Assisted exercise logging
How to log assisted pull-ups, dips, and machine assistance
Record assistance so less help reads as progress, keep bands and machines separate, and avoid inverted personal records in your workout history.
The short answer
Record the assistance amount explicitly and remember that less assistance means a harder set. Write “assisted pull-up — 40 lb assist × 6,” not simply “40 lb × 6.” Keep band-assisted, machine-assisted, and unassisted versions separate because the numbers are not interchangeable.
Make less help visible
Keep assisted work moving in the right direction.
LogFast separates assistance from external load so fewer pounds of help reads as progress instead of a smaller record.
Track assisted setsMake the direction visible
A normal load field assumes larger numbers mean more external resistance. Assistance runs in the opposite direction. The word “assist” prevents an 80 lb assisted set from being mistaken for a stronger performance than a 40 lb assisted set.
- Machine: assistance setting, reps, and machine identity
- Band: band color or rated range, setup, and reps
- Partner support: reps plus a plain-language assistance note
- Unassisted or weighted: separate exercise history
Treat equipment changes as real changes
Machine geometry and band tension differ. Even two machines with the same stack label can feel different, while band assistance changes through the range of motion. Compare within the same setup and add a note when you change gyms, bands, grip, or machine.
Worked example: “Pull-up machine A — 55 lb assist: 8, 7, 6.” Next time, 45 lb assist for similar clean reps is a meaningful progression on that machine.
Graduate without breaking the history
When you reach unassisted reps, start the unassisted variation rather than converting the assistance history into fictional external load. Link the milestone in a note: “first unassisted set after 25 lb assist × 6.” Both histories remain understandable.
Frequently asked questions
Is assisted weight negative weight?
Conceptually it reduces the demand, but storage conventions differ. Prefer an explicit assistance field or the word “assist” instead of relying on a negative sign users may misread.
Can I compare a band with an assisted machine?
Not numerically. Compare reps and control within each setup, and treat the switch as a new baseline.
What counts as progress?
Less assistance for similar reps and technique, or more clean reps at the same assistance, are the clearest log-based signals.