Ten Minutes Used to Be Hard, Being Consistent

I’ve mentioned that I’ve been trying to make the gym a regular part of my routine.

Right now, I’m usually getting there twice a week.

Would I like to make it three? Sure.

But I’m going twice, and I’m staying pretty consistent with it. For me, that’s already a big improvement.

And recently I realized just how much that consistency is starting to pay off.

Back in April

When I first started going to the gym in April, 10 minutes on the treadmill was hard.

Really hard.

Especially if I tried adding any incline.

By the time I finished, I was pretty much done. I definitely wasn’t stepping off the treadmill feeling ready to go hit a bunch of workout machines.

Now?

I can do 10 minutes on the treadmill at a 5 incline and still have enough energy left to do the rest of my workout.

That might not sound like some huge athletic accomplishment.

But I remember where I started.

And compared to the guy who couldn’t finish those same 10 minutes a few months ago?

That’s a win.

Progress Isn't Always Pounds

The scale is the easiest thing to track because it gives me a number every time I step on it. I keep those numbers on my progress page, but they don’t tell me everything.

It doesn’t tell me that walking is easier.

It doesn’t tell me that my stamina is improving.

And it definitely doesn’t tell me that something that used to wipe me out is now just the beginning of my workout.

I’m getting stronger.

And that’s another kind of progress I’m pretty happy to see.

A couple of months later, I would realize just how much that stamina had continued to improve.