday's training day. I appreciate this requires a change in printing; but, it's been over two years now.I still rate this as 5/5, in fact without this very minor issue outlined above, I'd rate the planner as 'perfect' for me. Finally, these diaries can't be purchased directly from Australia - I have to go to the effort and cost of having them delivered via a freight forwarder - it's worth it!