Getting Right Back on Track

Did the holidays play havoc with your diet? The craziness of the season derail your exercise plans? All of my good intentions definitely took a hit in December, too.

I think thats natural, though. Time, energy and options become limited at different times of the year (holidays, conference season, etc) and we can easily slip up. The trick is to keep that slip from turning into an excuse to give up, right?

I was reading the Shape website today and came across this fabulous article on jumpstarting your weight loss- or getting right back into focus after the holiday craziness. The article sites 3 tips that I thought were awesome.

• Bounce Back -aka get right back in the healthy mindset and on track again. Too often, we let the excuse of the holidays or busy time lengthen way longer than it merits. To give in to just one more of gramma's awesome sugar cookies in December is one thing. To still be snacking on the crumbs in January is only going to add way more pounds to the scale and way more stress to your life before you get yourself on track again. So if you accept that December is over, and that January means you're bouncing right back on track, you'll start seeing fabulous progress again soon.
  

• Think Positive - Oh yeah, this one is priority, especially after falling off the healthy wagon. We are the queen's of guilt, so its way to easy to beat ourselves up for what we did or didn't do before. But negative motivation rarely gets us back on the treadmill or into a healthy state of mind. A positive mindset though? That's the key to success. Accept what was, and be determined to stick with what is --which is your eating and exercise plan.
  

• Exercise Smart - Its all about finding that exercise you love, that you'll easily fall back into the habit of doing. Once you've found your exercise match, it'll be like riding a bike. You just get back on and fall back into the habit as naturally as breathing. But first, of course, you have to find that exercise match *g* If you haven't, this is a great time to try. If you're social, check out group classes with a friend -the energy will keep you motivated until you can decide if the actual class/exercise is the one for you. If you're anti-social (raising my hand) or introverted, check out the plethora of exercise videos, equipment on sale, and options out there that might appeal to you. While you try them all out, you'll be exercising and losing too. What a win-win gig, huh?

So, are you already back on the healthy wagon? Or were you needing a little nudge?