Better Than Consistency

Consistency is important.

We all know that a specific fitness goal cannot be reached without it.

But a sitting rock is consistent, yet the rock doesn’t do anything other than stay put.

And doing the same exercises, at the same weights, for the same number of sets week after week is consistent, but one will only get better at doing those exercises, at those weights, for those number of sets.

So we need to take consistency a step further.

We must build momentum.

Momentum is consistent, and it is also on the move. It works to move you from where you are toward where you want to be.

The good news is that momentum is quite easy to initiate.

Start with something, and do more of it, or do it better the next time.

It doesn’t matter at what point you start, so long as you strive for more than just consistency.

Distractions

Those who eliminate distractions will make the most progress.

Impatience is a distraction. No one is patient enough.

Everyone thinks they should be seeing progress week to week.

It just doesn’t happen that way.

It’s great when you do make progress, but know that steady progress is rare (more likely, impossible).

You will make some progress.

Then you will have a setback.

Then you will stay the same for a while.

Then you will have another setback.

Then you will stay the same for a longgggg time.

Then you will make progress again.

And a cycle similar to this will continue.

Whatever you want to happen, expect it to take twice as long as you’re hoping for.

If you want to lose 20 pounds, and you think you can do it in 3 months, It’s probably going to take you 6.

Getting frustrated that you’re not losing enough of those 20 pounds faster is a distraction.

Soon that distraction will lead you to quitting.

Don’t get distracted with how you think things should be happening.

Follow a simple formula: do mostly the right things, on as many days of the week as you can, for as long of time as possible.

Follow it and forget about the rest.

Whatever you want to happen, will happen, if you do enough of the right stuff for long enough.

But no one can do that. They have to get distracted instead.

Everyone would rather attempt to interpret why they aren’t seeing the progress they want.

They get fixated on what the scale says, on how their clothes fit, or how they look in the mirror.

When will you lose those 20 pounds?

Probably a couple months later than you think you’ll lose it by.

But few actually get that far, to those 2 extra months.

They got distracted and quit too early.