In my 12 years as a strength coach, the number 1# challenge everyone deals with has nothing to do with picking the right exercise for leg strength, eating the right food after training or using the latest tracker to get data. These are all pieces of the puzzle but don’t really matter if you aren’t consistent. Being able to execute the task over and over again is how you become successful.
Consistency is extremely hard for people to grasp when it comes to how long the human body takes to adapt. We are one of the most adaptable creatures on the planet, but our bodies don’t work quite as quickly as our search browser. And in a time where most things are happening at lightning speed, it can get frustrating very quickly.
There are a bunch of variables to take into account when determining how consistent you have to be to get the outcome you want. When an athlete comes in and wants to get stronger, but doesn’t have any technique, they have to learn the lifts first. So, should they expect to bench press 300lbs after a month of learning the movement? Probably Not.
What will drive this athlete to stick with a program to reach his/her goal? This is the part most people miss out on. Setting up a plan with benchmarks allows for continued focus and motivation. These two pieces are the backbone of consistency. Understanding “WHY” someone is engaging in this journey is equally important. Without the plan/benchmarks to match the “why”, the likelihood of success is very small.
In an age of information, everything seems like it will work, and if not right now, then there is another plan somewhere to give it to me faster. After reading research papers on ACL preventative programs you will start to find that there is no 1# program that works best. It’s the idea that an athlete is consistently training for a period of time that delivers the result. Doing an ACL prevention program in a soccer warm up once isn’t going to magically keep you from ever tearing that ligament. But done consistently before every practice and game, over time you will build up better qualities like single leg strength, proprioception, reaction time and balance to help prevent a traumatic event from happening.
Before you jump into a new training routine or nutrition program, ask yourself “How will I stay consistent with this?”
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