Stay Committed to Your Fitness Goals: A Path to Consistency
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The Challenge of Consistency in Fitness
Maintaining consistency in a fitness regimen can be quite challenging and, at times, feels nearly impossible. Life often throws distractions our way, or competing priorities may make hitting the gym less appealing. There are instances when I plan to work out before heading to work, only to end up postponing it until later in the day, often resulting in skipping the session altogether.
It's undeniably tough to gather the motivation, and neglecting your health over time can lead to negative consequences. Without a proper outlet to relieve stress from a hectic workday, your overall fitness may begin to decline, even in a short span. As time goes by, this can become increasingly demotivating.
The Bright Side: A Solution Through Accountability
Fortunately, I've discovered a solution that centers around accountability. By having a personal trainer, in a sense, supporting me through the Future Fitness app, I've found it significantly easier to tackle my workouts consistently week after week. Whether it’s through an app like Future, a friend, or a family member, accountability is crucial for achieving a stable, healthy lifestyle.
Experiencing a Drop in Consistency
After a few years of regular workouts, where I rarely missed more than a couple of days between sessions, I noticed a slowdown in my progress. What used to be five to six days a week at the gym gradually slipped to just two or three. While working out two to three times weekly can be fine—provided the intensity is high—I started to feel disheartened as my commitment waned. I had never encountered such a plateau before, and it became clear that I needed to make a change, as I began to see the repercussions in both my personal and professional life.
The Impact of Neglecting Fitness
Lacking a space to decompress and release the stress of the day left me struggling to get to bed at a reasonable hour. My mind would race through the day’s events. Many people mention the euphoric feeling known as "runner’s high," a sense of joy and satisfaction that comes after a good workout. I have experienced this before, but with my recent inactivity, I found the opposite to be true—no workouts translated to no happiness.
Your sleep quality can deteriorate, and you may feel as if all your hard work in your fitness journey is slipping away. It’s fascinating how quickly muscle can be built and yet lost in the absence of consistent training.
The Transformative Power of Accountability
Up until this point, I had experimented with various workout apps, all in an effort to spark some motivation to return to my previous intensity in the gym. You could say I was a walking review for all these applications, switching my routine every few days without any sponsorship.
However, everything shifted when I began utilizing the Future Fitness app, primarily due to the accountability it provided. What started as a FaceTime introduction with my soon-to-be trainer turned into a detailed discussion about my fitness goals. My trainer then crafted a flexible workout plan that fit my schedule, including volleyball and rest days, allowing me to maintain a five to six-day workout week.
What truly stood out about the app was that my trainer could monitor every workout, including my heart rate during sets. This knowledge encouraged me to push harder, as I didn’t want to let anyone down. It’s an odd feeling, but when you know someone is observing your efforts, it compels you to give your best.
A Call to Action
By now, you likely understand the struggles of prioritizing your fitness routine and the negative effects that can arise from neglecting it. If you find yourself in a similar situation and are experiencing adverse effects, implementing a form of accountability can lead to remarkable achievements.
You might be wondering, “How can I leverage this insight to spark change in my life?” To answer that, I'll share a quote from James Clear, the author of "Atomic Habits":
“A slight change in your daily habits can guide your life to a different destination. Making a choice that is 1% better or 1% worse is insignificant in the moment. But over the span of moments that make up a lifetime, these choices determine the difference between who you are and who you could be.”
If you've read this far, I’d love to know: Do you relate to my fitness journey? What small steps are you taking to maintain your own path to fitness?
Chapter 2: The Substance of Motivation
This official trailer for "The Substance" highlights the journey of self-discovery and motivation that mirrors the struggles faced in fitness. It serves as an inspiring reminder of what drives us to persevere in our goals.