Importance of a routine

racerscottw227

Let me preface this with: this worked for me, it may not work for you.

TL;DR first: Keeping a routine is a great way to get back on the wagon after falling off.

Full story:

I have a routine now and it saved me. Every morning I wake up, shower, dress, fix breakfast, work, snack, work, lunch, work, snack, work, preworkout snack, workout, recovery snack, tv/game/relax, dinner, tv/game/relax, sleep, wash rinse repeat. I eat the same combination of foods and my grocery list is only about 10 lines long. I can tell you what I ate for lunch three Tuesdays ago (8 oz of chicken or a Subway 6" Roast Beef on wheat with honey mustard). I even prepare my breakfast with the same steps every day. I don't even have to think about it, I just do it.

I say this because this weekend I was thrown off of my routine. I worked out only once, and I ate like crap all weekend. Every other time I tried losing weight I would eventually fail because I fell off the wagon and didn't get back on that wagon. I didn't have a routine, until now.

This morning I woke up, showered, dressed, fixed breakfast (exact same steps as ever), and so on. Like nothing even changed. I don't even have to think about it now. I don't think I've ever had a routine like this in my life. But if I didn't have it, this weekend could have spelled doom for my fitness goals.

AZKristi

Good work!!

47Jacqueline

Let me preface this with: this worked for me, it may not work for you.

TL;DR first: Keeping a routine is a great way to get back on the wagon after falling off.

Full story:

I have a routine now and it saved me. Every morning I wake up, shower, dress, fix breakfast, work, snack, work, lunch, work, snack, work, preworkout snack, workout, recovery snack, tv/game/relax, dinner, tv/game/relax, sleep, wash rinse repeat. I eat the same combination of foods and my grocery list is only about 10 lines long. I can tell you what I ate for lunch three Tuesdays ago (8 oz of chicken or a Subway 6" Roast Beef on wheat with honey mustard). I even prepare my breakfast with the same steps every day. I don't even have to think about it, I just do it.

I say this because this weekend I was thrown off of my routine. I worked out only once, and I ate like crap all weekend. Every other time I tried losing weight I would eventually fail because I fell off the wagon and didn't get back on that wagon. I didn't have a routine, until now.

This morning I woke up, showered, dressed, fixed breakfast (exact same steps as ever), and so on. Like nothing even changed. I don't even have to think about it now. I don't think I've ever had a routine like this in my life. But if I didn't have it, this weekend could have spelled doom for my fitness goals.

I try to keep some semblance of routine myself. I find it difficult to keep on track if I am willy nilly eating without having a sense of what my day will be like. Because right now I am not working, my routine is based around my exercise and a variety of appointments that I make. I probably have a couple of routines because my schedule is varied.

TravelDog14

I agree with you and try to stick to a routine (as much as I can with some erratic working hours and days off that change every week).
Although I do try to mix up my meals a bit more than you; luckily I have a husband who is a great cook and understands my need to eat healthier than I was 4 months ago.

skinnynerd

Wow, that's pretty much what I do except the workout is in the morning. Grocery list is the same way. Interesting.

reggie2run

There is something to be said for consistency. It works.