5 Tips for Getting Back on Track Following Summer Holidays
August 18, 2021
In the thirty years that MRC has been helping clients on their journeys to health, we have found that during the summer months, it can sometimes be difficult to stay on track towards your weight loss goals. With vacations, BBQs, and kids being home from school, there are so many opportunities for temptations to tip-toe in and possibly impede our success. Now that summer is coming to a close, we at MRC want to help support your focus of getting back to the basics by offering tips, tricks, and the supplementation that will help you get back on track with your health and weight loss goals.
1. Keep a Food Journal
Getting back into the habit of logging your food choices is one of the easiest ways to stay on track. First, you have to start by making a promise to yourself, that everything that passes through your lips, even the BLT’S (Bites, Licks, Tastes, and Sips), you will log on your journal. For example, if you have seven Lays potato chips, a bite of your spouse’s dessert, or a French fry off of your child’s plate, write it down! Remember that you aren't keeping track as a means of judging yourself. Rather, you are holding yourself accountable and better be able to determine what changes you need ot make to your diet in order to see the results you want!
Looking for a great journal? Check out our Success Planner!
2. Increase Your Water Intake
Drinking adequate amouns of water will help the body detox by flushing excess sugars, carbohydrates, sodium, and processed foods that we've been eating. Drinking enough water also helps promote feelings of fullness, lessening cravings. Read more about why water intake is so critical for your weight loss goals and how much you should be drinking for optimal results here.
3. Break Large Goals into Smaller Milestones
This program is about the process NOT perfection, and we believe in celebrating every step along the way on your journey to health. Sometimes when we only focus on the finish line, it can seem too distant causing our motivation to waiver. Instead of only looking at the big picutre, be sure to set smaller goals to give yourself things to celebrate along the journey. Some examples include: focusing on five pound increments on the scale instead of your total weight loss goal, trying one new recipe a week, increasing your walk around the neighborhood from one mile to two (or maybe just one extra street or house each time you walk), or even limiting yourself to one piece of pizza instead of two or three like you may normally consume! Bottom line: no goal is too small, and you get to determine what a "win" means to you!
4. Maximize your Protein Intake
When your body intakes protein, in order to break it down and absorb it for energy, your body seeks fuel from fat. MRC protein drinks are a great way to increase protein intake without adding a lot of extra calories. MRC protein drinks contain 15 grams of protein and little to no fats & carbohydrates. Most individuals following MRC programs consume 2-5 protein drinks a day with meals or inbetween meals as snacks.
5. Remind Yourself of Your "Why"
This one is key, and probably one of the most important. Motivation is key to weight loss, but it also can be one of the easiest things to lose. Take a moment and really think about what is going to be different once you reach your goal. What's the first thing you are looking forward to doing most once you get there? By establishing your reasoning for wanting to make these healthy changes and keeping it on the front of the brain, it will hep you to stay motivated and on track. Keep in mind that the "why" that you start with doesn't have to be the "why" that you finish with. It's good to reflect on your motivations and determine if they've shifted so that you can keep your eyes on the right prize as you continue on your journey to wellness.