We’re all looking for the secret, the secret that those who have consistency know
The secret is, there is no secret. They just keep showing up
They don’t wait for motivation
They don’t look for the perfect program
And they don’t swap and change their diets
They just show up, and they show up consistently
I know, I know! It sounds condescending “Just Show Up”
And if it was that simple, everyone would “just show up” but anyone who has ever struggled to stay consistent knows that showing up can be the hardest part of the entire process. Not the workout itself. Not the meal prep. Not the recovery.
Just getting started.
So lets delve into the psychology of it all a little, because knowledge is power and understanding a little more about it may help you “just show up”
Why Starting Feels So Difficult
There’s a common misconception that action follows motivation; the reality is often the opposite. See motivation is usually a result of action, not the cause of it.
I mean, sure in the beginning you signed up because you were motivated. But motivation drops off, sadly it never lasts. What keeps those “consistent” people going ? – the results.
The change in the body shape, the improvement in their fitness, their strength growing. The result of the action becomes their motivation
Truth is, not many people feel like training before they walk through the doors
But once they start moving, once they complete a few exercises, their energy increases, their focus improves and they finish with no regrets over walking through the doors.
The hardest part wasn’t the workout
It was the decision to begin
Your Brain Loves Comfort
From a psychological perspective, your brain is designed to conserve energy
Thousands of years ago, conserving energy was a survival advantage. Today, that same wiring often works against us, especially in the world of fitness
After a long day, your brain naturally gravitates toward the couch, the television or scrolling on your phone because these activities require less effort than exercise
The brain sees comfort as safe
Exercise can represent uncertainty, effort and discomfort
That internal resistance you’re feeling isn’t weakness
The challenge is learning how to work with that resistance instead of waiting for it to disappear
The First Rep Changes Everything
The first rep is powerful because it breaks inertia
Newtons first law of inertia;
- An object at rest stays at rest
- An object in motion stays in motion
This law of inertia, can be applied to us humans
Once you’ve completed the first rep, you’ve already won the biggest battle
You’ve gone from thinking about exercising to actually exercising
You’ve crossed the line between intention and action
And that’s where momentum begins
One rep becomes one set
One set becomes a workout
One workout becomes a week of consistency
A week becomes a lifestyle
Every transformation starts with a single action
Lower The Barrier To Success
One of the biggest mistakes people make is setting the starting bar too high
They tell themselves:
- I need to train for an hour
- I need to follow the program perfectly
- I need to be motivated
- I need to have a good day
The result?
They do nothing, or they do a few great weeks and the pressure of having the bar set so high gets to them, they start to skip workouts and not have perfect days and then they feel like they are failing, so they might as well give up
Instead, try lowering the barrier.
Tell yourself:
- I’ll do ten minutes
- I’ll walk through the gym doors
- I’ll complete one exercise
- I’ll do one rep
Ironically, once you start, you’ll often do much more – remember An object in motion stays in motion
But even if you don’t, you’ve still reinforced the habit of showing up
And habits are built through repetition, not perfection
Consistency Builds Identity
Every time you show up, you’re casting a vote for the person you want to become
You may not see physical changes after one workout
You may not notice progress after one week
But every session strengthens an important belief
“I am someone who shows up!”
That identity becomes more valuable than any individual workout
Because people who see themselves as exercisers keep exercising
People who see themselves as healthy make healthier decision
People who show up once are far more likely to show up again
When you do show up, give yourself a little pat on the back. It’s ok to be proud of yourself for showing up; it will help build momentum.
Stop Focusing on Results
Results matter.
But when you’re trying to build consistency, they shouldn’t be your primary focus
- Focus on attendance
- Focus on keeping promises to yourself
- Focus on the process
A person who shows up three times every week for a year will always outperform someone who waits for motivation before they start
The secret isn’t intensity
The secret is consistency
The Next Time You Don’t Feel Like Training
Remember this:
- You don’t need to complete the perfect workout
- You don’t need to break personal records
- You don’t even need to feel motivated
- You just need to do the first rep
Because the first rep is the hardest
And once you’ve done that, the rest becomes a whole lot easier
The goal isn’t to be motivated every day
The goal is to become the type of person who shows up anyway
How Gym It Can Help?
Because we’re a little different to other gyms, we focus on your experience and helping you overcome your obstacles and barriers. We have a number of services that can help with this, but a great starting point is our Free KickStart Program and then leading into our 4 week Free Accountability program.
If you’re keen to know more, shoot us a message or stop by the desk when you’re in next
