The key to fitness is consistency

I’ve trained long and I’ve trained hard to be strong and fit in various periods of my life. I’ve trained on my own and I’ve trained with a coach.

I went through a bodybuilding phase two or three times. I went through a running phase at least three times. I went through a CrossFit phase and a yoga phase.

Here is what I have come to understand. The key to fitness is consistency. Not any particular training method. Not mastery of impressive physical skills. Not long training sessions. Not lifting heavy weights. Not even genetic giftedness.

The key to fitness is consistency and consistency leads to everything else including overcoming genetic deficits.

I used to train hard and take rest days when I felt too worn down to train more. I’ve learned better over the past few years and especially over the past few months. Consistency is better than hard to the point of worn, so now I pace myself so that I can train at least 5 days per week and ideally six.

I train for 30 minutes early in the day. Sometimes I add another 15-30 minutes an hour or two later, but am careful to limit my training to no more than 60 minutes because it is important to stop while feeling strong and fresh. Stopping while strong and fresh makes it easy to start again the next day and starting again the next day is essential to consistency.