I know 90% of the population is looking for the key to being successful in any lifestyle change. Whether it’s to lose weight, gain muscle, increase endurance, etc., everyone wants to know how someone has done it. There must be some secret tip or trick they’re doing, right?  Dr. Oz would probably tell you that there’s some strange exotic fruit you need to eat that will solve all life’s problems… but he’s wrong (as has been clearly pointed out lately). I wanted to be the one to tell you the secret.

It’s just one simple word – consistency.

Pretty anti-climatic…. sorry. But, it’s the truth and that’s all I can give you. Truly the only way you’ll see results and make changes to your health and body is by being consistent, each and every day, for a many days, weeks, months, and years – depending on your goal. And, once you’ve reached that goal, you’ll still have to be consistent with a maintenance plan. <I wonder how many times the word “consistent” will be used in this post…>

Think of it this way: it took you X amount of time to gain weight / get out of shape. You can’t expect to reverse all that time in a week or a month. Your body is a machine, processing what you put in it and doing it’s best to meet the physical demands you place on it. To be successful, take your plan and put it to work consistently for months.

Now, that being said, you can’t stick to the exact same plan for months on end and expect to keep seeing changes. Your body will adjust to it and hit a plateau. At this point, it’s gotten so used to what you’re doing to it and feeding it, that you need to shock it by mixing things up. Try a new training program, change up your nutrition, just to keep your body guessing to keep seeing results.

On top of this secret being lame, I’m going to deliver more bad news while I’m at it… you can’t  sneak some treats throughout the day or week and expect to see results, ESPECIALLY at the beginning of a plan. To get results, you need to challenge your body by changing how you’ve been treating it. If you continue to eat unhealthy foods, even in small amounts, your body never has to adjust how it’s been working – slowing or stopping any progress you could be making 😦

Remember, making changes to your body and health takes time, effort, and dedicated work – consistently. Help yourself out by being prepared to stay on track by stocking only healthy food at home, having your meals packed for the day, scheduling activity into your week, and staying positive that the effort you’re making is going to get you where you need to be. Stick it out and see what you’re capable of!