The C-Word

Before True Consistency

A few years ago, I subscribed to another C-Word. That word is comfortable. With a splash of coffee (sorry–had to say it). I sat around drinking a lot of coffee. I consistently yo-yo dieted. I felt sluggish and lethargic. My clothes didn’t fit, and I consistently went up in size (but I blamed the clothing manufacturers instead of my habits). I liked sugar, I liked being comfortable, I liked joking about fitness actually meaning “fitness this pizza into my mouth” and other such fun Pinterest-y sayings. In fact, some days I really miss being that way.

Wake Up Call

I logged in to Facebook in the fall of 2018 and lamented that another mom had posted our field trip photos–not of my kid–but of me. My comfortable lifestyle was not only making me lethargic and sluggish, it also had more visible physical symptoms, which were now made embarrassingly public. I decided after Christmas I would make some changes. I joined Weight Watchers. I refused to exercise, claiming I was allergic. I still irregularly walked the dog. I ate “better” …which means I didn’t eat much at all…but I guess that is better than eating too much.

A year later, COVID-19 hit the world with full force. My meetings and accountability came to a sudden halt. Gyms closed, Drizly opened, DoorDash got my full support, and I fell off the wagon with my diet consistency. My friend started selling ZYIA and posting about workout challenges in her Facebook group, so in an effort to have an excuse to leave my house, I started sharing photos of my dog walks daily. This led another friend to suggest that I try a fitness group called Camp Gladiator. So I signed up for a free month. The first month I went 3 days per week. Then I got talked into 5. Now I consistently exercise 7 days per week. Here is what I have learned about consistency.

What I’ve Learned

I don’t want to exercise every day. There, I said it. Most days, I crave the extra sleep. Waking up before 5 am every day gets old! But I also don’t want to go to a workout at the end of a long, tiring day. So I choose to roll out of bed early to avoid doing it later. If this is the case, why have I accumulated 500+ workouts in less than 2 years (not including the running, walking, and yoga on my ‘rest days’)?

• Find out what motivates you and work with yourself, not against. For me, knowing people expect me to show up, or the external accountability, is highly motivating. It’s why I choose in-person workouts with a trainer and friends who also consistently show up.
• Make a decision. Then follow through. You would do anything for your best friend or significant other or your child. You would get uncomfortable and be up early for a kid’s medical procedure or an early work meeting. You would fit that in somehow — why not fit in something that makes YOU better?
• Motivation is fickle. This is why making a decision is so important. You won’t always ‘feel like’ getting dressed and beginning an exercise regimen. I rarely, if ever, “feel like” going! I just …go. I show up. I rarely regret it.
• Set realistic goals. Don’t let unrealistic expectations make you decide the process isn’t worth it. Set small and attainable goals and add to those as you grow.

If I had to choose the most important lesson, it would be make a decision and stick with it. You can do more than you think you are capable of. Decide to do it — whatever ‘it’ is — and go for it! Stop making excuses and start making progress.