It’s true that plenty of people get stopped from meeting their goals because they don’t know how to proceed. I’ve heard a lot of people say, for example, that they need a new workout but don’t know what to do next.
But once things are underway and you’ve got a plan, what’s the next most important thing to getting to your goals? You know it – consistency. And it’s the one thing people forget most often.
Consistency isn’t sexy or new or exciting – doing something over and over again to achieve a long-term result. It’s not trying to lose fat or gain muscle into a very short timeframe by overtraining or using methods that aren’t sustainable. It’s not doing a workout for a month and then letting life get in the way or getting bored or frustrated and switching programs or diets.
When I help new clients, first I examine their workouts and diet in the last few months. Sometimes I’ll meet someone who has been consistent with a training program and knows how to eat clean, but they’ve plateaued. In this case, the consistency piece is there but knowing how to progress is missing. But many other people program hop, string random exercises together, and miss workouts. Or they’re able to follow a trendy diet for awhile but it’s simply not sustainable.
Switching workouts every few weeks doesn’t give your body the chance to adapt, yet adaptation to stimulus is what creates change. Hopping between books from the current guru and “abs in five minutes” workouts won’t get you the results you want. Even if you purchase a professionally designed program made just for you, the results will be nonexistent if you don’t do the workouts for a sustained period of time.
For the first three months you’ll notice changes from a training program if you’re consistent. But after that you’ll need to continue progressing in a structured, systematic fashion or you’ll simply plateau. Even with fat loss programs, plateaus are common. But more often than not, it’s tough to follow through without ongoing support and guidance.
Not only that, but you can’t measure your progress if you switch to a different program or fall in and out of programs.
When someone in a Facebook group asked what three exercises we would recommend, I replied that it would depend on the person’s goals. A fellow trainer and friend had an even better answer:
Discipline, commitment, and consistency.
These are not sexy or hot products, but they’re the nuts and bolts of accomplishing goals, fitness or otherwise.
What you do on a daily basis is what your future looks like. And that is what you should look at first when you aren’t seeing results.
This article originally appeared on www.workoutnirvana.com.
So so true!
Jeannie recently posted..Mud and Chocolate Race Report
what you do on a daily basis is what your future looks like – I LOVE THAT. it is applicable everywhere. thanks for this!
Yes…. remembering that really makes you think. Thanks for stopping by Kristina!
SO TRUE. Consistency is key with everything. When I was trying to lose weight it was hard but I did the same thing every day –eat right, count my calories, swim–and it worked. Consistency is how it gets done. It may not be fast but it works.
Lisa recently posted..And The Survey Says….!
You’re a model of how to lose a lot of weight Lisa. I admire you for that!
Every true you should of added the most important thing PATIENCE !
Lol yes Ndem! It doesn’t happen overnight… takes weeks of doing the same thing.
You’re absolutely right! You need to be consistent no matter what you do. I’m actually terrible at this, I don’t go to the gym as consistently as I need to in order to meet the goals I want. Sure sometimes life gets in the way, but more often I LET life get in the way. We’ll see what happens when I switch to AM workouts 🙂
Christian recently posted..Now What: Getting Ripped, That’s what.
I think if you’re motivated with specific goals it’s easier to do something day in and day out. I know you give it your all Christian!
At the end of the day, success, or failer, are the results of patterns. We alone, choose the patterns we follow.
Emergefit recently posted..A Boy And His Wings…
Well said (again).
My freaking DOWNFALL this Summer. Inconsistency and ZERO planning.
As usual, you say exactly what I need to hear. Thank you, you sexy beast!
You’ve had some setbacks with your health. Getting back in there is more of a challenge so you have to go easy on yourself. Self-flagellation doesn’t help you get to your goals… taking one step forward does 🙂
you know i agree 100%! consistency is key, oh and DIET!! amen to that.
lindsay recently posted..Weekends are for Memories
I DO- you are inspiring in the way you walk the walk Lindsay!
I’m guilty about this…. I really have to learn how to be consistent.. DIET!
Xeanne recently posted..Getting Pregnant Faster
It’s a toughie but once the habit is formed, you can’t stop! 🙂
Hi Suzanne
I know her exercise regimes have been superceded by many others in recent years but two of the things I really liked about Callanetics were:
1 She showed people of different ages, shapes, size and flexibility, etc in the video (yup, it was pre DVD 🙂 )
2 She showed documented progress of one of the members of the programme over several weeks, and you couls SEE the type of results you could get if you stuck with it
Now, to me, that ticks quite a lot of boxes in the motivation department
Excellent post. Too often people go in spurts when it comes to sticking with a fitness or eating plan. It’s not a race, although some people treat it like that. It has to be steady as she goes.
Thanks Michelle. “Steady as she goes” is one of my favorite idioms when it comes to fitness.
I personally love to switch up my workouts, I can’t stand doing the same thing over and over again. I guess depends on what kind of goals each individual has.
Tatianna recently posted..Killer Six Pack Workout
It really does. My main point being that doing the same exercise 50 times a day for 50 days cannot have the benefits of more varied exercise, and in fact can cause injury.
As long as someone is working out consistently, switching it up wards off boredom. I do this a lot myself.