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Consistency
Health | December 02, 2014
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
– Aristotle
Most of you have heard me mention the need for consistency frequently in my posts. Consistency is the foundation of all that we do at the ZGym. It is the bedrock of fitness and wellbeing. Without it, progress can’t be made. It is consistency that safeguards us from taking two steps forward and one step back, getting caught up in an endless cycle of frustration.
Habits
Remaining consistent requires us to make a habit out of diet and exercise. We can’t constantly rely on finding motivation. As many of you already know, motivation can be an incredibly inconsistent and fickle guide. Sure, it’s great to be inspired, but our fitness and diet routines cannot depend on them. There will often be days, even weeks where motivation will be hard to find and fatigue a constant, unwanted friend. That is when it’s crucial that we put our heads down, grit our teeth, and blast through our workouts come hell or high water. Being able to workout during these kinds of days and weeks may seem terrible and daunting, but it will make you not only physically stronger, but mentally stronger as well. And that strength will carry over into your daily life as well. I guarantee it.
Slow and Steady Wins The Race
A common way that people rationalize not being consistent with their workouts is to essentially have a junkie workout day where they decide to go crazy and binge through two or three workouts at the Zgym and then follow it up with a five mile run. Satisfied, they then take the remaining week or month off. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point. Regardless, such an approach is counter-productive and offers little, if any, growth. Fitness and wellbeing are about creating a healthier, more enlivening life.
Make a weekly plan for your workouts and stick to it. Don’t get carried away or over-extend yourself. Set attainable goals that are reasonable for your current level of fitness. Sometimes actual progress is a game of inches, figuratively and literally, but every little bit counts!
Where are you with your consistency at the ZGym? What do you consider your main obstacles that are in the way of being more consistent?
Private Member |
lodz, poland
So good to have you here, girls! It’s great we can motivate each other 🙂 Thank you for your advice and suggestions. Now that I know I’m not alone, it will be much easier to pull myself together 🙂
Kisses, Magda
Private Member |
Magda! 🙂
I’ve got the same problem 🙂 haha 🙂 hey listen. I’m searching for a work out mate to motivate each other and work out together 🙂 would you be interested?? which city are you form??
Hugs, Basia
Private Member |
I’m very consistent with working out i’m a little less consistent when it comes to nutrition. i eat healthy but not always as clean as i would like to eat ;p
my problem is to “stop” working out or to take a break when it’s necessary 🙁 e.g. at the moment i’m sick (i just have a liiiittle cold) i’m not as fit as i use to be… and i do find it difficult to resist the wish to working out. so i decided to to all the new workouts this week, to leave the old ones out and for the new ones i just do them a bit sloooower – so i don’t push myself really hard. with this plan in my head, it’s “ok” for me….
Private Member |
I decided about a year ago, that I would workout every single day. Subsequent to attaining that goal, I decided that I would get my calorie burn up and keep it up. The goal I set was 500 calories a day. I’m currently averaging 453.29 calories this week. So I’m getting there. I don’t have any problem setting a workout goal and reaching it and then setting another.
My issue is diet. I just don’t understand why, if I can be consistent with my workout, why on earth can’t I apply the same logic to my diet? I can eat clean for 2-3 weeks, then I’m out of control for 2-3 weeks, then I’ll recommit to clean eating, then fall off the wagon again. It’s truly maddening. Sometimes I believe the hype that as long as I’m being consistent with my workouts that I can be fast and loose with my eating habits. I’m learning though that the workouts and the diet go hand in hand…both require consistency, especially for the level of results that I’m working toward. I’ve got to put my foot down and leave it down. I definitely need to commit to clean eating ALL THE TIME with the same passion that I have applied to working out daily.
Just wanted to Thank you Zuzka for everything…the workouts, your posts, your nutrition tips. You are now and always have been so very inspiring to me and my constant motivation is to have a physique that in some way resembles yours. You have always been and continue to be simply amazing.
Private Member |
fenton, missouri, united states
I used to have the same problem Kim! I would be so strict with my eating for 2 weeks to a month and then BAM a cheesecake walks by and 2 weeks later I find myself a size bigger. So instead of going extremely strict I went moderately clean and then slowly slowly progressed to eating 100% clean. And since I have no health issues I also allow myself a few cheat meals. It’s worked wonderfully for me so far. And I never plan my cheat meals..just whatever comes and goes…that way if I do eat a cheesecake and it wasn’t planned I’m not down on myself and skip my workout. Because that’s what I used to do all the time.
