Motivation or Discipline

A question I was recently asked was simple on the surface: When will you develop the motivation to start going to the gym and working on your health? While I did not have an immediate answer, it led me to reflect on a broader and more important issue - what truly matters more in achieving long-term health and fitness: motivation or discipline?

In my view, motivation can be a useful starting point, but it is inherently fragile. It can be influenced by circumstances, emotions, external validation, or short-term results. Motivation can ignite action, but it rarely sustains it. Discipline, on the other hand, is what ensures continuity when motivation fades.

I say this with the benefit of personal experience. At various points in my life, I have been highly motivated to work on my health and reduce weight. During those phases, I made meaningful progress and achieved noticeable results. However, each time an obstacle arose - whether a setback, a disruption, or a loss of momentum - the motivation weakened, and the entire plan eventually unraveled. I have observed similar patterns in others as well.

In contrast, I look at my friend Prashant Joshi as a clear example of discipline in action. He made a conscious decision to improve his fitness, overall health, and muscle development. He structured his diet, committed to training under a highly experienced trainer, and followed through consistently. While motivation undoubtedly played a role at the outset, what truly stands out is his discipline.

He adheres to his routine regardless of social settings, holidays, or business travel. Where even highly motivated individuals occasionally deviate during gatherings or indulgent moments, he remains consistent. He avoids food and drinks that would compromise his progress and maintains his workout schedule without exception. Over time, this discipline has translated into visible and sustained results.

This contrast reinforces a belief I hold strongly: motivation may start the journey, but discipline determines whether the journey continues. Discipline enables persistence, consistency, and steady progress - qualities that are essential for achieving long-term goals, particularly in health and fitness.

For these reasons, I believe discipline is not just more important than motivation; it is the foundation upon which lasting change is built.

And for the record, I have neither!! 😜

Intermittent Fasting: Day 2

Intermittent Fasting: Day 1

Steps Count: Off Track

Last fortnight has not been good from health point of view. I have been fairly irregular in all aspects, including steps, swimming, exercise as well as diet. We went for a week-long holiday and I always knew that it would impact the momentum - however, it was needed as I need to ensure that the interest of others are not always getting subordinated. My daughter's summer break is going on and a holiday was required. The kid has shown unbelievable patience during COVID as we have hardly stepped out in last >2 years. 

Holiday is done and the momentum took a hit. The body also went back to behaving like previous days and when I restarted the walking and exercise, I felt aches and pain everywhere. Moreover, walking in sand on the beaches put additional pressure on the knees and I developed knee pain. 

Now, most of the issues have gone away and I need to immediately get back to the fitness regime. From today onwards, I would walk at least 10 steps everyday. And would exercise at least once a day.

Today's Swimming Session: 31 Laps

Last couple of days were not good. I missed most of the activities as I was unwell. Was feeling weak and also had some gastrointestinal issues. It was quite severe. As we also suspected that sugar level may have come down, I had fruits and proper food in past two days. I did have some junk food as well :(

Last evening, the situation was pretty bad as on multiple occasions, I felt that I would lose consciousness. May be I stretched myself a little too much.

Have got tests done to check the sugar level. Also trying some home remedies. Feeling better today. I did my gym session this morning and also went for a swim. Would complete my 10K steps walk in the evening. 

Hopefully the test results would be normal.

Swimming Trends

 

Plan of Action for Tomorrow

Here is the plan for tomorrow...

• 1 hour swim in the morning
• 10K steps
• 30-45 minutes of weight training
• Day 1 of 3-day egg-fast

Will stick to the process. Results are not in my control but efforts are.

A kick in the guts

Today was a bad day. And this blog is going to be exact opposite of my previous blog.

I got up at 5:10AM today to get ready for the workout session from 6-7AM. Though I had decided not to check the weight and concentrate on the process, I felt this sudden urge to check the weight today. I last checked the weight 5 days back and since then I have been doing everything 'right' and hence I hoped that the weighing scale would boost my morale. I was in for a rude shock. My weight has marginally increased in the last 5 days! All those strenuous exercises, hours of walking, weight training, eating light and hours of swimming meant nothing? 

It was truly a kick in the guts.

I felt so disheartened that I asked the trainer to cancel today's session. I did not go for a swim. I did not walk in the evening. And I had lots of unhealthy food today.

I am feeling DISAPPOINTED due to the weight gain. I am feeling CONFUSED as I do not why this happened. And now, I am feeling GUILTY for doing what I did today and not doing what I should have done today.

I would bounce back tomorrow.

(Pic Source/Courtesy: FriendlyStock)

Happy with the process

Good workout sessions in the past few days....

• Strenuous workout: 1 hour
• Swimming: 45 mins to 1 hour (25-30 Laps)
• Walk and/or Weight Training: ~1 hour in evening
• Also following healthy diet (low carb and moderate protein)

Not looking at the weighing scale but am happy with the process.

