“In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves; self-discipline with all of them came first.” – Harry S. Truman
That is the quotation that had me thinking yesterday. Discipline, in particular self-discipline, is what will get us through most things in life; from writing this simple post to achieving greatness for you and I. You may ask, “Why is discipline important in writing this post?” For people who have tried writing, you would know how hard it might get sometimes to actually sit down and finish the whole write-up in one session without getting up every few minutes to get a drink, a snack or toilet break etc.
After I finished the last sentence in the previous paragraph, I went to put out the laundry to dry, took a seep of water from the refrigerator, had a piece of chocolate and took a toilet break before finally sitting down once again to write; I lacked the self-discipline to focus and concentrate on the writing.
Just with most things in life, often time we lack the self-discipline to see us through what we are hoping to do or achieve. One area where self-discipline is clearly important is in losing weight.
Some people are constantly looking for quick fix to their weight problem; they will jump at anything that gives them guaranteed weight lost in the shortest time. They may lose weight fast, but they will find the result short term especially if they do not change the way they live and the food they eat.
To me, I strongly believe that the best way of losing weight naturally is through changing our living habits and what we eat. Doing that will not only ensure keeping the ideal weight permanently (through continuous self-discipline), but will also give us the many health benefits that come with living right and eating right.
A friend’s colleague shared his experience going through the journey from 115 Kilograms to 56 Kilograms in around one year. Not only does he look fresher and younger, he has also inspired his wife and friends to follow in his lifestyle.
His journey of losing weight started from a trip with his daughter to the doctor for her check up. He playfully weighed himself on the weighing machine while his daughter was having the check up. The doctor saw his weight and made a remark, “If you maintain that balloon weight, you cannot see your grandchildren.”
That made him decide, “Enough is enough!” Not only that, he felt tired easily and his excessive weight made him feel like a walking balloon. In that moment of awakening, he made decisions to change his lifestyle and eating habits. To him, this is the one proven way to lose the excessive weight. “Seeing my kiddos help me stay disciplined.” He said.
How did he do it? He first calculated his Body Mass Index (BMI) and set the goal he wanted to achieve. Then he cut down on the amount of food intake as well as changing what he was eating (no junk food, no refined-Carbohydrate, less or no fried food). Eventually he becomes a Pescetarian. The second part is doing lots of Cardio-exercises from badminton to running to squash and just nature trekking sometimes. The trick is to do these Cardio-exercises regularly. He did it thrice a week.
In his own words, “There is only one way: in two parts to lose weight; eat right and exercise. And this is a lifelong thing.”
Another thing which probably contributed to his success in losing the excess weight were the moral supports from family, friends and colleagues. However, without him first deciding to lose the excess weight and then keeping it going through self-discipline, he would not have done it!
How about you? What were the things you were able to achieve through self-discipline?
Photo by coolza
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Hi BK .. how absolutely right .. and for him – thank goodness he visited the doctor with his daughter that day. Now through his own self-discipline he’s influenced lots of others, and now us. We need exercise and good food. Being involved with the community, helping others can give us involvement and take us away from the cravings of being sedentary at home, giving us something else to focus on. We need to be pro-active and make that decision to do it – in all walks and parts of our life. Thank you for reminding us .. focus, discipline ..
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning and Passion …. =-.
@ Hilary, I have learnt as much from him too. His self-discipline and focus. He has truly shown that with self-discipline, we can really achieve what we have set our minds on. Not only that, he is inspiring people around him to follow his way voluntarily.
This story is such a great example! We can achieve what we want with self-discipline, focus and courage. If we want something, we have to make it happen. :o) Many thanks for visiting me, BK–for all you good wishes! ((HUGS))
@ Tracy, indeed with self-discipline, focus and courage, we can achieve much. Thank you for your visit too. 🙂
In this “ME NOW” world self-discipline is going by the wayside. Everyone wants to be entertained, and when they’re not, they move to the next thing. Food is part of that.
I don’t have a weight issue, but for a time I was about 15 pounds overweight. I got motivated and lost it all over a course of 6 months. That was tough. Like you said, it was about changing my bad habits and incorporating good habits into my own lifestyle. (Congrats to your friend) Of course the key is keeping it off!!
I’ve learned how to play several instruments because of self-discipline and motivation. Of course nowadays people would rather get good at Guitar Hero than playing the ACTUAL guitar!
.-= One of The Guys´s last blog ..French Toast….deal breaker? =-.
Grt example BK … you know weight lost and so can be hard and in my own experience once achieved the self discipline comes in with maintenance of that ideal weight and healthy style of living….. and that has to be for life. I have kept my weight under control now for about two years and thank goodness I have managed to subsisted Coke Cola one of my favourite drinks for water …..
.-= Fatima Da´s last blog ..Negative Thoughts Evacuation =-.
Good for your friend! The threat of not seeing his grandkids was just the kick in the pants he needed to do the kind thing for his body. THanks for sharing this inspirational story.
