One terrible thing about getting married (and the couple of weeks preceding it) was all of the eating out, hurriedly eating whatever we had in the house and unplanned meals where we didn’t make the best choices. Thankfully I don’t think I really GAINED a significant amount of weight, but I did FEEL terrible. I felt lethargic, bloated and slept horribly. Yes, I could have made better decisions 100% of the time, but I didn’t. Time to move on!
Unfortunately, when eating poorly becomes your norm for a few weeks, it is hard to get back into a healthier groove. Here are some things I find that help me!
1) Focus on one day at a time.
I am a planner. I always have been. I like to know what I am doing, when I’m gonna do it and where I’m gonna do it. I like to plan out the healthy goals I’d like to reach, and let’s not even get started on weight loss goals. This can be pretty tough, and a little disheartening when you are first starting (or re-starting) trying to eat healthier.
Focus on one day. Just one day. Tell yourself to think about today only and make it the best day you can. You can do one day. Then tomorrow when you wake up, you will feel proud. You will feel empowered to face the next day, and the next. Before you know it, you’ve successfully made it through 10, or 20 healthy days and it just gets easier after that.
But one day is how you start. You can do one day.
2) Remember the WHY.
Why are you trying to eat healthier? What is driving you? Are you looking to better fuel your body? Do you want to have more energy? Are you trying to improve your health? Are you trying to reach a healthier weight? Keep all these things at the forefront of your mind. Or heck, write it down and stick it places you will see it often.
3) Simplify.
KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Don’t try to change EVERYTHING about your diet (and I mean diet as in what you eat, not diet like, “I am going on a diet”) right away. Choose a few things to change at a time. It could be you want to start drinking more water, or you want to eat more fruits and veggies. Don’t say, “Well, I am going to prepare all my meals at home, eat under 1300 calories, eat 8 fruits and vegetables, not eat ANY sugar and cut out all gluten.” I am overwhelmed just reading that. Pick one of two things you would like to change, and focus on those.
4) Focus on what you CAN have.
One of the hardest things for me is cutting out stuff I shouldn’t be eating. And I tend to focus only on that! I shouldn’t be eating tons of processed, unhealthy crap, so well of course that is what I want to eat! But I can’t dwell on that. I try to make myself think about the foods I CAN eat. Focusing on the good stuff and why I am eating them makes it easier to ignore and turn down the garbage.
Find some new healthier recipes to keep your interest peaked. Really start tasting those fresh fruits and veggies. Think of how much better these foods are fueling your body as you eat them. Try to remember your goals before you eat something; Is the thing you are about to eat going to help or hinder you?
5) Be patient with yourself.
Sometimes we treat ourselves the worst. We wouldn’t talk to our family or a friend the way we talk to ourselves. Be patient. I know it sounds silly, but encourage yourself! Be your own cheerleader! Keep your thoughts positive. Give yourself time to get used to eating healthier. Don’t throw it all away if you make a mistake. Keep going! You can do this! Just take it one day at a time.