Today's Swimming Session: 28 Laps

Why do pools remain closed on Mondays in Hyderabad??!!??

I checked 5 pools and none of them are open on Mondays. 

Another reason why Mondays suck!!

Daily Steps Count: Trends

Almost 1 month of Mission Health: Report Card

It has been almost a month since I started my journey towards regaining fitness and it has been a TOUGH month....physically and emotionally. 

From Saturday, 12th March, I started checking what I eat. Exercise (walk) started from 13th March. However, the week of 14th March was not a great week. My sister was here; we celebrated Holi and like all Indian festivals, there was lot of good food involved. Though I tried to check things, I cannot say it was a good/successful week.

Activities

Activities started in real terms from 23rd March 2022. That is when I hired a personal trainer. The guy comes to my place everyday and I workout with him for 1 hour every morning from 6-7AM. Saturdays and Sundays are 'rest days' but I workout [without him] even on weekends. He tries to mix things. My workouts are not same on any day of the week. It involves cardio, weight training and even boxing [I love the days on which we do boxing!!]. It has been working pretty well so far as it does not get monotonous. 

In addition, I try to walk 10,000 steps everyday. And from 2nd April, I started swimming. I go for a swim right after my morning workouts and this happens everyday except Monday [the pool remains closed for weekly cleaning and/or maintenance].

Diet/Food

Food plays 70-80% role and I have been trying to check what I eat. I am following a 'Low Carb - Medium Protein' diet. There is no sugar, rice, roti, bread, milk, butter etc. Animal protein (chicken) is limited to 150 grams per day but I do not have it every day. (Note: I have been posting some pics of my meals on this blog). I have also tried to reduce the quantity but I ensure that I do not starve myself as that would only be counter-productive. 

I have also been trying some detox and plateau-breaking diets. These involve either [mostly] liquid diet or other diets like egg-fast. In fact, I am doing an egg-fast right now [its Day 2] and I would do it for at least 1 more day. In this diet, I have eggs [minimum 6 a day], cheese cubes [3 per day] and soda [3 per day] only. I have tried egg-fast in the past and it helps in quick weight-loss. However, it is important to do a proper transition and continue to workout or I stand a risk of regaining all the weight lost during the egg-fast. These are things that I am attempting to see what works and also to keep things interesting. We will see how it goes. Its a long journey...

Results

I have indeed lost weight but not at the rate I was expecting/hoping. In the past, similar diet but fewer activities have given better results in terms of weight-loss. However, this time around, things are very different. Since 12th March, I have lost 6 kgs but weight-loss has been quite erratic. There were days on which I did not do much [comparatively] but lost weight and then... there were days on which I almost 'moved a mountain' but I ended up gaining few hundred grams!!! 

So now, I am no longer focusing on weight-loss and am concentrating on the process. If the process is right, the results would definitely come...sooner or later. At least, that is what I keep telling myself. 

I do feel inch-loss and also, I feel more energetic these days. So, definitely some positive developments.

Challenges

Aches, pain, hunger are some of the challenges but they are manageable ones and do not bother me. What does bother is uncertainty regarding future. I have taken a big step and it could back-fire irrespective of what I do or do not achieve from health point of view. But when results do not show [discussed above] then the negative feelings get much stronger. I always knew that this journey would be draining....physically, emotionally and financially but I also knew that it is important and must be given top priority. Yet, the demons of negativity and uncertainty trouble me quite often. That is the challenge. I have never been in this situation and it is proving to be difficult. So difficult that on most days, I try to avoid speaking to my 'friends'. 

But ya, no matter how depressed I get [it happens usually in the evenings], I do not allow that to impact the physical activities and diet. So far, so good....lets see how things  [ and I] shape up in future...

Next Steps

I would continue to do what I am doing in terms of food intake as well as physical activities. My trainer has been increasing the intensity and the activity would increase in coming days. I have been trying to increase the laps in swimming but that may not be possible. Summer vacations have started in most school out here and the pool remains chaotic. So, not sure if I would be able to increase the laps and the time but I would try to increase the speed and ensure that I complete at least 20 laps everyday. I have been working out and swimming in the morning and walking in the evenings. I will try to include one more activity in the day. Would love to play squash but probably not the best idea due to the weight I am carrying. Will find something.

Wish me luck!!! 

 

It has been 18 days since I started my mission to regain fitness. I have been checking what and how much I eat. I have increased water consumption. I have been walking regularly. And I have recently started working out as well. However, the results so far have not been satisfactory. The weight has not come down much. :(

Yes, I do feel more energetic these days and that is a clear plus.

Hope to get positive messages from the weighing scale in coming days...

Steps Tracking