How to Get Back on Track After Slipping Up

So, you fell off the fitness wagon. You slipped up. Perhaps you went a whole week without working out because of work stress, you decided to eat ice cream every day, or it was the holidays, and now you don’t know what to do.

For many people, it’s hard to get back on track, especially if you feel guilty for jumping off the fitness train in the first place.

We’re here to tell you that it’s okay. Sure, it’s frustrating, but it happens to nearly everyone at one time or another. It doesn’t mean you’re doomed, and it doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t start again.

All is not lost. A temporary lapse doesn’t mean you’ve undone all your hard work.

In this article, we look at how to get back on track after slipping up.

Learn from Your Slip Up

What made you decide to skip exercising for a week?

You want to learn from the experience, so you don’t let the same thing derail you again in the future. For example, did you find yourself in a busy week, and you were just too tired at the end of the day to work out?

As you learn from the experience, you might uncover that exercising in the morning is better for you. This works well for people who are tired at the end of the day or have evening commitments. You also might uncover that working out over your lunch hour or at night is better.

Bottom line – find what works for you and with your schedule to make sure you can pencil it in.

Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

Just because you ate too much the day before or skipped working out for a week, doesn’t mean you should punish yourself when you return. This only sets you up for problems.

Instead, work with your personal trainer and come up with a plan to work back into your schedule. Modify your times if needed but create a plan for getting back on track that’s manageable.

In addition, ask yourself what led to your lapse. Go back over the week where it started and identify the chain of actions that caused it. Once you uncover this, you are ready to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

If you can identify the trigger, you can get rid of the roadblocks to your success. It isn’t a character flaw, but it is a chance for newfound motivation.

Find Your Motivation

For many of us, falling off the fitness wagon happens because of a lack of motivation.

Something motivated you originally, so you want to dig deep to remember what motivated you in the first place. Or, perhaps what once motivated you no longer does. Then, it’s time to find some new motivation.

Your personal trainer can help you work through this and find those motivational feelings, providing you the incentive to get back on track.

Don’t Deprive Yourself

If your healthy eating habits have tapered off, it’s time to rethink the way your eating. Does this mean you have to restrict everything you eat?

That isn’t always the best idea. If you cut out all your favorite foods, you might trigger feelings of deprivation. This leads to binge eating which isn’t a good plan.

You can choose healthy options such as cutting portion size. For example, if you love ice cream, try a low-fat variety, or try having one-fourth a cup instead of a whole bowl.

Find an Accountability Partner

It helps if you’re accountable to someone. This might be your personal trainer or a friend or family member who is on board with your goals.

This person should be someone who encourages you and supports you as you get back on track after slipping up.

Final Thoughts

You can get back on track whether it’s with your healthy eating goals, fitness plan or both.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, because most of us have been there.

The best thing you can do is put it one foot in front of the other and take one step at a time.

You can do it. The gym is ready when you are.

At Apex Personal Trainers, we are dedicated to your success. We are here to help you get back on track and meet your fitness goals. Take the first step today – we know you’ll be glad you did!

Photo by Ayo Ogunseinde on Unsplash.