Level up with Coach M - From Dabbling to Discipline

The Missing Link in Fitness & Weight Loss and life Success. Introduction

If you’re struggling to lose weight, stay consistent with your fitness routine, or see real results from your nutrition plan, the problem might not be what you’re doing—but how you’re doing it. Many people unknowingly dabble in fitness and healthy eating without fully committing, which leads to slow or no progress. Understanding the difference between dabbling and true commitment could be the key to finally achieving sustainable weight loss and long-term health results.

This is a conversation I’ve been having with a lot of people over the past few months. And it always lands in the same place…

People want results.

But very few are actually committed to what those results require.

Not because they’re lazy. Not because they don’t care.

But because somewhere along the line, we’ve normalised dabbling.

We’ve normalised standing with one foot on each side of a decision. Because when things don’t work out, it’s easier to shift the blame—onto time, circumstances, the plan, or something external—

Instead of facing the truth:

You didn’t fully commit.

Now, to be fair—some “all-in” approaches aren’t always sustainable. But at the same time… what have you really got to lose by giving something a proper chance?

I’m going to bring this back to nutrition and fitness, but this applies to anything:

• Starting a business

• A side project

• A relationship

If you want it to succeed, you have to give it:

• Your attention

• Your focus

• And enough time to actually work

You’re Making Thousands of Decisions Every Day

Each day, you’re making decision after decision—constantly.

Research often suggests that the average person makes around 35,000 decisions per day.

That sounds extreme, but here’s what it includes:

• What you eat

• What you wear

• How you respond to situations

• Micro-decisions like what to say, where to look, how to react

• Automatic habits happening without awareness

A more practical way to think about it:

• Hundreds (or a few thousand) are conscious decisions

• Tens of thousands are subconscious

Why This Matters

Because all these decisions add up, you eventually hit:

• Decision fatigue

• Reduced willpower

• Defaulting to habits—good or bad

That’s why simplifying your life helps:

• Wearing similar outfits

• Meal prepping

• Planning your day

It reduces decision-making—and frees up energy for what actually matters.

And here’s the key point:

Not committing… is also a decision.

The Part No One Really Wants to Hear

Let’s just say it straight:

Your weight gain didn’t happen in 8 weeks.

It wasn’t one bad month. It wasn’t one holiday.

For most people:

• It took a year… maybe years

• Small habits added up

• Small decisions—“it’s fine”—stacked over time

• Weekends stacked on weekdays

• “I’ll start Monday” became a pattern

So here’s the real question:

Why are you not willing to give 6+ months of real commitment to change it?

Not 2 weeks of being strict. Not 4 weeks of motivation. Not a reset every Monday.

But 6 months of showing up—even when it’s boring, slow, and uncomfortable.

That’s where everything shifts.

What Dabbling Actually Looks Like (In Real Life) Dabbling (noun/verb): Taking part in something in a casual, inconsistent, or superficial way—without serious commitment or long-term focus.

In simple terms: Trying something out without fully investing in it.

Examples:

• “He’s dabbling in fitness but hasn’t committed to a routine.”

• “She’s dabbling in different diets without sticking to one.”

Key idea: Dabbling = effort without consistency or depth.

Dabbling doesn’t always look like doing nothing.

In fact, it often looks like you’re trying:

• You eat well… sometimes

• You train… when you feel like it

• You start plans… but don’t follow through

• You change direction every few weeks

It’s effort—but it’s scattered.

And scattered effort gives you scattered results.

Let’s Talk Fitness—Properly

This is where people get caught.

You don’t need:

• A new workout program every week

• The “perfect” plan

• To destroy yourself every session

You need:

• Consistency over time

The person who trains:

• 3–4 times a week or what ever you choose

• Week after week

• Month after month

Will always outperform the person who:

• Goes all in for 2 weeks

• Disappears for 10 days

• Then starts again

Because:

Your body responds to what you repeat—not what you do occasionally.

Balance Matters More Than You Think

A lot of people only do what they enjoy:

• Only running

• Only lifting

• Only classes

But long-term results come from combining:

• Strength (build muscle, boost metabolism)

• Cardio (heart health, endurance)

• Mobility (move better, prevent injury)

Commitment means doing what’s needed—not just what’s fun.

And Then There’s Recovery…

This is the quiet one that gets ignored:

• Poor sleep (a major factor)

• High stress

• No real recovery

Then frustration when results stall.

You can train hard all you want…but if you’re not recovering, you’re not progressing.

Now Let’s Get Honest About Nutrition

This is where most people think they’re committed… but aren’t.

“I Eat Well During the Week…”

This comes up a lot.

But:

• Weekends matter

• Evenings matter

• Snacks matter

You don’t live in a Monday–Thursday bubble.

Committed doesn’t mean perfect—it means:

• Being aware

• Being intentional

• Not undoing 5 days of effort in 2 days of “anything goes”

“But I Eat Healthy…”

Yes—but how much?

