The holidays are over you have eaten the lion's share and you are ready to get back on track, but how do you do it? I am here to tell you all is not lost and you can get yourself back on track and regain control of your eating habits.
How to Get Back on Track After the Holidays
Are you ready? I assume the answer is an emphatic yes since you are here:) I am glad you are ready to get back on track. I want to help you get there and beyond. Get ready for the 11 most important things that helped me to get back on track and closer to achieving lifetime status.
Start Fresh
So the first thing to do is start fresh. You want to regain control and continue on your weight loss journey. You want to reach your goal weight you have had a few slips but you are still on the journey and you will reach your goals. So start fresh today is a new day.
Zero-Point Day
Today is your Zero-Point day 🙂 It will take a little planning but you can do it. You can get back on track and start losing weight again. Start off with doing a zero-point day. All the foods you eat for the day should be on the zero-point foods list. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are not starting over from scratch, you are starting over with more experience than you had before. You know you can do it.
While you are doing your zero-point day start making your meal plan for the week. I have a few to get you started off right 🙂 Week 1 and Week 2, the meals do not add up to 23 because I left room for you to choose snacks and still not go over your points 🙂 These are meal plans I created for my family. Feel free to download, print and alter them to fit yours 🙂
Cravings
Avoid food cravings, or better yet replace the snack food you are craving with a healthier substitute. If you are craving something sweet don't go for the leftover pie, instead make a batch of 1 point Apple cookie crisps, or WW Fudge. Eat one and share the rest with the family. I find that these little apple bites help me with portion control. I eat one and my sweet tooth is sated for a bit.
If you are craving salty or savory foods don't reach for the chips and dip, Make some cauli-tots and homemade ranch dressing or my zero-point BBQ sauce and you have a filling snack that tastes great, fulfills your craving and will help you to get back on track. Remember we are getting you back on track not depriving you of anything. If you want chips opt for a lower point variety. This is just to get you back on track and eating healthier as well as losing weight 🙂
Drink Water
I know this is redundant, You always hear it and no matter what you always feel like you have to drink a ton of water and when you look back you haven't drunk the recommended amount. I felt the same way and I liked drinking water until I found out how much I was supposed to be drinking in a day. It can be a struggle to start drinking more water I know. I carry around a water bottle and every time I think about it I take a sip or two, that is how I started drinking more water every day. Now I drink about 3/4ths of a gallon of water a day.
It doesn't happen overnight but you will build up to it. Find out what your recommended intake of water is daily and then set a goal that you will be drinking that much a day within the next 3 months. I use the 8×8 rule but I have found that as I exercise I need a little more 🙂
Exercise
Exercise is one of the key factors that have helped me get through the holiday funk and jumpstart my weight loss. I know most people don't want to hear that. I didn't want to hear that either. I realize that when I exercise I feel better about me. I know you will too. You have to start somewhere so go to your local gym or watch an exercise video on youtube. Whatever you do get moving 🙂 Want to learn how to get moving again? I have written a quick post to get you going in the right direction without overdoing it and possibly getting hurt :).
Post Pictures
Find your before pictures and post them next to you now so you can visually see how far you have come. Take pictures of you now and put them on your fridge or on your bathroom mirror and use those to remember why you started this journey. You will use those to show yourself how far you have come.
I take pictures every few weeks mostly because my wife is a shutterbug. But it does help to see in pictures the little differences that become big differences over time. Why did you want to start losing weight? To live longer? To feel better?
Positive Affirmations
Put positive affirmations all around you to keep you focused on why you are doing this. Staying focused is one of the hardest things for me so I putt different positive sayings, on my mirrors or on the fridge to keep me focused and in a “Smiley” mood. Post pics in online groups and tell everyone you are starting again.
Support
Speaking of online groups, get some support. The groups I am in offer me a ton of support and I get a lot of questions answered also. It is amazing what we can do together. Having an accountability partner is another key factor for me maintaining sustained weight loss. Having a support system keeps you accountable to yourself and others.
Being accountable to someone else seems to always work better. You can always tell yourself you don't feel like it today but when you have people counting on you to be there you are less likely to let them down.
Track Your Food
Track everything, keep your journal or track it on the app, however, you are tracking make sure you are tracking everything. Tracking is twofold for me, it keeps me in the habit of tracking so I don't overeat and it helps me to know how many points I have left for the day. I know as long as I stay within my points and use my weeklies sparingly, or use them to get past a plateau, I will lose weight. If WW is too expensive try an alternative.
Know Your Body
Listen to your body and learn how you lose weight the best. Once you find a plan that works for you stick with it and set your goals. Work the plan and you will be successful. There are several different weight loss plans and fad diets out there. WW is a lifestyle change that helps you to eat healthier foods and make better decisions about foods. It is awesome to be able to eat what I want in moderation and still lose weight or maintain my weight.
Never Give Up
No matter if this is your 1st time or your 7th time starting you will succeed as long as you don't give up. This thing called life is a journey, we are on this journey together, and together we can achieve whatever we set out to do. I am happy you are here reading this post, that means you are ready for a change.
Now get out there Start your Zero-Point day, find a support group or 20, Curb your cravings by replacing them with zero-point snacks, Drink water, it helps with curbing your appetite, Learn your body, and track your food. You got this. NEVER GIVE UP!!
Thank you for this!!!