- Admit where you went wrong. Take some time to think about what happened to throw you off track and what you might have done to prevent it, if possible.
- Stop kicking yourself. Guilt, when taken too far, can sometimes keep you from getting back to your healthy habits (e.g., I'm such a loser and I obviously can't stick with a program, so why bother?). Give yourself a time limit (say 20 minutes) for feeling guilty. When time's up, put it aside and move on.
- Figure out your weak areas. Now that you're trying to get back into exercise, you know how hard it is once you've gotten off track. Now is a good time to look back at common situations that tend to throw you off and notice any patterns. Do you ditch your workouts everytime you leave town or have to work late a few nights in a row? Becoming aware of your weak areas and planning for them can help you stay on track, which is your next step.
For more insight, these quizzes might help you figure out what's standing in your way:
