Being more disciplined

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone! 

A very important part of loosing and managing weight is to be disciplined, but I've seen many many people (including me) struggling with this. It's certainly one of the most important skills to develop while growing up and it does play a huge role in us reaching our goals in life! 

How do you become consistent and disciplined? If a person is just not naturally disciplined or was not raised in that way, what would you suggest them to develop self discipline and stay committed to a routine and diet? 

Feel free to share your experiences with this! 😁 

[FoCoHiker]

My discipline is to know where I am at along the journey and based on the data I'm recording I know how and where to adjust.

For me the steps and what I am eating are not enough to determine progress.  Really my journey has just started and could very well change along the way.  For me keeping up with discipline requires activities outside in order to focus on my core workouts inside.  The hardwork for me requires reward by being outside fun (hiking, fishing, canoeing).

[Glenda]

Sorry,  I don't think I can agree.  Using discipline  or will power doesn't work for me.  It doesn't last long. I think most people will be way more likely to exercise everyday decade after decade if they do it by finding a way to enjoy it and make it into a habit and routine not too hard to accomplish etc.  I don't like anything about exercise but I have been doing it every day for years and years anyway.  I'm healthy by accident.  I like to read but if I sit around and read all day I would feel very guilty for wasting all that time.    Also I thought it was helpful for  weight control to exercise.  Now I'm not so sure it helps with weight control but it definitely helps with health so I read on my treadmill and recumbent bike.  I live in sub tropical Houston TX area so it is far to hot and humid here to exercise outdoors anyway.  I like having shade, a fan, fast music, handy bathroom and iced drink near me.  I suggest you forget discipline and fine a way to enjoy exercise and do it every day the rest of your life.  Take the long view.

[WendyB]

I have to agree you need to like what you do and then it wont be a problem.

I love my routine and stick to it daily. I do have 2 things I must do for  therapy and thats ride my Stationary bike. I say 2 as I can only sit on it for 20 minutes. But For therapy I am to do it for 40 minutes. But I listen to music and read, or watch something I taped the night before on TV

But the rest I do an exercise DVD or Boxing DVD. I  then I go for a walk as well

[DavideFitbit]

Excellent, it's great to read about different points of view regarding this topic. Thank you @FoCoHiker @WendyB @Glenda! Loving what we do is definitely important. 😃 

[WendyB]

I was thinking about this and I do need discipline in the eating department 

I have my exercise down and nothing really sways me from it. Like today was going to be a busy day and I made sure exercise was done before we left

But most times I'm good at eating but there are times I need more discipline.

Would love to hear what others do

[Glenda]

I did the 5 - 2 fasting diet a few times and it helped me to stop munching along all day and thinking "what am I going to eat NEXT all the time.   Trying to eat as little as possible doesn't work quite like you would expect.  And eating Healthy can be a big mistake sometimes too.  Almonds for instance.  I can munch along on those all day.  Not good.  It is better to eat a little REAL satisfying meal of limited calories but adequate protein and fiber and then NOT eat between meals.   And several studies are showing that you  burn more fat eating more earlier in the day rather than later.   So don't try to eat nothing all day and then eat lots at 8 PM.

[FoCoHiker]

What helps me stay in line is to eat and drink for my desired goal, at this time is to lose body fat%.

- I do drink a pre-workout and a recovery drink after my workouts.

• C4 Rippped Sport for my pre
• BCAA w/ electrolytes for my post, though I just switched to a protein shake.

I do a heavy weight backpack hike for 4 miles every day and at night I do a 21-Day Fix workout.  I am training for a 14 mile round trip hard 14'er summit.  Last time it took me 16 hours and wasn't in the best of shape but I did it!  Thanks to a lot of mental preparedness I was able to persevere 🙂 

[DavideFitbit]

Excellent @FoCoHiker @WendyB @Glenda! Great ways to gain discipline.

Thank you for sharing the methods that have been helpful for you, I'm sure they will be useful for other members of the Community as well! 😎

[MediumFats]

For me, it's the difference between making a commitment and a decision. A commitment requires action, not additional thinking. My best intentions accomplish nothing.

