So now what? Here are some tips for getting up and back on track.
We ALL are addicts.
First recognize that you are an addict. That doesn’t mean you are weak or a bad person. Our society thrives on and encourages our addictions. Cooked foods are addictive, sugar is addictive, fat is addictive, TV is addictive. Breaking those additions takes hard work, and relapse prevention is necessary.
Journal, Journal, Journal!
Your journal is your best friend. If you use it consistently and record what you are doing and eating and feeling you will discover a great deal about yourself. You will notice trends. It will be invaluable as you are working on the other steps outlined here. For instructions on keeping a journal see here.
Make a clean break.
Go on a juice fast. Not just for a few days but for a few weeks. During this time you will be detoxing and ridding your system of what you have been bingeing on. You will also break the pattern of your addictions. While you are at it, turn off the TV, step back from Facebook, unplug from the “Matrix” as much as you can. During your fast journal, reflect, meditate, pray, and focus on setting your goals and commitments to yourself. You can find out more about fasting here.
Know your triggers.
Take time to figure out what your trouble spots are. What triggers your relapse? What situations, emotions, settings, people, etc tend to send you back to eating or doing the thing you are trying to avoid? Do you back slide at holiday gatherings? Head for the cookies when angry? Have a hard time passing by the drive through on the way home from work? What is it that sets you off? Make a list, write it down. Journal, journal, journal!
Plan for success.
Now that you know your triggers make a plan for dealing with them. Sometimes you can’t avoid them so you need to know how to work around them. Replace the addictive behavior with something else that is satisfying AND healthy. Bring delicious healthy alternatives to the holiday gatherings so you can indulge without self-destructing. Go to your journal when you are angry or take a walk or meditate instead. Bring a tasty snack to eat on the way home so you are not starving and tempted to stop at the drive thru. You MUST plan ahead. You won’t be able to come up with these alternatives on the spot. Know the problem and plan for what to do when it comes up.
Never give up!!
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Most of us do fall off the wagon. Get back up and start again. And again. Read and educate yourself about healthy lifestyles and why they are important. Our newly revamped Healthy Eating Success training can help. Find a group of other health conscious folks that will support you and understand your struggle. You are not a failure.
Now it’s your turn. Have you ever found yourself falling off the wagon? What do you do to get back on track?
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I’ve fallen off several times. It came to me that since I want to change I have to do it correctly and consistently. For any one I would encourage them to see the future, make a plan to get there, and always have encouragers and motivators (i.e. books, music, people, food for the soul..) available. Peace and divinity
This is what I tell folks all them time!
Before I became ill, I loved to eat chocolate. Now, I have managed to stay away from chocolate and sugars for over a year now. When I want something chocolate, I’ll warm some almond milk, stir in dark chocolate cocoa (which is high in antioxidants) and Stevia.
Sounds delicious Ani! I love chocolate too.