By: Nick Thomas
Such a simple word that holds so much meaning, far more than the definition even states, maybe more than words can even express. Perhaps this word is more a state of mind.
When it comes to attaining any goal in your life discipline is key, and not just in one area, but in all facets of life. There are certain steps that have to be taken each and every day all day in order to reach big goals. This is especially true with health and fitness goals. If you want to lose weight, get stronger, and/or have more energy, it takes a total lifestyle change and an incredible amount of discipline.
It’s been said that discipline is doing what you need to do even when you don’t want to do it. I see a lot of truth in this statement. Change is rarely easy, and it takes being uncomfortable to make a noticeable and sustainable difference in your life. Turning down the cake more often than not, having sore muscles when you move each day, and waking up earlier each morning are just a few choices you make to improve your overall health and lifestyle. The thing is, these things are not something you always are looking forward to or will enjoy. It takes a commitment to be disciplined and make yourself consistently stick to the choices which bring your closer to attaining your goals. It is a mindset. Pushing yourself mentally will always overrule what your body is telling you it can do.
In order to make lasting change and truly become disciplined in a daily lifestyle, it takes forming new habits. Approximately thirty days of consistency and discipline doing something new will create a new habit. This doesn’t mean that it becomes easy, but it does mean that your discipline will pay off and your consistency will become routine, making it harder to be swayed off track. Results will also soon follow if they have not already begun at this point.
Something that can also really aid in the process of forming new disciplined, fitness habits is accountability. Have one or maybe even a few people in your life that are passionate and disciplined in the same ways you want to be and you can encourage, push, and challenge each other daily. This also makes it more fun, and we all know that we are more apt to do something when we are having a good time. Another element to having a trainer, friend, team, etc. when it comes to fitness is it brings in some competition and challenge to consistently step it up and take yourself to the next level. Always improving, setting new goals, crushing them, and setting more keeps things new and interesting so you don’t get complacent and slip into old habits.
Making fitness and nutrition a discipline in your life will completely change every portion of your life for the better. The trickle effect of fueling your body with the right foods and getting in physically challenging activity each week will give you more energy and confidence. You will notice that you wake up earlier and are more productive in all areas of your life. The discipline learned in these areas will increase your quality of life in its entirety.
For information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan contact me at Prime Performance 423-805-0870.
By: Nick Thomas
Owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist
