Atlantic Canada, I’m back again.
I have loved sharing my fitness advice and opinions with you. I hope it’s been helpful and I’ve been able to help you find the motivation to start your journey towards your goals.
In the last column I discussed the importance of a SMART goal and how to create one. I also answered a reader’s question regarding the struggle to find the financial means to support a gym membership. Now that I’ve helped you find the cash to get to the gym and you’ve created your SMART goal, let’s talk about one of the hardest parts of getting and staying fit: discipline.
I truly believe any type of success relies on two different things — discipline and consistency. It all starts with exercising your discipline muscles (figuratively and literally) so they can guide you in the direction of making the right choices.
Ask a question
Each week, I’ll feature a reader’s question, provide my general advice and opinion on the topic. Want me to answer your questions? Email me at [email protected].
The concept of discipline is no different than any muscle in your body. It requires constant work to not only retain what you already have, but to keep growing, resulting in getting stronger. Although discipline is something that is intangible, every time you exercise it, it does get stronger, which almost makes it tangible. For example, the more disciplined you are when it comes to fitness, you will eventually be able to physically see the changes in your body, mood, energy, etc. Therefore, having a strong discipline “muscle” will help you from day to day when it comes to making certain decisions.
I have never met someone that has been successful without having consistency and discipline in their lives. If you look closely at anyone who is successful by any means, you will always find patterns of consistency. Consistency has always been a bit of a touchy subject with me because I have always done my best to practice it since the day I was old enough to understand the concept. And maybe it’s become easier for me because I have found something I truly love; health and fitness. However, when I used to farm, I’d wake up every morning between 4:30 and 5 a.m. I knew that if I got up at 4:30 a.m., I would have time to have breakfast with my dad, but if I hit the snooze button until 5 a.m., I had to go straight to the barn without breakfast. I was consistent when it came to being at the barn by 5 a.m., however, sometimes my lack of discipline got the best of me and I wouldn’t have the chance to eat breakfast with my dad. But every morning this was something I knew for sure, and it was my own decision to make; quality time and breakfast with my father … or not.
I believe that when people fail at something, it isn’t always because they weren’t consistent. Sometimes, you can be consistent at something, but you may be doing it the wrong way or in a way that just isn’t working for your life. Unfortunately, this is just life and in life we often test and try different ways many times before we find something that works. But at the end of the day, it’s the people who have the discipline to get back up and keep trying who truly find their success.
This week the question I was asked that intrigued me most was, “What should I do if I have an old injury or a bad knee?”
I think one of the biggest mistakes made by a lot of people is when they have an injury they instantly stop exercising. I understand if you have a knee injury, you’re not going to do squats. However, the reality is, we live in Canada where we are fortunate enough to have free access to health-care professionals. Visit your doctor and ask what you can do differently to exercise with your knee injury. Again, it’s all about discipline and consistency. A personal example is in the last 10 years, I have broken my wrist twice, my leg once, I’ve had surgery on my ankle and have endured many other injuries as well. However, none of those injuries have kept me out of the gym. I learned to work around my injuries and work the part of my body that wasn’t injured. Stay consistent, stay disciplined and get creative!
Each week, I’ll feature a reader’s question, provide my general advice and opinion on the topic. Want me to answer your questions? Email me at [email protected].
Remember guys, everybody is different and any one health and fitness tip might not work for everyone. For tailored advice, I advise reaching out to a fitness instructor in your area or come visit us at The Barn in Elmsdale.
Emmett Blois is a fitness trainer and owner of The Barn Fitness in Elmsdale, N.S. He’s passionate about working out and helping people reach their fitness goals.
RELATED: