Fitness And Discipline
Discipline is an important aspect in a fitness routine. Working out is tough and that is why self-discipline is required to achieve the desired fitness goal. When working out on a routine often athletes feel exhausted and it is easy to find an excuse to not hit the gym without self-discipline. With discipline one is able to follow a workout routine even if he/she might not have necessarily wanted to do. Staying fit is a process that demands commitment from an athlete and being discipline is the key to achieving set objectives. Besides, discipline does not just influence the athlete in the gym but also in other aspects of the individual’s life including dieting and lifestyle. Self-discipline enables people to rise above the low standards they would never have passed even with the knowhow, ability and opportunity to work out.
Discipline in fitness is important so that an athlete can formulate and strictly follow the workout routine. By following a routine, it becomes a part of the athlete and in the long run it becomes a habit. Self-discipline enables one to develop a habit out of the learned routine without changing the activities for whatever reason. It is important to note that learning a routine is not as easy and that is why self-discipline is required. Discipline will influence interference to the planned-out sessions. As Duane advises in The New York Times, “if you trust the practical knowledge of established athletic cultures, and keep your eye on the progressive overload principle, you will reach a state of clarity” (Duane, 2014). Learning bad work out habits is easy and when people give excuses it becomes normal. Whenever the athlete feels like not training and uses that as an excuse, the door for other excuses will possibly be opened. In the long run, the set objective, staying fit, is not achieved. In other terms, self-discipline requires relentlessness and taking no days off in order to incorporate discipline into the individual.
Fitness, apart from working out, requires one to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Self-discipline goes a long way in ensuring meals is balanced and an athlete leads a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, an athlete needs to make sacrifices on what foods they consume. For instance, fatty foods reverse the sense of working out. Athletes spend a lot of time in the gym and at the end of the day the body is exhausted and needs to recover. Fitness is the process of recovering after the workout. Therefore, it is prudent for an athlete to be careful during this process so that the work out is not wasted. During recovery, eating a balanced diet will help in recovery. Besides, getting a trainer is important to ensure that the training is done in the right way. Getting a trainer and researching on the best way to work out is important in ensuring one is doing the right thing. For instance, on a stationary bike, often people seat too high or too low and hence stress their knees. The effect of working out is traded off with the inefficiency of doing the wrong thing.
Discipline enables an individual to be focused on their set goals. Even with the best facilities, it is almost impossible to stay fit without being disciplined. Eating a balanced diet and working out on a routine is essential for a bodybuilder. As Jennifer Cohen said, “Discipline enables an individual to be focused on their set goals” (Cohen, 2014). One is able to obey their will and follow their mental command. Fitness often requires mental strength more than the physical so as to push oneself to the limit and achieve the greatest physique. Bodybuilding and fitness training creates a sense of responsibility, pride and attitude towards issues even in real life situations. Working out with no focus produces little or no results. The same applies for matters that are not necessarily fitness or healthy living.
References
Cohen, J. (2014, September 10). 4 Reasons Why Taking Fitness Seriously Makes You a Great Leader. Forbes magazine. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2014/09/10/4-reasons-why-taking-fitness-seriously-makes-you-a-great-leader/#76ab6cdb2f64
Duane, D. (2014, May 24). Fitness Crazed. The New York Times [New York]. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/opinion/sunday/fitness-crazed.html?_r=0
