The truth About Exercise Consistency

So, you want to get up every morning and jog, or you want to go to the gym 3 times, 5 times or 6 times a week, or you want to get yourself to be in the pool twice times a week for 2 hours. You've heard or read somewhere that in order to get into shape an maintain it, that you have to have a pretty frequent exercise routine.

Yes, it's true, once you start being in shape, it is because you have a consistent commitment to your workout. However, here is the trap that so many people fall into. Starting from where they are in that moment.
they look where they would like to be in terms of their fitness.
they look at the people that have that.
they look at their standards.
and...
they automatically think that they need to train at the same standards as those people right off the bat.

What these people do not realise is the time and process it took them to reach that level of commitment and dedication to their training.

This is probably the biggest reason why so many quit.



I remember when I was just starting out with tae kwon do. I would train about once to twice a week. They were basic sessions, as I wasn't advanced yet. As I progressed, I started joining the tournament training class for that third session a week, and that definitely had more intensity. Then, I began training myself more and more at home as well. One year, my class mates and instructors were pointing out how much I had I had improved in my form. That was the year I became more dedicated and trained as soon as got home from school in the afternoon.

I mention this little story, not brag but rather to illustrate how the consistency grew, not by force but rather by patient cultivation.

You see, I became more frequent because my training became something I valued even more. When you pay special attention to one of your values, it has to grow.

The truth about exercise consistency is that it's not attained straight away. It's something that is gradually cultivated. The intention of being consistent is to have something that we repeat in our life style naturally.

Now, let me ask you, what do you have in your life right now that you do consistently that you do naturally?

Why is that?

I'm willing to bet its because you place a lot of value in it. Am I right?

You see, when something is integrated into your values system, then you find yourself naturally placing your attention and efforts into it.

I 'm also willing to bet that value and the actions you do consistently to support it didn't appear over night, but rather appeared gradually over a period of weeks,months and years.

Now, when something like exercise consistency is not already in your values system, consistency is not going to come naturally. However, you can integrated it into your values.

The way to do that is by realising that it is going to take time, so patience with yourself is the first thing that you need.

Secondly, having realistic expectations is crucial. You need to ask yourself;
"what am I willing to commit to?" "how much is comfortable for me?" and ...
"how frequently can I commit to it right now?".
These kind of questions help to determine what will stick in the long run. Never ever try to measure to some golden standard of intensity or frequency when you are cultivating consistency.

And thirdly, your own level, your own pace. Where are you right now? Try to improve from there. The only person you should strive to overtake is yourself. You can only grow at your own pace. It's not something that should be hurried. Yes, growth can be encouraged and cram result from being pushed but rushing, hurrying or forcing yourself into a higher standard of training will only result in a sudden stop.
Start only from where you are in the moment, appreciate the level of standard that you currently hold yourself at, and gradually, when it feels right and when your genuine motivation arises do you then improve on your standard of exercise consistency.
If you walk for five minutes a day and that's where you are right now when it comes to your standard of exercise, then appreciate that and from that place expand on it. Start walking for six minutes, then you might want to walk 8 minutes, then minutes, then 15 and so on. You might also want to walk faster or progress it into a jog.

This is just a simple example of a scenario where by being patient with where you are right now while wanting to improve, you can become more and more consistent as you are cultivating more and more value for your exercise routine.


Inspired by fitness,

Clinton boucheix
Certified Personal Trainer

P.S. you might have times where you feel that you really don't value your health and fitness to begin with simply because it isn't a clear priority in your life. When that happens, just know this, though your value for this quality may not be high, your simple desire for it is proof that it is indeed there. and as long as you have that then you have enough value in it to grow and cultivate into greater consistency.

Free Exercise Motivation Report