Plan Ahead for Weight-Loss Success

If you’ve tried losing weight without planning your meals, you know how much harder it can be. Too often, we start a diet only to give it up days or weeks later when we realise how hard it is and what a time commitment it can be to cook healthy meals and work consistently toward our goals. The truth is that the reason we so often give up has nothing to do with willpower or genetics; much of the time, it’s all about failing to plan. We are creatures of habit, so trying to change our everyday lifestyle without a plan isn’t likely to work.

The key is to plan. Planning is one of the most important habits to learn when you’re trying to lose weight. Organizing meals, grocery shopping with a list, and having a backup plan for unexpected hitches can mean the difference between giving up and staying on track. If you work a regular job like most people, cooking dinner at the end of the day for yourself and your family may be too tiresome. It’s no wonder that so many people order takeout or eat fast food for dinner; they haven’t planned and are too tired, stressed, and hungry at dinnertime to start the shopping and cooking process.

When you’re ready to start your weight-loss diet, make meal planning part of your routine. Even if you only take 30 minutes on the weekend to plan out what you’re going to eat in the coming week, you’ll be in a much better position to succeed. You won’t have to make last-minute decisions on an empty stomach when you’re already tired from a long day – you’ll be able to come home from work, look at your meal plan, and see exactly what you need to do. You can even make some meals ahead of time, so all you’ll have to do is reheat and eat.

Meal planning also allows you to be sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need and eat the right portion sizes without having to count calories throughout the day. Planning gives you a way to anticipate your needs and arrange a backup or two in case things fall through during the week. Take a little time to plan out your meals for the week, and you’ll find it much easier to eat a healthy diet every day – and move steadily closer to your goals.