7 Proven Ways To Achieve Consistency With Your Strength Training Routine

Strength training is a great way to achieve your fitness goals. We know it, you know it. But to reap the rewards that inevitably come with strength training, you need the magic ingredient. 

And that is consistency! By being consistent with your fitness routine, you can achieve your goals easily and successfully. A regular exercise routine will yield better results every time. So, what are the most effective ways to workout consistency? 

1. Be incredibly choosy with your coach / personal trainer.

This will pay dividends when she crafts you a brilliant workout plan. A good training program will make you go back for more. Social media is rife with influencers dissing "leg days" and "arm days". But no one talks about the rest days. Your body needs time to heal and recover from the rigors of your program. A good coach will also help get rid of any unrealistic expectations you may have and minimize the risk of injury. 

2. It takes a village. So get yourself a good fitness tribe.

Like-minded people are priceless when it comes to consistency. Involve your family members - an unsupportive partner will harm your efforts. More often than not, when your family sees you reaping the rewards of your new fitness routine, they will be tempted to join in too. Rope them in and you can keep each other motivated and accountable. 

3. Partner up!

A good workout buddy is worth their weight choice in gold. Your training partner will inspire you to push and this is priceless. A famous saying goes that the hardest distance to travel is the one from your bed to your front door. Your workout partner will help shorten this distance. Whether it is fear of letting them down or not being able to keep up with them if you miss too many classes, they will ensure you do not skip your classes! 

4. Never go two days without missing your exercise routine.

Gym consistency takes a hit when you let your lethargy and inertia set in. We are all creatures of habit. Building muscle takes time and effort. Consistent training is the only way. Even with a fitness tribe and a solid workout buddy, there are days when you feel like burrowing deep inside your cozy bed. There may be days when your body is sending you a signal that you have overdone it the previous session and it needs more time to recover. This must be paid heed to. 

But this doesn't mean you have to go to the other end and vegetate. Switch things around and go for a gentle walk. Or an easy swim. Never stop moving. And never skip more than two days of your routine - lest that becomes a habit. 

5. Make a conscious effort. Actively choose to train.

A consistent workout routine is not created in a vacuum. Long-term consistency will only come when we actively and consciously move. Ask any Coach worth his / her salt, they will admit even they are tempted to play potato and just be. But what makes them different (and good at their day jobs!) is that they don't. They might want to watch endless reruns of their favourite TV show, but they turn the telly off and spend some quality time with the foam roller instead. Or they join the family on movie night but sit on the floor and slowly work on mobilising their joints. And when their beds send out the siren calls on cold mornings, they firmly get their hands on their weights and spend extra time on warming up their cold muscles.  

6. Feel free to use any tools.

Prep your gym bag; get your gym clothes ready the previous night. Get a fitness tracker. A smartwatch, if you can afford one. Get an app.  Mark it in your Google calendar. Use every tool there is to ensure you can stick to your regular workout schedule. Hates gonna hate, but you do you.

7. Be clear about your goals.

Goal setting is one of the most important ways to help you be consistent. What are you working towards? Better health markers? Moving to heavier weights? Squat your body weight? Improve muscle mass? Increase your bench press? When you define your goals clearly, you set yourself a clear specific goal to work towards.  Whether they are short-term goals or long term, clearly defined goals will sharpen your focus and ensure consistency. 

Remember: your fitness journey is for life. This is not a short-term, 12-week extreme routine or the next "shiny" object. Making physical activity a way of life is vastly underrated. The most important thing to bear in mind is that, for a healthier life, you need to look at the long term. 

Healthy habits are necessary for you to lead a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle changes will not happen over a single day. You need to take several small steps, consistently, for them to bear fruit. 

If you want some expert guidance to help you on your fitness journey, talk to us!