Everyone says consistency is key but what does that mean and why does that matter?

By Maria Howells, our wonderful fitness expert.

Fitness for fertility is different from “normal” fitness training in many ways, but there is one thing both approaches have in common; consistency. You will have heard it said a thousand times, so much so that you probably don’t even hear the message any more. Let me explain what this message really means and why it is crucial to your fertility journey

When it comes to fitness, including fitness for fertility, the most important thing is that you keep coming back. That you show up and try your best and then you come back again next time. This may sound very obvious but, how many people do you know that do a 4 week blast and then stop? That train for a 5k and then don’t run again for 6 months? Whilst both of these feats are fantastic, this is not training with consistency, at least not in the long term.

When it comes to fertility, consistency in the long term is crucial, as the fertility journey can be a long one, sadly much longer than 4 weeks or the time it takes you to train for your 5k. So, your training needs to reflect this if you want to be in the best possible shape for your fertility and your trying to conceive journey.

How do you maintain consistency? Here are my tips to help you on your way:

Follow a good, fertility focused plan, ideally one that can be rolling or extended to match your own fertility journey. This will give you structure and long term support from the same person so you don’t have to keep repeating your story (which can be very emotional and difficult to do).

Do not go too hard. Yes, you read that right. If you go too hard all of the time, you will wear yourself out, become exhausted, release too many stress hormones and you just won’t come back. This is also why tip one is crucial.

Work out even when you don’t want to. There are going to be times when you don’t want to do the workout, that happens to everyone from complete beginners right up to the most decorated of athletes. But, if you want to feel good, work towards your goals and stay focused, you have to do the workout anyway.

Find your people. Community is right up there with consistency. Find a group and make an effort to be active in that group. You need support from people that understand what you are doing and what your goals are.

Wear clothes you feel good in. Find a decent sports bra, find some leggings or shorts you like. Find a cap or a hair band that stops the hair falling in your eyes. Use headphones that don’t fall off when you are running, or that don’t get in the way on the weights bench.  Keep everything within reach and repack your workout bag after every sessions so all you have to do is pick it up and go.

The key thing is that you keep coming back. Keep working and both your mental and physical health will improve. Good luck on your own journey, wishing you all the very best.

For more advice or information get in touch with Maria at info@fitnessfertility.com or check out my website at www.fitnessfertility.com

Read more from Maria:

Eight vital things to think about when looking for a personal trainer when you are trying to conceive