My sons are serving missions for my Church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We get to talk to them every week on Monday’s, but they serve for 2 full years. They are enjoying their service and the opportunity to teach people about Jesus Christ.

While on their missions the majority of their time is spent teaching, serving, etc. But they still have to care for their physical environment like keeping their apartment clean. They also have to care for their physical bodies, like cooking their own food and exercising.

Last week my youngest son asked me if I could find him an ab workout. Both my sons were very physically active and in shape prior to going on their missions, and they have tried to stay in shape while serving, but it’s kind of hard sometimes. I sent him a couple of options, but they weren’t exactly what he was looking for.

He then said that he wanted something that was guaranteed to give him a 6-pack in 30 days. Mind you, he did have one before he left, so it’s probably not outside the realm of possibilities. I searched again and came up with a few more ideas for him. But then I told him what we all hate to hear when we want a quick fix or guarantee.

It doesn’t matter what you do, you just have to do it consistently.

I enjoy exercising. I try to do something everyday, and over the years I have learned that no one workout program is really any better than any other workout program. Where most people fail is that they start something and then it eventually tapers off and they quit. It’s not that the program failed to deliver, it’s that most people fail to keep going.

Now, obviously if you want a 6-pack, you have to do the core work to get it, you can’t just do cardio and wonder why the 6-pack isn’t coming in like you thought. But, if you pick a workout for abs, any workout, and you stick with it, increasing in intensity as you become stronger, you will find yourself getting stronger and stronger. If you couple that with diet, you will probably eventually achieve that goal.

So, here are a few tips that I’ve learned over the years to keep me motivated for over 30 years of exercising almost everyday:

• Pick something you enjoy – walking, weight lifting, running, online programs, etc
• Switch it up every once in a while – Doing the same thing over and over becomes a grind sometimes, and no one wants to grind through, that’s not motivating.
• Grind through – Sometimes though, you just have to grind through a workout. You’re not always going to feel like it to begin with but once you start moving you’ll feel more motivated to finish.
• If you get half way through a program and decide you hate it, don’t just give up altogether, find something different you do enjoy.
• Be realistic. If you don’t have an hour to devote, don’t pick an hour long workout. Pick an amount of time you can sustain over the long haul. For me that’s 30 minutes 5 days a week, for you it might be 45 minutes 3 days a week.
• Be consistent. Don’t allow yourself an out. Don’t thing of a break as a “reward” for good behavior. It’s actually harming you and your goals over time.
• Many programs have ends, like 4 weeks or 80 days. That’s not your end. That’s just an opportunity to pick something new and different to try.

My routine usually breaks down kind of like this, or at least this is what I shoot for every week:

• Monday: Yoga. I pick Yoga on Monday because I’m less motivated Monday mornings. This is a relaxing way to start my week and get dialed in. I can also pick between a 20 or 30 minute yoga routine. This also helps me stay motivated as I know I’m not locked in to one specific set timeframe. I like Charlie Follows on YouTube.
• Tuesday: Usually some sort of weighted workout. I just finished 4 Everybody with Beachbody. It was a fun 4 week program that took me 6 weeks to complete. Again, this is a lifestyle not a short term once thing. I also do YouTube workouts.
• Wednesday and Thursday: These switch based upon motivation and time. I usually do a weighted workout and a Yoga workout. Which day I do it is based on my motivation. It’s not about following any program exactly, but about moving every day.
• Friday: I used to have to leave really early in the morning so it was a rest day. Now it’s usually a weighted workout.
• Saturday: Almost always Yoga. Saturday is about relaxing from the week, stretching out my body and stiff or sore muscles, and Yoga is one of my favorite ways to do that.
• Sunday: I rest. It’s the only day I don’t have any scheduled exercise although I often go walking when the weather is nice.

Staying in shape isn’t a one off deal. It’s a life long pursuit. It’s not about perfection for the next 28 days, it’s about consistency over the course of a lifetime. Body shape has little to do with consistency. If you workout everyday, you may never be a runway model, but you will feel better, live longer, and be healthier overall.