When will I see success at the gym?

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How long do you really need to consistently be going to the gym before seeing results? Here’s what we have to say:

This question, in one form or another, is one of the most common questions that will probably run through your mind when you are on a fitness journey. Remember, everything good takes time.

 

But the main thing you need to remember: your fitness and health is worth the time and effort that it takes to see the results. Something you need to hear is that sometimes the success you are striving for aren’t the steps you appreciate most along the journey. There will be points of progress that you won’t notice unless you are really paying attention. Please pay attention! These progressions are what could make the difference between continuing towards that end goal and giving up.  

What we mean when we say this

For example, your goal might be to lose weight so you can fit into that old pair of jeans or feel better in your own skin. That can be a long journey for some, so it is important to enjoy the journey and notice those little milestones. Those milestones might include being able to jog faster for longer or the time it takes to walk/run a mile has decreased by 20 seconds or being able to lift a heavier weight for more reps or having gone to the gym 3 times a week for a whole month without excuses. It is the little victories that are going to keep you motivated as long as you allow yourself to see them. 

Another thing that goes along with that question is, are you challenging yourself? Are you pushing yourself to lift that new weight for an extra rep, or running that extra quarter mile? As individuals we have the tendency to get stuck in our routine and our bodies adjust to that routine if you maintain it for so long, meaning your body is not going to change if you are not going to challenge yourself. 

There are going to be times, like with any goal, that you are low on motivation. You need to remind yourself why that is your goal and why you want to accomplish it and what have you already accomplished along the way. Sometimes you just need to re-ignite that drive. So it shouldn’t be a question of “when”, it should be an encouraging reminder of what you have already done.

 

Things you can do:

  1. Have a workout journal – keep track of how many reps you are doing, how you felt before/after a workout, or when you decided to push yourself a little further!
  2. Set yourself up to notice the small things. You might have those bigger goals, but you can also set up smaller goals that you will hit more frequently.
  3. Have a workout buddy, let your friends & family in on your goals, or have a support systems else where. This can be great because others tend to notice changes that we can miss!
  4. If keeping track yourself doesn’t sound like something you want to do, then this is a great reason to hire a trainer! They can be there to motivate you when you need it, keep track of your progress, and push you when it’s safe to do so. To find out more about our personal training packages, click here.