What are your strategies to keep on track?

In the past, I would do great with a high protein, low carbohydrate program until things just went crazy busy and stressful. This time around, I have found great tools to help me keep on track that keep it simple enough to stay on track. Here are some things that help me keep on track now: 1) Have and use plenty of protein powder for protein shakes twice daily. 2) Have and use plenty of fiber to add to the daily shakes. 3) Buy huge 2x daily vitamin pack reminders for 7 days and fill them up in advance 4) Buy and have on hand acceptable snack foods for times when I am stuck out with no good food choices (nuts, high protein bars with low carbs, carrots, etc.) 5) Buy only items for our pantry and refrigerator that are good choices to eat (The boys complain-but they need to eat more healthy, too!) 6) Have and use a book that tells me the protein, carbohydrate, and fat content of foods. Anyhow, I thought we could maybe compile a list of strategies that can help all of us.

Good post, Loretta! Yup yup yup, all food plans wor****il we don't work it any longer! And my pattern, like yours, seemed to go off track due to life stuff, then somehow, i never got back on. I need a vitamin packer like you!  That would help me be better. For now, I do stick vitamins at work in my desk, in my car, in my suticase.  I have been saved several times by having a eureka moment finding that I DO have some with me when I packed too fast, or left the house early or????? Let's see... 1.  Buy mags like SHAPE and Prevention and read them and trade them with peeps at work. 2.  Read the Secret most nights to help me deeply believe I CAN change forever. 3.  Read Science of Mind books and magazines to also make sure I remember that i need to only keep the intention of being a healthy weight alive and well, and the Universe will open doors in my life to make it happen.  4.  Make sure I too have foods on hand and with me so there are no excuses to be "stuck" eating foods that will not help me reach my goals. Again, I disperse between my two desks, home, car, suitcase, backpack, bike bag. 5.  Make plans for daily exercise and then do them, even to a lesser degree, but the habit is sacred. So many times i fear people think if they did not do a whole hour and sweat their brains out, they did "nothing".  6.  When i do go off my plan for one meal, I keep it at ONE meal...next snack get right back on plan. I do not thin it's okay to go off for one whole day. All the little things I pass up DO count!

I just bought some of the 7 day (two doses daily) packs at the Dollar Tree  this past week.  They hold all of my vitamins with room to spare.  If I already have it preloaded, then it is easy to just take them with water and keep going. I am researching vitamins that help with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.  I am taking vitamins already.  But I plan to adjust everything once I settle on the results of my research.  I feel better already with just taking the vitamins faithfully. It all takes baby steps and developing those habits.

My big thing is journaling. When I journal, I can visually see what I eat and drink and how much I exercise each day and then I can adjust my next day or meal accordingly. It keeps me accountable.  I also have to make sure that there are healthy foods in the fridge. I was amazed when my fridge went out at how much my habits had changed. I used to never go to the fridge for food and now I never go to the cabinet. There has to be good food in my fridge and alot of them have to be quick fixes like nuts, cottage cheese and yogurt because outside of supper, I hate to cook especially if it is just for me plus it makes snacking on good things alot easier.  Exercise...JUST DO IT. I really have to just set my mind on knowing that if I think about it then I should be doing it...no questions asked. I also like to challenge myself now and again to keep it interesting. Noticing and accepting...I take notice of the changes that are coming about due to my weight loss like climbing stairs easier, smaller clothes, better eating habits, etc. I have to learn to accept compliments and accept them as truth and not just niceties. These things keeps my encouraged and motivated.  I think the small things keep me going because they are easy. If it gets complicated, it takes too much effort and leads me to giving up. Beth

You have great strategies.  Congratulations on your accomplishments.  You are so right to remember the everyday things to celebrate. I agree that having the healthy quick foods ready help set us up for more success.  I also agree that keeping it simple helps. My sons are complaining about their favorite foods disappearing around the house.  But we have plenty of healthy alternatives available for them.

Does standing in front of the mirror screaming at yourself count as a strategy??? 1)  For me tracking my food has to definitely be the best strategy for me.   2)  Remembering where I came from 3)  Realizing there isn't much in life that I can control, except for ME!!! 4)  Understanding what my triggers are, wondring how I can control them. 5)  Being constantly conscious of how food affects my moods. for me I've figured out the WHAT'S of weight loss, just haven't figured out the WHY'S.  That is what makes me the most upset, getting rid of those behaviors that made me over 350 pounds and wondering why they aren't completely gone yet? arrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh Thanks for the post, Loretta