Consistency

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During my time spent at Mayo Clinic, the hundreds and hundreds of hours that I have either sat in or conducted nutrition counselings, I have noticed one reoccurring theme.  This “theme” is something we are all familiar with, in fact, probably a little too familiar with.

You probably have someone in your life that tells you, “I love you,” more often than you might even notice, probably on an everyday basis. You never doubt that they love you, but those words almost become expected or normal and maybe after so long, possibly even meaningless. Not that you doubt their love but you’ve just heard those words so many times, kind of like, “Hi. My name is Ashley.” Very routine.

It seems as if, the word/theme that I am referring to has too:

Consistency.

We all know what it means, but let’s take a second to analyze it for what it’s really worth.

As defined by the dictionary, consistency is…

1. agreement or accordance with facts, form, or characteristics previously shown or stated

2. agreement or harmony between parts of something complex; compatibility

3. (Physics / General Physics) degree of viscosity or firmness

4. the state or quality of holding or sticking together and retaining shape

5. conformity with previous attitudes, behaviour, practice, etc.

For purposes of this post, number five seems fitting.

As I sit in on and conduct these nutrition assessments, the reoccurring theme of consistency, whether positive, or in this case, usually negative, is always present. I have seen so many visits in the past few months that always go the same way. The patients always say, “I don’t know how this happened.” (All the way from 5-300 pounds overweight to 50+ pounds underweight: both groups struggling with weight related health issues.)

I do.

Poor decisions that seemed so harmless… over a long period of time.

One plus one always equals two, right?

As does this…

Calorie surplus + calorie surplus = Weight gain.

Calorie balance + calorie balance= Weight maintenance.

Calorie deficit + calorie deficit= Weight loss.

If only it were that simple.

It’s not about what you ate for breakfast today or what you aren’t going to eat for dinner tonight or even that your ran six miles yesterday or that you haven’t exercised in a month. It’s about what you do over time that will lead you to the end result. And for your body, everyday is the end result.

The way we feel today isn’t a result of our indulgence last night, but instead, our indulgences over the past few weeks/months/years that add up over a period of time. Or rather, the way we feel today is a result of the good nutrition and exercise decisions we have made over the fast few weeks/months/years.

If you look at today’s decisions as the the end result of how you will feel and look next month, next year or in twenty years, what you eat tonight and making that exercise date holds a little more importance, right?

It’s all about consistency. Day in and day out.

It’s okay to slip up every now and then, just not everyday. It’s okay to skip your exercise every now and then, just not every day.

One plus one will always equal two. Just as good decisions plus consistency will always (usually) equal good health.

I encourage you to be consistent:

• Make good decisions at least 80% of the time.
• Let everyday be a good day. You deserve it.
• Eat to live, don’t live to eat.
• Choose greens.
• Just move: walk, jump, skip, play.
• Sweat.
• Stretch.
• Focus on the company and laughter, not the food.
• Drink water.
• Eat breakfast.
• But most of all, enjoy life.

Each. And. Every. Day.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got, and you’ll always feel what you always felt.

Have a good weekend!

Good health!