I look for inspiration for these e-mails anywhere I can find them. This one was based on a song by Dead Prez called Discipline. The song keeps repeating over and over that "Discipline makes things easier". That is so true!
Now most people don't think of discipline as something that is easy. That is for good reason, being disciplined is pretty rough. But it is easier than the alternative.
It is easier than always feeling guilty about eating certain foods or when you are not getting your workouts in. That is a miserable feeling and can very easily kill your motivation.
There are tons of ways you could use this. But I would recommend 3 main things start getting more disciplined in.
1. Weekend food prep
This is an absolute game changer. Take a couple of hours on the weekend an do things like: chop up fruits and vegetables, portion out foods, plan menus, grill proteins, and/or cook and freeze meals for that busy day later on this week. Taking this extra time out of your weekend is not easy, but it sure makes the rest of the week so much better.
2. Just show up to the workout
Or just get started with your workout, whatever applies better to you. The hardest part is getting going! Once you break a light sweat, you would be amazed at how your energy levels will go up, your mood will elevate, and you will get in a great workout. And other days you may still be dragging, and you may not have had the world's greatest workout but you got out there and moved around. A little bit of something, always beats a whole lot of nothing.
3. Get to bed on time
This is another one where I am talking to myself here. When you don't get enough sleep, you won't feel like exercising, makes you want to eat more, your food doesn't process as efficiently, your hormones can get all crazy, and the list goes on and on. It takes discipline to turn the TV a little earlier, get off social media, or put that book down right when it is at a good part! It will pay off in the end, get that sleep.
Here is the greatest part about this whole thing. When you have been disciplined, you can enjoy the times when you can just relax or eat those foods and not feel guilty.
I personally stick to the 80/20 rule with my nutrition. I do really good 80% of the time, the other 20% I leave open for times when I might be on the road and have to eat fast food. Or if I want to have pizza with the family, it is no big deal because I have done what I needed to do the other meals of the week.
Sometimes it is closer to 90/10 other weeks it might be 70/30 depending on what I have going on. With exercise, my goal is to do something every day. I don't "workout" every day but I am active every day. So when I feel like taking a day to be lazy, I don't feel like I'm lazy or should be doing something else. It's ok because I have put the work in to earn that relaxation.
