HOW TO GET BACK ON TRACK AFTER THE HOLIDAYS:

Don’t you just love the feeling of a fresh clean slate ?

Me too.

But if you’ve been overdoing it throughout the holidays, you may be tempted to go to extreme measures to undo the damage. Truth is, with a few smart adjustments, you can get get yourself right back on track .

The holidays are about spending time with your loved ones and having a good time. I sure had an amazing time catching up with the ones I love and I have no regrets about all of the indulging I did. Unfortunately , all the indulging can really take a toll on our bodies if we’re not mindful and sure to get ourselves back on track though !

I’ve learned that making a few things a non- negotiable is key to looking and feeling better. I have never felt this content and in such a good place physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I believe it all stems from these key things I’ve learned to implement all year round.

Here are some tips on how to get yourself back on track, or simply motivate yourself to get started.

Don’t Panic. The scale will go back down . What’s most important is where you choose to go from here. Don’t feel bad about yourself and don’t beat yourself up because your pants fit you tighter . It’s time to refocus mentally and surround yourself with thoughts that will keep you pushing forward. It’s a new day and that means a new fresh start. If the scale has gone up, take into consideration that a lot of what you see and feel is extra water and bloating.

Hydrate. Its extremely important to hydrate more than usual. Drink up and flush those toxins out. You can check out some yummy water recipes here Its even better to drink water before you decide to drink any caffeinated drinks because caffeine is a diuretic. Drinking water as soon as you wake up in the morning will do wonders for your body to reboot.  The second I wake up in the morning, I drink water or hot water with lemon to simply turn on my metabolism. Water is so good for our skin, our hair, our body function, and our digestion.

Take Before Pictures. Some people are not comfortable with this and that’s okay. But there is something about taking that picture and getting your mind to refocus. I’ve been taking before and after photos all year and it sure does something  Its so hard to capture your progress when you are consistently putting in the effort on a daily basis.

Pictures will show you way more than a scale can and its really nice to track your progress. Don’t even bother getting obsessed with weighing yourself each day because that will make you go crazy. Learn to accept what you weigh and look like, learn to love yourself more,  and embrace the new positive changes you plan on making . As you begin your transformation, you can repeat that progress photo each month and weigh yourself once a week or once a month. I love talking about this in my wellness groups.  Learn to seek all of the non scale victories because after all, you’re human.

Make A Plan. I truly feel this is the most important of all. Structure is key. Set a plan and take action. If you work on structure, your body will take care of itself. It’s as simple as that. Get back to it. Don’t over think it too much. Simply sit down, plan your week or month out and keep in mind that there will be roadblocks. Seeing your plan will help you visualize where you’re headed and help you get there.

Make it something you need to do on a weekly basis and not just the beginning of the year. Plan your workouts and your nutrition. I can’t even begin to explain how important this part is. It’s important to find a sustainable lifestyle because the last thing you need is to gain everything back the second you have a slip up .

Moderation Not Deprivation. If you’re serious about making some healthier choices in your life-,  don’t deprive yourself. Deprivation will only leave you with constant cravings and self- sabotaging episodes. I used to beat myself up mentally after I indulged and that’s because I didn’t know what I know now.

I love that I can enjoy my favorite foods in moderation. These negative thought patters will only lead you to bounce back easier into your older unhealthy habits. You can’t cut out your foods and expect sustainability. It’s all about balance.

Look at change as adding and incorporating more healthier options. Find what you like and stick to it. Its important to learn moderation and balance and I teach that in my wellness groups. You can apply here  .

Since I’ve applied moderation into my life, I have incorporated the three M’s into my life ; Move, Mindful Eating, and Minimizing. When you move more,  you get those feel good chemicals and they help regulate your moods.  When you’re happier, you’ll make healthier choices.  While eating, eat mindfully and minimize processed foods or eating out.

Motivate Yourself. There are so many ways you can motivate yourself by simply creating a vision board and reading or finding new inspirational quotes, looking up motivation and inspiration on the internet or magazines, and refocusing on your goals.

Don’t look up fitness motivation just to compare yourself. Use it as a tool to inspire and push yourself to keep moving forward. Watch my video below to see what you can do to get yourself inspired. Find a way to make your vision a reality. Go out and buy yourself new workout clothes and make it fun.