Your 3-Day Diet Recovery

Whether it’s the Friday morning after Thanksgiving, or the Monday after a weekend of a bit too much indulging, many of us have felt this way before: Ugh! I blew my diet. Now what? Before you decide to bury your troubles in a plate of cookies and resort to a lifetime of drawstring pants, use our simple 3-day action plan to undo the calorie damage and make a fresh start. We tell you what to eat, when to eat, how to bump up calorie burn—and give you the motivational tools you need to get back on track fast.

Like many women, you may have woken up feeling fat, bloated, and mad at yourself for overdoing it while celebrating the holidays.

What to do: Stop beating yourself up. "The first thing I tell people is not to be your own worst enemy, not to be super critical," says clinical psychologist Nancy Molitor, PhD, public education coordinator for the American Psychological Association. "When you turn on yourself, it’s not the food, it’s you that you’re battling. Admit you overdid it and be honest, but recognize that you’re human."

Positive mantra: Yesterday was a challenging day. I can make a fresh start today.

Whatever you do, don’t skip breakfast because that could set you up for overeating later in the day, says Andrea Spivack, RD, LDN, medical nutrition therapist at the Stunkard Weight Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

What to do: Fix a healthy morning meal. A filling, well-balanced breakfast like this one has only 400 calories:

• Pour 1 c Kashi Go-Lean cereal into a bowl.
• Top with 1 c blueberries (frozen is just as good as fresh).
• Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp walnuts.
• Add 1 c low-fat or fat-free milk.

More from Prevention: 10 Flat Belly Breakfasts

Now that your day is underway, you may be telling yourself, I need to drop a few pounds so I’ll watch what I eat this week. But a general wish isn’t likely to give you the results you desire. Molitor recommends setting a reasonable, concrete goal and creating a plan that will help you reach it. Be sure to write down your goals—it’ll make you more likely to commit to them.

What to do: Aim to lose 1 pound in the next week. To do that, you’ll have to reduce your daily calorie intake by 200 to 300 calories and burn off 200 to 300 calories a day for an average weekly deficit of 3,500 calories, says David B. Sarwer, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Stunkard Weight Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. If you usually exercise 3 days a week, add an extra day. If you’re not a regular exerciser, then try to walk for at least 5 minutes, 3 times a day to start—it’s okay to start small; any little movement adds up to calories burned.

Positive mantra: I’ll take this one day at a time.

Eat a lunch like this one that's packed with feel-full veggies and satisfying protein.

Mediterranean Wrap

• 1 lg whole wheat tortilla
• 2 Tbsp garlic-flavored hummus
• 1/4 c roasted red pepper strips
• 4 slices roast turkey breast (or low-sodium deli turkey)
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 c lettuce

Place the tortilla flat on large cutting board. Spoon hummus evenly over tortilla to within 1/2" of edge. Lay peppers evenly over hummus. Layer on turkey slices. Sprinkle with mint. Layer on lettuce leaves. Fold in sides and then roll to form wrap. Cut diagonally in half. Serve immediately or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Total calories: 323

More from Prevention: 15 Flat Belly Lunches

This is a good time to start logging your food calories in a journal or online diary.

What to do: Write down what you’re eating. Starting a food diary is a research-proven weight loss technique. If you’ve never kept a food journal before, try Prevention’s free My Health Tracker tool and start logging food calories and portions. If you have logged food calories before, start again to track what you’re eating and how much. Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo, PhD, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says keeping a food diary helps you get back to being accountable. "It raises awareness and gets you focused on eating healthier foods."

Positive mantra: I overate for a day or two and am getting back to my healthier habits.

You might be feeling midafternoon hunger pangs and eyeing that leftover pumpkin pie in the fridge. Before you reach for a slice, take a deep breath and assess what your body needs.

What to do: Keep hunger under control. Drink a glass of water and wait about 10 minutes to determine if you are truly hungry. It’s easy to mistake hunger for thirst, notes Dee Sandquist, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. If you are still hungry, have a small snack. Research has shown that eating regular meals or snacks every 3 to 4 hours can keep you from overeating.

Graham cracker snack

• 3/4 c grapes
• 2 graham cracker squares
• 8 oz water

Total calories: 137

More from Prevention: 50 Healthy Snack Ideas For 200 Calories Or Less

A healthy dinner doesn’t mean you have to slave in the kitchen for hours. This easy recipe is ready in less than 10 minutes.

Personal Pizza

• Top 1 toasted whole wheat pita with 1/2 c chopped tomatoes, 1/4 c shredded part-skim mozzarella, 1/2 c grilled chicken breast, and 1/4 c chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
• Sprinkle with minced garlic and oregano.
• Place under oven broiler until bubbly.

Total calories: 396

More from Prevention: 20 Low-Calorie Meals To Help You Lose

If you didn’t get any exercise today, go for a 10-minute walk after dinner. Walking after eating can help relieve belly bloat.

This can be a dangerous time for late-night snackers who reach for food out of boredom, emotion, or exhaustion. You can avoid the temptation altogether by brushing your teeth and hitting the sack!

