Discipline

madisonelenaa
madisonelenaa Posts: 8 Member
edited November 25 in Getting Started
Discipline is something I struggle with so bad!!! I find it hard for me to stick to counting my Cals Bc I feel like I can just eat whatever and I won’t reap the consequences. Which I definitely do lol. If anyone has any advice on how to stay disciplined/motivated please send some suggestions my way!

Replies

  • sytchequeen
    sytchequeen Posts: 526 Member
    take accurate weights and body measurements. This shows exactly what you may want to deny... and will show progress. Watching the numbers go down can keep you going when the snacks looks good.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Discipline is something that comes with time/consistency and patience.
    So choose to count calories and do it every day for say 2 weeks. Hopefully by then the habit of doing so will start to stick. Plus it gets quicker to log foods.

    The truth is we just can't eat whatever and not gain weight so if counting calories will help you stay on plan then count those calories :smile:
  • wryone4
    wryone4 Posts: 118 Member
    It takes time, consistency, and focus. I agree with getting an accurate picture of where you are. I also believe in setting small, attainable goals as you work toward your larger goal. It helps me to feel accomplished throughout. I also remind myself that if I stumble one day or one meal, it does not have to be an avalanche of failure. Finally, I find that once I start to see some small results, that success feeds on itself and I find it harder to keep my motivation up.
  • HarveysBud
    HarveysBud Posts: 421 Member
    Get a friend(s) who will call you out (privately) when you are dropping the ball a bit.....!
  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    When I don't feel like doing it, I do it anyway. I log my food because I'm curious about what I'm actually achieving. I weigh myself every morning because I want to see whether I'm making progress. I log my exercise because I want to eat more than than baseline calorie goal that MFP gave me. It's probably not a habit for you yet, but after about a month you will probably see the benefits. Good luck!
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I think I got the discipline because I'd built it up for other stuff. I write fanfiction as a hobby (working on a novel, too). And at first, I was sort of writing whenever 'inspiration' hit. Or motivation. Then I remembered something.

    When I was in college and we had papers to write, barring an official extension (which was seldom granted lightly), for every day past the due date, the paper would be docked half a letter grade. (So from A to A- to B+, etc.) And I never once heard of anyone asking for an extension because, "I had writer's block." "My muse wouldn't cooperate." "I just couldn't get inspired." Somehow or other, writing happened. Even if it was mediocre. Even if it was finished at the eleventh hour. It got done.

    So, I asked myself if I could set my own deadline, be my own slavedriver. From that point onward, I would not go to sleep without either writing one scene or doing a certain amount of necessary research to tackle an upcoming scene. If I finished a chapter, I could take a day off if I needed it, but otherwise, writing or writing-related stuff daily. Period.

    ...I haven't had a real case of writer's block in over five years. (I have had cases where I knew I was going to be writing a scene outside my comfort level, that I was going to have to send to a subject matter expert and then have to scrap anywhere from 30-50% of my initial draft because the science/law/procedure/etc doesn't work that way and I wasn't looking forward to it, so I dragged my heels a bit. But that's not exactly writer's block; I knew what I wanted to write. I just had to psych myself up to get started.)

    So, when it came to wanting/needing to lose weight after a health crisis, the discipline 'muscles' were there. I just had to apply them to something other than writing.
  • Cheesy567
    Cheesy567 Posts: 1,186 Member
    Try focusing on other habits that will help you towards your goal. For instance, you could plan your meals ahead of time at the start of the week, and pre-enter them. Plan your favorites, and you’ll be less likely to stray. Keep in mind if you’ll have busy or stressful days, adjust your meal plan accordingly to keep things simple and at-the-ready on those days.

    You could try to start a habit of adding a veggie at each meal; eating a bit more protein; making sure you’re sitting down for a meal; minimize mindless eating or habitual eating; only eat food off a plate- not while driving etc. Choose one small thing that will help you both eat a bit less overall, and also help you build your self-trust. After a few weeks when that one habit is easy and second nature, add in another. You’ll build a set of habits that will help you lose weight now, and maintain that weightloss in the future.
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