Fall off the wagon? Top 3 ways to get back on!

If you've ever been on a diet then you've experienced "falling off the wagon" at least a time or two. Falling isn't the problem; it's not getting back up and going again that keeps you on the ground. Here are some simple and quick ways to get back up and get going again:

 

1. 
   Food = Entertainment = Food. One of the most profound reasons we eat is for entertainment. We usually don't eat just because we're hungry, but we almost always eat when we're bored, out having fun or being entertained. Learning to recognize when you're eating (is it three meals a day or sporadically eating when you want to?); how you're eating (munching out or eating healthy) and why you're eating (social eating versus planned eating) is key in recognizing your core problem behind your eating habits.
   
2. Blind-eye eating. If you were raised to "eat everything on your plate" then you probably are guilty of "blind-eye-eating" habits (just eat everything on your plate regardless of what's on there). For many of us this rule applies: A plate of food equals eat everything on the plate. Unless the plate has an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats (and even then you need to control your appetite/serving size) then it's probably a plate made for disaster and not benefit. Never eat with a "blind-eye" but with an intentional view of what you're eating and why.
   
3. Food abuse. Food is a drug and food is fuel. Both can be good for you and both (if not used properly) can sabotage your health and welfare. We abuse food when we use it for anything other than what it was intended to be used for (drug = health/wellness; fuel = energy). Once you recognize and accept responsibility for how you use food then you will stop falling off the wagon and remain steadfast in your effort to overcome the temptation of poor choices.
   

 

If you've "fallen off the wagon" just get back on. Too many times we say "I'll be better tomorrow" when right now is the best time. Bad habits and abuse don't happen overnight; they build over time. There's simply no better time than right now to stop and turn your wagon around in the right direction than right now!

 

Quick tip for wellness: Practice "wellness" one meal at a time.