Building Consistency in Your Workout Routine: A Guide to Success

What if I told you that I have the "secret" to your fitness success? That's what everyone is searching for - the secret ingredient, the ultimate hack. Well then you're in luck, because I do know the answer.

The answer is consistency. Not perfection, not intensity, but consistency.

Now I know that is not the answer you are looking for. As a matter of fact, it's pretty vague. But if you think about it, being vague is a really good thing. It allows you to choose a path that is right for you even if that looks different than the "path most traveled."

As long as you are consistent, results are inevitable.

Most people give up before the results are able to speak for themselves. We've always been an impatient species, but it has gotten way worse the past several years. Could you imagine our society now waiting for dial up internet connection? We barely have the attention span to watch a 60 second video clip.

One of my mantras that I repeat often is "consistency is my edge!" I say this because consistency is so rare these days. Most people jump from trend to trend and give up after only 3 days of trying something new. Those who can stay consistent and trust the process have a real competitive edge. And it's that belief alone that can help you start being consistent.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says that the best way to adopt a new habit is to adopt a new identity. Instead of setting a goal to write every day, adopt the identity of being a writer. Instead of adopting the goal of working out every week, adopt the identity of an athlete.

Our unconscious mind will always want to act in alignment with who we say that we are. I used to say "I can never stick with anything!" I would set a goal and give up within the week, and this solidified my identity which in return solidified my actions. It wasn't until I adopted the word Integrity as my word of the year several years ago, that I started to follow through with my goals.

For me, identifying as someone with integrity (even before it was my reality) helped me to keep the promises I made to myself. Because if I didn't, then I would be a liar and being honest is a strong value of mine.

Once you've adopted the identity of someone who is consistent and shows up in integrity, it is easier to make choices throughout your day. Instead of asking yourself "should I workout today?" you'll ask yourself "what time will I workout today?" Instead of asking "should I skip my walk today?" you'll say "maybe I should invite a friend on my walk today."

Now please don't confuse consistency with perfection. You don't have to be extreme, just consistent. I am going to provide you with 5 tips that will help you on your journey towards consistency but it is important that you first adopt the identity before you read ahead.

1. Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mentality

   Most people believe that they can only show up if they have the time, energy and capacity to take extreme measures towards their goals. And if that is not the case, they rather not show up at all. Most people "fall off the wagon" because of this. Instead, start small and do your best most days and build up from there.

2. Start Small

   Speaking of starting small, that is my next tip. If your schedule barely allows you to get in a 30 minute workout, don't set a goal of working out 60 minutes 7 days per week. Start with a 15 minute workout a few days per week and make that a habit before increasing the goal. Or you can be like me and just commit to 15 minute workouts all of the time, 5.5 years later and I still see results from these short and fun workouts.

3. Stop the Comparison Game

   All you have to do is spend 5 minutes on social media to get caught up in the comparison trap. Comparison can be so discouraging, and it also leads to trend hopping. Trend hopping is the ultimate form of inconsistency. Focus on what works best for you in this season of life. Feel empowered about your decision to show up authentically. Sometimes we hop on social media to gain inspiration and motivation but it ends up biting us in the butt. Instead, make a playlist of music that gets you pumped up. This will give you the energy and motivation to get your workouts in.

4. Start Celebrating Non-Scale Victories

   If you want to be discouraged, step on the scale. As women, our weight can fluctuate up to 5 pounds per day and it changes depending on the time of month. There are so many other things that you can celebrate and track that will not ruin your entire day. For example: how your clothes fit, your energy levels, your bowel movements, your skin and hair health, your strength, your ability to do daily activities, and more. Keep a journal and get into the habit of celebrating a non-scale victory every day. This will keep you motivated to continue on the path.

5. Find Your People

   One of the best ways to stay consistent on any journey, it to find a friend or a community that is on this journey alongside of you. Tell a friend or family member about your new mindset around consistency and invite them to join you. Or you can join an in-person or virtual community to help you stay committed to your goal. Be mindful of the groups that you join. If your goal is focus on non-scale victories, it wouldn't make sense to join a community that is centered around weight loss. If your goal is to embrace consistency over perfection, joining a community participating in challenges like 75 Hard would not be aligned. When you join the BFF community, you don't just get brand new 15-minute workouts 5 days per week, you get access to a community of women who are committed to showing up consistently without the pressure and extremes of diet culture. We'd love to welcome you into our community.

Not sure if our workouts are right for you? You can try 5 free 15-minute workouts at the link below.

Samantha Bilby

NASM CPT | CNC
Founder of Bloom Flourish Fitness

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