5 Tips to Stay on Track

So you've started a healthy living program! Now, what? How do you keep it up? The following are just a few, five to be exact, tips to help you !

BECOME A PLANNER. Map out your meals, your activities and even your rewards. Start the week out with a menu and a grocery shopping list. Go ahead and schedule your snacks. If you are really on it, you can even prep several of your meals and place them in the fridge.  When you have a plan, you are less likely to "cheat" or get off track.

BE A SMART SHOPPER. After you've made your plan, you've got to venture out to the grocery store. Shop the perimeter of the store where fresh and refrigerated items are shelved. Avoid the inner isles where processed and boxed items are placed. In other words, avoid the temptation to buy junk food. Also, don't go shopping with a growly tummy! It's easy to be impulsive when your stomach is encouraging to rip into the nearest bag of Doritos!

LOG YOUR FOOD. Logging what you eat is just as much about accountability as it is controlling your calories. If you've planned out what you are going to eat and shopped smart, don't short yourself by eating two or three portions at meal time. Logging your food can also be rewarding. You'll get a sense of accomplishment from knowing that you CAN control what you eat, you can get full eating healthy AND... drum roll please... you just might have eaten so well that you can have that  piece of dark chocolate and not feel guilty!

                

HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM. Wow, you're doing great! Oh, man, you look awesome!  We ALL need a cheerleader or two. We can all use an encouraging word and someone to encourage us to stay the course! Surround yourself with people who really care about you and your fitness journey. Let them know your goals, have them check in on your progress, heck, even recruit them to do it with you.

LET GO OF PERFECTION. You are not going to do this perfectly. Some days are going to be better than others. Some days are gonna try you to the very end, fate is gonna seem like it's out to get you and sometimes you are gonna find yourself at the McDonald's drive-through ordering an extra, extra large order of french fries and a large, southern-style sweet tea (eek, personal moment of confession!). Here's the point: Messing up doesn't mean you have to scrap the whole day! How many times have you just decided since you messed up, once, you might as well live it up for the rest of the day! (anyone's toes hurting, yet! Mine, might be!)  Let each experience become a learning experience, and then, MOVE ON! You are worth so much more, I guarantee it!