Does this sound familiar? You start a new weight loss plan—you eat better—you move more. And you feel great. You’re on a roll and no one can touch you. It’s been a week, maybe two. Maybe it’s even been a month or more. And then it happens. You have a bad day, or maybe a friend comes in from out of town. Maybe you go to your favorite restaurant, you know, the one that serves the chocolate soufflé…and you blow it. Big time.
Or maybe stress just gets the better of you. Either way, regardless of the reason, your honeymoon period has ended. This is the time when most people give up on their weight loss plan.
For yo-yo dieters especially, the end of the “honeymoon” phase is downright depressing. It’s when all those little feelings of self-doubt and failure creep back into our heads. So how can you avoid this?
Get a buddy: Buddies keep us accountable. They’re also a great support system.
Keep a food journal: You’ll be amazed to see where your triggers are.
Don’t fad diet: This is a big no-no. Fad diets are just that, fads. They don’t last. Don’t put your faith in something that can’t last. Eat sensibly. Lose weight slowly. That way, you won’t gain ten pounds overnight for (gasp!) eating a piece of cake.
Don’t go cold turkey: Giving up all your favorite foods at once is a sure-fire way to fail. Try cutting back on portions first. Change the ingredients a bit. Make your favorite chocolate cake with sugar substitute or use applesauce instead of oil. Small changes yield big results.
Ease into exercise: You know what happens to the Energizer Bunny? He burns out. Start moving. Moving is good. But you don’t have to suddenly become Richard Simmons overnight. Start at a pace you’re comfortable with and build on it. You’ll stay with it longer that way.
Don’t let the end of the honeymoon phase be the end of your weight loss plan. Losing weight is hard. But with a few wise choices, you’ll be able to stick with your program for the long haul.