Sticking to a health plan isn’t always easy. To be perfectly honest, it doesn’t take much for me to skip a workout when I’m glued to my computer screen completing work assignments, or pick less healthy lunch items to shove down my mouth when I haven’t made the time to prep healthier ones. (Planning is key.)
I find it particularly challenging to stick with my wellness goals while I’m socializing. I so enjoy indulging in extra sweets and salty snacks when I’m having a good time with friends and family. An ice cream date with a friend, or fish ‘n chips at the park are just way too much fun in the summer!
I also know that indulging from time to time is perfectly okay for most people. What is more important than falling off the wagon is the ability to get back on.
Here are some tips to make getting back on track a whole lot easier:
1. Eat as much as you want of the good stuff
Forget portions for now, and just work on reducing your intake of the processed, refined stuff. Can’t curb your sweet tooth? Instead of chocolate, ice cream and candy, try indulging in all the summer fruit you want!
2. Commit to a healthy start
Making a wise decision first thing in the morning can be the domino that sets you on the right path. Commit to a healthy, protein-rich breakfast like a bowl of oatmeal covered in nuts and seeds and drizzled with honey, or an egg scramble with lots of greens and colourful veggies. Or, consider a morning fast, allowing your body to do some housecleaning and balance out your appetite.
3. Remember your “why”
It’s important for me to check in with my deep, personal values and goals every so often in order to keep my motivation up. Rather than telling myself that I “should eat healthy” and I “should exercise,” I think about the things that truly matter to me that require me to be healthy – the ability to go on hikes with my husband and dog, getting up early with tons of energy throughout the day to get stuff done, and the desire to stay healthy into my later years so I can be there for my family if they need me.
So if you’re struggling to find the motivation to stick with your health plan, I encourage you to find some quiet time to consider why a health plan is important to you, write it down, and refer to it whenever you feel like your motivation is dwindling.
Please remember that indulging from time-to-time is healthy and often encouraged! And that it’s what we do the majority of the time that really makes the difference.