Dabbling looks like:

• Healthy foods in uncontrolled portions

• Random meals

• Eating based on mood

Committed looks like:

• Understanding how much you’re eating

• Structuring meals

• Prioritising protein and fibre

• Eating for your goals—not just your cravings

Because here’s the truth:

You can eat “healthy” and still not get results. This is where the Cals In VS Cals Out math applies, protein targets, movement targets etc.

Reduce Decisions = Better Results

Eating the same or similar meals during the week removes dozens of daily decisions.

That’s less thinking. Less guessing. Less room for slipping.

And more consistency.

The Emotional Side of Eating

This is real life.

We all:

• Eat when stressed

• Eat when bored

• Eat socially

The difference?

Committed people don’t ignore it—they manage it.

They don’t let:

• One meal → become a full day

• One day → become a full week

They reset quickly and move forward.

The Bigger Picture—This Isn’t a Phase

This is where everything changes.

Dabblers treat this like:

• A short-term fix

• A quick push

• A temporary sacrifice

Committed people treat it like:

• A lifestyle

• A standard

• A way of living

They stop asking:

• “What can I do for 6 weeks?”

And start asking:

• “What can I sustain for the next 6–12 months?”

The Business Parallel

Think about starting a business.

If you:

• Show up randomly

• Change direction constantly

• Quit when results are slow

It doesn’t grow.

But if you:

• Show up daily

• Stay consistent

• Keep building—even when it’s quiet

That’s where growth happens.

Now apply that to your body:

• Your workouts = your daily work

• Your nutrition = your investment

• Your habits = your systems

You wouldn’t expect a business to succeed from dabbling…

So why expect your body to? Another Parallel: Relationships

Think about a relationship.

If someone is only present:

• when it’s convenient

• when it’s easy

• when they feel like it

And disappears when things get uncomfortable…

That relationship doesn’t grow.

Now compare that to someone who is committed:

• They communicate consistently

• They show up even when it’s hard

• They work through challenges instead of avoiding them

The difference isn’t love or intention—it’s consistency of action.

Fitness and nutrition work the same way. You don’t get results from occasional effort—you get them from consistent presence.

Another Parallel: Saving and Money

Think about building financial stability.

If someone:

• Saves money randomly

• Spends impulsively most of the time

• Only “tries” to budget sometimes

They never build real financial security.

But someone who:

• Saves a small amount consistently

• Tracks spending

• Stays disciplined over time

Eventually builds wealth—not because they earned more overnight, but because they were consistent over time.

Health works the same way.

Small, repeated decisions always beat big, inconsistent efforts.

Another Parallel: Learning a Skill (Gym, Instrument, or Career)

Take learning an instrument or developing a skill.

At first:

• It feels slow

• It feels awkward

• Progress feels almost invisible

Most people quit here because it doesn’t feel rewarding yet.

But the people who commit:

• Practice regularly

• Stay patient through the boring phase

• Keep showing up even when progress feels slow

Eventually become the ones who are “naturally good.”

Not because they were talented at the start—but because they didn’t stop.

Fitness is exactly the same.

The early stage always feels like nothing is happening…until suddenly, everything starts to change.

Whether it’s relationships, money, skills, or health…

The pattern is always the same: dabbling keeps you stuck—commitment moves you forward.

So How Do You Actually Shift?

Not with motivation. Not with another plan.

With better decisions—repeated consistently.

Keep It Simple

• 3–5 workouts per week

• A handful of go-to meals

• A routine you can repeat...over and over and over again.

Set Your Non-Negotiables

Decide what happens no matter what:

• “I train at least 3 times this week”

• “I hit my protein target daily”

• “I prioritise sleep”

Plan for Real Life

Because life will happen.

So instead of quitting:

• Adjust

• Modify

• Keep going

Stop Waiting to Feel Like It

You won’t always feel motivated.

In fact, most of your progress will come from days you didn’t feel like showing up…but did anyway.

Think Long-Term (Properly)

If it took:

• A year (or more) to gain the weight

• Years to build current habits

Then 6+ months of real commitment isn’t extreme…

It’s reasonable.

Finally...

Dabbling feels safe. Comfort Zones are always safe but never takes you any where productive

It feels like you’re trying—without fully committing.

But it keeps you stuck.

Commitment feels different:

• Repetitive

• Sometimes boring

• Often uncomfortable

But it works.

So the question stays the same:

Are you going to keep dabbling…or are you finally ready to commit?

Because once you shift from: “I’ll try” → to → “I do this now”

That’s when your results—in your body, your health, and your life—start to change.

Ready to stop dabbling and start seeing real results?

Join our coaching or training program and build a structured plan you can actually stick to—for months, not weeks.

👉 Start your journey today 👉 Stay consistent 👉 See real results and your life—start to change. And if you already applying this to your fitness and nutrition life. Why not look at other area's of your life where Dabbling might be the source of your short comings.