You've overeaten, now what?

Family gatherings and social events are some of the hardest times to stay on track with your diet. We've all been there. All things cheesy, creamy, crunchy, smothered, etc WILL BE AT YOUR GATHERING. How do you deal? You need to enjoy yourself and indulge in your favorite pastimes - within moderation. It's so easy to go overboard because these goodies are usually filled with sugar which leaves your tastebuds wanting more even after you are full. Below are some tips on how to deal!

Tips:

• Don't feel bad or discouraged! It's in the past, the damage has been done - move on. I mean, you did enjoy it right?
• Don't weigh yourself. You are aware you fell off track, and it's time to see the damage right? No! All those 'bad' food choices have SO MUCH sodium in them that your body may not be used to. You may step on the scale and be 5lbs more than you were yesterday. This is absoutely impossible. You would have had to eat 17,500 calories OVER your maintence (usually roughly 2200) to really gain 5lbs. The weight you are holding is mostly water, give your body some time to equal out.
• Don't starve yourself. Some may feel the only way to reverse the damage is to not eat. This could be more harmful. Just get back on track with your diet, eating the way you normally would to reach your goal. One bad meal won't derail you, just keep moving forward.
• Use it for fuel. All of the carbs and fats are all energy sources - use them up! Get active and make something positive out of what you feel is negative. I have GREAT lifts after indulging on some naughty food.
• Document your feelings. This may sound weird, but try it. Owning up to what you've done might be just what you need to avoid it next time. Next time you are faced with the opportunity again, you can look back and make better choices. Did it not agree with you well, did you get sick to your stomach, did you continue eating bad for days, etc? Making better choices start with you.

 

Hopefully you find these tips helpful, as I've learned them throughout my journey. Overeating happens, but how you deal with it is up to you. Don't wait for tomorrow, or next week to get back on track - start with the very next meal! What tips do you use to combat overeating?