Most of us enjoy watching professional athletes, at the peak of their performance, participate in their sports. There is such a wide variety of professional sports to choose from, ranging from football, soccer, basketball, baseball, track and field, swimming, biking, and every weekend you can enjoy watching athletes play on television or at the stadium or arena. Some of the most amazing athletes, in terms of overall fitness, are triathletes. Practicing a sport that demands a high degree of skill in running, swimming and cycling requires the ultimate in physical fitness. This can only come about with regular training, and to keep track of it all, no matter what the sport, professional athletes often rely on an exercise journal to help them meet their fitness and sports goals.

A professional athlete, as well as any weekend warrior who wants to enter a sports competition of some type, will need to plan a workout schedule so that they peak at their top performance on the day of the competition. This requires a carefully thought-out regime of cardio workouts, strength training, and stretches, along with strategic rest periods interspersed so that the athlete arrives at the day of the event perfectly trained but not overtrained or undertrained. Exercise logs are how they keep track of all the details of their workouts each day. They include information such as the type of workout, the duration and the intensity. This not only keeps them on track to meeting their overreaching goals, but it also helps to motivate them because they can see in writing every day that they are making progress, which is encouraging.

Athletes also find it imperative to not only follow a workout schedule but also to use a calorie calculator to make sure they are getting an appropriate number of calories, and the correct percentages of protein, carbohydrates and fats. For instance, for muscles to repair properly after a workout, they require adequate amounts of protein. If pro athletes participate in a sport that focuses on strength training, such as weight lifting, it is imperative that they receive adequate protein in their diet in order for their muscles to repair and become stronger. Athletes might do all of the correct exercises, but if their diet is lacking in any vital component they will not reap the benefits of all their hard work. They find that keeping an accurate food diary is an essential aid to helping them reach their peak performance.

Both exercise journals and calorie counters are much quicker and easier to use when they are online. Professional athletes rely on them to organize and record their workouts, as well as the food they consume, in order to meet their fitness goals at the correct deadlines.