I was doing so well until that last Christmas party. My best friend brought buckeyes. I love them and ate way too many. Then it snowed and I could not go for my walks. I feel like I'm on the verge of giving up. Help!

As you progress through your weight management phase, you will occasionally experience tough times when you eat something you did not plan for or miss exercising. Slips are not just normal, but expected. Successful weight managers do not let one day of missed exercise or one extra helping of sweets undo their efforts. If they go over board, they pick themselves up and start over again at the next meal.

Remember: the difference between a "lapse" – making a poor food or activity choice, "relapse" – continuing with the poor choices or lack of activities, and "collapse" – no long being involves in any weight management strategies.How you label the event will strongly determine how you behave at the next meal or the next time you plan to exercise.

For additional resources on handling slips refer to one of the following books. Reading material that supports your return to behaviors you want to practice is a good technique to employ when you are struggling. You may want to keep one or more of these books on hand when you need a boost back to your weight management strategies.

Thin For Life
by Anne Flectcher

Food Addiction II: A practical guide to Recovery
by Kay Sheppard

Also check out the module Planning Ahead for ways to prevent a slip from becoming a relapse.

Planning Ahead © 2001 Novartis Nutrition Corporation