What's the plan?

Planning, planning, planning

In real estate, it's all about location, location, location. In weight loss it's planning, planning and more planning!
1. Plan your meals, snacks and even water intake.
2. Plan your exercise; cardio, strength and stretching.
3. Have backup plans for the unexpected, because we all know anything can happen! I am definitely a personal friend of Murphy (and his laws).

On my fridge is a white board with the days of the week. I keep the meal plan on that for a week in advance. That way, I know what we are having every day and I don't have to take time thinking of what to have or worse, go out because I can't decide. I can also plan my grocery list and never shop without one (except for the times I leave it on the counter ;)).

Right after I grocery shop, I wash and cut all of the fruits and vegetables I bought. I know this reduces the vitamins or something like that, but if they don't get immediate attention, they won't get eaten as readily or at all. I have even been known to buy a pre-cut tray of veggies depending on the week.

As soon as I bring any snacks home, healthy or not, I have to portion it in baggies or little containers or I eat it all. I'm not going to give up every food I like because this is a lifestyle, not a diet. I just need to watch the portion sizes. I always have a bin of healthy snacks in my pantry so I can grab something quickly. However, chocolate is my weakness. I. Love. Chocolate. So I gave it up!! Three years, two months and ten days ago :(. I can't eat just a bit so I don't eat it at all.

At the beginning of the week, I plan my cardio and strength training. It varies weekly depending on my schedule, but I try for five days not including the classes I teach every week. If you've been to a class of mine, sometimes they shouldn't count as exercise for me anyways because I am talking too much to do anything else...

The backup plan is for those days when a kid is sick… or I am called into work… or someone ate part of what was going to be dinner that night…Ahem DH! (Supposedly short for Darling Husband in blogging, but I can think of different uses for the D) I do have a few quick easy meals where I always have the ingredients on hand. I can use the treadmill or bike downstairs. I can add a few minutes more onto the next few workouts.

So that's the perfect week! IF I do all of the above (and don't get bored, angry, tired or lonely....oh! there's another post!), I find it much easier to eat well and exercise.The fact that people may be watching me (and hopefully this blog) is helping too!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them here or track me down at work.