Fit For Life: The Magic Bullet

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

Matt Espeut

I found it! The magic bullet. The one component of exercise that is guaranteed to work. It will get you fitter, faster, healthier and stronger. After over 20 years in the business, and 5 years of weight lifting, it has finally hit me. After hundreds of questions about what the best exercise is, what’s the best way to get in shape, what should I be eating, how many times a week do I need to exercise, and what type of exercise should I do, I found a one word answer that will negate all guess work, and deliver the results everybody wants…. health and fitness.

It hit me like a ton of bricks last week, and the light bulb went off in my head. The most important aspect that determines success or failure in your quest to health and fitness isn’t a particular exercise. It isn’t a type of diet. It isn’t a supplement or pill. It isn’t a medical procedure either. The one thing that will make you successful at anything you do is……(drum roll). CONSISTENCY.

Yup that’s the one word that separates success from failure. I figured this out because I am running a 21 day challenge in my boot camp starting next monday. I ran a 6week challenge in January, and my clients that participated got amazing results. They all lost weight, body fat, and all got stronger. I didn’t realize how successful the challenge went, until I documented the numbers, and was blown away by how well my clients did. Why is this, that in just 6 weeks, so many did so well? It was consistency. When people enter challenges, or competitions, they change their mindset and train with a purpose. Challenges make people set goals for themselves, and that turns into drive and dedication, which means they will work harder to achieve their goals, which translates to consistent effort.

I am a straight shooter, and don’t have much of a filter, so when people signed up this week for this month’s challenge, many asked me what they can expect, and how many times a week do they need to work out to see a change. My answer is to come to the program 3-4 times a week, and follow the nutrition plan provided, and you will see amazing results. I teach 30 minute sessions, so instead of long duration workouts twice a week, come here 3-4 times for 30 minutes each time. I build in consistency. I also tell them that if they don’t do the program, they’re wasting their time and money. I also explain that the reason I have these challenges is to show them that it takes hard work, discipline, and most importantly - consistency. You’re building a new way of living and thinking about your body – and your brain is paying attention to these new techniques. If you completely reverse everything after 21 days, yes, your results will go away. Consistency is needed long term to maintain and achieve further results. So, participating in a challenge is a way to reset your brain and your body.

You can have all the latest gadgets, know the best exercises, understand nutrition, and have the best trainers and coaches in the world, but none of it is going to work without being consistent with your training and nutrition. You need to make a lifestyle change, and make taking care of yourself an everyday practice. Exercise and meal preparation should become part of your daily routine, just like showering, brushing your teeth, and going to work. My program and every other program on the market requires consistency to be effective, because without it your results will only be temporary.

We all know people that have worked hard and followed some sort of regimen, looked great for a while, but when you see them down the road, they look like their old self again. We also know many people that start a diet or nutrition plan, eat well for part of the day, cheat at night and blow it. These are the people that go to the extremes in the gym, and wonder why they can’t make gains. Why? Because they are not consistent with their nutrition. You see, it doesn’t matter what sound nutrition plan you follow, or which quality exercise plan you follow, neither will work out without regularity and consistency. You need to keep at something over and over again for it to work and to keep working. This goes with everything in life from exercise to monetary success. You won’t get rich working part time, and you won’t stay fit working out once in a while or eating well - sometimes. There is only one way to achieve and keep achieving and that is to be consistent with your approach. That’s the magic bullet.

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"

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