Surviving the Bounce Back

Written by Tiffany Boydston Friday, 13 January 2012 16:04

The holidays have come and gone and getting back in to your healthy lifestyle might be harder than you thought.  Ditching the sweet splurges and holiday treats is easier said than done.  Many of us find it hard to get back on track.  It can feel like a mental and physical setback that takes you back a full month.  But unless you parked at McDonalds and ate there all day then you're probably going to be able to undo what was done in no time.

One thing to remember is to always allow yourself to enjoy foods.  Get creative with your healthy dishes - this makes it harder to indulge.  It will curve your cravings for any foods that nutritionally will not benefit you in any way.  I know when I go out to have an occasional pizza or dessert I get upset -- upset knowing I could have made it better myself and with much fewer calories!

Your biggest obstacle is your mind.  You have to mentally tell yourself to get back on your clean eating staples.  Do NOT say DIET! This is a lifestyle and you choose to eat this way.  I love knowing that eating clean benefits my energy, stamina, and endurance.  What I put inside my body just makes it that much better on the outside.

Surviving the bounce back tips:

Be prepared: Prepare your meals in advance.  Have all of your meals set out for the week.  This helps you stay on track and always be ready.  This way you do not slip if you don't have your meals ready to go.  I’ve been known to be that girl in the middle of a meeting to bust out her food.  Nothing gets in my way of wanting the best for my body and health.

Write it down: Buy a journal.  Write down what your weight is and where you want to be.  When and if you slip and have an “off meal” write down how it made you feel and if it was worth it.  This will help remind you that it really wasn’t worth mentally beating yourself up over.

Set a goal: I would be nothing with out a goal.  I always love kicking my own butt to be better.  You are your number one competition.  Once you beat yourself - the win is more valuable than you could have ever imagined.  There is something about proving something to yourself that is so precious.  Knowing you are the one who did this and no one but YOU made it happen.

Get creative: Start making your meals fun!  Go to healthy recipe websites and get ideas.  One thing I love about clean meals is that you can pretty much turn anything you're craving into a healthy dish.  Just flip a few ingredients and your good to go.

Make Smarter Choices: Do not deprive yourself and become a hermit when switching back to your healthy way of life.  GO OUT!  Enjoy dinner with friends, just be sure to say hold the butter and sauce.  Grill, poach, steam are your best friends when dining out.  Season with salsa, balsamic vinegar, pepper, low sodium soy sauce and lemons.

Remember not to become a prisoner and just stick to plain and simple.  However, often times we get bored and that’s when we tend to overindulge.  Doing these few things have helped me stay on track and successfully at that.  Besides, who wants to have sleepovers on the stair master.   Eat clean and stay positive!  You have the power to achieve anything you set your mind to!

I'd love hear back from you on this topic!  I will be checking in on the FitnessRx for Women Facbook page as well as my own (Tiffany's Facebook Page ).  Feel free to post any questions and I welcome your suggestions for future topics.

TIffany Boydston is an IFBB Bikini Pro and qualified for the 2012 Bikini Olympia!  She’s also an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, Crossfit Certified Trainer, Tapout Personal Trainer, and certified nutrition specialist.  You can catch up with Tiffany on Facebook & twitter: @TiffanyBoydston

Tiffany Boydston can be contacted for appearances through www.fmg-fitnessmanagementgroup.com