Be More Consistent

The most important key to obtaining the body you want is consistency.

I realize that is a boring answer. I was bored just typing it.

However, boring does not mean untrue.

If you want to be in great shape you have to be consistent. No matter how hard you try there is no getting around it.

Think of consistency as a law of fitness. Just like gravity is a law of motion.

There is no getting around gravity. If you jump off a tall building you will die. If you are not consistent with your fitness and nutrition you will not reach your goals.

Consistency is a skill. Like any skill it takes time to get good at it.You need to practice consistency to get better at it. While this may take time you will come to find that consistency is a skill transferable to every other aspect of your life.

How to Develop Consistency:

Is it really important to you?

Ask yourself that question. If it is anything less than an enthusiastic  “hell yes!” chances are you won’t stick to it.

When attempting to develop consistency you must start with something that is really important to you. My hope is that it is fitness and nutrition, but it could be something else for you (meditation, reading more, quitting smoking, etc.)

Like I said above, consistency is a learned skill. But your first time working at this skill will be difficult. That’s why you need to pick something that is important enough that you will want to see it through.

Good news is even if it is not fitness/nutrition right now it can be latter. Consistency is transferable. By being more consistency in one area will make it easier to transfer consistency to other areas.

Start Small

Let’s go ahead and assume you choose fitness and nutrition as an important area for you. Now we have to ease into it.

DON’T try to change 10 different things at once.

Trying to eat 2,000 calories a day, while working out 5 times a week, while taking the 10 most popular supplements, while eating 3 servings of vegetables a day is a heavy work load for anybody.Start small.Work on one habit every month.

Yes, I know that sounds like a snail’s pace but people that try more than one habit at a time end up improving none.

My advice is to start counting calories. No other habit will influence you as much as this one. Just do it. Stop complaining.

Nobody likes counting calories. But do it for a month. Without changing any other thing in your life you will lose weight.

Oh and be honest. You don’t have to show your calorie count to anybody. Keep it to yourself, but don’t lie. You are only hurting yourself if you aren’t being honest.

Accountability

There are numerous ways you can be accountable. There are apps, there are websites, you can even hire accountability coaches on craigslist to keep you in line.

But I like simple. The Jerry Seinfeld method is perfect in this situation.

A young comic once asked Jerry Seinfeld if he had any tips for a young comic. Jerry said to become a better comic make better jokes. Then he gave an invaluable method he himself used.

First get a large wall calendar and a big, red marker. For each day you write a joke (or whatever habit) put a big, red "X" on the calendar.

"After a few days you'll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You'll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain."

Do not break the chain.

Compounding Effect

Consistency is transferable.

Start with just one habit (counting calories).

After one month pick a second habit. Maybe try following a calorie goal or work out 3 times a week.

Quickly you will notice a snowball effect with your consistency. After 6-12 months you could have your fitness consistency rolling. Then transfer it!

Try meditating or going to bed earlier.Your consistency muscle will be flexed and you will be amazed at the chances it can bring to your life.