Of all the key habits people in shape have, consistency is probably number one. Whether your goal is to change your body shape or simply maintain what you have, you will not be able to achieve your goals without being consistent on a week-to-week basis.
However, being consistent is a struggle for people, and is often the reason why a great result is not achieved, be it training, nutrition, or lifestyle habits. As a result, people often look for quick fixes because they simply do not have the patience or discipline that is required for success. This then ends up in yo-yo and crash dieting, which is ineffective and unsustainable.
So, how can you solve this problem? How can you achieve the long-term consistency that is needed to make great progress and have a positive impact on your life?
Find Out Your Why
Another crucial thing to be clear on when you start your fat loss journey is why your goal is important to you. There will be a deep, emotional reason why you are looking to get in shape and you must dig this out before you set out your plan to get there.
This is vital, not just to ensure that you are invested in the process, but also so that you can maintain consistency throughout the inevitable periods of low motivation further down the line. This is what I like to call an ‘anchor’ and it must mean a lot to you if you are to succeed.
Have An Inspiring Goal
For you to build habits and stick to the plan, you must have a deep, emotional goal that inspires you during your journey. There will be days when you are tired and not motivated to do the tasks required to reach your target, and this is often when you can fall off track. So, find out your deep, emotional ‘why’ and link each important task to the end goal. You may not be inspired by the tasks, but you should be inspired by the end goal.
Until you understand the value of each task and how it relates to a goal that lights you up, you will always struggle for motivation and consistency. So, take some time to write this down and remind yourself before your you start because, further down the line when you may have a wobble, this is what will keep you going.
Be Realistic
A common mistake people make heading is to adopt the all or nothing approach, in which they go from consuming lots of food and drink to reducing it dramatically to the point when they are not getting in the right nutrition. Fat loss takes a long time, so you must have a training, nutritional, and lifestyle approach that is realistic, sustainable, and enjoyable. That way, you can stay consistent over a long period, which is the only way to achieve great results and build habits to last you a lifetime.
Short-Term Targets
It can be very easy during your journey to look too far ahead and get overwhelmed as a result. In between where you are now and what you have to do to get the result, there is going to be a lot of work, time, and patience required, which can be intimidating.
However, although having a long-term goal is key, setting short-term targets is also paramount to your success. It allows you to focus on small wins which, if accumulated over time, can lead to a big result. So, have the bigger goal in the back of your mind but always focus on the daily actions that you need to tick off.
Accountability
If you are looking to accelerate your progress, you may find it hard to go at it alone. Firstly, it can be hard to consistently motivate yourself to keep going and stay disciplined in the most important areas. Therefore, having a coach, mentor or someone you know to regularly support you are going to be key, especially during the times when you are down and not inspired to train or stick to your diet is going to be vital for getting through tough times and staying consistent.
Having someone by your side is also important when it comes to doing the right things well. This can range from exercise execution and tempo to adjusting your calories every few weeks. Without the knowledge required, it is risky to make changes yourself and you may not even know if you are performing the required tasks to maximum effect. So, a coach or mentor who will make the right decisions when required and make sure that you are getting the best reward for your efforts, which is vital.
Summary
So, if you are struggling with consistency, there are strategies that you can use to help you. These include finding out your ‘why’, having an inspiring goal, being realistic, having short-term targets, and having accountability. All of the strategies mentioned will have a huge impact on your level of consistency and ability to achieve a great result.
Integrate them into your lifestyle, be patient and watch how your life changes for the better.
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