What to do: Get at least 7 hours of sleep. Getting enough sleep is one of the best things you can do to get back on track after overeating, says Sandquist. Research shows there are links between inadequate sleep and obesity. A study from Case Western Reserve University of about 68,000 middle-age women found that those who slept 5 or fewer hours were 32% more likely to experience major weight gain, and 15% more likely to become obese, than those who slept an average of 7 hours.

Positive mantra: I’m committing to taking care of myself and my health—I’m worth it!

More from Prevention: 20 Ways To Sleep Better Every Night

Assess the "damage." If you didn’t weigh yourself yesterday, do so first thing this morning and write down your weight for accountability. Weigh yourself once a week at the same day and time for more accurate results.

What to do: Get on the scale. Gazzaniga-Moloo recommends doing this within 2 days of the overeating episode so you can face the facts and move on. "The USDA recommends that we eat about 2,000 calories a day," says Sarwer. "On Thanksgiving, people can eat well over 3,000 calories, maybe even 4,000 calories. If you ate 4,000 calories that only adds up to a half-pound of weight." If the scale says you gained more than half a pound, don’t let the numbers ruin your day. Your weight can vary from day to day—even hour to hour. You could be retaining fluids from eating salty foods over the weekend.

Positive mantra: Sometimes I do things and have to be accountable for them later. I’m back in control.

Remember, don’t skip breakfast! If you don’t like to eat first thing in the morning, just start off with a piece of fruit and have something more substantial, like oatmeal with milk, an hour or so later. If you wait for lunch to eat, your hunger will overrule your willpower and you’ll be less likely to make healthy choices. Blend these ingredients for a peanut butter and banana smoothie:

• ½ c fat-free milk
• ½ c fat-free plain yogurt
• 2 Tbsp creamy natural unsalted peanut butter
• ¼ very ripe banana
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 4 ice cubes

Total calories: 410

More from Prevention: 10 Flat Belly Smoothies

As part of your diet reboot, you’ll need to commit to making exercise a regular part of your daily schedule.

What to do: Make an exercise pact with yourself. Exercising within a day or two of overeating will help refocus you on your healthy lifestyle plan, says Gazzaniga-Moloo. Make sure your fitness schedule involves activities you love to do—like walking, dancing, or ice skating—and tell someone about your plan, says Molitor. You’ll be more likely to stick to your workout if you enjoy it and have someone else holding you accountable. Better yet, work out with a buddy! Learn more about how exercising with a buddy can help you lose more weight faster. 

Positive self-talk can help you stay on track and reach your goals. Post motivational messages in plain sight to stay focused.

What to do: Surround yourself with encouragement. Post inspirational photos around your workspace, in your car, and on your home fridge. Tape a message like "I can do it!" to the back of your cell phone or set up your computer’s screen saver with a favorite quote.

Positive mantra: This is a courageous thing I’m doing. I am mature and responsible. I have the ability to control what I eat.

More from Prevention: Real Women's Mantras That Led To Big Weight Loss

Eat meals around the same time each day. Sandquist says eating at regular mealtimes will keep you from getting too hungry.

Deli meat sandwich:

• Grab 2 slices of whole wheat bread.
• Top with 2 slices each of lean roast beef and turkey breast.
• Add lettuce and tomato and 1 tsp mustard.
• Pair it with ½ c of fruit salad.

Total calories: 350

More from Prevention: 9 Low-Cost Healthy Sandwiches

Fix a snack that will help flatten your belly. Research shows that eating a meal with a serving of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) can help fight belly fat. MUFAs are the good-for-you fats found in avocados, nuts and seeds, olive oil, dark chocolate, and olives.

Cheese and crackers snack:

• Pair 1 light or low-fat string cheese with 8 sm whole wheat crackers and 2 Tbsp sunflower seeds.
• Have with 1 apple

Total calories: 389 

Squeeze in 10 minutes of walking before or after dinner. Try our 8-week weight loss walking plan.

Eat slowly to make your meal last longer. Research shows the more chewing you do, the more nutrients your body absorbs.

Salmon and spinach dinner:

• Sauté a 4 oz piece of salmon.
• Cook 2 c raw spinach sautéed with 1 crushed garlic clove in 1 tsp peanut oil.
• Pair with 2/3 c cooked brown rice.

Total calories: 441

More from Prevention: 8 Eating Secrets Of Naturally Slim Women

You’re doing a great job of eating healthfully, but don’t make it any harder on yourself.

What to do: Rid kitchen of temptations. You’ve committed to a healthy eating plan; now get junk food and leftover pumpkin pie out of sight! "When the foods are in the house it’s easier, to eat them," says Spivack.

More from Prevention: 4 Ways To Outsmart Cravings

Start your day off with protein to help you feel fuller, longer. Remember to track your calories in your food journal.

PB&B Sandwich

• Spread each half of a toasted whole wheat English muffin with 1 Tbsp peanut butter.
• Top each half with ¼ c sliced banana.
• Eat as an open-faced sandwich with a side of 20 blueberries.

Total calories: 406

More from Prevention: 9 Brain-Boosting Breakfasts Under 400 Calories