Do I just lack will power with this?

[Runningmol]

I’ve been quite into the gym for about a year now but it really is true when people say that nutrition is the most important part of it, especially to get a certain sort of physique.

I am struggling to balance discipline with this and the thought that ‘life’s too short’ and it’s a bit of a waste of time.

Does anyone else feel the struggle, or have any tips?

Im 90% disciplined with nutrition and exercise but will allow periods where i eat at maintenance or over when im on holiday for example, and you need that, but have a clear plan to get straight back to your usual routine. It takes some dedication but the results speak for themselves and thats what spurs me on to continue. I actually prefer my diet/lifestyle now i crave fruit rather than cake most of the time. I do think it is about will power and planning! If i know im going out at the weekend i will adjust my week to compensate. I suppose it depends on what you want more

With nutrition just think about clean eating and avoid ultra processed foods if possible.

That way you dont really need to count calories or over think it.

Use the Yuka app or similar as it suggests less processed alternatives.

I am great with nutrition Mon-Fri but allow myself a little extra on the weekend. Trying to keep alcohol to a minimum and if I have cake I have a small (or half a) piece of good homemade stuff with yoghurt. I also was fed up of seeing my abs emerge by Friday only for then to disappear again by Monday 🤦🏼‍♀️

I have a terrible sweet tooth which is always my challenge avoiding crap in the week in particular!

@SunnyRedSnail thanks I’ll look at Yuka

It’s hard but you just have to not eat the sweet thing. I always want something sweet after lunch (especially if I’m at work) but if I hold out long enough the craving goes away.
I do still have treats, just not every day, and if I have one thing that day I’ll try not to have another thing the same day.

I have a sweet tooth and will eat ice cream without fail after dinner. But the rest of my meals are really balanced so it fits in with my goals for the day!

It’s the carbs - unpopular opinion but it pretty much always is.
Not necessarily no carbs just a lot less of it. E.g. if I have wraps for dinner - instead of having two, have one and the next portion with salad and no wraps. Or mix rice with cauliflower rice so you have less rice.

I have to not have it in the house and if I do crave it, then distract myself by doing something else.

I also think of friends I know in real life who generally eat healthy and think to myself - would X buy that chocolate bar? No, then don’t do it.

It’s not easy.

I gradually have got used to eating less / better quality (for example) chocolate & savouring it. Once you've had one piece of choc - i take 3 bites to eat it - i realised that another piece will just taste the same. I just have less of everything bad. I also make my own cakes with way less sugar than a recipe calls for plus replace some flour with organic vanilla protein powder & milled flaxseed. Defrosted frozen bananas are also great to replace sugar in recipes as they come out naturally very sweet.

I’ve been eating low fat high protein yoghurt with a swirl of lemon curd and some defrosted frozen blueberries and low sugar granola when I want something sweet - heavy on the yoghurt and light on the granola - and it hits the sweet spot and makes me feel full because of the protein so I don’t want anything else after.
I also find in terms of actual junk sweet stuff, which I do have sometimes, I never have it during the day / before dinner - as once I have something junk food wise I can’t stop.
I go through periods where I find it harder, but also periods - like now - when I find it easier and just get into the habit of not eating junk and feel a lot better for it and dont want to eat junk, as I don’t enjoy it. But also if I want a snickers i will
have it as if I really want one and try to substitute with healthier treats i will eat far more calories than just having a snickers!