When we exercise, train, and eat properly, we do these things for our overall health or because we have a certain goal we want to achieve. Whether it be winning world titles or just losing several pounds, we are motivated to pursue a certain outcome. Perhaps the most important thing about achieving your goals is
consistency.
Great athletes become great athletes because they are consistent in their training, diet and in their
daily routine. They understand that to get the results they desire, they have to stick to a set of guidelines or a routine. Once they have achieved the desired results, they increase their training or adjust it according to their next goals.
A few tips to
develop consistency:
- Seek simplicity- find a program you can stick with; once you start getting results you will end up loving it.
- Establish a routine - schedule your training session for the same time each day or each week.
- Get a coach or training partner - increases accountability, as it becomes harder to push the workout to another day.
- Get a training log – keep track of your workouts to show improvements from workout to workout. You can also take pictures of your physique and keep a diary to see your improvement.
- Allow for a day off – every now and then (once a week or once every two weeks), break your eating habits and training. Take a break and enjoy that chocolate bar.
We all have busy lives with our families, jobs and life obligations. However, sticking to a fitness program until you have achieved your desired outcomes will give you better results than jumping from one program to the next. Being
consistent with a training or exercise regime allows you to love what you are doing and enables you to improve to the next level, or to reach for your goal.
References from the SIRC Collection:
1. LOUW A, VAN BILJON A, MUGANDANI S. Exercise motivation
and barriers among men and women of different age groups. African Journal
For Physical, Health Education, Recreation & Dance. December 2,
2012;18(4):759-768.
2. Miranda M. Training and Competition Log for Tennis
Players. Coaching & Sport Science Review. December 2007;43:14-16.
3. Shafizadeh M, Taylor M, Peñas C. Performance
Consistency of International Soccer Teams in Euro 2012: a Time Series Analysis.
Journal Of Human Kinetics. June 2013;38:213-225.
4. Sonnentag S. Burnout research: Adding an off-work and
day-level perspective. Work & Stress. July 2005;19(3):271-275.
5. TRAINING PARTNERS. Flex. January
2010;27(11):80.
6. Weinberg R, Stitcher T, Richardson P. Effects of a
Seasonal Goal-Setting Program on Lacrosse Performance. Sport Psychologist.
June 1994;8(2):166-175.
Concussion is a topic that affects everyone in sport in some way whether
you are a coach, athlete, trainer, physician, or director.
A concussion is more than just a headache or a temporary loss of
cognitive ability. It’s an injury that is invisible and destructive if
not handled properly. With the amount of concussion resources available
online, it can be difficult to find the best and most current
information that will be useful for you and your organization. That is
why SIRC has compiled articles on how to identify a concussion, when to
send an athlete back on the field, how to help a concussed child that's
returning to school as well as some practical tools for sport
professionals.
