Commit to Consistency

Trying to figure out where to start when getting in shape can be overwhelming. If you spend any amount of time on the internet, you’re bound to come across advertisements for pills that claim to incinerate fat, shoes that guarantee a butt lift, and workout routines that promise you a six pack in six weeks. The thing is, if you actually buy into any of these ads, you’re likely to end up worse off than where you started. Not only will you fail to see improvement, but there’s a good chance that in not making progress, you’ll be discouraged to try again. As one of my clients said about a previous fad diet failure, “what’s the point of trying if I’m just gonna fail again?”

But, obviously people are making it happen. There are people out there burning fat, lifting butts and flaunting six packs. So what do they know that other people don’t? How are they able to succeed where other people fall short?

Well, I went to the source.

I sat down with two of the fittest people I know to pick their muscular, toned brains. As a trainer, I know a fair amount of pretty athletic folk. But these were the the cream of the crop. The 1 percenters, so to speak.

Here’s what I learned: surprisingly, they didn’t have a whole lot in common. One of them, female, primarily works out on her own using a mix of running, kettlebells, calisthenics and concentrated hustle. The other, male, combines powerlifting, crossfit, jiu jitsu, and fairly ludicrous thousand rep endurance workouts. One of them sticks with a veggie heavy diet; the other, pizza and burgers. One frequently does 2-3 workouts a day. The other only hits it 4-5 times per week.

Different workouts, different frequency, different equipment, different diets. Neither takes weight loss pills, owns butt lifting shoes or follows six-weeks-to-a-six-pack workouts. So how are they able to make it work?

It clicked when I asked them how long they’d been doing this. How long had they considered themselves “fit?” Both said the same thing: As long as I can remember. Both were athletic in high school and played sports in college. Both stayed active after college in competitive sports, the military or martial arts. Now in their 30’s, both are active on a near daily basis.

It’s not enough for them to just be active, though. Both give 100% to every workout. Quick ones, long ones, moving heavy weights or just their body. Doesn’t matter. Sore, tired, hungry, or short on time. They don’t care; They go all out. 100% effort in every workout, every time. No excuses.

Now you may be asking, because I know I did, what do you do if you don’t have a background in sports? What if you weren’t active in high school, an athlete in college, and in competitive sports after? But that’s the thing, it doesn’t matter where you start or even when you start. All that matters is that you start and you don’t give up.

What you can learn from two athletic all-stars is that fitness isn’t about quick fixes or gimmicks. It’s all about consistency. It’s a commitment to a lifestyle. It’s a lot of effort over a long time. If you’re serious about making a change, then put away the diet pills, shake weights, and fad workouts. Instead, commit to consistency. Do that and the results will take care of themselves.

Leave a comment

Name *

Email *

Comment *