Consistency = the key to success

Lets face it, pretty much any diet and workout plan promoting eating less and moving more is going to help you lose weight and get fit. The key to success is your ability to be consistent with the plan! “Consistency is the key to success.”

For example, the latest celebrity diet might tell you to eat steamed fish and broccoli three times a day for 30-days. Will you lose weight? Absolutely! But will you really be able to stick to such a boring, restrictive eating plan for more than a week or two? Unlikely.

5 Tips For Staying Consistent

1) Find your “why”

When a client tells me they “want to lose weight”, I’ll always ask why? Asking why will always help us uncover the real reason for them wanting to achieve that goal. The emotional root of why it’s so important.

Whether it’s being able to play with your kids without getting out of breath, reducing your risk of illness or that feeling of total body confidence on this years summer holiday, that is the why behind your goal.

Think about your why and think about it any time you feel like your willpower is wavering.

2) Be realistic

One of the most common reasons that people fall off the wagon and give up on their goals is due to taking on too much at once.

Vowing to cut out all junk food, stick to the fish and broccoli diet and fit in a morning yoga session, a 60 minute workout after work and 10,000 steps a day.

People get hung up on finding the perfect workout routine, or thinking you need to have a flawless meal plan.

Forget perfect. Rather than seeking out and attempting a diet and exercise plan promoting the fastest and best results, focus on creating a training schedule you can stick to, and a diet plan that follows the 80/20 rule.

3) Incorporate things you love

After a long day at work, how likely is it that you’re going to head out for that 60 minute run in the rain that you’re absolutely dreading?

And are your really going to stick to the fish and broccoli diet when you don’t really like the taste of broccoli?

The key to staying consistent with your plan is to make sure it includes things you enjoy/don’t hate.

  • Don’t like broccoli? Don’t include it in the meal plan
  • Hate cardio? Try weights instead
  • Don’t like exercising alone? Join a fitness class
  • Hate cooking? Try eating more raw food or use a meal delivery company
  • Don’t like to get hot and sweaty? Take up swimming or yoga/pilates

Whether you’re on your own, or you’re working with a personal trainer, be honest with yourself about what you like and what you don’t. Keep experimenting with new things and learn what works for you.

4) Use systems to make exercising and eating healthily easier

The biggest enemy of consistency is difficulty. The best way to keep on track is to create systems that make exercise and eating healthily easier.

  • Schedule in your workouts, adding them to your calendar on days/times you know you’re more likely to fit them in.
  • Pack your gym bag or lay your workout clothes out the night before
  • Place your alarm clock well out of reach so you have to get out of bed to turn it off rather than hit snooze and miss your morning workout.
  • Create a meal plan and shopping list so you know in advance what you will be having for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 
  • Cook at least a few days worth of healthy lunches and dinners in advance so you have food ready to grab and eat. Also portion up healthy snacks and leave them at work/in the fridge so you aren’t tempted to raid the biscuit tin with your mid-morning coffee.

Systems make it harder to make excuses not to do what needs to be done. This will make being consistent easier.

5) Enlist support

Having someone to answer to if you don’t follow through on your goals is a huge help at keeping you consistent. You might not feel like working out or meal prepping but knowing that someone is going to notice will make you more likely to do it anyway.

A friend or family member can provide great support but if you feel like the people in your personal life are too forgiving or understanding when what you really need is some tough love, consider hiring a coach to do just that.

If you need help with any or all of the above, drop me a line to talk about my VIP coaching services. I have space for in-person and online clients.

Coach Joseph Webb.

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