Five Steps to Get Back on Track After the Holidays

Hey pretties! We’re several days into the new year and I’m sure that many of you good resolution-ers are already well on your way to being back on track.

I, for one, am not. 🙂

Our trip to Chicago ensured that I’d be getting a late start this year because, well, deep dish pizza and hot dogs! But no more excuses for me, it’s time to start my annual post-holiday kick in the pants to get refocused on healthier eating and working out.

Today I’m sharing my five-step plan that helps me get back on track. I actually don’t recommend tackling all of these steps in the same day. Ease into it – start with a goal to drink more water on day one, then layer in the other steps as you accomplish each.

Step One: Drink More Water

My first step to getting back on track is an easy one – drink up! Drinking more water makes me instantly feel healthier even if I don’t change anything else. The general recommendation is still eight 8 oz. cups of water daily though that varies depending on the individual and your activity. I try to make it easy on myself and refill my 16 oz. water bottle 4-5 times a day. If you need help keeping track of your water intake the My Fitness Pal app makes it easy. I also highly recommend this app if you’re working on a weight loss goal.

Tip: If you don’t like plain water, try flavored or get a fruit infuser water bottle to make it easy!

[Fruit Infuser Water Bottle – BPA Free]

Step Two: Do a Pantry Purge

One of the things that I struggle with after the holidays is staying away from sweets and junk food. The more I eat them, the more I want them. Since my willpower is pretty much non-existent, I do a pantry and fridge purge and get rid of ALL of it. Go through your cupboards, pantry, fridge and freezer (yes, ice cream counts!) and do the same.

Step Three: Stock Up on Good Stuff

Now that you got rid of the junk, it’s time to stock up on good stuff. Make your grocery list, then shop the perimeter of the store for fresh foods and produce. The aisles are full of the processed stuff so the less time you spend in there, the better!

Step Four: Meal Plan and Prep

It’s so much easier to stick to eating healthy when the prep work is already done. Take an afternoon to prepare meals and snacks for the week ahead. This can be anything from chopping vegetables to be ready for salads and your morning egg scramble to full-on meal preparation. The more you do in advance, the more convenient it will be to stay on track.

Some of my favorite websites for healthy recipes are www.skinnytaste.com and www.emilybites.com. You can also find some great recipe ideas in this Facebook post.

Step Five: Sweat it Out

Well, this one goes without saying but find an activity you love and then just do it! It can be anything that gets your heart rate up and that you don’t dread. My personal favorite workout is OrangeTheory, which I’ve sung praises about time and time again. I started two years ago and it’s been life changing for me. You can learn more at www.orangetheoryfitness.com.

Because this is a style blog, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite workout gear. This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get at this time of the year.

As a recovering yoga pants addict, trust me when I say that I’ve tried them all! Lululemon is still up there in the ranks but I keep coming back to one brand due to a few factors – value, durability and style.

That brand is Fabletics. I know, I know, it’s a membership program and yes, that was one of the things that initially dissuaded me from signing up. But in all honesty, I skip most months and only pay when I want a new outfit. It takes two seconds to skip and they send you a few e-mail reminders so you don’t forget.

The thing I love most about them is their workout clothes are actually “outfits” which appeals to the style blogger in me – and many of them are only $49.95. My daughter Aubrey and I both love them! Here we are in a few recent outfit purchases.