3-Day Diet Recovery Plan

It's the Monday after Thanksgiving and many of us are thinking—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.

Day 1: 7 AM

Like many people, 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 would 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."

Remember that overindulging sometimes is perfectly normal, says clinical psychologist Suzette Glasner-Edwards, PhD, of the UCLA School of Medicine. "Forgive yourself for yesterday, but make a pledge to yourself about how you will eat today."

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

Day 1: 8 AM

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 407 calories:

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

Get 9 more healthy breakfast ideas here.

Day 1: 9:30 AM

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.

If you've just come off a few days of overindulgences, it may be hard to pass up treats altogether—but you can set limits. Try limiting yourself to one dessert this week and one meal where you'll enjoy a favorite food in a reasonable portion. Write down your commitment.

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

Day 1: Noon

Eat a lunch 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

1. Lay tortilla flat on large cutting board. Spoon hummus evenly over tortilla to within ½" 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.

2. Serve immediately or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Total calories: 323