Have you let your diet slide? Did you give in to temptation and gorge on Easter treats?

For many dieters, this is frustrating, demoralising, and all to often, causes successful dieters to give up. You might ask yourself, “What’s the use? Why continue my diet when I keep giving up?”

Once you have this thought, your motivation lags, and most likely, you stop dieting. If you’ve ever had this conversation with yourself you’ve come to the right place for some attitude adjustment.

First, recognise that few things in this world follow a straight line. The stock market doesn’t go straight up (or down), every day isn't the same. To see the whole picture, you have to stand back from day-to-day ups and down, and observe the larger trends that take place. The same is true for your weight.

Assuming that you persist, a year from now you may be able to look back and see a plateau that was followed by another period of weight loss. But this only happens if you persist.

There is a sliver lining

If you are thinking ‘What’s the use?’ you won’t persist and you will give up and regain the weight that you worked so hard to lose. Think about this plateau or little break from your plan positively. It’s a time for you and your friends and family to get used to you in a new body. Sometimes such a big physical change can be difficult for everyone involved. Plateaus allow you to adjust.

Given the will power you have shown to-date, you won’t stay stuck forever. There are plenty of ways, practical and psychological, to get over this physical block. Here are just a few of them…

7 ways to get back on track

  • Forgive yourself.

    You get angry with yourself for losing control and breaking your healthy eating patterns. Accept it. You are human and you are experiencing a normal aspect of the weight loss process. So forgive yourself and you will be able to get on with it.

  • Take time out.

    From a practical point of view you may have strayed off track, but what is the underlying reason? Are you bored? Are you stressed? Work on those areas first and watch yourself get right back on track.

  • Get physical.

    Take a new exercise class or run/walk a different route today. It will kick start your metabolism and make life a little more interesting.

  • Experiment.

    Try different low-fat recipes with fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Realise that eating healthy doesn’t mean boring foods. Choose a few new healthy recipes for your weekly menu.

  • Treat yourself

    Really spoil yourself, have a day at the spa, a manicure, buy a new book, go to an art museum, the theatre or to see a film, anything enjoyable that is not related to food.

  • Talk about it

    Tell someone about your diet block and what you are doing about it. Make sure that this person is understanding and compassionate. You are definitely not alone in your experience.

  • Think positively

    Focus on the weight that you have lost. You’ve done it before and you’ll do it again.