Many of us have gallant plans to thwart overindulgent eating on holidays, but sadly, some of us have a difficult time passing up the cakes, cookies and chips. (My hand is up!) After all, what’s a Fourth of July celebration without s’mores or Thanksgiving without apple pie? Most of us give up at least a day of exercise in lieu of holidays too. So, how do you reset your psyche to get back on track to healthier living after the party is over?

Here are three quick and easy steps to get motivated:

1. Exercise longer, not harder.  If you work out too hard, too fast, you are more prone to injuries, which will cause even more delays.  By increasing the duration and working out at a moderate pace, you will burn more calories and get back on track to healthy living quicker. If you like to walk, just walk longer at the same pace.

2. Go cold turkey.  When it comes to eating junk food, just say no. The sooner you can pass up the cake, cookies and potato chips, the better.  Trick your body into forgetting your faux pas.  Eat salads and throw away the junk food.  The Golden Rule at our house is to never waste food.  But there are times you just need to ditch the dessert.  If it’s not in the house you won’t be tempted.

3. Call a friend. It’s easier to get motivated when you make a date with a friend to go to a gym, go for a walk, or at least check in on each other to see how you’re doing. Accountability is key to staying on track. Plan your workouts at the beginning of the week.  Write them into your schedule just like an important meeting. We often put others before ourselves, but after indulging, it’s time to make your health a priority! After all, you can’t do more celebrating at the next holiday if you aren’t healthy.  Right?