Hopefully, you were able to get through Thanksgiving while continuing to follow your medical weight loss plan. But even if you slipped up a bit, that’s no reason to give up until January! Avoid the slow slide into a month-long binge, and get yourself back on track now. You’ll thank yourself in January.

Step One: Forgive yourself. No one will follow an eating plan perfectly all the time. If you “cheated” a bit on Thanksgiving, there’s no point in worrying about it now. What’s done is done. The best thing you can do is acknowledge the fact that you’re human, don’t beat yourself up over it, and resolve to move forward.

Step Two: Get moving. Let’s be clear about one thing: Exercise should never be viewed as a punishment for eating! But the reality is that you do need to get moving, and burn some calories. A good exercise session can also feel motivating and make you want to stick to your medical weight loss plan in the future. So lace up your shoes and go for a walk, or check the exercise class schedule at your favorite gym. Remember to choose a form of exercise you enjoy.

Step Three: Exercise safely. If you took off a whole week from exercise, remember not to push yourself to extremes. Warm up and stretch appropriately, both before and after exercise, so that you don’t risk an injury.

Step Four: Set a goal. Thanksgiving can so easily blur into a month of holiday parties, if we allow it. You’ll stay motivated if you set an actual goal that you want to accomplish this month. And remember, it doesn’t have to be a weight loss goal. Accomplishments like shaving time off your daily jog or adding a mile to your walk can be much more motivating than a number on the scale.

And of course, call us for an appointment if you’re struggling with motivation. We can offer you personal assistance so that you stick to your medical weight loss plan and accomplish your goals.