I started working out because my father always worked out. As far back as I can remember he had a gym in the garage that he used regularly and I just thought that was what everyone did. By the time I realized it wasn’t it was too late; the iron was already in my blood.
I first began working out when I was around 14 or 15 years old but I didn’t get serious about lifting until my older brother started. We were very close and anything one of us would try the other would start shortly after. I learned a lot about working out from him and we learned a lot together. I spent many years learning the discipline of exercise in the garage before I ever joined a public gym.
Now, almost 20 years of working out later, I sometimes get to pretend to workout while someone takes pictures. And as a fitness model the number one question I get asked generally goes something like, “what’s your secret?” And without fail the person asking is looking for me to tell him or her about a special pill or supplement I take. Or for me to explain a special workout or diet that I do. But none of those things are the real secret to my workout success.
What I haven’t done
I’ll get to what my “secret” is later, but before I do I’d like to talk about what isn’t my secret. But even before that I want to make it clear that I don’t judge anyone for the choices they’ve made differently than I have. Everyone has to walk their own path.
When I was younger I decided that I wasn’t going to use anabolic steroids until I felt I had fully reached the limits of my own potential without using them. The competitive part of me wanted to find out how far I could go with only hard work and sacrifice. I decided that once I felt I had gone as far as I could that way then I would make a decision about using steroids to fuel my growth.
Eventually I realized that day would never come. I felt (and still feel) that I will always have the ability work harder and accomplish more. So, just for the record, I have never used steroids. I have always built my physique naturally.
What I have done
There are a couple of things I have done to become successful in the fitness world. They are simple things that anyone can do. One of those things is to work very hard. There is no quality substitute for good old-fashioned hard work. There are several things that can help hard work but nothing can replace it.
A personalized workout plan is a great help. I am a trainer and I have had a trainer myself in the past. Having someone who can motivate and teach you can make your hard work go much further than you can go on your own.
The best thing to make your hard work pay off is a good nutrition plan. A nutrition plan is as important in health and fitness as a workout plan is, if not more important. Any good trainer will tell you that it’s impossible to out train a poor diet. I was well along my fitness journey before I started looking into how and what I was eating. But once I learned basic nutrition I really started to move forward.
One thing that can help a good nutrition plan is a solid supplement plan (not to be confused with steroids). I don’t use very many supplements, but a good protein shake when a meal is not available always helps me stay on track. Also I don’t drink coffee so I sometimes take a pre-workout (caffeine) drink to boost my energy before a workout. But I never go overboard and I never use a supplement plan to replace my nutrition plan. Time and money is always better spent on nutrition before you supplement it with anything.
The real secret
This is the answer I give to all those people who ask me what my secret is. It isn’t sexy or groundbreaking and they often walk away disappointed. But it’s the truth. My real “secret” to fitness success is consistency. I workout when I feel like it and when I don’t. I train when I’m tired and when I’m sick and when I’m burned out. I’ve gotten up early to train while others slept and I’ve worked out while others partied. I eat right and watch my nutrition while others eat poorly. I make daily choices against myself.
The great thing about consistency is that you can start today. Right now. Even if you haven’t stacked consistency behind you like building blocks, you can still stack consistency in front of you starting right now. I’m not special. Consistency is something anyone can practice.
Fitness is about consistency. It is not about what you can do one time. It is about what you have done over and over and over. When I show up for a fitness shoot the photographer isn’t taking a picture of what I accomplished in my workout the day before or even the week before. He is photographing years of consistent hard work.
And that’s the only secret I know.
Final thought:
