Foleil records the set you performed alongside how hard it felt. A load and repetition count describe part of a strength session; perceived effort adds a different kind of information. Keeping them together gives you a richer record to revisit when choosing the next session, without pretending that a subjective rating is a laboratory measurement.
How it works
Enter completed repetitions and optional load in the set logger. Record supported effort values using RPE or the corresponding RIR presentation, then save the result with the session. Foleil treats RIR as another way to present the stored effort value, so changing the scale does not create a second independent observation.
Why it matters
Robinson and colleagues (2024) analysed estimated proximity to failure as a training variable and cautioned that the precise relationships remain uncertain. The study is a reason to distinguish effort from load and repetitions, not proof that self-rated effort is exact. Foleil's practical contribution is to preserve your own rating beside the work, allowing a later review to consider both instead of forgetting how demanding the set felt.
Compared with other approaches
Strong's Apple Watch workout guide documents editable weight and repetitions, exercise history and notes; the official guide is dated 9 February 2021 and was reviewed for this series on 19 October 2026. Foleil does not claim sole ownership of detailed set logging. Its case is the placement of those records within programmes, progression previews, meals and recovery reflection. The older help page is documentation, not a current hands-on performance test.
The evidence
A prescribed target is not a completed set, and an omitted effort answer is not a zero-effort result. Foleil retains those distinctions in the session record. Its supported effort presentation uses a defined range rather than arbitrary text masquerading as a calculation. This matters when reviewing apparently similar sessions: the same repetitions and weight can have felt different, while a missing rating leaves that part of the comparison unanswered.
Put it into your day
After a set, take a moment to record the result you actually completed. If you use effort ratings, choose the description that reflects that set rather than the rating you hoped to achieve. A later set may deserve a different answer. At your next session, look back at the previous work before deciding whether to repeat it or inspect a progression proposal. Keep notes where context matters, such as unfamiliar equipment. The record then supports a concrete conversation with yourself or a coach: these were the recorded sets, this was the effort you reported, and these are the circumstances you still need to interpret.
Frequently asked questions
Are RPE and RIR two measurements?
In Foleil they are linked presentations of one effort value. Switching the presentation does not create new evidence.
Do I have to enter a weight?
Set logging supports optional load where the exercise and result allow it. Record the work accurately rather than inventing a weight.
Does my effort rating prove readiness?
No. It is your subjective account of a set. Use it alongside the training record and your own judgement.
How should I compare two sessions?
Look at the actual exercise, repetitions, load and any effort rating together. Similar totals can hide different work, and an omitted field should stay an unanswered part of the comparison.
