The Key to Long-Term Physique Success

What’s the main thing that’ll determine your fitness results in 2011? No, not genetics. Not drugs. Not time. Not even motivation. Not knowledge. Not a better program. Not a coach. There’s one thing more powerful than any other factor …

CONSISTENCY!

Here’s what’s going to happen in less than three weeks days when 2011 hits: Every single person is going to be surfing Google for “fat-loss program” or “fat-loss diet” and they’ll be surfing every fitness website and forum, until they find The One. Once they find The One, they’ll feel confident that this is the solution to their problems. They’ll be excited because the program is new. But after three or four weeks (maybe they make it three or four months if they’re really ambitious) it gets old. It’s not “exciting” anymore which results in a few more Google searches until they find another program from someone they have never heard of before or perhaps they discover a unique (to them) training method which looks better than the hard training they’re already doing. They immediately print off this new workout, and the program they planned on being The One a few weeks ago is suddenly tossed aside.

This’ll happen over and over and over again until, believe it or not, it will be 2012 and they’ll have little to show for all the programs they’ve “taste tested” and not been consistent with. Can you relate? Actually, I hope you can’t. The program hasn’t failed you. You’ve failed yourself. You’ve failed in not being consistent and not giving it enough time to work. It’s not about the program. Sure you need to be adhering to the basic principles of effective program design but the key to those who already have admirable/enviable physiques or those who are making progress and are well on their way to that is consistency. Not what program they’re on.

Program hopping isn’t what makes these people’s physiques. Consistency does. They do the same things month in and month out. Sure, some details of their program likely change every four to six weeks, but that is trumped by the simple fact that month in and month out they’re driving towards their physique goals – whether that be more muscle, more strength, less fat, better cardiovascular conditioning, etc.

They’re committed to their goals and they consistently chase them. THAT’s what makes a great physique. They enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

Effective training, nutrition designed according to your goals and consistency. That is it. Nothing more. Nothing less. Talk to some of the people you see or know who’ve “got it”. They’ve achieved the look. They’re always making progress, getting stronger, more muscular, leaner … and at will for that matter. You’ll see the common denominator in every case is consistency. Year in and year out. Commit yourself to being consistent in 2011! For those that have already mastered this? Keep it up.