When it comes to achieving lasting weight loss, discipline is without a doubt a key requisite of success.
However, should it come at the cost of everything else? Should you force discipline upon every aspect of your life? Should discipline trump pleasure and spontaneity?
Definitely not, as if you’ve been rigidly following a plan for diet and weight loss, you will come to resent it very fast if it leaves no room for mistakes, or random events.
So, instead of focusing strictly on having discipline for your weight loss goals, try these attainable, yet realistic tips to further your progress:
Have Fun
If your workout requires you to wake up at 4 am every single day and have a run on the treadmill for an hour, sooner rather than later you will begin to resent training. (Unless, of course, you are an early bird!) Instead, keep activities fun.
Do not make your exercise and diet strategy so rigid and inflexible that your psyche suffers as a result.
Eat What You Like
Whoa there, before you get any ideas, let’s clarify. I do NOT mean eat fries for lunch and cake and ice cream for dinner.
Instead, I’m referring to making sensible choices that are in line with your taste preferences.
Don’t like carrots, but love broccoli? Then have your fill of broccoli! Hate turkey, but like salmon? More power to you, those omega-3’s will come in handy too!
There is a vast amount of healthy food choices, more than enough for anyone to find their favorites.
Don’t follow a regimented diet of sawdust and nails; you are much more likely to fail completely if it feels as if you’re being force-fed all the time and you are miserable because of what you are eating. This is one of the main reasons that fad diets don’t work.
In addition, moderation is one activity that greatly boosts the probability of success in losing weight and keeping it off. Moderation means that you can still indulge, but only on occasion, and in very small portions. Think two bites of pie versus two slices.
Drink And Be Merry!
Now this is important when it comes to the occasional drink- moderation. Typically, alcoholic drinks are completely devoid of nutrients, and loaded with empty sugary calories. However, making wiser choices could help you along your way.
Instead of opting for that beer, how about a glass of red wine? Red wine is loaded with useful anti-oxidants, and research has shown that the resveratrol in red wine is very beneficial to health.
Develop A Sleep Routine
This is perhaps one of the easiest habits you can develop that will help make your weight loss journey successful. Getting enough sleep is a critical component to losing weight. Seriously, you’re losing weight in your sleep. What could be easier? Now, just make sure your disciplined enough to head to bed at a decent time each night!
Drink More Tea
Not many people realize, but replacing 2 or 3 beverages a day with good old green tea can lead to marked decreases in body fat over time, as well as offer high levels of hydration.
Water alone gets tiring after a while, so instead of having to reluctantly down it by the gallon, mix it up with some refreshing tea.
When it comes to effective weight loss techniques, discipline is important. However, it must not come at the expense of giving up everything you enjoy, as your efforts will leave you resenting the goal.
Make smart choices, substitute things you enjoy, and before you know it, the pounds will be coming off!
