The Key To A Successful Training Program

When looking to improve your fitness, consistency is the most important factor.

CrossFit, F45, HIIT, running, swimming, yoga, Pilates, group training, spin classes - these are all effective training programs which can improve your fitness levels. So which one should you choose? The truth is, it doesn’t really matter. More often than not, the reason an exercise program is effective is not because of the choice of exercise but simply due to the fact that the exercise was done.

What you do daily matters more than what you do occasionally

No matter what you are hoping to achieve, the only way to be truly successful is to continue to strive towards your goal over and over again. Whether it be learning a new skill, improving your diet, starting a business or increasing your fitness, improvement will happen with continual work rather than short bursts of effort. Drinking an occasional smoothie will not negate a consistently bad diet, playing golf once a month will not improve your skill level, going for an occasional run will not improve your fitness. Consistent training is the key to long term results.

In order to ensure consistency in your exercise program, it’s important to do something you enjoy and then schedule time for your workouts as you would any other appointment. Don't try to fit them in haphazardly; put workouts on your calendar or have a set time each day. Commit to training with a friend or a group to be held accountable. Make exercise a regular and consistent part of your life.

“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”

— John Maxwell

Long term consistency trumps short term intensity

Gym and fitness centres have no issues in getting people to join, the challenge is to keep them coming for an extended period of time. It’s easy to get excited about starting a new program or challenge and we have a tendency to dive in head first, going from no exercise at all to intense training sessions 5 days a week. It’s at around the 1 month mark that people begin to drop off the pace as the initial motivation wears off and life gets in the way. The intensity of the program is not sustainable and eventually the exercise stops all together.

Unfortunately this approach is very common in our modern ‘quick-fix solution’ society. Many people follow a ‘yo-yo’ approach to health and fitness in which they find the latest craze, jump on board, and then when they don’t see immediate results they simply stop altogether. Then follows a period of “falling off the wagon” when all exercise and healthy living goes out the window, until the next craze comes along and so the cycle goes. Avoid the ‘yo-yo’ effect by finding a program that is of the right intensity to suit your time demands, fitness level and allows for long term compliance.

“If you’re tired of starting over, stop giving up.”

— Anon

Consistency is more important than perfection

There are so many times (oh so many) that I am not “feeling it”. I may be tired / busy / hungry / overwhelmed (fill in the blank) and I am pretty sure the training session ahead is not going to be one of my best. However, unless I am injured or unwell, I just turn up and muddle my way through. Consistency in your exercise routine is much more important than hitting the mark every time you train.

So on those days when you are not feeling your best, just turn up. Put your training gear on and head out for that jog, bike ride, group training session, swim. Even on those tough days, once you get started your energy often improves and you sometimes end up have a cracker of a training session! If you don’t turn up, you’ll never know what you might have been capable of!