Recently I learned a lesson in the gym the hard way, overdoing it is not worth it.
I had been progressing with adding weight to the barbell over a few months. About four weeks ago, I was feeling frisky, so I bumped it up 15 lbs higher than the previous time I did that lift.
Big mistake. My low back hurt so bad I couldn’t stand up straight and could barely walk.
The chiropractor said it was a low back sprain. For three weeks all I could think about was how much my back hurt.
The low point is when I took a four-hour road trip for work. I made it to the hotel and couldn’t stand up after I got out of the car. I was hanging off the car door trying to pull myself up, and the valet guy had to help me out. It was brutal.
Since this happened, I keep asking myself why? Why am I do I have to try to push it too far? Does it matter if I deadlift 300lbs instead of 285lbs? Was it worth it? Especially given that the injury has affected every part of my life and I haven’t been able to do anything, let alone work out.
It was at this low point that a Joe Rogan video on How to Workout Smarter intrigued me.
You should check it out; it is worth 20 mins of your time.
This idea of consistency doesn’t just relate to working out or training for physical competitions.
There is something about showing up day in and day out and taking consistent action that will get us closer to our goals.
About ten years ago I went through the Sandler Sales Training Program. Working with my trainer, he helped me come to a daily number of 5 outbound connections to prospects per day. That comes out to be 25 contacts per week and 150 over six weeks.
Once I formed the daily habit, it had a big impact. Before that, I might call ten people one day and none the next. And it is always easy to find excuses not to call people.
Consistency also relates to other areas such a marriage, kids or finances. By making small consistent investments of time, attention or money, before long it will have a big impact.
How about you? Has there been a time where you overdid it? What is a consistent action you could commit to doing day in and day out?
Let me know in the comments section…
Comments
8 responses to “The Value of Consistency”
I used to over commit in my volunteering because I could not say no or I would not think through what was involved. I learned that it is important to step back the think through the situation before just jumping in and going for it.
Consistency is all about understand what it is you really want to accomplish and what the value level is in wanting to achieve the goal.
Hey Jim, that is great self awareness. Thanks for such a personal and insightful comment!
Hi Luke,
Thanks for the great post. Such a timely reminder as I’m about to start training for a half marathon. I love the tip in the video about getting into a flow and remembering to focus on the playful side so it doesn’t feel like work. I’ve never thought about this is relation to excercise before.
That is a great point! When if the half marathon? If you are looking for training programs you should look into the work of Brian Mackenzie and the programs from Power Speed Endurance.
I can relate completely to your situation. Many times, especially in my younger years, I’d find myself overdoing it. This relates to working out, work, family…etc. Over time and some added wisdom I’ve learned to slow down, enjoy the beautiful changing seasons of life and the word consistency. Our minds, bodies and souls need to work hard, but also know when to rest, balancing both consistently. Good post Luke, thank you!
Thanks for the comment, Jeremy. The best lessons are usually learned the hard way! You are right about the balancing act. Not even race cars are made to red line the RPM’s all the time.
Good post, Luke. I heard Michael Hyatt say that big things happen through seemingly small incremental changes over time. The key is being consistent. It applies to diet, exercise, marriage, being a parent, spiritual growth, and other aspects of life. A great reminder before the holiday food and the New Year!
That’s a great point, I think I remember that Michael Hyatt post. I like the quote from Bill Gates, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”