How to stay consistent

Have you ever experienced a time where you’re enthused about starting a new challenge?

Caught up in the excitement of this new regime you start off going hell for leather.

It’s pedal to the metal. As you’re determined that this is going to be the time. This is going to be the regime that sees things change once and for all.

And then after a couple of weeks you find things dropping off. You find that you can’t keep up the pace. And as you’ve seen zero results, you throw in the towel.

Sound familiar?

What you need to know is when it comes to being consistent you have to build momentum.

Because winning the race is all about pace!

Momentum is so important when you are making positive changes to your life.

When you stop and start it takes so much more time and energy. At least 10x more than if you were consistent!

People don’t realise how much time it takes to build consistency.

But wise people will keep on going. Because they understand that there is lag with building momentum.

It’s the equal of a rocket launching into space. Most of the energy is used up breaking free of the earth’s atmosphere.

Those that push through with energy, discipline and consistency start to see results.

Now, these aren’t huge changes that they experience. And most people will say that the juice hasn’t been worth the squeeze so they quit.

But the smart folk will persist further. And here’s where the magic happens.

It doesn’t take long before they start to see big changes in their lives. As they break free of the atmosphere and the gravity that has been weighing them down.

They move faster and progress further from the same effort being applied. As there is no more resistance.

They have momentum.

Now all they need to do is be consistent with there actions. Because if you ease off entirely you are then taken way off course.

And enter back into an event horizon where gravity will once again hold you down. Momentum will be gone. Then you need to start again.

Sadly this is how most people operate; in fits and starts.

We get a new business venture going and cut out on vacation.

We get hyped up about date nights with our spouse but then in a few weeks its back to Netflix and snacks on the sofa.

We start a new health regimes and go like crazy for a couple of weeks. Then stop and end up right back at the started.

It only takes you to miss a couple of weeks of missing anything. Workouts, healthier meals, affectionate gestures to your spouse, business calls.

And you’ve killed momentum.

Which is why I emplore you to be the tourtouise, not the hare!

Given enough time, the tourtoise will beat anyone!

This is the importance of the being consistent with a minimum effective dose.

Doing the least amount of work that will see you make progress.

Which makes consistency easy.

For more help with performing at your best check out my program The Disciplined Man click here

How to keep momentum going?!

The most common questions I get asked are; ‘How do you keep it going’, ‘how do you stay motivated?’, ‘how do you get to the gym X amount of times a week?’ and ‘how do you stick to your diet?’

When people lack motivation I usually find it’s because what they’re doing on their quest for health and fitness is not enjoyable!

If your exercise plan or diet isn’t right for you then you’re going to hate it, of course, you’re going to struggle to stick to it. If I was doing some awful prescribed method that I wasn’t enjoying because I didn’t know any better, I’d last not very long before I’d quit.

One of the most important questions I ask my clients is ‘how often can you exercise?’ and ‘what do you like doing?’ I know that this is hugely important because if they like it, they will stick to it. Swimming, CrossFit, resistance training, yoga even power walking; these are all options people enjoy and if it gets them moving then great.

And a frequency they can realistically keep to removes the overreaching problem where you can’t realistically keep up with a cookie-cutter exercise routine.

Yes, there are exercises that I am going to recommend that they should factor in that are going to be optimal for improving body composition. These can be a small part of someone’s exercise regime, but you have got to enjoy it overall. Which means you will keep it going.

And there lies the secret sauce, adherence!

It is the same with diet, if I tell you it’s chicken and broccoli for the rest of your days, you’re going to say ‘Andy it is time for you to piss off!’ This is why food plans are futile. You’ve cultivated your diet over years, and you eat at the times convenient to you. To completely overhaul your diet is ludicrous! You won’t last very long before you are back eating your normal diet.

I have had clients tell me that they had done a certain personal trainer’s (let’s call him Joe) diet plan and they lasted just a couple of weeks. Because ‘prepping like a boss’ and ‘eating clean’ is a complete overhaul and miles away from their normal diet. And irrelevant for when it comes to getting in shape. No wonder only 10% of the people that purchase his plan complete it!

So when you’re thinking about exercise and diet think about the stuff that you enjoy and you won’t need motivation, you’ll be happy to do it!