I just came back from vacation and I stepped on the scale this morning. Ugh! I gained five pounds! I know, 5 pounds isn’t a lot. However,  since I’d been working to lose weight for eight months and had lost 25 pounds and struggling with the last 20 I needed to lose, five pounds feels like a lot. It’s depressing and frustrating and so tempting to just throw in the towel and give up.

But that’s the wrong move. It’s the absolute worst thing to do. First of all, it leads to more depression and that’s something I certainly don’t need. Secondly, it leads to bad habits and weight gain. The weight gain leads to depression. I already said I don’t need that, so getting back into the groove is the best alternative for me. What groove? The healthy living groove, of course.

So, here are a few things I’ve learned about me and healthy living:

1. Be sure to drink plenty of water. I use the rule of thumb to drink half your weight in ounces of water. Not soda, not coffee, not tea, but good clean water. Water is good for the body, and it helps you feel fuller. So drinking water helps you lose weight because you don’t feel hungry. Sometimes I start a meal with a glass of water. It fills my belly so I don’t eat as much.
2. Don’t buy junk food. Yes, you probably crave snacks throughout the day, but maybe try fruit instead. Having junk food and especially sugar products in your house, makes it difficult to pass up the food you should not be eating if you want to lose weight. I’ve discovered for me, that sugar products (cookies, cakes, chocolate, candy — oh, yummmmmy) are terribly addictive. When I detox from sweets, I feel better and crave them less.
3. Avoid the whites. White bread, white pasta, white potatoes, white rice, sugar… These just aren’t the best choices for weight loss. If you want bread, eat a whole grain. If you want rice, eat brown rice. Find alternatives that are lower in calories and carbs. Or just eliminate them altogether.
4. Get consistent about your sleep schedule. Sounds weird, but it’s true. If you consistently go to bed at the same time and wake at the same time, you will begin to feel better. It’s a great way to start a positive routine. From there you can add in positive routines (making your bed, journaling, early morning walk, etc.). Set your alarm and don’t snooze it. Be as consistent as you can.
5. Don’t beat yourself up. Yes, you will slip up and eat something you know isn’t as good for you, but that’s okay. And truly, life is about experiences. Sometimes you just really need that chocolate cake to celebrate your birthday! No worries. Eat the piece of cake, but maybe don’t eat the entire cake. One piece celebrates, the whole cake is a bit much. Celebrate without over doing it.
6. Tomorrow is a new day. Be positive and remember that you’ve done your best today. Tomorrow is a new day and you can go to be with positive goals in mind for tomorrow. No guilt for today, just positive changes in mind for tomorrow.

There are so many more ideas for healthy habits after vacation, but these are the ones I’m starting with today. I’ve got my tumbler of water – 32 ounces, to be exact. I know I need to drink several of these to meet my quota, so I’ll be visiting the fridge for my second tumbler before noon. Then back to the refilled first one before dinner this evening. It’s all good and I’ll be down a pound by the end of the week. Slow and steady, you know.

What are you healthy habits that help you detox from a vacation? I’d love to hear about them. Maybe some of yours can help me take this to the next level.