Stick To Your Diet No Matter What
America Takes it Off
- Bob Greene's Tips
- Bob Greene on Motivation
- Burn Ab Fat
- Belly Bloating Foods
- Belly Flattening Meals
- Diet Journal
- Energy for Exercise
- Finally Thin!
- Healthy Meal Plan
- Idiot Proof Diet
- Increase Metabolism
- Jillian Michaels Tips
- Lose Water Weight
- Low-Calorie Snacks
- Metabolism Busters
- Road-Tested Diets
- Stick To Your Diet
- Stock Your Kitchen
- Summer Foods Quiz
- Walk for Weight Loss
- What Really Matters for Dieting
Share
To share this page with a friend, you must have AIM installed.Click the "Download AIM" button to install AIM. If you already have AIM, click the "Send Instant Message" button.
Stick to Your Diet No Matter What
Provided by Prevention.com
Many women let stress and special occasions get to then, and then they gain weight. The way to tackle this problem is to learn to handle daily stresses by regrouping each day and become more stress resilient.
What does this mean? To regroup means that no matter what hits you, you can cope. Regrouping means that you see life's events, and you adjust and adapt to them without engaging in self-destructive habits.
The art of regrouping is a powerful tool that allows you to use opportunities that appear during crises and to continue a healthy eating and activity plan. Here are some tips and exercises to help you as you learn how to regroup throughout the year.
Step 1: Get an Attitude
Say to yourself: I am stress resilient. Imagine that you are a strong oak tree. No amount of wind will cause your trunk to bend. The trunk is your inner core. Your branches, however, are flexible. They are your protective stress adapters and bend with the wind. On a calm day, the branches don't move. But in a storm, they may twist and turn to keep from breaking.
For variety, try pork tenderloin or tuna steak as hearty red-meat substitutes. And explore other side dishes such as sweet potatoes and whole grain rice or pasta. They have the same starchy feel as potatoes but boost your fiber intake to fill you up faster.
Step 2: Use All of Your Plans
Create a Plan A. Write down your healthy eating and activity plan on a low-stress day.
Now, make a list of everything that could wreck your plan. It could be unexpected guests for dinner, an illness, a deadline, financial problems, or a broken treadmill. Now, rewrite your Plan A incorporating any of these problems and show how you can work around them. Create a Plan B, C, D, and E. The trick? Make do! Example: It's too cold to take your Plan A walk. Plan B means walking in the mall or on the health club's treadmill.
Tell yourself each day, No matter what kind of curveball I have to catch today, I'll simply make do!
Step 3: Regroup after Relapse
Regrouping after a discouraging bout of self-destructive behavior is tough. Say to yourself, "Okay, things got out of control. Now I've got to get back to it." If you give yourself 3 days of self-destruction withdrawal, you can usually regain momentum and continue the journey.
Why 3 days? You need time to relearn Plan A, practice it, and let it solidify. You need to turn off the self-critical thoughts and jump into your healthy routine again.
The 72-Hour Regrouping-After-Relapse Plan
Day One Plan how and when you'll eat and exercise. Don't think any negative thoughts about yourself! Keep busy. Get to bed early, and cut out habits (such as TV) that stimulate overeating.
Day Two Repeat Day One. Congratulations! You made it through without any self-destructive behavior. Today, plan and be prepared. No negative thoughts allowed. Get to bed early.
Day Three Now feelings of accomplishment begin to supplant self-hate. You are still vulnerable, so repeat Day Two's routine again. You will regroup countless times in your life; veering off your routine is just another opportunity to practice the art.
Now, when stresses occur, you will be able to adapt, adjust, and cope without destroying your baseline healthy lifestyle. No need for anxiety about the months ahead. You can regroup to stay fit and well!
More from Prevention
