Today I realized that in my journey of losing weight, planning is really essential to be successful, just like anything else you do. If you don’t plan what you’re going to eat, or what exercise you’re going to do today, you’re bound to fall off the consistency wagon and won’t see results. Efficient planning helps you achieve the goals you make.
Some ways you can plan your daily food intake:
Make a list of the foods you enjoy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. From there, you can figure out what you can make. If you’re a cereal person, pick out the cereals with the most nutritional benefits. If you like chicken, you can make a salad with chicken in it, or grilled chicken for dinner.
A food journal is also a great way to figure out how to improve what you eat. You can then make goals such as, snacking on air popped popcorn instead of potato chips. The more specific the goal you’re more likely to stick to it, and you’ll feel guilty if you don’t follow it.
Preparing food ahead of time is also a great way to eat something you don’t have time to make, especially if you’re a busy person. Even make more food than you’re going to eat so you can eat them the next day.
Planning your exercise:
I find it easy to plan exercise because you can alternate cardio and strength training. When you strength train plan out what areas to work on - arms, abs, legs, etc. I’ve found out working out in the mornings to be a lot better than in the afternoon because there are less distractions and you’ll feel more awake for the rest of the day. You then will have more time after you get out of work to do what you want to.
Personally, I like to plan out my day, because if I follow a list I make, I’m more likely to follow it and as I cross off what I’ve done, I feel good about myself because I got the task done. I think planning what you’re going to eat for the day as well as your workouts will not only make you feel good about yourself, you’re less likely to eat “bad” food and skip your workouts.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Sue, what I’ve found really works for me is to have my meals already portioned out and ready to go in the frig the night before, then I don’t have an excuse the next day to reach for something else when I get hungry.
I also enjoy making a list of tasks and goals to accomplish. I love being able to cross it off when it’s done, makes you feel great, doesn’t it?!
“If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail”
I don’t know where I picked up that quote, but I use it with my clients all of the time. I have a few major principles that I try to hammer home with every client and having a plan is one of them. It goes hand-in-hand with having a food diary and workout journal.
I consider that notebook to be the most important reading for my clients, and they write it themselves!