When I'm losing weight it's easy to stay focused and motivated.  When the weight isn't coming off and even goes back up, I have to double down and examine all the things I'm doing because that's when it's the easiest to become discouraged and quit. 

Am I accurately measuring all my food (or just eyeing it), am I trying to push additional steps or staying complacent with the range I've been in, do I continue to read additional literature on reaching my goals, and most importantly - do I have a support squad that help me with staying motivated during tough times?

[Glenda]

I have a new Wyze Scale which shows muscle in pounds and water  and fat in %  which is the opposite of yours.  I weighed on it in the middle of the day and was dressed yesterday so it shows a trend of losing weight  today but the more interesting thing which makes me laugh is the I am 58% muscle (68 pounds) of my 118 total.  It also shows water 45% and fat 38% and BMI of 22.6.  But of course if it were early morning I would be MUCH slimmer.   The Wize scale was written up in the technology section of the newspaper as good and cheap, only $20 at Amazon

[Glenda]

@MediumFats  You might enjoy some inspirational thoughts I have saved for myself.

The instant you decide on a goal you life changes.

Discipline yourself today & you will enjoy tomorrow more (diet?)

Everything big starts with something little.  Everything counts in moving you closer to here further from your goal.    .......Persistence is a habit,  ...so is quitting.   Persist no matter what.  

The choice of giving up or going on is a defining moment in your life.  

THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE SMALLEST CHOICES ARE ENORMOUS.  All those insignificant choices could result in a dream come true.....or not.  Up to you

[Johnnn325]

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[Johnnn325]

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[Glenda]

@WendyB   Just a thought about what might be helpful for dieters.......I read that most people eat about 10 things over and over.  This doesn't apply to people who like to cook and are good at that.  But for those of us not so competent , we know a few things that we like, & know how to fix and remember to buy etc.     Anyway if you can find even one new favorite that has better nutrition and fewer calories you can be on the way to effortlessly losing weight.   Maybe a high fiber low carb 50 calorie tortilla to use to make sandwiches .  They are better than even the 40 calorie a slice bread.  (They are big)  Or the lowest calorie,  fat free, yogurt and frozen blueberries instead of ice cream.    The calorie saving is huge.  Air popped popcorn instead of potato chips???    Turnips are in season now and are a great substitute for potatoes.  I boil cubed carrots and turnips, mash, sprinkle in a little dry milk and maybe a few potato flakes to dry them out a little, and add a bit of  sweetener and eat as a desert, or vegetable, cold or hot.  They are GREAT and have few calories.    Anyway it is worthwhile to find things you really enjoy eating that is nutritions and lower in calories.  High calorie stuff is always in your face.  But work on getting to know some better choices??

[DavideFitbit]

Excellent, so many great ideas and thoughts! Thank you for sharing @MediumFats @Glenda @Johnnn325 😎

[SunsetRunner]

Completely agree with this. For me, swapping out rice, potatoes and pasta for vegetables like aubergine and courgettes (or egg plant and zucchini if you prefer!) has been great at reducing my overall calorie intake and my meals are just as enjoyable. 

[DavideFitbit]

I've really been trying to include more vegetables for lunch and dinner for this last couple of weeks, and I've had a lot of success with zucchini, carrots and broccoli, I'll definitely be trying to include eggplant! 😀

[Glenda]

@DavideFitbit You could consider turnips and carrots to cube and boil together.  Turnips are not always available but you can find big ones right now.  They are very low calorie and a good replacement for potatoes.

[KawaiiEmmsi]

I think discipline is just one facet to the endless journey of maintaining your body. I think it is definitely important but utilized best when in combination with routine, motivation and etc. It sometimes can be the thing that tips the scale to either following through or not and possibly knowing how disciplined you are with yourself is where things should be focused and learning to find ways to make that work for you like having an accountability partner or challenge. 

Thank you for the thought provoking discussion, enjoyed reading everyone's opinion!