You assured yourself that it was just one dinner with your mates, but then you’re shocked to realize that it’s been 3 weeks and you haven’t eaten anything that you think is healthy. It was easier to go for a slice of cake from the nearest cafe in the morning, and your colleagues ordered Chinese takeout for lunch, and instantly the days just managed to get away from you.

Whatever the reason may be, the reality is that you, like many others, fell off your diet (or perhaps even remained distant from it for a couple of days or weeks). It ultimately happens to all of us, experts believe. However, not letting it drag you down and getting straight back into your balanced food routine is the important thing.

Life happens, but it’s perfectly safe to step away from our good habits. The crucial thing is to be inspired and have the resources to get everything back on the right path because despite a slight detour, you have the potential to achieve your objectives.

Despite common opinion, a vital aspect of leading a good life is partaking in tasty food. Never letting yourself have something crave-worthy that provides approximately zero dietary advantage is simply unrealistic and unnecessary, because we all have that one guilty pleasure that tastes so amazing, it fulfills our soul. The biggest issue, however, is overdoing it – even though it’s not necessarily about harmful foods. While overeating is often natural and will in no way destroy your balanced lifestyle aspirations, there may still be a lingering sense of remorse. You might feel bloated and slow.

Here are some ways to get back in the game and make sure your diet starts out on the right track.

1. Have a fresh start

A new morning means a fresh start. Eat a healthy meal like a poached egg with a serving of plain, non-fat yogurt paired with berries and sunflower seeds to launch your post-holiday diet with a fresh and new beginning.  Continue the day with nutritious snacks and meals; often times, three main courses and two snacks are enough for most people. Each following day becomes smoother if you can get past the first day of healthier eating.

2. Track your improvement

A great way to keep yourself conscious of and accountable for your practices is to monitor your diet and exercise. If you notice yourself a few thousand steps short (most detectors strive for 10,000 steps), take some loops around the city or stroll with a friend at the nearby track meet. If you find out that you’ve been consuming too many high-calorie meals, figure out where they come from and curb them whenever possible.

3. Don’t forget to congratulate your self

Everybody’s got their own “cheat day,” and when faced with many choices, it’s a normal byproduct of wanting to eat well. Pat yourselves on the back when you decide to eat grilled food over fried food. Compliment yourself if you pick a slice of fruit rather than something from the corner store. It is worthy of celebration – any healthy decision you make, big or small, should be met with personal congratulation.

4. Treat yourself every now and then

Nothing’s as bad as rejecting social plans for a dinner or event because you care so much about regulating your diet.  It’s already tough to eat good, so there’s no point in making it worse by convincing yourself into feeling guilty about a tiny exception, as long as you make up for it right away.

5. See the bigger picture

Understand that, through time, losing weight entails a reduction in carbohydrates, but essentially, the precise time span doesn’t matter. So, plan a week or a month at a time in advance for your food consumption rather than doing so on a daily basis. Most likely, you’ll have ups and downs, but it’s not that much of a deal to mess up every now and then. You always have the power to make up for it immediately.

6. Get motivated

An indication that your confidence has drifted off course is to go off your eating regimen. Ask yourself this: how did pursuing your plan make you feel? What inspired you? Recreating those emotions will enable you to get your motivation back. When it seems like you’ve lost track of the goal, always remember why you started in the first place.