The Importance of Consistency in Exercise: A Personal Recovery Journey
We all know how challenging it can be to maintain a consistent exercise routine. But what happens when you stop? One fitness enthusiast recently discovered just how quickly the body can regress after taking a short break due to illness.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they shared. “That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Struggle Is Real
This experience highlights an important truth about fitness: consistency matters. When we stop moving our bodies regularly, we can quickly experience negative effects – stiffness, discomfort, and decreased stamina.
“It is very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight,” they noted during their workout session. This simple observation captures the challenge many of us face in our fitness journeys.
Mental Toughness in Fitness
Perhaps the most valuable insight shared was about the mental aspect of fitness: “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your body. Control your mouth. That's the way you feel like. It is your trauma. You say, no, I will not eat today, I will exercise.”
This mindset – taking control rather than being controlled by our impulses – is crucial for anyone looking to make lasting changes to their fitness and health.
Start Where You Are
Another important reminder was that we don't need to be fitness professionals to benefit from exercise: “We must not be professional as well. We must not lift 100 pounds or 200 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds. 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This progressive approach to fitness is exactly what sustainable, long-term health looks like. It's not about dramatic transformations but consistent small steps forward.
Rebuilding After a Break
Even after just a few days without exercise, returning to previous fitness levels can be challenging. “Yesterday I could not sustain jogging for five minutes without stopping,” they shared, noting that their endurance was already improving just one day later.
This quick recovery demonstrates how responsive our bodies can be when we return to regular movement, even after a short break.
The Bottom Line
Whether you're just starting your fitness journey or returning after a break, remember that consistency trumps intensity. Regular movement – even if it's just a short jog or light weight training – will yield better results than sporadic intense workouts.
As this fitness enthusiast learned, our health truly is our wealth. When we're feeling good physically, we're better equipped to pursue our goals and live life to the fullest.
So lace up those shoes, grab those weights, and remember: every workout counts.
