The Magic Pill

​​We are lazy people aren’t we? Well, I suppose in just some aspects. We certainly crowd our daily lives with a million chores, responsibilities, appointments and activities. The typical American hardly sounds lazy. But, when it comes down to what really matters and what is really important, just like everything else, we want a quick and easy solution. The magic pill.
 
"I don’t have time to eat healthier, shop better, exercise regularly, and put out the effort to get where I really want to be. If I could just take some supplements then I would do it."

Have you thought like this? Probably.

 
The Magic Pill. Let me tell you what that magic pill is...it’s consistency. It’s not an actual pill or a magical weight loss herb. And it’s not the latest and greatest workout routine or piece of equipment.

The solution to whether or not you’ll ever reach your goals is your consistency.
 
The Magic Diet Pill. Consistency is the key to whether or not a diet will work. And most diets do actually work, believe it or not. A diet fails when you’re no longer able to stick with it for the long haul. Obviously, if you ate spinach and chicken breasts at every meal you would certainly lose body fat. But how long are you going to be able to sustain that regimen? A week? Two weeks at most? Certainly not long enough to be happy with the results.

But, if you’re able to eat in a way that you can maintain for a year or more, then oh yes, you’d be thrilled!
 
The Magic Workout Pill. Consistency is also the answer for whether or not an exercise routine will work. I’ll just say it…P90X works and Crossfit works. (If you know me, I’m not a big fan of these systems…) The problem with these workouts is that they're incredibly difficult to stay consistent with them.

(P90X expects you to do it 5 days/week for one hour at a time...that's a lot! Crossfit consists of gnarly workouts that have no real progression. The problem with both of these is that they’re very hard, they ask you to give a lot, and you’re very likely to get injured...so you quit.)

If you want your workouts to help you shed body fat, build healthy muscle tissue, improve your cardiovascular health, and make you stronger and more energized in general, you need to find something that you can do on a regular basis for months without quitting.

You skipper, you. The average trainee will skip workouts right and left, and wonder why they’re frustrated and not getting anywhere. You may do three workouts one week, one workout the next, skip a week, then two workouts the next week. This is a bad! You should never expect to see any change in your body when you're all over the place.

You will be far more likely to see results if you commit to just two workouts every week and nail it every time.
 
 
So how long do I have to be consistent? Often, first time strength trainees want to know how long it takes to see results. In my experience, when a beginner sticks with a good workout routine for three straight months without missing a single workout, they WILL notice a difference. (This is why I require a 3-month minimum commitment with all of my new clients. It's important to me that you hit that magical 3-month mark!)  

So, if you’re two or three weeks into a new workout routine, don’t expect to see much change. You might feel a little better, but it takes a while for everything to catch up. Don’t quit!!!
 
The Consistency Caveat. Now, I would be amiss to not mention a caveat here. Sometimes people can be too consistent..they're stuck in a rut. Have you been doing the same running route three days per week for five years? Have you been eating the same bowl of granola for breakfast and your afternoon yogurt every day for two years?

If it’s working for you, great. If you’re happy with where you’re at, how you feel and how you look, awesome. But, if you’re looking for some sort of improvement and you’re stuck in such a deep rut, it’s time for a change. Try a different workout routine, try eggs for breakfast, sign up for a spin class…anything!
 
Debbie Downer. Right now, I feel like your mom telling you what you already knew, but didn't want to believe. If you have weight loss goals, strength building goals, or general health goals, you MUST be consistent. Don’t be lazy. Put in the work. Find an eating plan that you can adhere to without fail. Begin a workout routine that’s entirely doable so you never skip a workout. And once you begin something, follow through with it for at least three months to give it a chance to work. 
 
No, there is not a little magic pill that you can just swallow that will make you instantly fit and toned without changing anything else in your life. Your “magic pill” for having the body you desire is consistency. Do it right from the beginning, put in the hard work and stay true to the course. Don’t you dare give up, momma!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

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​P.S. Are you a skipper? Have you been dabbling with this and that, finding it difficult to stay consistent enough to see results? You need a plan. You need a good plan. The Strong Mommas Membership provides you with new strength and conditioning workouts every month that are designed to fit into the life of a busy mom. The membership also walks with you step-by-step through healthy eating habits that are so simple you will be able to do it for the rest of your life. Click here to learn more and register now!