• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Clean & Delicious logo

  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Recipes
  • Video
  • Food For Thought
    • Intuitive Eating
    • Mental Health
    • Nutrition
    • Weight Loss
  • Cookbook
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work With Me

Home » Food For Thought » Weight Loss » Willpower or Self Discipline

Dec 20, 2018(updated April 10, 2022)

Willpower or Self Discipline

By Dani Spies

This post may contain affiliate links.

woman thinking about eating a donut

Last week, I shared a video titled, “Why WillPower + Self Control Will Not Help You Lose Weight” and while it seemed to resonate with most of you, I did have a handful of people who were really confused by this suggestion. 

So I wanted to pop in to clear up the way I see this.

My definition of willpower and self control is when we believe there is an external plan, diet, or eating approach that is the right way to eat and all we have to do is have the will and the self control to follow the rules and then we will be good.

When believe the plan is over there, it invites us to disconnect with our selves, our lifestyle, our experiences, and our inner knowing.  Instead of using our inner wisdom as a path to help guide us to the goal, we abandon ourselves,  and then wonder why we can’t will or control ourselves enough to get to the goal.  It’s like you are constantly fighting against yourself and you’re never going to win.

If you are one of the few who can maintain enough willpower and self control to get to your goal, you often find that while you may reach the goal on the scale, the emotional desire for freedom and confidence and self approval is far from being met.

When we will ourselves to stick to the plan, not only do our bodies shrink but our sense of being shrinks as well. And to me, that trade off is not worth the cost of admission.

SELF DISCIPLINE however is a different conversation.

For me, self discipline is a process of getting to know yourself and your truths and then  practicing becoming the kind of person who honors and lives that truth.

This is not based on what someone else is telling you about you, but based on what you discover to be true about you.

The path of self discipline is weaved with patience, love, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, and lots of trial and error.

When you discover something to be true about you and your body and your soul, then you practice honoring that truth by living the habits and actions that support it.

Not because it will make you skinny or accepted but because it makes you feel good.

This is why I do encourage people to TRY on lots of different eating styles, so you can see what actually works and doesn’t work for you.  And again, when I say work,  I mean what FEELS good.

And I don’t just mean the food on your plate.  Does it feel good with your lifestyle?  Your responsibilities?  The time you have to focus on it? Etc.

When you know something to be true for you, then the practice of honoring that is also for you, and thats what I would call self-discipline VERY different from self control and or willpower.

And it might not look exactly the way you thought it was suppose to look.

In this video you will learn:

  • My definition of willpower
  • My definition of self control
  • Why we sometimes feel like we are constantly fighting ourselves + our bodies
  • Why focusing on how you FEEL is more important than how you look
  • How accepting your body makes the journey a bit easier

[ytp_video source=”p0GK1T0neWQ”]

Your turn!  Have you ever experienced how willpower and self control can actually sabotage your best efforts to be healthy and/or lose weight?

Come down to the comments below and share your thoughts, questions, ideas, and/or your aha! moments.

Video, Weight Loss

About Dani Spies

Dani Spies is the founder and host of Clean & Delicious; a weekly cooking show on YouTube and a healthy eating blog that celebrates real, whole foods! She takes a holistic approach to health and wellness and is loved for her approachable, down to earth style both in and out of the kitchen.

Learn MoreWork With Me

Reader Interactions

Yum! I love this recipe.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Dani.

I’m a Health, Wellness & Weight Loss Coach, Mom of two, and the Founder of Clean & Delicious®. I’ll show you how to make healthy eating CRAZY-easy and insanely DELICIOUS!

Learn more

Stay Connected

Never Miss a Recipe

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox.

Reader Faves

shrimp and green beans on small plate with fork

Roasted Shrimp and Green Beans

meatloaf muffins on plate

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Brussels Sprouts + Grapes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes | Healthy Holiday Side Dish

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats - Clean & Delicious®

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Roasted Rosemary Chicken

Baked Chicken And Potatoes

apple-protein-muffins

Apple Protein Muffins

Seasonal Picks

spinach frittata in cast iron pan

Spinach Frittata

warm blueberry crisp with vanilla ice-cream

Blueberry Crisp Recipe

open-faced fish taco on white plate

Easy Fish Tacos

healthy foods

10 Healthy Fridge Staples

blueberry oatmeal muffin cup

Baked Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Muffin Cups

steamed beets in a white bowl

Simply Steamed Beets

My Ebooks

photo of salad and ice cream ebook

Search

As Featured On

Footer

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe to get new recipes + tips via email plus my BONUS smoothie making guide!

  • Recipes
  • Food For Thought
  • Shop
  • About
  • Work With Me

© 2023 Clean & Delicious. Privacy Policy

Jump on the Interest List for My New Course:

The Don’t Diet