How Long Does It Take?

To quote @themovementmaestro, it takes as long as it takes. 

No one wants to hear that. 

We all want a definitive timeline, a set endpoint. 

There isn't one.

Whether you're trying to change your body composition, run at a certain pace, or come back from an injury, it takes as long as it takes. 

There are usually things we can do, in a smart, consistent manner, to speed up the process -- or at least keep making enough meaningful progress to prevent ourselves from getting discouraged. 

But ultimately, focusing solely on the outcome is frustrating and unhelpful.

Think about the outcome, but then work back from there. 

What would need to happen to achieve that end goal? What actions would you need to take, and how often, to achieve that goal?

That's what you focus on, because that's what you can control. 

Sure, it can be beneficial to have a timeline in mind, because without a set timeframe, it's easy to put things off or lose motivation. Unfortunately though, we're not always in control of whether we hit our goal by our "end date."

If you're frustrated or impatient because you're not where you wanted to be by now, I get it. I'm there right now myself. 

Instead of letting that get you down, think about what's working. What steps have you taken to get closer to your goals? What positive actions have you taken? What progress have you seen, no matter how small?

Keep doing what you can to work toward your goal, but remember that life doesn't really care about our timelines. Our bodies don't care what events we've marked on the calendar. Sometimes, progress takes however long it takes, even if that's slower than we want. 


Summer can be a wild time for managing a health & fitness routine. If you're not where you want to be, I have in-person personal training spots OR online nutrition coaching spots available beginning the week of Aug 14. 

If you're on the fence, let's chat about it. Use this link to book a free discovery call.