This is the spot at Cloud’s Rest where I met the guy who jump-roped his way into triathlons, and where the message of consistency really hit me.
By Freddy Neyra
Most people’s fitness journey ends before it ever has a chance to take off. The usual pattern is the “all-in” approach: run hard, lift heavy, overhaul everything overnight. Will it get you likes and support on Instagram for a week? Sure. Sustainable or enjoyable? Not usually. And when you’re trying to build a new habit, enjoyment and repeatability are the two things that actually keep you showing up.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your dream of becoming Chris Hemsworth or that Instagram model who looks suspiciously… well-edited. Momentum doesn’t come from dramatic efforts; it comes from proving to yourself, day after day, that you can keep even a small promise.
The simplest way to build that momentum is to choose one “baby step” toward your next goal, something so easy it feels almost unfair. Pick it, commit to it, and repeat it for a set period of time. Two weeks, thirty days, whatever. The time frame matters far less than the repetition. Those early wins start stacking, and before you know it, you’re clawing your way towards Halle Berry in Catwoman… thankfully without the cringey basketball scene.
I learned this the hard way with cardio. I used to avoid it, not because I couldn’t do it, but because long runs felt mind-numbingly boring. My breakthrough was setting a low target heart rate that was basically just walking. Nothing heroic. Nothing Instagram-worthy (only my dog pictures get that kind of attention). I walked, added a little time each week, and eventually built three 45-minute sessions into my routine. Once that consistency was locked in, adding some higher-intensity work felt natural. That’s how “Freddy, the personal trainer who actually does cardio” was born. That’s what consistency looks like.
On my recent trip to Yosemite, I met a guy who took the same approach. His first goal wasn’t a marathon or a triathlon. It wasn’t even a full workout. It was jump rope: ten minutes a day for thirty days. That tiny commitment opened the door. Today, he’s completed marathons and triathlons. Not because he aimed high on day one, but because he started small and stayed consistent.
So here’s your challenge: set one small goal for the next two weeks. Something laughably doable, the kind of thing you could accomplish even on your worst day. Then just repeat it. No intensity required. Just consistency.
Every big achievement is just a pile of tiny wins stacked on each other. Start with one. Keep it simple. Keep it steady. And watch what happens.
Now go get ’em, you legend.
Small Fitness Goal Examples
1. Walk for 10 minutes a day
2. Do 10 bodyweight squats every morning
3. Stretch for 5 minutes before bed every night
4. Skip 1 elevator ride for the stairs instead each day
5. Drink one extra bottle of water a day
Health With Freddy 