Finding the ‘bliss’ in discipline

Eating Healthy is NOT easy!!

Are you surprised I came right out and admitted that? Sure, it would be easier to convince you to eat healthy if I told you it was going to be easy.

But it wouldn’t be the truth—meal planning, shopping and healthy food preparation—it all takes a good amount time and focus—both diminishing resources in our busy daily lives.

What eating healthy really takes, though is discipline:

• Discipline to cook the kale in the produce drawer instead of grabbing a burrito….

• Discipline to pack your food for work instead of going out for lunch and visiting the break room for sugary snacks….

• Discipline to choose vegetables as a snack instead of chips or crackers…

It can be hard to not view dietary discipline as deprivation—especially if you’ve been a restrictive dieter in the past. Even just the word discipline can cause your inner child to rebel against that feeling of being told what to do.

But what if the thing we are resisting–dietary discipline–is actually the very thing that will make us free and happy?

I love how Dr. Michael Beckwith, of the Agape Center in LA, who coined the word ‘Blissipline’, reframes discipline:

“The gift of self-discipline is that it has the power to take you beyond the reasoning of temporary emotion to freedom. Think of how empowered you felt on occasions when you haven’t given in to the “I don’t feel like it” syndrome and honored your commitment to yourself. What does not feeling like it have to do with it? An evolved practice of discipline is essential for success in any area of life.”

From this viewpoint, self-discipline isn’t restrictive—it’s a gift we give ourselves to bring peace and harmony into all parts of our lives, including what we eat.

Here are three of my dietary disciplines and how, although I may not always feel like doing them, they ultimately set me free:

Dietary Discipline #1: Meal Planning and batch cooking (cooking a few dishes in advance) on Sunday nights. Eric and I have made this a priority—being able to have healthy food on the table quickly makes the week flow much easier. Also, since I hate wasting food, I’m more inclined to eat healthy leftovers instead of grabbing take out.

Dietary Discipline #2: A protein smoothie with greens for breakfast: Protein in the morning balances my blood sugar so I experience fewer cravings for carbohydrates throughout the day. I have my smoothie everyday, even when I’m traveling–if I want to go out for breakfast (which I often do–breakfast foods are the best!), I’ll go out for brunch later in the morning.

Dietary Discipline #3: No eating after 7pm. This one requires schedule juggling, but it’s totally worth it. When I eat early, I fall asleep faster, sleep more soundly and wake earlier. This gives me time in the morning to be quiet and set my intention to have a great day.

How about you? Can you think of three dietary disciplines you know would contribute to your overall well-being? Make a commitment to put those things into practice even when you don’t feel like it so you can be on your way to your healthiest self.

If you could use support establishing a new relationship with dietary discipline, consider my EmBODY Program. In this personalized coaching program, I’ll help you create the dietary ‘blissiplines’ that will have the biggest impact on your health and empower you to practicing them regularly. To learn more about EmBODY, click here.

Here’s to you creating new dietary ‘blissiplines’!
~Jenny

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