Health has been a passion of mine for many years.  Over the years, I have met countless women who have a real desire to change, but they just can’t seem to stay on track.  This is largely in part to the epidemic of self-sabotage!  Often times I see people revert to old behaviors for a day or two, or maybe even a week and they just throw their hands in the air and give up!  Instead of allowing those mess-ups to dictate our future, here are some practical ways to get yourself back on track. 

• Drink Water: Many of us are not drinking our recommended water intake!  Many times, our bodies will actually confuse thirst for hunger!  Make sure that you are keeping well hydrated to keep yourself from feeling deprived or reaching for that afternoon snack.  Water will also help eliminate the body of any added bloating.  A way to make sure you are getting your daily water intake is to divide your body weight in half and drink that number in ounces.  For example, if you weight 140 pounds, you want to consume at least 70 ounces of water each day.
• Make a Plan: It’s easy to revert back to old behaviors when we don’t have a plan. For many of you, the journey of health may be new and going into it without a plan would be like going on a road trip without a map!  It will cause a lot of unnecessary wrong turns and frustrations.  I encourage you to find someone who can help guide you whether it’s a personal trainer, a health coach, or even a friend who has walked this journey before.  Having someone mentor you will not only help bring you clarity, but will also leave you feeling empowered!
• Community: I’ve come to realize that community is powerful! Being surrounded by people you know and love is a gift that we should never take for granted.  There’s an old African Proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”  In order to be successful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it’s so important that we bring people into our journey.  It’s important to make sure that they have your same value for health so that they are able to help encourage you when you feel weak.
• Give Grace: This is by far the hardest for most people because we tend to be so hard on ourselves. Shaming ourselves into good behavior is not self-love.  I encourage you to take time to reflect on what may have lead to you falling off the wagon.  Where you feeling overwhelmed and needed comfort?  Did someone say something that may have led you to question your own self-worth? Whatever it could have been, give yourself grace to move forward.

I cannot stress enough that the road to health is a journey.   I want to encourage you to not give up on your commitment to health after a mistake or two.  Drink your water, make a plan, find your people, and give yourself grace.  You are worth it.