When did ANYONE ever just go back into a healthy lifestyle regiment and NOT struggle? Almost no one, even the health-gurus who had to take a break because of health or life-craziness reasons. So, to say that it’s easy to get back to smart choices in diet and exercise would probably make me a liar then!

Well, there is some good news: you aren’t alone, and there’s hope. That’s at least what blogger Emily Abbate wants you and I to focus on–the positive of getting back into the game of healthy choices instead of convincing ourselves that there’s no hope! And to help with the process, here are a few ways in doing just that starting tomorrow morning:

1. Get to the gym: You don’t have to go out there and run six miles. Heck — you don’t have to go out and take an hour-long CrossFit class, either. What matters is you’re stepping foot into the exercise craziness (as it may feel) for the first time in only who-knows how long. Once you’re back in the space, take things easy to start.

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2. Walk more: This is an easy one. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t walk a little extra more each day. And believe you me, those extra steps may not exactly make you shed zillions of pounds instantaneously, but they’ll make you feel better. I promise.

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3. Fill up on fruits and vegetables: It’s just as easy to keep fruits and vegetables desk-side as a snack as it is to keep all those boxes of cookies (and the king-size bag of Snickers). The excuse “but this one’s rotten!” only applies after you’ve ignored the fruit for a week for your Snickers. Give the Snickers that are left to someone else.

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4. Skip the scale: The last thing you need to stress about when you’re getting back on the healthy horse is that the pounds aren’t coming off fast enough. Be proud of yourself for committing to change, and be happy that you’re sticking to it. Don’t let numbers get you down.

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5. Talk about it: Whether it’s a friend, coworker, or family member — talking about losing your bad habits is a GOOD thing because it holds you accountable. With that said, don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. This is just the beginning. All you can do is try your best to fix your mistakes and move forward.