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Last week I woke up on the 4th in a crummy mood. I wasn't motivated to stick to plan, I didn't feel like exercising, and didn't take my vitamins. It has started out earlier in the week with bad weather. I couldn't get my daily walking in. I was away from my home so I couldn't lift weights. I was visiting my elderly parents and, although my mom is great about having things I can eat, she doesn't cook like me. On top of this TOM arrived so my hormones were loopy. I stopped drinking my water. Everything was falling apart for no reason--no traumatic event, no trigger food, no logical reason.
I knew I was slipping. This is how those big lapses start every time- a day here, then two, then the eating slips a little, and pretty soon you are totally off plan.
I was apathetic about stopping it. It lasted 3-4 days. But I did stop and I turned it around. And I thought about what I did to get back on target. Maybe it can help someone else, so here it is...
First, I ate more. I didn't go off plan, but I ate a lot of extra calories the next few days. Like 500 more a day. This was important because then I was too full to want carb laden stuff. It was calling to me, big time.
I didn't beat myself up about the water. I just didn't feel like drinking it, so I drank when I felt like it and drank more iced tea, decaf, and even diet soda (which I had been trying to stay away from) to keep fluids up.
I readjusted my goals. Instead of insisting I go back out for a 7 mile walk to make up for my lapse, I decided to walk two miles the other night, at a slow pace. Just to get out and do something again.
I looked up some new recipes to try. I started rereading THE BOOK again.
One of the biggest helps was to enlist a drill sargent. I knew I was screwing up. During a strong moment, I told my son that I knew I would blow off exercise that day so I needed him to make sure I got out and walked that night. If I hadn't had him reminding me of my commitment (and walking with me) I know I wouldn't have done it that night. We did five slow miles, but we did them.
I usually work out in the morning so I laid out my workout clothes before going to bed. I figured if I was dressed to exercise it put me halfway there.
When I got up the next day, I felt a little better but still not as strong willed as usual. It was a weights day, so I told myself I had to do at least one set of chest and back weights. I knew if I just got started I would follow through. I did. It was one of the best weight workouts I have had in weeks.
All of these things helped turn around an almost guaranteed derailment. I really, truly don't know why I suddenly lost my motivation and I really truly wasn't very committed to getting it back, but taking these baby steps to work through it helped. I am back, back on WOE, water, exercise, and most importantly, my head is back in the game.
One last note. I was smart enough not to weigh in last week and will not do so this week either. Seems like a dumb idea to make myself more frustrated by seeing a gain. I will just wait awhile and go by the feel of the clothes.
Hope this helps someone else.
I knew I was slipping. This is how those big lapses start every time- a day here, then two, then the eating slips a little, and pretty soon you are totally off plan.
I was apathetic about stopping it. It lasted 3-4 days. But I did stop and I turned it around. And I thought about what I did to get back on target. Maybe it can help someone else, so here it is...
First, I ate more. I didn't go off plan, but I ate a lot of extra calories the next few days. Like 500 more a day. This was important because then I was too full to want carb laden stuff. It was calling to me, big time.
I didn't beat myself up about the water. I just didn't feel like drinking it, so I drank when I felt like it and drank more iced tea, decaf, and even diet soda (which I had been trying to stay away from) to keep fluids up.
I readjusted my goals. Instead of insisting I go back out for a 7 mile walk to make up for my lapse, I decided to walk two miles the other night, at a slow pace. Just to get out and do something again.
I looked up some new recipes to try. I started rereading THE BOOK again.
One of the biggest helps was to enlist a drill sargent. I knew I was screwing up. During a strong moment, I told my son that I knew I would blow off exercise that day so I needed him to make sure I got out and walked that night. If I hadn't had him reminding me of my commitment (and walking with me) I know I wouldn't have done it that night. We did five slow miles, but we did them.
I usually work out in the morning so I laid out my workout clothes before going to bed. I figured if I was dressed to exercise it put me halfway there.
When I got up the next day, I felt a little better but still not as strong willed as usual. It was a weights day, so I told myself I had to do at least one set of chest and back weights. I knew if I just got started I would follow through. I did. It was one of the best weight workouts I have had in weeks.
All of these things helped turn around an almost guaranteed derailment. I really, truly don't know why I suddenly lost my motivation and I really truly wasn't very committed to getting it back, but taking these baby steps to work through it helped. I am back, back on WOE, water, exercise, and most importantly, my head is back in the game.
One last note. I was smart enough not to weigh in last week and will not do so this week either. Seems like a dumb idea to make myself more frustrated by seeing a gain. I will just wait awhile and go by the feel of the clothes.
Hope this helps someone else.
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