Consistency: The key to Training Success
Written by: Mathews McGarry
They say that every new beginning in life is tough – but even if you set your custom-devised workout program off on the right foot, it still doesn’t mean that peak fitness results are guaranteed. To safeguard your training agenda against stagnation or downright nosedives, you should keep your diet, workout, and recovery optimized for sustainable progress.
But how exactly do you tweak your lifestyle for long-term success and maximum performance during every workout session? Brace yourself: the road to training consistency isn’t paved with roses, but you can avoid thorns by adjusting your daily routine based on the guidelines listed below.
1. A Diet System You Can Stick To
Proper nutrition is the heart of every training regime, and failure to adjust your eating habits to lifestyle change is the most common reason why newbie gym goers forsake their quest for bulk before they cross the finish line. With the increased intensity of daily activities, your body will need extra doses of proteins and complex carbohydrates to cover the energy expenditure and prevent muscle tissue breakdown which often occurs on nutrient-low diets. For this reason, your pre- and post-workout nutrition need to be fine-tuned for peak performance and minimal risk of focus and energy dips that can shatter your gym motivation altogether – and most of all, your carte du jour needs to be sustainable and adjustable to long-term training intensity tweaks.
2. Slow yet steady Intensity Hike
Even with rock-solid meal plans in the mix, your training consistency can dip if your gym sessions aren’t suited to your fitness level. Workouts that are too long and intense won't challenge you: they will leave you sore, aching, and reluctant to show up at the gym for another round of heavy sweating. That’s why a fitness coach is your best gym buddy: a personal trainer will tailor-make a workout program based on your shape, build, and training goals and keep increasing the routine intensity gradually as your strength and endurance improve. As a coach-less gym bro, try to be realistic with workouts and don’t push your limits too often or too far: this can result in lengthy recovery and ruin your training consistency in the long run.
3. Don’t Skimp on Total Sleep Time
Adequate recovery is another important factor in ensuring training consistency and optimal gym performance. Your total sleep time and Zzz quality should be sufficient for your body to recover and replenish after training. Failure to give your muscles a chance to get a decent rest can either slow down your progress in the gym or cause you to skip workouts altogether because of over fatigue and a lack of energy. Still, don’t laze around all day after a tough drill: max out on recovery and keep your muscles on the ever-ready and sore-free track to hack gym consistency and prevent injury and inflammation.
4. A Little Help from Self-Motivation
Motivation is essential for workout consistency: if hitting the barbell is the last thing you want to do, odds are you’ll eventually begin to dodge the gym. Don’t let your training sessions become a have-to or a dull means to a senseless end. Training is a journey, and you should try to make it as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. Try rewarding yourself for the hard muscle work now and again to keep motivation in check, and track your progress using a training journal: seeing just how far you’ve come from day one will be a silver lining on a cloudy gym day that may convince you that all that effort shouldn’t go to waste just yet.
Don’t let your gym sessions boil down to sweat and strain: that’s the easiest way to lose interest and walk out of the gym one day never to return again. Eat well, sleep enough, train smart and give yourself a pat on the back every now again for all the good bar work you’re doing. After all, workout consistency is built on both physical condition and mental fortitude, so keep tabs on both if your eyes are fixed on weight loss or bulk-building success. Good luck!
