As the saying goes, "those who fail to plan are planning to fail".

But you don't have to write a book about what you're planning to do when you decide to lose weight - you just need to do a little thinking every day to keep yourself on the straight and narrow.

By planning ahead you can save yourself a lot of setbacks. Here are just a few examples that make a big difference...

1. Plan Meals and Shop for Food in Advance

You don't have to be super efficient and do a weekly shop with a specially prepared list (although that is a good idea too) but you do need to be thinking a day or two ahead about your plans and what you will need to buy to have healthy delicious food available.

If you take the time to plan and choose recipes (or even think about the kind of healthy ready-prepared foods you will buy) you will actually enjoy your food more while you lose weight than you ever did before - just because you will be having more variety and not just grabbing the first thing you see that you normally eat. Take the opportunity to try out new healthy foods and new recipes and you can make mealtimes something to look forward to (and not just because you're ravenous).

2. Take Lunch to Work

With a bit of planning you can always have something on hand to take to work instead of being at the mercy of the local sandwich shop, fast food store or take-away. You will be more in control (and aware of) the calories you are eating and you can choose healthier snacks and sandwich fillings than you can buy locally.

3. Pack a Snack

Always have a healthy snack and a bottle of water on hand in your car, briefcase or bag. An apple and a few raisins are great portable snacks, even a few nuts (though don't go mad with the quantities). This is not so that you can nibble away all day but so that when you ARE hungry you can eat your healthy snack and drink your water rather than raiding the chocolate machine or diving into the nearest coffee shop for latte and cake.

4. Be Alert to Temptation

At the start of each day think about what temptations are likely to come your way ("Jennie is leaving work today - there'll be cake" or "I'm eating out at that new Italian restaurant") and think through a little plan of attack about how you might deal with those situations. Also if you know you are feeling a bit down or bored or whatever and are likely to turn to food to feel better, think through what strategies you are going to use to feel better without food ("when boredom strikes while I'm doing the accounts, I'm going to take a walk/call Peter/think about what we'll do this summer").

5. Schedule Active Time

Mark your exercise times in your diary and treat them like an appointment with your doctor - something that you can move if an emergency crops up (or a surprise weekend away in Paris) but not something you cancel on a whim.

6. Planning Not to Sabotage Yourself

Sometimes what you DON'T do is important as what you do when you want to lose weight. So don't set yourself up for failure by buying high-calorie foods you love when you go shopping or commit to doing so much that you will have no time to shop for healthy food or fit in the exercise you put in your schedule.


Copyright 2007, Janice Elizabeth Small

 

By putting in place my simple system you will lose weight steadily week by week and stay in great shape without dieting for the rest of your life. 

Discover the 24 keys to permanent and healthy weight loss at http://www.simplyslimming.com/dietexitplan.

 

 

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