For most people, Valentine’s Day isn’t a day of love, but a day stuffing our faces with candy and chocolates. Like most other holidays in America, this one gives us a great excuse to stray from our diet. I mean, who doesn’t want a giant Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup??
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s totally okay to enjoy yourself on holiday, in fact… I highly suggest it! No one ever got anywhere by completely restricting themselves of certain foods (unless it’s done because of a food allergy or you are prepping for a fitness/bodybuilding competition). With that being said, let’s talk about the impact the holidays have on our diet plans and our mental state.
I find that for certain clients, these types of “cheat meals” are exactly what they need to kick start their diet plan. I am a firm believer that every once in a while, it’s ok to surprise your metabolism by adding in some extra treats! Then there are other clients that I watch closely in regard to eating on the holidays because it’s not uncommon for certain people to experience what I like to call, “post-holiday guilt”. This post-holiday guilt can send someone into a downward spiral which can, in turn, hurt them beyond that day of not-so-great eating.
When we do something wrong, it’s in our nature to try and fix it. So what do you do when you have a bad day of eating? Workout an extra two hours on top of your normal workout routine? Limit your foods drastically the next day/week? Absolutely NOT. I feel that it’s important to realize that your diet isn’t always going to be 100%, and that’s ok!
Here are my top tips on what to do when you fail, because failure is OK as long as you deal with it in a productive way.
- Accept the fact that you messed up.
Again, failure is a part of life and it’s ok. I find that when we try new things, we fail at first… but imagine if you never took that leap of faith?
2. Don’t give up.
Just because you make a mistake doesn’t mean that it defines you. One small bump in the road doesn’t mean you have to turn around and go back to where you started. Pass over the bump, and proceed. Imagine if we let our mistakes hold us back in other aspects in our life. Would you quit your job because you didn’t get a sale on any of your appointments that day? Of course not.
3. Use failure as motivation.
Going back to the sales job analogy. So you didn’t get any sales today. My advice? Use tomorrow as an opportunity to get in front of as many people as possible and do your thing! Even if you don’t get the sale tomorrow, you made sure you did everything in your power to get there. At the end of the day, these small victories can make a world of a difference. Apply this to your diet. Show yourself how strong you are.
I find that these tips of what you should do when you fail can apply to everything. So why are we so hard on ourselves when it comes to failing on our diets? I’m a firm believer that consistency is key and that it’s ok that you’re not 100% 24/7, 365 days a year.
Imagine how boring we would be if we were perfect. Next time you feel guilty or fail in your diet, remember these things. At the end of the day, the show must go on!
