Weight Loss Discipline

Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep it off? We have all heard that weight loss is just a matter of taking in less calories than we expend. That certainly sounds very logical, but is it really that simple?

For example, I had an intention of only eating fruits and vegetables for a day or two, to counteract the recent 'junk' food I had been enjoying. This was a solid plan that practically guaranteed a decrease in caloric intake. However, a solid plan doesn't always mean an easy execution.

I figured I would be relatively safe making a trip to the health food store. So my guard against high fat foods was down. When I got to the store, my sensibilities were assailed by a well meaning clerk hawking some freshly made corn beef and cabbage. I could hardly resist the temptation. And that wasn't the end of it. Once my armour was breached, the temptation of tasty, 'health oriented' cookie samples fought for my attention.

Once again, I capitulated. My normally strong will power seemed to crumble. And once weakened, it seemed reasonable to just continue. It's like that first drink for the recovering alcoholic.

I am by no means overweight, but once in a while my diet gets out of hand and the fat around my midsection gets a little more sizable than I am comfortable with. Usually, times like these are a great opportunity to get a little detoxification in, so I like to focus on fruits and vegetables for a day or two.

This has the dual effect of decreasing my caloric intake. I was also sticking with the simple plan mentioned above. So where did things go wrong? Did I not have enough discipline? Did I lack willpower, or was it something else?

In retrospect, the problem appears to be a lack of preparation. I failed to use the power of why. Let me explain. When the chips were down, I didn't seem to have enough reason to maintain discipline. Maybe you have had a similar experience? I rationalized with, "oh, a little won't hurt me". The truth is, once you start down that road, it can be hard to turn back.

What would the right preparation be in that case? What is this power of why that I am talking about? A great way to fortify will power with any strategy is to actually write out the reasons why sticking to your plan or achieving your goal is important. It is kind of like stockpiling ammunition. The weaponry, in this case, appears in the form of a list.

With a long list of reasons supporting the plan or the goal, I would have had a lot more reserves to draw on when my front line defenses were being stressed. When the well meaning clerk was pouncing, I should have had a ready list of whys to fall back on. As the clerk was just being nice and sounding really sensible, plus it was a free sample after all, my mind should have responded with my ready made list of why I should not vary from my plan.

That didn't happen because I never made such a list. Whatever you are trying to accomplish in life, there are bound to be obstacles and obstructions that just leap into your path to stop or block you. These are the times that you need your list. The list is your power. No list, no power.

When anyone sits down to plan something or set a goal, they need a list to support them during weak times. The longer the list, the better. Even if one has to carry the list along in one's pocket, it is worth it. A list of about 50 reasons, while hard to create, can pay off in a major way.

Imagine the clerk's surprise, had I pulled out my handy list and read it off for him. My armour would not have been pierced and the clerk would have had to move on to more ready prey or risk having the spear of temptation blunted! No list, no power.

So, how long is your list?

This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant to advise on diet or weight loss or on any health matters. If you have or think you have a health issue, including weight or diet issues, consult your primary care physician for proper diagnoses and treatment.

copyright 2005 by David Snape

Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. His website is http://tobeinformed.com

---

Top 10 Diet Tips From Diet Winners

Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More

Weight Loss & Obesity Affects Life Expectancy

We hear it all the time?lose weight for your health.... Read More

Eat What You Like and Still Lose Weight

Did you say there's a way I can eat what... Read More

Five Serious Dangers of Low Carbohydrate Diets

CancerCoronary heart diseaseStrokeOsteoporosisMajor Depression from Brain StarvationHeadlines.WASHINGTON, Jun 22, 2004... Read More

Weight Loss? 2 Skills You Need

If you have been dieting, there is a good chance... Read More

Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Are The Risks?

Although all of the risks involved in gastric bypass surgery... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #3

Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More

How To Maintain Your Ideal Weight

The main reasons most people have difficulty maintaining their ideal... Read More

Even Gastric Bypass Patients Hit Weight Loss Plateaus

Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric... Read More

How Safe Is the Atkins Diet?

The Atkins Diet Seems To Never Go AwayFad diets come... Read More

How to Lose Weight in a Healthy Way with Hypnosis

More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy... Read More

High Carb & Low Carb Diets: How To Avoid The Dangers

There's a two hundred year history of people prescribing both... Read More

Slimmer Legs... Stress-Free

Well, with the success of my article, "Wrinkle Remover That... Read More

The Natural Truth About Quick Weight Loss

Actually, I was reading about fad diet and suddenly I... Read More

Fast Weight Loss Using Herbs And Spices

I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More

Alternatives When Considering Liposuction

One alternative method to traditional and tumescent liposuction is mesotherapy.... Read More

Give up the Diet

If you're thinking of going on a diet to lose... Read More

A Mediterranean Diet - How to Lose Weight Safely

If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More

A Holistic Approach to Weight loss & Fitness

World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More

Three Easy Ways To Prevent and Suppress Cravings on a Low Carb Diet

If you've been on a low carb diet for any... Read More

Can Eating Certain Foods Help You to Lose Weight?

The best way to lose weight is by consuming fewer... Read More

No Excuse on Getting in Shape

America is getting more obese every year. Even our children... Read More

Low Carb Diets Cause More Than Water Weight Loss

Many critics in have attacked low carb diets for only... Read More

Saboteurs to Your Weight Loss Plans

Saboteurs are people and thoughts that are going to sabotage... Read More

Feeling Tired? Cant Lose Weight? Tap Into Protein Power!

You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More

Who Said Low Carb Diets Ever Meant No-Carb?

A little information if often a dangerous thing... and many... Read More

Remembering The Titanic: Top Ten Weight Loss Mistakes Others Make But We Can Avoid

Patrick Henry once said, "I have but one lamp by... Read More

The Big FAT Lie

Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half... Read More

The RESULTS Diet!

R...real foodE...exerciseS...spiritual stuff first and the other stuff secondU...ultimately, you... Read More

Weight Loss and Dieting Secret #1 ? IN and OUT

Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More

Is Zone Diet a Fad?

Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More

Why Weight Loss Products Dont Work

Did you know that less than 2% of dieters lose... Read More

Eating Tips

Make sure that no more than a quarter of your... Read More