Workout logging convention
How to log dumbbell weight: per hand or total?
Use one consistent dumbbell-weight convention, avoid doubled histories, and preserve the detail you need to grab the right pair next workout.
The short answer
For most workout logs, record the weight printed on one dumbbell, even when you use two. A set of dumbbell bench press with two 50 lb dumbbells becomes “50 lb × 8,” not 100 lb × 8. The convention matters less than consistency, so label it once and do not mix per-hand and combined totals in the same exercise history.
Keep the convention
See the exact dumbbell you used last time.
LogFast keeps per-hand load, completed reps, and exercise history together so the next pair is obvious at the rack.
Build a dumbbell historyUse the number you need at the rack
Per-hand weight is usually the clearest convention because it matches the label you pick up. Write “DB bench — 50 × 8, 8, 7” and keep the exercise name specific. If your existing app or coach uses combined weight, keep that convention rather than rewriting old sessions.
The displayed load is not a universal measure of whole-body work. A two-dumbbell press, goblet squat, and one-arm row use the implements differently. Compare the same named variation with itself instead of ranking unrelated exercises by the largest logged number.
- Two dumbbells: record one dumbbell's labeled weight
- One dumbbell shared by both hands: record that dumbbell
- Alternating work: record reps per side and say that once
- A changed convention: start a clearly labeled variation
Keep volume math interpretable
Some apps double dumbbell volume automatically and others do not. Treat volume as a calculation with a stated convention, not an objective score. For progression, the more dependable comparison is the same exercise, same load convention, completed reps, range of motion, and similar effort.
Worked example: two 22.5 kg dumbbells for 10 simultaneous reps is logged as 22.5 kg × 10. Add “per hand” once if the system does not already make that convention clear.
Handle a mixed history without fake progress
If earlier entries used total weight, do not silently halve them. Add a dated note explaining the switch or create a per-hand exercise variation. A visible break is more honest than a chart that suddenly suggests your strength fell by half.
Frequently asked questions
Do I double dumbbell reps too?
For simultaneous bilateral reps, record the reps completed by each side: ten presses is ten reps. For alternating work, state whether the count is per side or total and keep that convention.
How should I log a goblet squat?
Record the single dumbbell or kettlebell's labeled weight because that is the total external load you held.
Can I compare dumbbell and barbell bench press?
Keep separate histories. They can inform the same goal, but equipment, stability, range, and loading conventions make direct set-to-set comparisons misleading.