Diet slip-ups are very common in any weight loss journey.Learn how to tackle such practical life issues with these mindful tips.
I have already told this in my about section that this blog is not just about pumping you with recipes like a blogging robot. During my own weight loss journey, I had faced several mental struggles and they were a lot bigger problems than just choosing what kinds of food to eat or avoid. We, humans, undergo several emotions daily and that can have a lot of impact on the foods we choose to eat. Diet slip-ups are very common and it would be a lie if anyone said they have never faced any slip-ups in their most successful weight loss journey even. These are the few types of real-life situations that can derail our weight loss progress if we are not prepared to tackle them ahead.
- Stress from working long hours.
- Parties with friends and families
- Having a row with partners.
- Menstrual cycles.
- Personal life issues.
- Vacations.
- Running around kids causing you stress
- Boredom(not kidding)
But you know what? These kind of situations are inevitable in life and so as our efforts should be to achieve anything. Be it weight loss or any other life issues. You feel like a champion for a week without eating any junk and all of a sudden eat like a zombie only to feel defeated and deflated. I hear you, weight loss journey isn’t as easy as cracking an interview or doing your day job.
Weight loss journey is so easy and so tough at the same time. It needs a lot of discipline, mental strength and dedication if healthy weight loss is your goal. It is a psychological game along with sticking to eat healthy foods.
Let’ see few ways we can avoid these kind of weight loss slip-ups
Break that chain action
Tell you what? Few cookie crumbs here and there or a single pizza cannot ruin your whole weight loss progress, but that kind of HABIT does! You have met a friend and had to go for an unplanned lunch where you indulged in a pizza and also your favourite ice-cream or a chocolate chip cookie dough. You came back home only to find that your partner was angry at you and had a big fight. Stressed out to the core, you started eating that tub of ice cream AGAIN! And hen this chain continues for a week. How do we break this habit of the diet slip-up?
Tell yourself that EVERY meal is damn important for your weight loss goals. It’s ok to slip-up one meal or even 2 but you can’t keep continuing like that. If one of your rose plant leaves is attacked by bugs will you discard the whole plant? No right? You prune it and continue to take care of the rest of the plant. Please treat yourself the same way. Don’t get into the habit of ruining yourself totally. Cut that chain by accepting your defeat just once and reminding yourself that it is better late than never.
- Focus on your next ONE meal.
- Remind yourself that every meal is a stepping stone for your weight loss success.
Prepare yourself for the next attack
Some of us go through a phase of stress cycles and know that we are going to get attacked again. For example, I had a very stressful phase in my life once that lasted for several months. I ate loads of chocolate(am not even a fan of it!) continuously to feel good for myself. It was ok to feel that way and eat for a few times but I continued it for several months which gave me several kilos of excess weight.
My point is to be prepared for those lengthy or known cycles of stress attacks. Similar thing for menstrual cycles. Learn that hunger is never an emergency unless you are suffering from any health issues. Remind yourself that emotional eating is always tolerable and you can lessen the damage b being prepared for your next serial attack.
- Stock up with low-calorie foods like drinking hot chocolate.
- Homemade crisps like these sweet potato chips
Read a weight loss blog or call a friend
This tip has always helped me in my several weight loss cycles. As soon as I know I had a diet slip-up the first thing I do is start reading lots of good articles on weight loss esp the real-life struggles. I love reading magazines like Slimming World as they contain lots of real-life stories and struggles. We get assurance that there are ways to always bounce back and every one of us have gone through these diet slip-ups in their lives. I will be motivated enough to refocus on my goals again. The amount of support you get from social media groups is also enormous. Being part of such healthy communities offer you great support and comfort without any judgement.
- Join a few active online FB groups and vent out there.
- Read good weight loss articles online or magazines.
- Call a friend and confess your overeating.
Visualize yourself as a WINNER
Every time I had a diet slip-up I visualized how I look if I refocus and continue putting in my efforts towards my weight loss goal. Visualization is a very effective technique that can give wings to your dreams and goals. Don’t laugh, I always visualized myself on the cover of a Slimming World magazine every time I lost focus(it features real-life weight loss success stars). This gave me a great boost and energy that helped me bouncing back every time I slipped my track. Remember weight loss is not a 1 or 2-day game. It is like a marathon wherein you need to show up every single mile until you finish those 26.2 miles. I carried on every mile with lots of pain visualizing my London Marathon medal in my neck. Weight loss should be a long steady journey better health and not a race.
- Visualise yourself on a magazine cover or in your favourite clothes
- Imagine you being able to play with kids without huffing and puffing.
I hope these tips are helpful for you to continue your journey for a better version of yourself. Have you ever faced a diet slip-up? Are there any other ways you dealt with it? I would love to hear from you or you can share me via Instagram at fatrainbowgirl
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