By Tommie Mooney

You may have clicked on this blog because you are looking for a magic formula for the perfect diet, cardio, and/or strength training program.  Well Guess what…there is more than one way to get in shape and eat healthy, and what works for you may not work for someone else, so before we get overwhelmed with all the food and exercise information that’s available out there, let’s get the 1st step to success in health and fitness covered; CONSISTENCY!

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives.  It’s what we do consistently.” – Tony Robbins

Consistency is a POWERFUL word and is the key to getting results in your health and fitness program.

Can you relate with any of the following scenarios?  I know I sure can.

Every Monday you start with one of those extreme diets that you read about on FB or in a magazine and by Wednesday you are so hungry that your will power fades and the binge begins, and it all goes downhill from there.  You think to yourself, “Oh, Well, I blew my diet for this week, and now it’s the weekend and I want to have fun, so I’ll start next Monday!”  Does your exercise routine follow a similar pattern?  On Monday & Tuesday, you do 1-2 hours in the gym of extreme cardio, weights, or classes and by Wednesday you’re so sore that all you can do is make it to Happy Hour and give yourself a break.  You say to yourself, “I’ll get back to the gym on Thursday.”  But then errands, work, other life hassles show up, and then you are going out of town for the weekend, so again…you’ll start on Monday.  These cycles just keep repeating themselves over and over.

There may be some of you out there that are saying, “I’m too young, old, or don’t have time to worry about my health or workout, isn’t there a pill from the doctor that can take care of that?”  In that case, you’ve probably gotten good at consistently taking no action and are just living it up.  Listen to me now and hear me later…sooner or later something will happen (illness, accident,) that forces you to start looking at ways to improve your health through good nutrition and exercise because modern medicine and pills come with nasty side effects and just don’t make the cut!  That’s when the PANIC will set in! “I’m so behind I have to start doing something and everything all at once!”

Sadly, there are those of you who really want to start doing something to improve your health, but you don’t know where to start, or what to do, feel intimidated to ask for help or go to the gym, or have failed in the past and are afraid to start again.  If this has been your mind set, it is time to push aside your excuses and take action to start trying some different things that will improve your health!  I truly believe something is better than nothing.  It could be as simple as heading outside for a 20 minute walk.

Then there are some of you I like to call the Die Hards!  Your willpower is strong and you are able to restrict calories with crazy diets, detoxes, and challenges for 3-4 weeks and go to the gym 5-6 days/week for intense workouts because there is a “special event” like a wedding, vacation, or class reunion that you have to look HOT for!  You even make your goal or get really close by these extreme measures.  However, as soon as the event arrives or happens that you were prepping for, you relax a little and say to yourself, “Yeah, I hit my goal, now it’s time to relax a little and give myself a much earned break!”  The old habits of making poor food choices and not going to the gym creep back in.  Before you know it, it’s a month later and you’ve gained 8-10 pounds and haven’t been to the gym once!  OOPS!  You ask yourself, “How did this happen?”

Here is where that key word comes in again…CONSISTENCY!  Consistency is what is missing in most of our lives.  There are no breaks from exercise and healthy eating habits. There is no destination or finish line, only a journey that is ever changing along with your body as it goes through its different stages of life!   It’s time to stop with all the extremes of starting and stopping and just give your best effort to be consistent, even if your effort level is only 50%.  Placing just a 50 – 60% effort everyday towards eating better and exercising is going to produce more results than giving 100% for 2 – 4 weeks and then giving up because you’re exhausted.  Take the time to find a little balance in your healthy eating habits and fitness routine.  Don’t be afraid to try new things and see how your body feels or reacts.  It’s okay to make mistakes, too!  I know I do.  Wipe the slate clean and start again right away with your next meal or workout.  What we know as experts in this field is that if we all CONSITENTLY take action to eat REAL, WHOLE foods, exercise, and practice patience, your body will reward you by looking, moving, and feeling better! And BTW…Monday is not the perfect day to start things!  The time to get back on track is RIGHT NOW!

If you would like assistance with starting a fitness or nutrition regimen, please give me a call to set up a complimentary assessment.

858-549-3456

Ready to Shake things UP?  Join us for a 4 Week Boot Camp Series at the Mira Mesa Community Park.  This is Hosted by Being-Fit Fitness Centers of Mira Mesa.  Members and Non-Members are Welcome to attend.  The fee for non-members is $95, which includes a complimentary gym membership while the Boot Camp is in session.  The Boot Camp is on Tuesday and Saturdays from 7/12/14 – 8/2/14!  Please contact the front desk for more info @ 858-549-3456.  The last day to sign up is Friday, July 11th!