The Next Meal Rule

248.0 pounds, - 0.5 pounds today, - 86.0 pounds overall, 14.0 pounds from my goal of losing 100 pounds.

Two days ago, I didn’t eat as well as I should have — and honestly, I regretted it. You know that feeling when you’ve worked hard, made progress, and then slip up? It’s easy to start thinking, “Well, I blew it… might as well start over next week.”

That’s the trap of all-or-nothing thinking — believing one bad meal or one bad day ruins everything. It doesn’t.

Instead, I’m learning to practice what I call the “Next Meal Rule.” One off-track meal doesn’t erase your effort or your results. You just focus on making the next good choice.

So that’s exactly what I did. Yesterday, I got back on track. I followed my plan — no eating after 5 p.m. — and I walked 2 miles. I “voted” for myself with those actions, and the scale rewarded me this morning with a 0.5-pound loss.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about direction. Every choice is a vote for the person you want to become.

So if you had a rough day, don’t throw in the towel. Just focus on your next meal, your next walk, your next good decision. That’s where progress is made — one vote at a time.

P.S. What’s your biggest challenge with staying on track after a setback? Hit reply and let me know — I’d love to hear your story and maybe even feature it in a future post!