We all mess up sometimes, especially when we try to eat healthily and stay active. If you’re looking to get back on track, here are five tips to help you start today.
Ever feel like you’ve been great at working out and eating right for a while, and then suddenly you’re binging on burgers and pizza and watching TV instead of staying active? Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but we’ve all been there.
We make lots of resolutions to take charge of our lives, but then life gets in the way, and we give up for various reasons. It doesn’t have to be like this every time. With some support, you can get back on track and take control of your life quickly.
The first step to getting back on track is to accept that it’s okay to make mistakes. We’re all human, and we all mess up. You can’t change what happened, but you can change how you react to it. Forgiving yourself can be harder than forgiving someone else, but it’s crucial.
Write down all the positive things about yourself. What do people like about you? What are your strengths? Seeing these traits on paper can help you feel better about yourself. One bad workout or meal doesn’t define who you are or what you can achieve. Accept what happened and move forward.
A great way to stay on track or get back into it is by identifying your “why.” This is essential when setting goals. Think about why you have this goal. Why do you want to be healthy? Is it because you don’t want to get sick, want to stop taking medications, or want to be a role model for your kids?
Whatever your reason, write it down and put it somewhere you can see it every day. Keeping it visible, like in your bedroom where you see it in the morning and before bed, can be very motivating. Knowing why you’re doing something makes everything easier.
Your smartphone is another great place to keep your “why.” We use our phones constantly, so why not use them to our advantage? Making your “why” the wallpaper on your phone can be a game-changer.
Maybe your goals are too unrealistic for your given timeframe, which is why you keep failing. Ask yourself if your goal is reasonable for the time you have. For instance, trying to lose 20lbs in a month is unrealistic. Even if you lose 8lbs, you might still feel like you failed because you were fixated on the 20lbs goal.
Set small, realistic goals so you can celebrate your wins. Climbing a mountain starts with one step at a time. Apply this to your goals. If your goal is too big, break it down. If you need to lose 30lbs, aim to lose 1.5lbs a week. Focus all your energy on eating healthy and working out to achieve this smaller goal.
Putting all your energy into these small steps makes them more attainable and rewarding. After several months, you’ll realize you’ve climbed the mountain without even noticing it.
When bouncing back, avoid going cold turkey with diet and exercise. This sets you up for failure. Instead, ease back into it. If you haven’t exercised in a week, start with moderate activities for 30 minutes the first day. Gradually increase the intensity and duration. This keeps you on track and helps prevent injuries.
Easing back into your routine creates momentum and makes it more likely you’ll stick with it. It’s also important to have an accountability buddy. Setting goals and sticking to them becomes easier with someone to support you. Having an accountability partner helps keep you on track, especially on days when you feel like skipping your workout.
Share your weekly goals with your accountability partner and review your progress together. This helps you reflect on your goals and stay committed to them.
With these tips, you can get back to your goals and achieve them. Sometimes, a little nudge and some extra motivation are all you need. Next time you fall off track, try these tips, and you’ll be back on course in no time.