Consistency

The answer you’re searching for to get the progress you’ve always wanted is… consistency. Before you roll your eyes and close this window, just hear me out.

A sure sign that someone has been inconsistent or has given up (while trying to convince me they’ve “tried EVERYTHING under the sun”) is a lack of change, positive or negative. That’s because even doing something consistently wrong will yield some result.

Trying to lose fat but you gain weight instead? CONSISTENTLY over consumed calories.

Guess what? It’s way easier to educate someone on calorie intake who has already shown how consistent they can be, than someone who is inconsistent but will try to convince you “it’s the carbs” until they’re blue in the face.

Now, the objective of this isn’t to bash people who struggle with consistency. It’s to highlight the way in which being consistent will transform your lifestyle. Let me put it this way, what do you think would be more beneficial for your health? A) 20km run once per year when you get a burst of motivation B) 3km run twice per week for a year.

If you chose A, it’s time to ditch the all or nothing mentality. If you chose B, slow claps for you. We all know that society today has a huge problem with instant gratification, and that pours into our health & fitness too. It’s so common to see people chopping and changing, without ever giving themselves a chance to see results.

If you’re someone who struggles with consistency, how the hell do you change it?

Luckily I’m not a gatekeeping influencer. Or an influencer for that matter. Here are my tips on how to improve your consistency and FINALLY welcome the progress you’ve been waiting for.

1. The most important two things to decide on are; goals & enjoyment. What do you want to achieve? What path to those results will you enjoy? Being sure of your goal and seeing some progress will keep you moving forward, and enjoyment will keep that momentum going when the progress inevitably slows down. Be honest and be sensible e.g. If you’re looking to build serious amounts of muscle, yoga probably won't be the best fit. However, it may be an enjoyable accessory to compliment your gym training.

2. It needs to work for you. If you’re a night owl, committing to a 5am wake up to go swimming probably won’t last. Committing to a post-work swim might though. A common mistake I see is people trying to mimic other peoples schedules, rather than creating their own. The most optimal time to do something is when it works for you!

3. It’s easier to be consistent with days if you’re consistent with times too. Look at your calendar and find a time that is commonly free each day. After a few weeks, your mind & body will associate that time of day with your activity. For me, as soon as it hits 11am I start itching to get to the gym.

NUMBER 4: THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE. GIVE IT TIME. Consistency doesn’t happen overnight (then it wouldn’t be consistent, would it?). Consistency is discipline, and this muscle needs to be exercised regularly. If you can stick to your new habits/exercise/nutrition for a few weeks, you’ll start to see the results you’re after.

Just a reminder to finish off, it’s hard for everyone. No one finds it easy to show up all the time. It will be hard to be consistent, but if you focus on making it work for you, you’ll get there. Progress is waiting just around the corner.

Your coach & friend,

Maddy