When you start any kind of diet to either lose weight or just change your eating habits to healthier ones, it can be hard to have that self-control you need to make sure that it works as you want it to.
Whilst starting a healthy diet can do wonders for your body, you still need to get yourself into that diet discipline mindset that can have you reaping the rewards for years to come.
Today, we will discuss how to obtain that self-discipline so that you can focus on healthy eating habits for a better lifestyle.
What is Motivating You to do This?
First and foremost, what is your motivation for you to change your current eating and exercise habits?
Once you know what is going to be motivating you to do this, it can help you during those times when all you want to do is reach for junk food that you are constantly thinking about.
Do you want to be a better version of yourself?
Afraid of illness?
Have doctors told you that you eat foods that are harming your health?
Whichever one it is, write it down and circle it. That is now your motivation to change and get you on a healthy diet plan that will get you from feeling bad about yourself to feeling a lot more positive about your outcome.
Be Consistent From One Meal to The Next Meal
Your motivation will drive you to keep at it, but your consistency will show you the results you are looking for.
It is easy to get sidetracked, especially at the start when all you feel is hungry and those unhealthy foods are calling your name.
With consistency and control your willpower will increase as you are changing your brain chemistry and adapting your body to a new way of living.
Those healthy snacks will look better than french fries and you won’t be constantly thinking about food that you really shouldn’t be having.
Healthy choices will be what you think about most.
It is not easy, and sometimes you will revert back to old ways on those days when your willpower is not as strong (we all have them), just don’t beat yourself up about them and give yourself that wiggle room to fall back slightly.
Just remember, as that old adage says, to get back on that horse, whether it be with a targeted exercise regime or a specific eating plan that you have made for yourself.
How to Stay Disciplined on a Diet
Now that you know your motivation, here are some ways on staying disciplined with your diet to help you out with your weight needs so you can take control of your life and put it on a track that makes you feel good about your diet.
Believe in What You Can Achieve
One thing that can set us all back is the belief in ourselves.
When the going gets tough, we can all feel like we are losing control and that it doesn’t matter anymore what we eat as we are just so hungry and want to eat the food we want to eat.
Whilst we should always enjoy the food we eat and we shouldn’t put too much stock in what others think, you are not ‘dieting’ to be different, you are trying to be healthier so you can have a long and healthy life without being unwell or opening yourself up to disease.
It is hard, and you will get set back sometimes, but the belief in yourself can help you keep going whether you are exercising 3 times per week or you are changing your food choices entirely.
Talk to Yourself
Doing something basic such as talking to yourself daily about how strong you are and that you can do this can motivate you to keep going and achieve that self-control you need so you don’t give up.
Get Enough Sleep
What can take everyone down without the proper amount is sleep.
When we don’t sleep enough or have good sleep quality, it can impact our decision making which can make us reach for food that is quick and easy so we don’t have to waste time and energy on creating something that will be healthy for our bodies.
You don’t feel motivated to make something if you are barely keeping your eyes open after having a rough night.
Making sure that you sleep enough and well will benefit you greatly and will stop you from going for unhealthy foods that are not going to do you any favors.
Set Clear and Helpful Goals
Keeping a target in mind when you are staying disciplined can support you a lot when you are dieting and eating healthy.
If you have created a new exercise plan, then do one that you know you will stick to so that you don’t get deterred.
For example, if you want to bench press 250lbs but right now you know you can’t, set that as your goal and work toward it bit by bit. Don’t stress or strain yourself, ensure that you do it safely and correctly for you.
Another goal can be if you want to bring up your water intake to help keep you hydrated more during the day as you have noticed that you are sluggish and lethargic, then set out how much (realistically) you can manage and keep upping it to reach a healthy goal.
Keep Yourself Moving
That doesn’t just mean exercising, it means keeping your mind busy as well as your body so you don’t stop and think about your old habits to make sure that you have the success you are aiming for.
A small change to your day can equal something big in your life.
It can be hard to break a bad habit that you have been used to, so if you can move around more and put your focus into other areas that will help you with your willpower and set you right, then keep at it.
Bring Some Friends Along
Staying still might make you feel a bit antsy and want to move, however, even if you move you can still have those thoughts rattling around in your head, so it may be wise to bring along some friends that will provide the distraction from your own thoughts.
Just take it day by day, week by week, it is the best you can do when you are trying to remain focused.
Reduce Stress
Stress can make anyone break under the pressure and push those cravings to the front of their minds.
If you reach for food when you are stressed, then you are like most people as food can be a great comfort to those who just need to relax.
This can prove to be more unhelpful than helpful in the long run and can make you feel bad about yourself.
If you think that when you get anxious or go through a stressful situation you instinctively reach for food, then you are going to need to change that habit so that you don’t see that as your only option.
Seek Professional Help
Speaking to a therapist can help you determine why you have this connection with food and why you can’t seem to shake it when you have anxiety.
A professional can show you how to reduce temptation so that you can alter your behavior to better suit your new lifestyle for your future.
Be Mindful With Food
We can rush so much through life that it doesn’t register when we have eaten something good sometimes, all we are focused on is getting that hit of sugar or fat that we have been craving.
Slowing down and being mindful of what is going into your mouth and how much you are eating of it can help greatly when it is time to take charge and alter your diet.
Make a point of putting it on a plate and not eating anything until you have sat down and are ready to eat.
Avoid distractions such as your phone, television, or a book so you don’t just eat fast without savoring it.
Your food is there to fuel you and provide your body with the nutrients it needs, always remember that, and don’t just see it as something that you just want to fill you up.
Get Support
It is hard facing something like this alone, and no one expects you to just be fine with it and get on with it all without any bumps in the road.
Speak to friends and family and get their help.
Ask them to support you when you need it and let them know that you are going to need them to understand that you can’t just eat what they eat when coming to dinner or going out, that you need to modify your food intake, and so on.
They should be supporting you, so if they are not, then speak to the ones that do and try and stay away from the ones that don’t offer you their help, they aren’t worth it for your health.
Conclusion
Staying disciplined on a diet is something that we can all aspire to, but not all of us will be able to keep at it.
If you think that you can do it and that you are certain that with the right setting and circumstances you will achieve your goals and make you feel better, then go for it and don’t look back.