Top 6 Ways to Get Back on the Fitness Track

Many religions have different celebrations and holidays throughout the year, so this topic never gets old. For instance, Easter fell on the 21st of April, which is relatively late, while Ramadan started on the 5th of May.

Whatever your religion, or even if you don't have one, there will be events where you will less likely be able to control your food intake, one way or the other. A few days, but especially prolonged periods of unstructured eating can leave you feeling sluggish, a bit out of space and less motivated to stay on track with your workouts.
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Summer is on our doorstep, so if you're trying to get in shape, you need ways of getting back on the fitness track once those events have passed. Here are 6 tips to help you get through the first week or two so you can start focusing on yourself again.

Tip 1: Eat Regular Meals

​While it might be tempting to skip a few meals in an attempt to drop a few pounds, it's a strategy that almost always backfires. When you skip a meal, you end up making yourself hungrier, encouraging binge eating later on in the day. Hungry people automatically seek out high-fat, high-sugar foods - precisely the foods that they should avoid if they want to get in shape for the summer. 

Tip 2: Get Rid of the Leftovers

We live in a consumer society. Most times, we are left with masses of leftovers after an event. Sure, everyone is allowed to go a little overboard every now and again, but thinking that you have to eat all of the leftovers or remaining treats can be counterproductive. You don't. And if you do, it could keep you from getting back on the fitness track. 

Tip 3: Avoid Discount Holiday Food

Retailers want to get rid of their stock in the week following after the holiday's over, whether that's Easter or Ramadan, they will try to sell it at a lower price. Don't be tempted to buy it. Poor nutrition will wreck your fitness goals. 

Tip 4: Avoid The Weighing Scales

Weighing yourself after a holiday binge will almost definitely lead to disappointment. You look down at the scales, and the numbers just keep on going up and up, causing distress. Unless you can look at it from a data point, just don't do it. You can save yourself from unnecessary frustration.
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Fundamentally, what you weigh doesn't matter: it's what you're planning to do today that counts. Don't ruin your chances of a productive afternoon on the track by immiserating yourself on the scales. 

Tip 5: Keep A Healthy Eating Diary

Many people find it helpful to keep a healthy eating diary so that they can keep track of what they're eating. Keeping a food diary just for a couple of weeks can help you become more mindful of what you're putting in your mouth. If you struggle to keep track of what you're eating, it can be a great tool. 

Tip 6: Get Rid of the Guilt

​Guilt can be a paralysing emotion that leads to destructive behaviours, like yo-yo dieting. If you're somebody prone to feeling guilty, then it's often beneficial to change the way that you think about your nutrition plan. Rather than seeing it as a terrible event if you fall off the wagon, view it as something that you're "leaning into." It doesn't matter if you stray, so long as you have the intention in the back of your mind to stick to it on most days.

Do you need help with creating your "comeback" plan after a longer break? Check out what I offer for my online coaching clients and feel free to contact me for a commitment-free chat.