Record completed sets separately when results differ, keep units explicit and define what the load includes. Never turn an ambiguous old entry into a confident new target.
Distinguish the plan from individual set results
The NHS describes a repetition as one complete movement and a set as a group of repetitions. A programme instruction of three sets of ten is therefore an intention to complete three groups. It does not prove that every group actually contained ten repetitions during your session.
If the completed results were ten, nine and eight, record those three results. Writing three by ten erases the difference between intention and completion. Before changing any exercise instruction, ask the programme author what to do with the result. The logging task is to preserve it accurately, not to decide a new workload.
Keep kilograms and pounds visibly separate
Use the unit displayed on the equipment, or convert it explicitly using a reliable conversion reference. NIST identifies the kilogram, with symbol kg, as the SI unit of mass. In gym conversation this is commonly described as weight, but the important logging habit is to retain the unit beside the number.
A stack marked 40 lb and one marked 40 kg should not become identical entries reading 40. If you train at gyms with different labels, keep a unit reference for each equipment setup. Check the app field before entering the number; this guide does not assume Nexal automatically detects or converts equipment units.
State what is included in the load
For a barbell, decide whether your record includes the bar, and confirm the actual equipment specification. In an arithmetic example, a bar marked 15 kg with a 5 kg plate on each side totals 25 kg. Recording only the plates would produce 10 kg for the same setup and make later comparisons unreliable.
For dumbbells, preserve whether the number is per hand. For machines, use the marked value with the machine identity rather than assuming it represents a directly comparable free-weight load. A consistent equipment convention prevents clerical changes from appearing to be performance changes.
| Setup | Clear interpretation |
|---|---|
| 15 kg bar plus two 5 kg plates | 25 kg including bar |
| Two dumbbells marked 8 kg | 8 kg per hand |
| Machine selector marked 4 | Setting 4; mass unknown |
Arithmetic and notation examples only. Confirm the markings on the equipment you actually use.
Label per-side counts and preparation sets
For one-sided work, note whether ten means ten on each side or ten across both sides. If the sides differ, preserve both completed results in the available fields or a companion note. Adding them into one total may hide the information your programme author needs.
Also distinguish any preparation sets from the work sets described by your programme. Otherwise a later review may compare a session with preparation included against one without it. Choose an explicit convention and keep it for the whole block. You are defining the record, not deciding how many preparation sets somebody should perform.
Repair ambiguous entries without inventing history
When an older entry lacks a unit or load convention, mark the uncertainty in your reference notes. Do not silently convert it from memory several weeks later. Start a clear baseline at the next suitable session and compare forward from that point. An honest gap is preferable to a fabricated progression.
Nexal includes core manual workout logging, custom workouts and history for free on Android. Test one familiar session and inspect the saved results. Keep any context that the available fields cannot express in a companion record. Premium AI planning is a separate option, not a requirement for maintaining a clear log.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I log the planned reps if I completed fewer?
Log the repetitions you completed. Keep the original instruction available separately so intention and result remain distinguishable.
Does a barbell entry include the bar?
Define the convention and confirm the bar specification. Including the bar in a total is clear when that convention is explicitly preserved.
Sources and editorial notes
Prepared by Nexal for general education. This is product-team content, not an independent review or a clinically reviewed programme. Exercise and nutrition examples are illustrative, not personalised recommendations.
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