I'm sure everyone will agree, that it doesn't matter what method you are using to try and lose weight, there will come a time when you 'fall off the wagon'. But what does that mean to you? Everyone's journey is different so everyone's answers will be poles apart! Is it one 'bad' meal? Is it a week of 'bad' eating? Not as many sessions at the gym as you would like? It doesn't matter what it actually is, the best thing is to take action straight away and make some changes!
I have times like I'm sure everyone else does where I haven't eaten as well as I would like or exercised like I had planned, but that doesn't have to mean the sky is falling and I can't recover. What we all need to do at these times is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and make the very next decision the best it can be for you to continue on your journey in a positive and nurturing way. It's also a good idea to think back to what was happening before you 'fell off the wagon'. You'll probably find there will be a reason that caused you to make the decision to miss that session or eat that block of chocolate!
As I mentioned before, everyone's journey is unique so we can't all measure ourselves in the same way. This is particularly true in the case of what the numbers are on the scale and what our 'ideal' BMI is. I didn't used to weigh myself as much as I do now and sometimes what the numbers on the scale tell me, make me want to head straight for the fridge, so I've stopped weighing myself as much! I have been doing more exercise lately and my clothes are still continuing to get looser so I like to use other methods than just the scales to help keep the madness at bay! However, some people are very motivated by numbers on the scale! Another thing I used to do was 'wait until Monday'...there are so many of us that are overweight that do just that! I'll start exercising next Monday, I'll start eating better next Monday?! Life's too short waiting for all those Monday's to come, so now I tell myself that it doesn't matter what time or day it is, just do it!!! If you have a meal that is not on your plan, make sure that the very next one is. If you didn't end up doing the exercise you planned, commit to doing it tomorrow.
Here are some tips on how to get back on board and make some positive changes:
* The first key to changing any behaviour is to become aware of the negative behaviour that is occurring. You might think your behaviours are uncontrollable, but there are always triggers that sets them off. Make sure you are constantly asking what you see/hear/fell and tell yourself.
* Once you are aware of the negative behaviour, then you can go about starting to change it. You need to think about replacing a negative behaviour with a positive one, otherwise you may go back to your old ways. What positive and nurturing changes will you make?
* Now that you are aware and you have started to change your behaviour, you need to practice, practice, practice! It's quite possible that you've been doing the old behaviour for years so it's important to keep practising so you develop new, positive, nurturing behaviours to replace the old ones.
* One of the key ingredients to be successful in anything you do in life, no matter what, is to have persistence. Do you give up when the going gets a bit tough or do you keep turning up and change what needs to be changed in order to be successful? It doesn't matter whatever the lapse is that you may have had, it's the very next step you take that is important. There is always room for improvement and there is always a way to persist!
* A big part of your Lap Band journey is taking responsibility. Do you believe that things are happening TO you or that YOU are making them happen? As we all know, the Gastric Band is only a tool to assist us, ultimately every decision we make is our own. Be careful not to confuse taking responsibility and blaming yourself. You don't want to end up being nasty to yourself!
The important thing with anything in life is to keep turning up, keep persisting and keep try to continually improve. If we persis 00004000 t, persist, persist, we'll arrive at our destination!