@ One of The Guys, thank you for sharing your experience. You are great, for making up your mind and changing your bad habits and replacing them with good ones. I am sure he would have no problem keeping it off. He is feeling much better of himself now and positively affecting the people around him. I believe he wouldn’t be looking back now. The only time he would be looking back is to share his experience with others and inspiring them to make a change too. LOL! Guitar Hero? I never done that yet. 😀
@ Fatima, great that you had lost it and keeping it off. You are right that it takes as much self-discipline, if not more, to maintain the ideal weight and healthy style of living.
@ Belinda, indeed, that was one of kicking points. 🙂
“How about you? What were the things you were able to achieve through self-discipline?”
Well, as YOU already know I have started ‘Doing Things Differently’ in my life. And every time I feel like quitting, or giving up, I MUST use self-discipline to keep on going.
And the funny thing about self-discipline is that when you accomplish something you didn’t think you could, it’s all the MORE rewarding.
As far as my writing is concerned, I started a book what seems like FOREVER ago, and too many things in life became more important than me finishing that project. And, its been on the back burner for way too long now. I think I need to begin to put some of my NEW FOUND self-discipline to work and rededicate my efforts back to really writing.
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Doing Things Differently™’ – My Week In Review [Part Seven] =-.
That’s much the same way I went about it. 🙂 I lost 50 lbs but still need to lose this last 20, seems the last little bit is that hardest. 🙁
.-= lisaschaos´s last blog ..In a fog =-.
@ Meleah, good question. One of the things which I applied self-discipline is in maintaining my weight. Basically for me, I am keeping to the schedule of running for thrice a week and so far I am able to keep to thrice a week. Besides that, I am also watching what I eat; cutting down on my carbohydrate in take and junk food. You are right, what you are doing now is great! I am inspired by your commitment and determination in your walk almost everyday and your crunches and push-up. Doing all that require a lot of self-discipline and you are doing great. With that self-discipline, I believe you can get that project going.
@ Lisa, I am sure you can do it. 🙂
It seems the older I get the more self indulgent I become and I’m also less motivated so I really can’t give any good examples. For me it’s the typical mind over matter thinking, if I don’t mind then it doesn’t matter. Have a good one BK and that’s so great about your friend.
.-= Jude´s last blog ..More Gettysburg Photos =-.
Good job with your friend! I know this winter I have not been self disciplined in the exercise department.
I have made a commitment to eating healthier and I can see an improvement in my life.
.-= Pam´s last blog ..You Want Fries With That? =-.
Yes, it’s wonderful if you have discipline and to date mine is worthless.
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
.-= Dorothy Stahlnecker´s last blog ..Oprah Settles her lawsuit =-.
@ Jude, you are absolutely right. I was discussing with a friend last night about this and we reached a conclusion: it depends on how much a person want it. If the person don’t mind then it doesn’t matter.
@ Pam, I understand that for most people, winter is not exactly a good time for working out. Good to see that you have made a commitment to eat healthier and are seeing an improvement in your life already.
@ Dorothy, it can be quite a challenge.
Dearest bk, this is really such a great example! It’s so true that with self-discipline, courage and focus, we can achieve what we want and make it happen. Thanks so much for such a wonderful sentiment. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..Timeless Beauty =-.
@ Jacqueline, thank you for dropping by and have a lovely merry happy day and love to you too.
I’ve learned that for myself, there’s a fine line between self-discipline and either loving or resenting myself. I’ve had to, in the last twelve months, redefine what “self discipline” means to me, and apply the principles of Divine Love to it.
I used to punish myself through self-discipline, or apply SD because I didn’t feel good enough. Now, I apply loving discipline, which feels much different and has produced better results in every area of my life.
Wonderful topic, and one many people will likely resonate with!
.-= Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..Being Open To The Moments =-.
Thank you. I’m glad to hear YOU are doing so well too! cutting down on carbohyrdates can be VERY difficult. And good for YOU running three times a week! Thats terrific!
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Public Service Announcement – TMI Style =-.
@ Megan, that is a wonderful concept of associating self-discipline with divine love. Indeed another way of looking at it is loving or resenting ourselves. Your loving discipline sounds interesting and something which many others can apply too.
@ Meleah, thank you. 🙂
They say that man’s greatest enemy is his self. True enough. Majority of us tend to avoid putting ourselves in real discipline.
Discipline entails sacrifice and hard work. But the prize is rewarding! 😀
P.S.
I made a special post of my commenters last month and you are one of them. Check it out here: http://junezach.com/2010/04/05/march-2010-commenters/
All the best.
-Fledgling Blogger-
.-= June Zach´s last blog ..March 2010 Commenters =-.
@ June, indeed, the greatest ‘monster’ that one will have to fight with is himself/herself and the greatest triumph is triumph against oneself.
Thank you for the link shout out. 🙂
It is often difficult to start doing something new. We all tend to procrastinate and look for reasons not to start now.
We all need self discipline. We are aware of its importance, but only few people do something to improve it. One of the ways to improve self discipline exercising it in the small things we do in our daily life. There is no need to do unusual things.
If we start with small things, like cleaning the dishes now, instead of later, going for a walk now and not postponing it to some other time, or getting out of bed immediately, we strengthen both our willpower and self discipline. These little, and sometimes not so much significant actions train us and enable us to use our willpower and self discipline in more complicated or difficult situations.
@ Remez, I agree with you that we can start with small things; as we go with the small things, we will gain confident with the big things.