Consistency Over Motivation

"It's not what we do once in awhile that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently. " -Tony Robbins

This morning as I typed out my "Tuesday Trainer Tip" for my clients, I realized my message had to be shared with as many people as possible. This one, key component is crucial to your success, and I cannot emphasize it enough:

MOTIVATION WILL INEVITABLY FADE. IT IS YOUR CONSISTENCY THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM DERAILING.

Let that sink in. Think about all the times you started a new diet and/or fitness program and were riding the motivation high. Chances are you were doing great...for awhile. Then something happened. You woke up and felt totally uninspired. Maybe you felt like you could stay in bed all day long. Maybe that's exactly what you did!

Understand that the "motivated-unmotivated and uninspired" cycle is 100% normal, and we all experience it at some point in our lives. However, there is a solution to this, and it's called...you guessed it, CONSISTENCY! Consistency is what gets our butts out of bed regardless of how motivated we are feeling. It is what gets you to put the pot of coffee on and cook up 2 eggs with spinach and avocado instead of reaching for the Fruit Loops and orange juice.

Yes, the sugary juice and cereal is going to sound better sometimes, but you know what you have to do in order to stay on track and reach your goals! Why? Because you have consistently created a routine that works for you! When you are feeling uninspired to keep going, your "stick with it" mentality kicks in, and tells you to do it anyway. The caveat, you MUST practice consistency daily. Start small. Stick to one healthy habit at a time, and do not move on to the harder stuff until you have mastered the simple tasks. 

For example, stick with filling up 1/2 your plate with veggies for 2 weeks. If you can do this consistently 90-95% of the time, you can move on to something a little more challenging. Maybe you choose to meal prep at least 1 time per week. Until you are 90-95% consistent with this task, don't move on to a different fitness/nutrition habit. Stick to one behavior at a time! Practice your habit daily. I guarantee this works. It is how I got my messy life back in order, and it is why so many of my clients have been able to achieve their goals and succeed!

"A jug fills, drop by drop." -Buddha

Trust me, there will be days where you don't feel like eating the healthy steel-cut oatmeal you prepared the night before, or breaking a sweat after work. You may want to hit up Starbucks and grab a tempting, White Chocolate Mocha with a croissant and finish the night off with hours of Netflix. Instead, press pause! Think about your goals and WHY it's important for you to achieve them! 

Does the mocha and pastry get you closer to where you want to be? Does letting 2 or more hours pass by as you watch TV lead you to feeling like the best version of yourself? What is it that you want? Your life is a series of choices. You have the power to fuel your body with real nutrients or with processed, "food-like" items. You have the control to get off the couch and go for a walk with your friends. You have the control, even when the motivation may not be present.

"Actions open doors. Consistency keeps them open." -Rob Stanmore

So today, don't worry if you aren't feeling 100% motivated. Just do what you know how to do well! Control what goes into your body, take 5-10 minutes to care for yourself (take a relaxing bath, read for leisure, go for a walk, listen to your favorite podcast, meditate, etc.), and move your body (workout, go for a 30 minute walk or bike ride, jog with a friend, whatever gets your heart pumping)! Everything I just stated is IN YOUR CONTROL! 

How will you choose to take on this day? What choices lead to your long-term goals, and which ones could you leave behind that don't consistently move the needle in the right direction. It's about choices, acting on said choice, and consistently acting on said choice over and over AND OVER. Even when you feel like you have the word, "UNINSPIRED," tattooed across your forehead, I promise, the more consistent you are, the more successful you are going to be in every aspect of your life!

"I know it can be intimidating to make changes to your life, but what if you took the first step today? What if I told you I have been right where you are and have the ability to change your life forever? Accountability is one of the most important keys in succeeding and achieving your goals, and that is why I started Sally Mae Fitness. I know what it takes to make real, lasting changes and I will be with you every step of the way. Schedule your FREE consult to discuss your goals and concerns. I will share my personalized recommendations to help you achieve your healthiest, strongest and most confident self! Finally create the life YOU DESERVE!"
~Coach Sally