So what did it? Was it a cupcake with whipped frosting? Was it an extra serving of pasta? Was it that grande cup of full fat latte with real whipped cream and chocolate drizzle? Tell me what caused your diet to fall on its face. Maybe it wasn’t the food that tempted you but stress, feelings of low self esteem, or the decision to celebrate with too many calories. There are a million reasons from not being able to say no to dessert to a death in the family that can cause you to go off of your diet. There are steps you can take to get your footing back before your waistline makes it impossible to see your feet.
Don’t dwell on it!
We all experience failure. Just about everyone who has ever attempted a life change such as losing weight or change of diet has black slid at some point. If you get too down about your blunder you will likely continue to make those types of blunders due to feelings of hopelessness. So you ate a donut…so what? This is not license to eat Oreos for lunch and red velvet cake for dinner with cheesecake for dessert. Just don’t eat another donut…simple.
Remove Temptation
If you currently have foods in your house that can cause you to stumble then remove them. Do not buy treats for yourself if you are in a low point in your life or facing an especially stressful time. Refocus your mind to not see food as a comfort for stress in your life. If you ate half the bag of Oreos in one day then please throw the rest away. Do not risk falling into the trap of thinking if you already messed up your diet you may as well mess up big.
Know Your Alternatives
Depriving yourself of foods you love the most can lead to disaster. It is okay to have your favorite latte but make it a skinny latte. Replace oil with applesauce when baking to cut out a large amount of fat and calories. Drink water with lemon or lime and cut down on the soda. I’d rather spend 150 calories on food than a soda. There are plenty of alternatives from fat free cream cheese to fat free whipped topping to keep you satisfied while not blowing your diet.
Get Your Mind off the “D” Word
Forget the diet! Diets will always set you up for failure. Refocus your mind to accept foods for the purpose of fueling your body and maintaining your health. Think of food as fuel and not comfort. Yet in times of weakness, have alternatives or eat something yummy in moderation. Eat slowly and purposefully to fully enjoy the eating experience. This will prevent mindless eating which leads to unaccounted for calories and crazy cravings. This is your health…your life…take control. This is a lifestyle not a temporary fix to fit into a dress. Trust me, every girl who drops 20 pounds to fit into a dress will pick it right back up after the event.
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