You’ve seen those before and after photos in magazines and plastered across Instagram. A woman decides to make a serious change, and she loses 10, 20 or even 50+kg! These transformations are addictive because you sit there thinking about what life would be like if you did the same.
So today, I’ve decided to share the oh-so-secret, super-sexy secret weapon that every single woman who hit her weight loss or health goals used to do so.
The secret is…
Consistency.
(Ok, I lied – it’s not sexy.)
Why consistency is key
You’ve probably been inspired by one of those transformation pics before. You might have gone out and smashed out a week or two of the perfect workout and good eating habits. You lose a little bit of weight.
Then you pat yourself on the back and go back to life as per usual. The next thing you know, those pesky kilos sneak back on.
This pattern of dieting then relaxing continues. You yo-yo between diets, workout plans and fancy supplements, but nothing seems to stick! That’s because you’re missing out on consistency.
I get it. I’ve been there before.
This is why consistency is one of the most powerful tools you have. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about taking small steps and sticking to good habits for the long term. After all, what you do every day is what gives you the body you have!
Consistency, not only powers you through to reach your goals – but it also makes your healthy routines automatic, so you stay motivated.
Remember when your kids were babies? A consistent routine is generally when bubs thrive. But if you throw their routine out, all hell breaks loose! It’s exactly the same for adults.
You can’t rely on the scales to keep you motivated
Unfortunately, things like the scales and even measurements can’t always be relied on to keep you motivated. There are times where you’ll stall, and that is absolutely fine!
In fact, it’s normal to have plateaued. Countless studies show that weight loss doesn’t occur in a straight line. No one loses 0.5-1kg per week for 10, 20 or even 50 weeks. They will lose weight for a few weeks, then plateau for a little bit, and then continue losing weight.
Fast results do not equal long-term results
I know that it’s tempting to go hard when it comes to weight loss. But the research shows that the best way to trim down is to reduce your calories steadily, not drastically.
The same goes for exercise. Working out for 20 minutes 3 times a week will help you work towards your goals, and you’re a lot less likely to injure yourself compared to jumping straight into 6 classes a week.
Find your balance
Life happens. It will mess up your schedule. That’s why you want to have a Plan B for when these things arise.
For example, one time my hubby spontaneously invited me out for lunch on a rare kid-free day. I had a specific weight loss goal that I was trying to achieve. But at the same time, I didn’t want to miss out on this opportunity. I have no interest in living a life of saying no to eating out or eating plain broccoli at a restaurant because I’m on a diet!
So I implemented my Plan B. I allowed myself to enjoy the time out, and I swapped some meals around later in the week.
Why did this work? Because I can be more consistent in my efforts if I have a bit of flexibility to live my life!
