Preparation H…A List

No I am not talking about a list of uses for hemorrhoid ointment.  I am talking about a list that helps you prepare for your health.

Over the last 5 months, I have discovered a few little tricks to help me ensure that I am prepared each day to make healthy choices.

1. Create a menu for the week (that includes breakfast and lunch).  It helps me out tremendously to know what  I am going to have to eat for the week.  I can make sure to get everything I need from the grocery store on the weekend.  I also don’t get as tempted to order out or make unhealthy choices when I have a meal plan.
2. Prepare your food for the week on the weekends.  Whether it is making a pot of soup/chili or cutting up my raw veggies for lunch, I make sure I have my lunches prepared as much possible on Sunday night.  Otherwise, I end up rushed one day and have to eat something out.  That food is typically much less healthy than what I would have prepared.  I ration out the goods into servings, so I can grab and go each morning. The Hubs roasts a whole chicken in the crock pot each Sunday and then he has his meat for dinner and some lunches already prepared.  This makes his dinner prep time next to nothing each day.  
3. Log your entire days worth of eats before you start your day.  I know most of us have some sort of food diary app or at least a paper and pen food journal.  I find it very simple to stay on track, when I record what I am going to eat for the day versus recording as I go.  I use it as more of a guide instead of a recap.  Knowing ahead of time the grand total of calories and fat that I will consume helps me to just say no to tempting extras, or allow myself to choose indulgences more wisely.  Just be sure to make changes if you deviate from what you have recorded.
4. Log your workout before you do it.  This is a new one for me, but it is working like a charm.  If I log it, I feel more committed to completing it.  There is something about deleting a workout that you did not do that makes it harder to slack off.  It is recorded…I must complete it.  Be sure you hit that delete button or mark it out if you don’t complete it.  I promise it will sting a bit and make you think twice about skipping it the next time.
5. Don’t have “crap” foods in your house.  If you are anything like me, if it is not in your house, you will not go out and get it when the craving strikes.  However, if it is in your house, the chances of saying no are going to be greatly reduced.  I know it can be hard with kids, but take this opportunity to come up with healthier alternatives for their snacks.  That way if you are tempted by what the little one is noshing on, you won’t feel bad about nibbling some grapes compared to throwing down a handful of cookies.
6. Know what you are going to order before going out to eat.  We are all going to go out to eat at some point.  The best way to stay on track is to look for the nutritional information ahead of time and make your mind up about what you will order.  At the very least, have 2 healthy options in mind and decide between the two when you get there.  This really keeps me from being tempted when I know what I am ordering before I walk in the door.

All of these tips help to keep me from making excuses and/or poor choices in the moment.  Eating the wrong foods and skipping your workouts can be very tempting.  Without a plan and preparation, we are much more likely to fail.

What are your healthy tips and tricks that fuel your success?  What is the biggest hurdle that keeps tripping you up?

Stay Strong and Keep Moving,