JournalMENU: #TrainSmart with a Custom WOD Log Book

Disclaimer: I was hooked up with an awesome custom-made JournalMENU Crossfit log book in exchange for a review. All opinions are completely my own.

I have always been a fan of logging my workouts, from back when I started NROLFW using a combination of an excel spreadsheet and my blog, to Stronglifts using their app, and then using Fitocracy to track other workouts. Even today, we use Wodify at my box to keep track of progress and PRs.

But when I started training with more of a focus on Oly lifts and less on daily WODs, and now that I am trialing The Outlaw Way, there is no pre-set template online that I can use to keep track of my daily workouts. I had picked up a cute, cheap pocket notebook and was recording my workouts in there and it had been working well.

But then I came across JournalMENU.

I had been following them on Facebook for quite some time and feel a little silly not realizing that one of my favorite sites for inspiration and motivation actually had a product behind it. Have you seen posts like this one shared on your feed? Oops!

In doing a search for Crossfit log books, I made the connection of what JournalMENU is really about: a company that prides itself on providing a “menu” of sorts, in which you can select various items à la carte to create your recipe for the perfect log book for you.

When I visited the site, I was overwhelmed with options. You can hand-pick everything from the cover (front and back), the binding color, page layouts, contents of the logbook and more. I struggle making decisions sometimes so sent an email over asking for some help in deciding what could best represent my personality and my goals. I sent a link to my blog and one of my Pinterest boards that I use for inspiration.

Follow Jennifer ~ Wine to Weightlifting’s board Crossfit: Skills – Muscle Up on Pinterest.

Within a day, I had a rough draft delivered to me of what my custom-book would look like, and days after I approved the design, my book arrived.

The design team at JournalMENU combined my love for Oly lifting and my goal of a muscle-up from my Pinterest board to create the front and back covers. I indicated my favorite colors were pink and purple (hey, I like girly things), which was also taken into consideration.

Much prettier than my old plain notebook that I was using!

There is something refreshing about a crisp, new, notebook. Just as the stores were being filled with back to school supplies, I, too, was able to break out a new pencil and fresh pages.

Some people just need a blank sheet of paper and they are off to log their workouts. I like a bit more guidance. The first part of the book has a section to write out major goals and how you are going to achieve them. Also, helpful guides provide additional tips and even ideas for warm-ups (I have been doing the Sun Rise Salutation one pre-Oly lifting lately and think it is so beneficial!).

And of course, I love anything that depicts Oly lifting..

What I love even more about this book, besides the custom covers, is the ability to customize the log pages with what is important to you and your goals.

Pre-made, each page includes the date, and a template to record your lifts, reps, load, and metcon scores. From there, you can customize extra categories to track, such as water intake, sleep, goal work, mobility, and for me, I opted to add a “veggies” category. If I have to consciously check off that I ate my veggies for the day, maybe it will help me work a bit harder on it! 😉

Other ideas could be marking days in a cycle (for women), stress levels, mood, or if you are on point with your nutrition plan for the day.

I also really have been enjoying the quotes that are on top of each page, all focused on goal setting or motivation to get you to push that extra bit during the workout.

JournalMENU is much more than a producer of logbooks; it is a company rooted in the heart of what makes Crossfit so unique. You can tell that each post online is written to embrace the community and special bond Crossfitters have, and each logbook is hand-crafted with the individual’s needs in mind.

I highly recommend following them on Facebook or Google + for daily doses of inspiration, plus give them some love on Twitter and Instagram to help them spread the word about their personalized products!
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Did you love what you read here? JournalMENU wants to give one of my lucky readers a chance to win his or her own custom-designed logbook!

 
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