21-15-9 Reps for time:
Snatch, 105#(85#)
Chest to bar pull-ups
Post Results to BTWB.
Consistency vs. Persistency
Today, I am going to dive into a topic that will resonate with most of you. The difference between being consistent and persistent, what is better for your goals and how to focus on finding a better balance between the two.
What does it meant to be consistent?
As defined, someone that is consistent is unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time.
What does it meant to be persistent?
As defined, someone that is persistent is continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Now in relation to fitness, how will these two things either help or hurt you in pursuit of the goals that you are chasing? Is one better than the other?
Well, first of all let’s talk about some traits of someone that is persistent in the gym may see. First of all, this person is very likely to look for “extra work” in the gym. They may add in a second session a couple days out of the week to bring themselves closer to their goals. Most likely they will result to weighing and measuring food and making sure they do all the right things in and out of the gym.
Now, what are some traits of people that are consistent in the gym? These are the people that have done an hour of exercise, 4-5 days per week for the last 3-5 years. More times then not, their diets are not exactly perfect, but they make sure they are watching both quality and quantity of food, whether if it’s with a food scale or just by “eye-balling”. The gym go-er that practices consistency may show up 10-15 minutes early to focus on some extra mobility that is needed for the day or that has been given to them by a coach. Need an example? The 5:30am class. The same people day in and day out since I started coaching here almost a year ago.
Now, what is better and why? Consistency. If we are looking to increase work capacity across broad times and modal domains (and we are!), then consistency wins 10 times out of 10. The risk that is run with being persistent over consistent is the risk of burning out. A trait of those that are too persistent, is becoming fit really fast and then quitting because their Central Nervous System cannot handle the load they are holding or they become tired of being in the gym all the time without ever doing anything else that provides them happiness.
So what is the magic secret to progressing? Show up 4-5x/week for 3+ years. Try your best to be 10-15 minutes early. Work really hard and give out a bunch of high fives. That’s the secret.
