What To Do When You Step Out Of The Weight Loss Phase

Nov 11, 2015

You've made a great start, your body is burning fat, you're cruising right along and then, wham! You veer off course and give into temptation at a party, a friend's house, or a holiday celebration. You have knocked yourself out of the weight loss phase and you feel terrible! What to do?

Here are 3 tips to get you back on track with healthy eating:

1. Put down the blame and shame.

These two things will not get you anywhere! They go together and feed off of one another. So you went all rogue and everything and now you feel like you are back to square one, but you're not. Take the experience, learn from it and move on! The first thing to find out is why your veered. Did you have a moment of weakness? Did you consciously decide to toss your plan? Did you eat out of habit or out of emotion?

These are all good questions to ask yourself, so that you learn why you did it. Knowing the answers can help you through the next time you are tempted with going off plan.Shame does nothing but tear you down and make you want to quit. Do not let shame win. Blame does nothing but point the finger. When you blame, you avoid responsibility for your actions. Own your actions, learn from them and move forward.

2. Put it behind you and move on. It's done. It's over. Don't stay there and continue to operate outside of Step 1. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back to it. Learn from the experience and keep going. This is the only way to learn why you eat and how you can move forward in a healthier lifestyle. It takes some time to make changes. Be patient with yourself as you would with someone else. What would you tell someone else who had experienced a setback? Say it to yourself. Take a deep breath, adjust your attitude and move on. Put your goal back in your sight and move toward it.

Life is a marathon. If you don't keep moving, you won't reach the finish line.

There will always be obstacles, distractions and challenges. When you meet those with your goal in mind and your determination to reach it, you will find your way around, under, over or through those things that get in your way.

When you slip up and discover yourself off course, correct it, and move on towards your destination.

3. Remember your WHY. It is critical to always have your "why" in mind.

It is your motivation for doing what you do, no matter what it is. Your "why" is what drives you. It is what keeps you going. Use this motivation to push yourself towards your goal.

When the why is strong the how will follow. When you want something badly enough, you will find a way to get it.

A healthy lifestyle is not possible without healthy eating. Do you want be healthy? Why? Don't let you answer be, "because I want to be healthy". Go deeper. WHY do you want to be healthy? What do you want to accomplish? Who do you want to be healthy for? How would your life be different? What would your life look like if you achieved a healthy lifestyle? Hang onto that "why" and keep moving forward!

Reaching goals requires intentional effort and focused attention. It requires review each and every day to help keep you on course. Progression brings about improvement. Perfection does not exist. Focus on your goal and when you veer, just refocus and get back on course. As you continue to direct your aim, you WILL reach your goal.

Stay positive and go for it!