Question: I'm usually very disciplined. Why can't I translate that to weight loss?

I'm a very disciplined person in pretty much every aspect of my life. I save money, I'm truthful, I work hard and I show up on time. Why can't I translate this over to weight loss?  Every time I start a diet, my favorite foods call my name and I give in. What gives?

This is an interesting question! Let's unpack this to see why you're noticing this difference.

Discipline.

To be a disciplined person essentially means you consistently do what you understand to be right.

This includes things that you consider to be morally good, correct and honorable. 

It means you follow an inner guidance system that governs your behavior.

It means you follow an inner code of conduct.

Considering the guidance you receive from your conscience, answer the following questions:

What are your rules for how you should live your life?

What responsibilities remain top priorities to you?

What do you feel is the proper way to carry and conduct yourself?

After you answer these questions, you can compare your behavior to your answers.

Anyone can honestly call themselves disciplined that follows their rules for living life, takes care of their responsibilities and conducts themselves the way they believe they should.

Being disciplined also means avoiding that which you believe to be wrong.

Things that you consider to be incorrect, unjust or immoral fall into this category.

Saving for the future, telling the truth and maintaining a strong work ethic are all behaviors that are easy to consider correct and honorable. A person can do those things and feel good about their behavior, knowing that they're following their inner guidance.

What does any of this mean for weight loss?

Consider the following questions:

Can you be morally good at your current weight?

 Can you follow your rules for life at your current weight?

Are you able to take care of your priorities at your current weight?

If you answered yes to those questions, it means you're able to be disciplined at your current weight.

Therefore, in order for your discipline to assist you with weight loss, you'll need to expand your understanding of weight loss. A successful weight loss journey has several very important components that should always be given adequate attention. Those components are:

Overall Health

To begin, a person should accurately assess their overall health. This may require a visit to a medical provider. If there are any ongoing illnesses or injuries, you should first focus on recovery. Also, if there are any medical conditions, it is important to understand what medical guidelines to follow to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Rest

The body needs what the body needs, and what every body needs is adequate rest. This includes the amount AND the quality of your sleep, downtime and days off. It's not just enough to sleep, you need quality sleep. If you are having difficulty falling or staying asleep, you may want to evaluate how you manage your stress.  It's also important to make sure you give yourself restful downtime. This is time for you to enjoy engaging in restful, calming activities.

Nutrition

You mentioned earlier about going on a diet. "Going on" suggests that at some point you'll be "going off". If you plan to invest in your long term overall health, it's more beneficial to think of your diet as your overall way of eating, rather than a temporary restriction of certain foods.

Hippocrates is quoted as saying "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." What this means is that proper nutrition fuels a body with what it needs to operate optimally. Unless there is a medical condition, a body that is overweight is likely a body receiving improper nutrition.

Activity

This component includes physical exercise and physical activity. This can be done for health and also for enjoyment. Engaging in non-sedentary activities will help improve your body's overall conditioning. 

What do you do with your body? How do you move it? What do you use your muscles for? How often do you stretch?

Evolve your understanding of the importance of overall health, rest, nutrition and activity.

As you do, your inner guidance system should evolve to direct you towards better health.

As healthier living becomes a part of how you feel you should carry yourself, your discipline will translate into a great weight that fascinates!