Blog · 5 November 2026 · 4 min read

Is that viral workout any good? 7 checks before you save it

1. Does it have a clear structure?

A useful workout lists exercises, sets, reps and rest. If the video is only a montage of cool-looking moves with no numbers, you will have to guess the rest. Treat it as inspiration, not a plan.

2. Is the volume realistic?

Count the total sets for each muscle group. Very high volume in one session can leave you too sore to train well for days. If it looks like far more than you do now, start with a lower number of sets and build up.

3. Does it match your level?

Creators often have years of training behind them. Heavy, technical or explosive moves that look easy on screen may not be right for a beginner. Choose a simpler version of the exercise if you are not sure.

4. Do you know how to do each movement?

If you cannot describe the form of an exercise, learn it first with a light load. An exercise demo helps here. FollowSet includes 252 exercises with 3D demos and highlighted muscles, so you can check how a move should look before you load it.

5. Does it fit the rest of your week?

Look at what you already train. A brutal leg session the day before your heaviest squat day is a poor trade. Slot a new workout where it adds to your week, not where it fights it.

6. Can you progress on it?

A good workout is one you can repeat and improve. If the video relies on random variations every time, there is nothing to beat next week. Pick a version you can repeat, then follow the progressive overload approach.

7. Is the claim believable?

Be sceptical of promises like "lose belly fat in a week" or a single exercise that "fixes" a body part. Bodies do not work that way. A sensible plan promises consistency, not miracles.

What to do with the good ones

Keep the videos that pass, write down the exercises and numbers, and run the workout a few times while logging each set. FollowSet does the writing down for you: share the video (the first 3 video links are free, then link import is part of Pro; screenshots, screen recordings and pasted text also work on the free plan, within a monthly limit), check anything it flagged, and follow it set by set. More on the process in how to turn Reels into a gym log.