How to Regain Motivation to Lose Weight after a Slip-Up

Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows the sinking feeling you get when you cave in to a food temptation or indulge in emotional eating. Many dieters who have an "all or nothing" mindset are self-defeating and treat slip-ups like major failures. The solution to the problem is to think positively about minor lapses so that they don't derail your weight loss efforts.

Instructions

Slip, Fall, Recover

• 1

  Be realistic. Recognize that any war worth fighting will have its minor defeats. Remind yourself of challenges you've overcome in other areas, despite the setbacks. Tell yourself that an occasional fall is part of losing weight and that it will happen again. Resolve to get back on track as quickly as possible when it does happen.

• 2

  Change negative mental thinking to positive thinking. Examine the thoughts going through you mind. Filter out the negative language. Turn your guilt and frustration into a renewed effort to reach even higher goals.

• 3

  Do something right away to compensate for the extra calories. Go for a walk or run, do more a more intense workout or find creative ways to burn calories around the house. Run up and down the stairs or dance to music to bring your heart rate up. Balance "calories in" with "calories out."

• 4

  Get excited about your weight loss goal. Picture yourself shopping or at a wedding or class reunion at your ideal weight. Think of how confidant this would make you feel Check your calendar for an upcoming event. Use the date as a deadline for losing a certain amount of weight.

• 5

  Take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. Check out online motivational groups for support. Accept the fact that weight loss is difficult and that you'll fall off the wagon occasionally. Convince yourself that this isn't failure but just another step on the ladder to successful weight loss.