Why Most People Lack Consistency In The Gym

Long Term Thinking

Human beings are an interesting species. We have the great gift of being able to dream big, but the shortcoming of majorly engaging in short term thinking. This is the way we have evolved. This has helped us to survive hundreds of years. However, this kind of thinking has become obsolete in the world we live in today.

When I first set out on my journey to gain muscle, I knew this would not be something that I would do for a month and then quit. I was prepared to make going to the gym a habit for the rest of my life. I did not have the unrealistic expectations that I would have bulging biceps in two weeks, two months, or even two years.

All I knew was that if I put in the work and chipped away at my goals each and every day, there was a great surprise sitting on the other side for me.

Most people lack consistency in the gym simply because they don’t have the long term vision. They want to be in shape now without putting in any of the work. Well, tough shit. The world is not crazy enough to go around rewarding a whole bunch of undeserving people.

Here’s the brutal truth…

This is not going to be fun for a long time. You are going to be sweaty, tired, sore, and embarrassed constantly before things turn around. You’re going to wake up at the crack of dawn to get in your workout before work starts. And you’re going to do it again the next day, and the day after that.

Building muscle/getting fit is just one of those things that takes time. It’s just like a woman having a baby; even if she “works really hard at it”, she can’t deliver her baby in 4 months as opposed to 9.

No Urgency

Lots of people lack consistency in the gym because they don’t want to achieve their fitness goals badly enough. They are in OK shape, or maybe just a little overweight. They feel fine missing one day in the gym, which then leads to a couple more days, which then leads to not going to the gym at all.

When I first started working out, I was in a sheer place of desperation. I fucking hated where I was. I was mad that no girls at my school took any interest in me, that I got no respect from my friends, that my skinny body was the school laughing stock.

If you don’t hate where you are, I don’t believe you will ever have the mental push you need to change your life in a massive way. Necessity is the mother of invention. You need to have it in your head that you will either get in shape or die in the process. There is no other way.

Even as I write this article right now, I am exhausted. I woke up at 6 am like I do everyday to go workout on 6 hours of sleep. I worked a 12 hour day at my job, and now I sit here writing this article because I believe in making my blog/brand a success. I will do whatever it takes to make my brand a success so I don’t need to waste another second of my life behind a desk staring at a computer having to filter every word I say in an office.

This is my sense of urgency, find yours, and then immediately start taking action.

If you are in OK shape or just a little overweight, do not fall into the trap of thinking all is great.

You are still average.

A mediocre coward.

How do you really want to live your life? Do you want to be just like everyone else? Do you want to make your parents proud? What do you want the words on your tombstone to read?

From a young age, I personally knew that I did not want to live an average life. I would rather die than be like everyone else.

Having an “average” body should cause the same sense of urgency than if you were obese. It is a sin to be an average man in today’s society, and you will pay the price for it. You will settle for the scraps in terms of your romantic partner, economic status, and peer group. You will settle for a quarter of what you could have had. The choice is yours.

Choosing Will Power Over Discipline

The biggest reason why people lack consistency in the gym is because they feel like they have to be motivated to workout.

Let me let you in on a big secret.

The most important time to go to the gym is when you least feel like it. When the last thing you would rather do is go lift a bunch of heavy weights, that’s when you need to go do it.

It is impossible to work on your self discipline muscle when you are in the mood to do it. By definition, you can only work on your self discipline muscle when you DON’T feel like it.

Make this following phrase your personal mantra from now until the day you die…

I will do what I’m supposed to do, when I’m supposed to do it, whether I feel like it or not.”

This quote changed my life forever. This is the true meaning of discipline.

It is easy to go to the gym when you feel motivated and excited. That is the exact reason why gyms are so crowded in January; everyone is excited about finally making this the year they accomplish their new years resolution. The second these people wake up one morning and don’t feel like it, they will stop going. That’s where the issue lies.

You think Michael Jordan “felt” like going to train his ass of everyday?

Anybody who has ever mastered a skill set will one hundred percent tell you that there were days when they didn’t feel like putting in the work, but then they remembered they weren’t a pussy who catered to their emotions.

I care more about my long term outcomes than my bitch ass short term feelings, so should you.

Wrapping Up

If you want to be consistent in the gym, you need to be thinking long term, have a sense of urgency, and value discipline over will power.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking this will be a fun one or two week activity that you dabble your feet in. You must be thinking in the long term or else you will quit like everybody else.

You must have some sense of urgency. What is the main driver behind you trying to change this part of your life? You ain’t gonna live forever homey, get to work now and stay consistent.

Lastly, put in the work when you least feel like it. These are the biggest opportunities of your life. Nobody ever went on to achieve greatness relying on their emotions and feelings as a benchmark.

Follow this advice and you will make it, I know it.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.