How to Achieve Longterm Success in Training - Consistency vs Intensity

Coach Cade here! Let’s talk briefly about intensity and consistency when it comes to training. 

For intensity, a good question to ask yourself would be…

How hard am I training in this workout?

What is my heart rate?

How heavy does this weight feel? 

Consistency is about repeated actions, and a few good questions to ask yourself include:

How many times per week do I train?

Am I consistent with my plan?

Do I alter my training from week to week, month to month? 

So which is more important in training, intensity or consistency?

The vast majority of people tend to focus mostly on intensity. The reason for this is because it’s easier to feel like you’ve accomplished something in the moment. It’s also fun to push your body!

While intensity IS important, consistency trumps intensity.

This is due to a truth that few understand….

The truth is this:

You won’t move the needle forward much in just one training session.

Most people overestimate how much they can accomplish in one training session, but underestimate how much they can get done in 6 months of consistent training.

It can be life-changing! 

Why is consistency so hard?

Today’s culture doesn’t make it easy to be consistent. We are consumed with instant gratification. From food to our phones, we’re obessed with what’s next. Consistency takes mental fortitude and discipline to stick to a plan. 

How do I make consistency a part of my training program? 

A really good quote is —“You don’t have to feel good to get started. You just have to get started to feel good.”

Too often we believe that everyone around us is motivated and that we are lacking. We struggle and wish we were motivated like others. 

The reality is that over 50% of the time, you might not feel like training! This is powerful knowledge, as this is the majority of people’s experience. You’re not alone.

So even when you don’t feel like it, take that first step. Once you get started, you’ll feel better, enjoy the training session, and reap the rewards mentally and physically once you are finished. 

It’s better to train 3 days a week consistently with a great training plan…

than it is to train 2 days in a week, then 4 the next, and maybe 1 day the following week. 

In the short term, you’re only as good as your intensity.

In the long term, you’re only as good as your consistency.

When you train at Complete Performance Athletics, we’ll attack both together.