It could be the cheesecake that seems to call out to you from the frozen food section of your supermarket. Or it could be the bed that seems so much more inviting than the treadmill after a long day at the office. Or it could be the temptation to skip a support group meeting to watch a video at home instead.

All of these things can be obstacles to your ability to achieve and maintain your weight loss after weight loss surgery (WLS). They also are indicators that you would benefit from using the tool of discipline in your life.

You may associate discipline with standing in the corner at school, or giving your children a time out. You may even think of discipline as being a dirty word. But the fact is discipline is an important tool you must use if you are to achieve all of your long-term WLS goals. You just have to get the word "punishment" out of your mind and think of the word "order" instead.

Being disciplined simply means putting your personal world in order. It means ending the chaos that occurs when you lose sight of your goals. It means discarding those traits or habits that interfere with your life plan.

Forget the image of your parents standing over you, forcing you to eat your peas, or your teacher demanding that you finish your math before you go out for recess. Discipline should not be a negative in your life. It's actually a positive approach to curbing your disordered desires.

It means remembering what you want, taking action to achieve your goals, and enjoying the rewards.

Think of Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France winner who managed to beat cancer and get back on the bike trail. Now, there's an example of discipline on the move.

While we cannot be a Lance Armstrong, we all can be disciplined people. But first, we need a discipline training program. Here are some sure-fire steps to becoming a more disciplined person:

• Write down your goals. Short-term goals. Long-term goals. Spiritual goals. Weight-loss goals. Exercise goals. Meal plan goals. Friendship and relationship goals. Financial goals. Goals at work. Goals to help you achieve balanced living. Putting your goals in print gives them more authority. We tend to take things more seriously if we've written them down. Post your goals in a place where you'll see them everyday, such as your refrigerator door or your personal bulletin board. Seeing is believing. If you see your goals in writing, you're more likely to see them to fruition.
• Set objectives. These are the mileposts on the road to reaching your goals. If, for instance, your goal is to walk two miles a day, reward yourself once you reach the one mile mark. If you intend to lose 40 pounds, celebrate once you've lost 20. If you spend time recognizing your milestones, you're more likely to stick with your program.
• Track your progress. You might use an old-fashioned chart with the aid of pen and paper, or create a more elaborate grid using your computer. Whatever method you choose, be sure to track your progress. Remember the goal of many support groups: progress, not perfection. The idea is to mark the small victories along the way as you edge toward your goal. Your progress represents your own personal history. Once you accomplish your mission, you'll look back and be amazed at how far you've come.
• Set new goals once your old ones have been accomplished. In other words, you should be constantly striving to achieve goals. You've managed to perform a 5K walk for charity, now try a 10K! You've written a short story--why not try to get it published! By consistently working to achieve new milestones, you'll not only become a more accomplished person--you're likely to be a happier one as well. In order to have a balanced view of life, make sure your new goals are not only weight loss-connected. Your goals should address your physical, emotional, and spiritual goals.

It's important to point out here that, rather than creating stress, discipline can actually be a great stress-reliever.

Researchers have defined stress as a "condition causing depression." Such stress can be the result of overwork, family strain, or emotional issues.

Interestingly enough, studies have shown that binge eating may be a response to emotional stress. It's a vicious cycle because overeating can lead to more stress, which results in more overeating.

But incorporating more discipline into your day can prevent you from boarding the unhealthy eating roller coaster. Here are some dietary discipline tips:

• Make sure you keep healthy foods at your office, in the car, and around the house. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, sugar-free yogurt, or protein supplements can be healthy alternatives to ice cream and pound cake. If you keep high-calorie food out of sight, they're more likely to be out of mind.
• Before eating, determine if you are actually hungry. You can do this by waiting ten minutes before eating anything. If, after your ten minute limit, you're not feeling hungry, take part in some other pleasurable activity instead--listen to your favorite CD, play with your pet, or exercise your musical ability by playing an instrument.
• Another approach is to limit the amount of stress you're under. This can be done by perfecting your time management skills. In other words, if you're too busy to have a good time, you're probably too busy. Consider relaxing in a pool, in a park, or in a sauna. Just lighting a few scented candles and reading a good book may limit your stress. It's an interesting paradox--the more relaxed you are, the more disciplined you can become.

Discipline isn't just a state of mind--it's also a way of life. It means reigning in many of your impulses and following a rational course of action instead.

Certainly, you might encounter obstacles in your path toward a more disciplined life. The key is to keep on trying, even when you've fallen off course.

Remember, it's not the detours that people remember--most people won't even know you've gone on any. Instead, they'll remember your smile as you arrive at the finish line.