It Takes Discipline

Have you ever felt so motivated to eat healthy, to exercise, to take care of yourself...only to have it last a short time before you fall back into your old habits? It can be difficult to change a lifestyle around. Small, measurable goals can help us get to where we want to be in life. It won't be easy, but if we stick with it, it'll be worth it. This can apply to every aspect of our lives and reach far outside healthy eating, but for me, that is what I am working on. 

Step One: Remember why you started.

There was a moment in time when you felt empowered to accomplish your goals, you made plans, you made changes, you may have even gotten to the point where you saw progress. But what happened to inhibit you from fully accomplishing that goal? Often it is because we lose sight of our vision, what we want most gets pushed to the back burner because of other important things that pop up in our lives. 

Place reminders around you to help you maintain sight of what you are working toward and have weekly check-ins with yourself or a partner that you can be accountable to. This helps us in our goal to progression. 

Step Two: Measure your goals 

A lot of times, we lose momentum if we are unable to see our progress. It leaves us feeling like our little attempts to improve aren't even making a difference so why bother... EVERY STEP COUNTS. If you are ever-so-slightly lifting yourself off the floor, only making centimeters of progress-THAT IS HUGE. That is something that you need to notice and congratulate yourself for. It is the small moments that make all the difference. It is those small steps that build into a fierce run toward the finish. 

• If weight loss is your goal- then measure your weight/body measurements every week or every month. 
• If living a healthier life is your goal- then measure how your energy level is after each day based on improving your eating habits, exercise, sleeping, water consumption, etc. [Start with taking on one at a time]
• If you want to get more fit and strong- then set a goal for the number of exercises you will do in a week. 

If you don't reach your goal- Don't give up. Start over the next day and do your best to improve. Don't get discouraged if you are not setting as ambitious goals as your friend or if you aren't making the progress someone else is. This is between you and only you. 

Step Three: Don't cheat yourself

You may have wanted to accomplish __(insert your goal here)__ for a long time. You may have given in after a week. But you have to remember that it isn't about how many times you fall, it is about picking yourself up again and again and again. It is about being determined, tenacious and strong. It takes willpower. No one can force you to do it and it won't affect anyone but you if you give up. 

Keep going. Remember why you started, remember how good it felt to do it for one day and imagine how good it will feel when your goal has become a habit.