Moves, categories and machines

Everything you log hangs off three things: a category, a move inside it, and a machine under that. You only really have to think about the first two — the third takes care of itself until you need it.

Categories, moves and machines

Category

A group of moves. Use body parts such as back and biceps, or your training days — Day 1, Day 2. It is only there to keep the move list tidy, so pick whatever matches how you think at the gym.

Move

The exercise itself — Bench Press, Pull-Up. This is what you pick when you log, and what your progress is measured for.

Machine

The particular bench, rack or device you did the move on. Every move gets one automatically, named "Default", so you can ignore machines completely until you need them.

Worth knowing: a workout is always saved against a machine, never against the move directly. That is why your memos and history live under each machine.

When do I need more than one machine?

Only when the same exercise exists on two pieces of equipment whose numbers cannot be compared. Forty kilos on one gym's leg press is not forty kilos on another's, and comparing them would tell you that you got weaker overnight.

Add a machine for each one and each keeps its own record, so both stay honest. If that never happens to you, the single automatic machine is all you need.

Setting up a move

Open Moves, pick a category and add a move. Besides the name there are two switches:

  • Aerobic — Workouts with this move will be measured in time.
  • Hidden — Hidden moves are not shown in workout lists.

Turning on "Aerobic" reveals one more: "Less is better" — Faster time is better. Use for timed runs. Leave off for planks or holds where longer is better.

Setting up a move
Setting up a move — tap to enlarge

Series and the reps goal

Every move starts with one series and a reps goal of 8. For almost every move that is all you want: one input field, and you type all your sets into it separated by spaces.

You can add multiple series, if you need different minimum reps, or instructions per series. Otherwise you can just use one series here, and input multiple series by separating them with a space.

Each series can also carry a label, which simply shows above the field when you log — for example "Optional label or instructions, e.g. super-set".

Set the reps goal to the highest number of reps you normally do — for example 8, if you do sets of at most 8 reps.
Changing or removing a series later affects workouts you have already saved. Your numbers are not deleted, but the scores are worked out again, so only change it when you mean to.

Photos and tidying up

You can give a machine a photo — handy when the machine has no name, or when you want to remember which of the four identical benches it was. You can add it while logging, without leaving the page.

When you stop doing a move, hide it rather than deleting it. Hiding keeps it out of your way while your history stays intact; deleting a move removes its machines and all their workouts for good.