Meal Planning is the Key to Weight Loss
I think that whether we’re slightly overweight or have a lot to lose, if we’d don’t consistently plan meals and have a regular routine, permanent weight loss is totally elusive.
I know a lot of us are good at losing weight, but the majority of people who lose gain it back, and then some. I really believe that weight loss has to be done in a healthy way, has a lot more to do with just what we’re eating, and requires a commitment to creating a healthy lifestyle that goes beyond following a diet book for a month or two. It’s just been my experience that healthy weight loss requires time and attention, both in the kitchen and with our bodies.
That’s why I’m so passionate and committed to meal planning in my own life. When I plan, I eat better, maintain a consistent weight and lose weight if I need to without it being so hard. Plus I have more energy, save money and overall, I just feel better.
Last month Bruce and I went on our honeymoon to Jamaica and it we had a great time. We went to one of those all-inclusive resorts where there’s more food and drinks then it’s even normal to consume! And consume we did. Yep, I ate just about everything in sight (my favorite were these mini donuts that they fried up fresh in the morning that you could dip in cinnamon sugar– can you believe I’m even telling you this?!). Of course, I rationalized that I was on my honeymoon, that I’d been “good” about eating for months and that I totally deserved to eat what I wanted (whether that’s a good approach is a whole other post).
So you can imagine the result when I got home and some of clothes were tight. Not so bad that I couldn’t zip them up, but still, let’s just say, there was room for improvement. That was all the motivation I needed to resume my usually healthy routine. I pulled out my menu planning tools and shopping list and got to work planning healthy, quick and delicious meals.
And guess what, after a bit of resistance (I mean really, who wants to come home from a honeymoon and resume real life?), I found my menu planning groove, made it fun (yes, menu planning can actually be fun - I’ll tell you more about that later) and now I’m feeling so much better in my body. Just getting back to the basics - exercise, water, fruits and veggies, more rest, slowing down and tuning into my body - along with my healthy meals is doing the trick.
What about you? How do you use meal planning to help you lose weight?
Filed under: Healthy lifestyle, Food preparation, Healthy Meals, Meal Planning
Hey check out this site. They have 2 menus; one for a family and one heart healthy. I don’t know about everyone else, but I find it easier to lose/maintain my weight when I know exactly what I am supposed to eat, instead of foraging around the house looking for something to shove in my mouth! I only did the heart healthy menu, but it was nice.
Sorry thought the website would show; the site is http://www.dinnerplanner.com. Good recipes.