I recently welcomed my aunt and uncle from the Pacific Northwest for a quick family getaway. Originally hailing from Wisconsin, they were eager to indulge in all of the state’s staples including cheese curds, beer, and of course, a Friday night fish fry. To be fair, Wisconsin does have many healthy food options available that extend beyond its culinary clichés. But I wanted to give the people what they wanted, and I’m a firm believer in the TOPS philosophy that all foods fit … even cheese curds. After a food-filled visit, we were all eager to get back to our normal eating routines. This got me thinking about the importance of not dwelling too much on a slip-up or setback.
To help you start planning for the upcoming holidays and the extra snacks and treats they typically bring, here are three tips for getting back on track after a holiday or special event.
Plan to get moving. Whether it’s your favorite workout class or a long walk with a friend, set an exercise date and stick to it as if it were an appointment. And don’t think of this as “punishment” but rather an opportunity to feel energized and recharged.
Plan to up your veggies. Unfortunately, most trips or holiday gatherings don’t result in me saying, “I ate way too many vegetables last night!” That’s why I always make it a point to have extra veggies for meals and snacks the week following a calorie-filled weekend.
Plan to … plan. Set aside an hour or so for meal prep. Scan some recipes, make a shopping list, figure out which of your kitchen tools you’ll need and prepare three to four meals that you can just grab and eat for the week.
One party, one weekend or even one cheese curd-filled Wisconsin road trip won’t derail your weight-loss efforts. Don’t demand perfection in your healthy lifestyle. Instead, enjoy the successes, learn from the setbacks and find joy in the journey.
Thanks for a timely topic I face “starting over” time and time again. Short and helpful.
Thanks for reading, Carol 🙂
I love this advise, thank you Maggie
That’s great to hear, Wendy!
That is so true, I live in the Northwest now but am from Wisconsin. I miss the friday fish fry and everything else. I have learned that for me a lot of what I used to eat is changed and now I eat more healthy.
That’s great, Christine! I do love visiting the PNW and love all the healthy food options. 🙂
great post, thank you. I have now lost 65 pounds since Jan 26, 2017.. I can attest to the fact that what you said here works. slip up and go right back to what I was doing.
That’s awesome, Sandra!! And thank you for reading.
Congrats! I’m embarking on my 2019 plan to lose 30# by NEXT autumn. I think I sometimes set myself up for failure … saying “I’ll lose 2# per week, EVERY week. I LIKE YOUR ATTITUDE AND RESULTS A LOT BETTER!
Great advice for recovering from a setback, Maggie. Planning is definitely essential for me. Whenever I tell myself that I can just wing it, my choices end up being worse than they would have been if I had deliberately planned out my meals.
So true for me too, Robin 🙂
Walking on an average of 5 to 6 miles a day weather permitting sure helped me to keep my KOPS status for 10+ years without going out of leeway. I take my 81 year old husband with me and everytime he sees a healthcare professional they all tell him how great he looks, and how healthy he is for his age. He replies to their comments by saying “I just follow the galloping goose” meaning me as her motto is “you have to move it or you will lose it.”
5 to 6 miles a day is awesome, Dianne. And thank you for sharing!
Thank you I need that! I am on the way to starting up again!!! I loved the thought of: Don’t demand perfection….. That me and I have to keep telling myself it okay just get back to it! Thanks for all you do!!!
Thanks for reading, Claudia!
I have set backs but I also have Crohn’s disease and that can set you back quickly. I am still going to restart and knowing that the holidays are close makes it worse.
The holidays can definitely be a challenge. Thanks for reading, Joetta!
Rejoined TOPS in July 2018. Love reading your blog. I will take note of this one ….
Judy Geley, Tillaonburg, Ontario CANADA
That’s so nice to hear, Judy! Thanks for the kind words 🙂
Thanks for your information to keep us “ON TRACK!”
Every bit (bite) of information reminds us that we have not totally lost our mission to “Take Off Pounds Sensibly.”
Another important thing I would add to this is remember to drink your water, and maybe depending your intake, up the amount of water to flush out extra sodium taken in by indulging. Otherwise, great advise, thank you.
I am on a special kidney diet and my biggest splurges aren’t so much calories and carbs, but sodium!! It’s so hard to keep my sodium under 1500 a day!! And don’t even get me started on the elusive potassium measurements lol lol lol I’ve been beating myself up pretty bad, so I joined TOPS to get a more positive outlook and figure out ways to eat better. I’m loving it so far!! This article really helped me feel less like a doofus for sure, and gave me hope! Thank you!!!
So glad to hear that you’re loving TOPS so far, Holli! Thanks for reading 🙂
I love this! I usually eat too much on holidays and special occasions. Thanks for sharing. Much needed advice.