If there’s ANYTHING I’ve learned in my years of trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle, it’s that planning ahead significantly increases your change of succeeding.
I struggle with the habit of being “too tired” and putting of prepping and planning for the next week, and let’s be real, it doesn’t get easier as the days go on. While I put it off, I stop at Dunkin’ Donuts on my way to work and get a bagel or a breakfast sandwich, I run out to Market Basket and grab something for lunch or grab something from my work cafeteria. And sure enough $25 and a million calories later, I am no closer to my goal than I was when I started. Not good for my wallet. Or my waistline.
But I get it! Planning can be HARD! So here are some of my best tips.
1-Don’t over complicate things.
Bring an apple, a handful of nuts, or carrot sticks for snacks. They literally require next to no preparation! You don’t need to make a fancy homemade chex mix. The simpler the better.
2-When you make dinner, make enough for 1-2 days of leftovers.
You either have lunch for the next couple days or you don’t have to make dinner when you get home from work. Because when it’s a long day and you sit down on that couch there is no getting back up.
3-If you’re not a morning person, prepare breakfast ahead of time.
Something like quiche or baked oatmeal. It will last the week and you can just cut a slice and pop it in the microwave or toaster oven to heat it up! This way you can eat a healthy breakfast with minimal effort. If you want a cold breakfast try some overnight oats recipes!
4-If exercise is being added to your new lifestyle, schedule the time for it.
Put it in your planner, so you don’t book anything during that time. You don’t need a fancy gym membership to start either! Use that time to go for a power walk, do a couple sets of basic exercises-squats, lunges, jumping jacks, crunches. Anything to get your body moving. The endorphins will give you energy and make you feel good, happy, and motivated.
5-Find a buddy.
It can be a significant other, sibling, friend, coworker, etc. Sometimes making big changes alone can be hard. By finding a buddy you have someone to hold you accountable, share the ups and downs with, and have support! Bonus-if it’s a SO or roommate you can alternate cooking duty!
6-Don’t label what you’re doing.
“Weight Loss” “Eating Healthy” “Veganism”…nothing. Why? These terms confine you to what they are. If you don’t lose weight-you’ll feel like you fail, if it’s eating healthy/vegan you’ll beat yourself up for any mistake that falls outside of that definition. Let’s be real-there’s gonna be slip ups, there’s gonna be whoops moments, cheats or treats along the way, there may even be tears. Don’t make it worse by beating yourself up. Remind yourself that it’s one day! In the grand scheme of things, that doesn’t derail all of the progress you make. Just try to do better the next day.
Stay tuned for one of my favorite breakfast recipes. It provides me with a healthy breakfast for the whole week and requires barely anytime when I wake up!