Private Member |
naples, fl, usa
I find that stress and unexpected problems tend to derail me alot. Dealing with issues sometimes prevents me from completing my workout and stress sometimes causes me to over eat.
Private Member |
Yes, and the “avoidance” of everything I need to do on my “to-do” list.
Private Member |
This article couldn’t have come at a more perfect time!… Thanks:-)
Over the last 3 weeks I have lost motivation and have eaten a lot (sugar, carbs and fat) with no exercise and now… gained 9 pounds:( I actually shoot to eat the WE, FM way but do good until afternoon when I don’t get my workout in and then find myself giving in… so then I have a morning full of fat no carbs but then add on the jelly beans the little kids bring to school for me:(
For some reason, it is comforting to me to know that others go though the same thing….. even super fitness stars! I did make it up and workout today:-)
I think I also set myself up for failure in the mornings as I always write my list for the day: includes a morning workout, afternoon workout (Brazillian Butt Lift Series) and 20 minute stretch thing….. but end up doing none of them:( Thanks for putting into perspective that it is more about being consistent with the little things.
All this being said, I do have a couple questions: How do I balance my day to include everything? It’s hard to keep up. Cooking, working out, stretch, beauty care, etc… add this on to work and having a family. So hard to find the balance.
My BUTT is my biggest problem. Could I work it everyday to get better/faster results? Is it possible for the cellulite to ever go away? It surely comes on fast with the lack of exercise and poor eating habits:(
Wouldn’t it be great to have Zuzka come follow you for a couple days and tell you what you should/shouldn’t do and how? Maybe it will be my New Year’s Wish:-)
Or maybe a Blog could be started entitled: WWZD… “What Would Zuzka Do”.. complete with quick answers to questions?
Private Member |
la valette-du-var, france
I have to say that even if I’m proud of my discipline, I owe it all to you Zuzka ! You’re such an inspirational person and so beautiful in and out ! You are passionate and we can feel it through your teaching and that’s what make us addicted to you and your routine !
Plus, you’re doing it so well that it’s so easy ! All your work and efforts goes straight back at us so we can have a fun yet effective workout that will get us in the best shape evaaaa in no time !
It didn’t took me a long time to switch from motivated to consistent, because I just can’t go back, it feels so good to workout with you everyday and get amazing results, that was natural to keep up with this routine. I just can’t jeopardize that 😀 !
Private Member |
fenton, missouri, united states
Ditto!
Private Member |
Whenever I skip working out for a couple of days or even a week because I don’t find the time or whatever, I start to feel energy bursts or some kind of overload of energy that I need to get rid of! It is like my body urges me to run really fast or do whatever crazy high intensity workout it has been used to lately. It is quite a nice feeling actually to feel that your body is the one calling you back on track!
Private Member |
helsinki, finland
I love this post – hit on my heart!! Thank you zuzka. I’m so in love to your workouts, that I have done them twice a day few times a week… But now I have learn to slow down. So, I do just a Yoga in the evening and Zgym in the morning. It’s so good when someone says that it’s not good to workout too much, because it’s not easy to see yourself. Especially if you love working out, like I do. And after I founded you, I have falling in love to workout even more – your Zgym is just like builded for my body, for my needs. Thank you, I’m so happy that you are doing this, this is something so great!! <3
Private Member |
I had problems with being consistent. I went back and forth between super motivated, trouble not to workout and periods where I did nothing.
Your new website was a big change for me! From the 1st I did a workout every day just following your schedule! I feel great! Already one month!
My routine: I run 1 day behind the schedule because I live in Europe. I check the workout in the evening. I put my clothes beside my bed. Wake up, and go! And afterwards I feel amazing and accomplished so early in the day. I can highly recommend doing it in the morning 🙂
Private Member |
austin, texas
So, this is awesome to read.. It really helps me set my goals. Love it. I am the biggest obstacle in being more consistent; however since starting bunny slope in August I have really dialed in on consistency and diet.. I read your page often, and digest as much as I can and take it to heart. This page is great for both men and women. Humbled by your skills, your heart and your caring for so many people, and being an inspiration around the world to so many.. Thank you.