From time to time you may experience a diet low or a diet plateau. That day when you just can’t resist the drive-thru or the chocolate, or the potato chips, or the ice cream…or…ok, you get the point. We all have a diet low every now and then, the trick is knowing how to pull yourself up and out of it. Here are some tips to keep you moving forward even when you are in a lull.

1) Remember the big picture. There are 30 days in a month (give or take). If you are not 100% on 1, or 2, or even 3 or 5 of them, you are still doing great being healthy 25 or more! That’s a pretty big achievement considering in your past, you were probably not eating really healthy on any of the days! So take your accomplishments, big and small, and celebrate them.

2) Work out. I know, it might be the last thing you want to do. But give yourself one hour at the gym, on the bike, walking, whatever. Just one hour of moderate exercise can change your entire mood. Don’t worry about if you are exercising “right” or “hard enough”.  Just get out and MOVE.

3) Tell someone. Tell your partner or your friend that you are struggling. Sometimes just getting it off your chest relieves some of the food pressure and gets you back on track. Or it will just bring a little more accountability into the mix which you might be needing.

4) Do over. Sometimes all you need is a fresh start. If you are having a diet low, consider your next meal your new start. Make a collage of why it’s important for you to reach your goals. Look at before and after pictures. Find that motivation again. Put pictures up of people who inspire you to be great. You know the saying “Fall down seven times, Stand up eight.”

Remember, you can do this. You want to be healthy and live life fabulously. Do not let a diet plateau get in the way of your lean body dreams!