[fatnflab2fitnfab]

I don't know what to do!!! This month has been awful. Both my paternal and maternal grandfathers died (just a week apart!), I got awfully sick for a week, me, my kids and my husband all got pink eye which made us miserable... things just really suck right now. I haven't counted points for an entire day since the day my second grandfather died on the 18th.

I want to get back on track SO BADLY but I can't seem to make it and I fall off the wagon sometime between lunch and dinner. I'm still really down, and this emotional eating isn't helping matters, but I just can't seem to stop.

How do you get back on track after a rut?

[Lovely]

First of all, I'm so very sorry about your loss. This is a difficult time still, and you've had a lot of stress. Don't add to it with tons of guilt about food.

So, take a deep breath.

There are times when we all fall off-track. But, what happens is that we make a decision to keep going, to keep making better choices regardless of what goes on in our lives. So up we get, and back on the train we go.

You don't have to dive headfirst back into where you were. You can start slow again. Drinking your water? Taking walks? Adding some vegetables to dinner?

I'm not sure what your schedule is like, but can you plan dinner a day ahead of time? If it's all set to go, or even prepared already, you'll have an easier time sticking to what you're doing.

For me, when I got off-track BIG TIME, I started off the day just dealing with points. I wasn't going to worry about what I ate so much right then. I just wanted to get the points back, and I did. For a week I just focused on the number of points, not water or veg or anything else. The next week, feeling better after getting my points back in order, I added all the other good stuff back into my plan.

Take time, very briefly, even just for 1 minute! to meditate or think about where you'd like to be 6 months from now, 1 year from now, 5 years from now. Think about how your actions now are going to affect that.

You CAN continue.

[kelijpa]

So sorry for your losses...

Don't be too hard on yourself, Faerie is right (as she so often is ), start with small steps, don't feel you have to do everything right all at once, little pieces of the puzzle will eventually come together as a whole.

I find that if I at least write everything down, even if I don't figure out the points or if I do figure the points and they're over, if I keep track of what I'm eating, I do better.

Keep track of your little victories, too, focus on how great it is that you're on track early in the day, maybe looking at that and what it is that makes you able to start off the day on track can help you get back on track later in the day.

There was a post from MiseryChick where she talked about writing 102 reasons to lose 102 pounds, to help herself get back on track, maybe if you started something like that for however much you want to lose it would help motivate also. There's such a variety of reasons, from feeling better, the way others look at you, how your clothes fit, where you have to shop, how you feel when you have to sit next to someone on a bus or plane.

You've got a great start, just keep healing and you'll get get there.

[Jane]

I, too, am so very sorry for your losses.

The others have given you some very good advice, and I have just one thing to add:

If not now, when???

It's almost Feb. 1st. Won't you be so glad on, say, July 1st that you got right back on program? Do it, and don't look back! We'll be here to help you when you need it, ok?

[Belly Buster]

Go back and read your blog. Remember the excitement that you had with the weight that you lost. Stop and remember why you started this journey to begin with. I am sure that your granddads wouldn't want you to stop taking care of yourself and give up on your goals. They would want you to continue to find sucess!!

Don't give up! You are worth it!

[fatnflab2fitnfab]

Thank you so much everyone.

I am starting off by watching what I eat little by little. I'm cutting back the junk food, limiting my salt intake, and bringing more veggies back into my diet. I haven't started recording what I eat yet or tracking points. I'm taking baby steps because if I try to do it all at once I'll get myself overwhelmed.

Thank you again everyone for your tips and condolences.

[Lizabeth2]

I too am sorry for your loss. I have had some big problems this past week also that caused me to use up all my extra (35) points by Saturday when I don't weigh in till Tuesday! The best thing I can do right now is keep coming here and getting inspiration and tips. I just ran for water because I realized I was down after reading here. I did pick up on my exercise a bit. I have those points to fall back on. I have short term goals for now like 10 lbs. more by St Patrick's Day. I lost 8 in two weeks. Hope the scale holds up on Tuesday.

[CHS_teacher]

Even without added stress like the death of a loved one, I think it's easy to fall into a rut this time of year. I'm really anxious to work in my yard and also do my walking outside. I always carry around a couple pounds of "winter weight" that go away once I can be out in the sunshine!

Susan

[EmmaNZ]

I've been in a rut for around 5 months now... and i've finally recommitted... you can do it hun!