How To Get Back On Your Diet Plan

This past year I have put a stone on, mostly in lockdown. Now this may sound OK to you, but last year I lost just over 3 stones by following the Cambridge 1:1 plan, and if I had done it properly I should really have been at my goal. I’m messing around. Life has got in the way. But here’s how to get back on your diet plan when you have been straying off track.

How To Get Back On Your Diet Plan

Draw A Line Under It

Firstly, you need to draw a line under the fact that it hasn’t been going well. The temptation once you start straying is to go totally off track. And then, once you think you have blown the diet, you start making excuses. Like “I will start next Monday”.

Well don’t. Start now.

For me, life has properly got in the way. Lockdown didn’t help. But I slipped back into my old comfortable habits, and the pounds slowly crept back up. Time to make a stand and do something about it.

Stop Beating Yourself Up

 I am pretty annoyed with myself.

But, instead of beating myself up, I am drawing a line under the last year and treating it as a new start.

It isn’t unusual for somebody to start slipping after a few weeks of being on a diet or exercise plan. In fact, this is pretty much the norm. There is even an ancient Sanskrit word – “Arambhashura” which means “hero at the beginning – loser at the end”. When people start a new project or goal they tend to follow it to the letter at first. But then after a few weeks (or just days in some cases) the motivation goes and the goals fade. When the going gets tough, don’t get gone.

It’s hard to maintain the same intensity of focus that you had at the start. So try to maintain consistency instead. Try and get into good habits, and stick with them!

Start Afresh – As If You Were Just Starting

I am starting this diet afresh. From first principles. Get out your diet books and start again. Weigh and measure if that is an important part of your plan. We all know how easy it is to get a bit complacent and start slipping in a few extras, or not measuring our portions.

In fact, the whole thing about portion size has always been my particular downfall, which is why I have taken a step back from food. But what I have been doing is picking at my little ones leftovers. And that is just not part of my plan. I need to remember why I started this plan in the first place.

Remember How Far You Have Come

Make a mental note of how far you have got so far. If you have lost some weight, I am sure you do not want to go back to the size you one were.

Get out some of your old clothes or photos. Remind yourself of why you started in the first place. I am sure that you don’t want to go back there!

I’ve got myself a wall tracker for showing how far I have come.

Get yours here.

And Get Some Inspiration For Where You Are Going

For me, my major inspiration is getting back into my ‘slim wardrobe’ – all the clothes that I could wear 5 years ago when I was slimmer. I have some amazing clothes, and every so often on my Instagram account I share some of the clothes that I aspire to get into. If you go to the hashtag #motivationaloutfit on instagram you will find my wardrobe goals. Plus, I am keeping myself accountable by announcing publicly how I am doing.

I also really want to make myself some more lovely clothes. As you may know, I do sew outfits for myself too. But I would rather be making myself size 14s than size 18-20s! See my lovely jumpsuit make here. Luckily it still fits!

Have you any clothes you’d love to get into? Why not tag them in the #motivationaloutfit tag. Or hang up the clothes for you to see every day.

Once I get closer, I shall start trying these clothes on, to give me the extra push to get me to my goal. Consistency is key.

Treat Yourself Like A Friend

Would you have the same conversation with a friend that you have in your head? Would you berate your best friend like you berate your own self?

I doubt it. So it is time to start being your own best friend and give yourself the self care that you deserve.

Give your body that healthy food that it deserves. And don’t think of it as depriving yourself of the bad foods, remember that these foods are not good for you, so why are you punishing yourself with them?

Get some healthy sleep. Sleep is so the most important thing for me – do you put on weight if you don’t get enough? So do I – find out why.

I hope that I have given you some great tips for getting back on track. We can do this! Here’s to us all becoming the very best versions of ourselves. Here are some more ideas about diets and how to stick to it in tough times.

Why not pin this post for later?

*Post originally published 19th June 2019 – updated June 27th 2020