Equipment-aware workout logging
How to log machine and cable exercises so the history stays comparable
Track stack settings, machine identity, seat position, and cable setup without pretending numbers transfer perfectly between gyms or equipment.
The short answer
Log the displayed machine or cable setting, then identify the machine when that context could change resistance. Treat the number as a repeatable setting—not a universal force measurement. When you switch machines, pulley arrangements, or gyms, start a new baseline instead of comparing the stack labels directly.
Remember the setup
Keep machine settings attached to their equipment.
LogFast preserves the machine, attachment, displayed load, and seat context so a gym change does not become fake progress.
Track machine exercisesRecord the setting you can reproduce
A useful entry might be “Life Fitness seated row — pin 70, seat 4, 10/10/9.” You do not need serial numbers. Capture the machine family and one setup detail when it materially affects range or leverage.
- Selectorized stack: displayed setting and machine identity
- Plate-loaded machine: plates per side or total, labeled clearly
- Cable: stack setting, attachment, and pulley height
- Lever machine: seat or start position when it changes range
Do not compare labels across machines
Pulley ratios, cams, friction, lever arms, and starting resistance can make equal labels feel different. The log is still valuable: it gives you a baseline on that equipment. It just should not present a machine switch as sudden strength gain or loss.
Worked example: “Cable row, gym A, stack 60 × 12” and “Cable row, gym B, stack 60 × 9” are two baselines unless the setups are known to match.
Use notes only for variables that recur
If seat position or attachment becomes a stable default, keep it with the exercise name or saved setup. Do not rewrite the same paragraph every workout. Log deviations—different handle, broken station, unusually short range—when they explain the comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Should plate-loaded machines be per side or total?
Either can work. Label the convention and keep it consistent; per-side is often fastest when loading identical plates on both arms.
Does the cable stack equal resistance at the handle?
Not necessarily. Pulley configuration and machine design can change the relationship, so treat it as a machine-specific setting.
Should a new gym create new exercise names?
Create a variation or dated baseline when the equipment differs enough that direct history comparisons would mislead you.