Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
-Calvin Coolidge
I remember being curious in my childhood. I remember asking anything that was not clear in my head. My mom was embarrassed of me because of all my questions, and she would command me to be quiet. But curiosity led me to learn. Another quality I had was persistence.
My friends called me stubborn. Sometimes they would get mad and let me do what I wanted, so I would stop pestering them. I remember the time when I learned how to drive a manual transmission. My friend let me drive his car because I wouldn't stop asking him to teach me. Persistence was one of Mother Teresa’s virtues. Nobody supported her in her quest in the beginning. Nobody believed in her, and she was denied many things. But because she refused to give up, she eventually was granted permission to practice as a nun outside of the church, and she was able to help dying people in a country not friendly to Christians. She was called stubborn many times, but it was because of her persistence that she finally achieved so much.
Persistence helped me to have a better appearance...
I got interested in a better appearance when I paid attention to my friend’s body as we were working as arborists picking up tree trunks. He was a bodybuilder. His body looked different than everyone else's. So I asked him what he did to be in shape. Back then, I was naïve. I did not know anything about fitness. He replied that he lifted weights, disregarding my suggestion that our physical job might have been what developed his body.
We agreed to meet that evening in the gym so he could teach me his secrets. As he promised, he was there waiting for me. So we trained. The next day we were supposed to meet again, but this time he did not show up. Maybe he thought that I would be like the many others who get excited for the first month but then quit. I did meet him again at the gym and worked out with him and his partner. After a while, I learned enough to continue. I told him that my goal was to look like him in three months. He laughed. So I decided to do it, but he was right: My body changed, but not enough to compare myself with him. But guess what? I continued the habits — I’m persistent — and I finally got what I wanted.
Persistence is a main factor in losing weight...
However, I have noticed two more virtues that are integral to success. One is discipline and the other is the opposite of what Albert Einstein called insanity — doing the same thing over and over expecting the same results. Just make sure these habits lead to your goal.The Japanese says that discipline is superior to intelligence. Information and knowledge are nothing if one doesn’t have the discipline to practice it. The discipline of eating and exercise is what led me to my results and led many other people to their results.
Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It holds true for people who are practicing negative habits yet want a healthy appearance and weight. Usually these people complain about not losing fat and want an easy way out, but they are not paying attention to what they are doing over and over again to increase their fat levels. However, if you apply this law in reverse — repetition of good habits — you will continue to get positive results.
And you want to get the same results all the time. Here is an example: If you started lifting weights and eating your breakfast and lost 5 pounds of fat toning your arms, legs and stomach, what should you continue doing to lose 5 more pounds of fat and continue toning your body? Hopefully if you have a desire to get your dream body, you continue practicing the habits that will lead you there, namely lifting weights and eating your breakfast. It is true that practicing the same habits over and over again will lead to the same results. Persistence is a main factor in losing weight.
Persistence, discipline and repetition are three simple habits that will help you get to your goals. There is no way around it. Persistence means that no matter what obstacles are in front of you, you will persevere. Discipline is the price that you need to pay every day by repeating good habits. And repetition is the capital that you are investing every day to make your capital grow, in this case your health. I have practiced these three habits and they have helped me get what I want. I teach CBF’s members how to practice them, and they get results. Put them into practice, and sooner or later you will get the healthy body weight you always wanted.
Custom Body Fitness is located in Glenwood Springs CO and Carbondale CO