How To Overcome Weight Loss Obstacles
As a Nutritionist, I design personalized Lifestyle Diet Plans for my clients. Since these plans are based on their goals, likes, dislikes and lifestyles, I would expect to see compliance. While some people easily transition to their new lifestyles and love them, others seem to struggle and continue to fall back to old habits.
When I ask my clients why they feel they can’t stick to their diet plan the most common problem they tell me is lack of time. In lieu of fixing real, healthy meals in the kitchen, they grab convenient processed foods or fast foods to save time. While eating out once in awhile is fine, grabbing prepared foods and eating out frequently will make it impossible to lose weight and get healthy.
We all feel like there are not enough hours in the day but we all have the same amount of time and it’s how we decide to use that time that will define our success in anything we try to accomplish in life. Trust me when I tell you that my days are full! I work 6 days a week and owning my own business means that even on my day off I am often doing some type of work to catch up. I live by what I preach so I have had to learn how to find time to shop and prepare healthy foods. Here is what I find are 4 essential steps to sticking to a clean eating plan.
SET GOALS – First and foremost, state your goals and write them down. Time management is all about priorities. Is it a priority to lose weight? Is it a priority to reduce your blood pressure or reverse your diabetes? How important are these things in the grand scheme of your life? Set your goals, state them and write them down. Keep them on a laminated sheet in your bathroom and read them each morning as an affirmation of what is important to you.
PLAN – It all starts with planning. If you try to fly by the seat of your pants day in and day out you will never get anywhere with your healthy lifestyle plan. If I didn’t plan my meals and snacks each week I could never stick with a healthy eating plan. Choose a time during the week to plan out what you want to eat for meals. It’s easiest to choose one breakfast and lunch for the week but if you have to have variety that’s fine too. Make a shopping list based on your meal plan. Choose another time to grocery shop. If you keep a calendar put it on your schedule just as you would an appointment for a doctor.
PREPARE – Now that you have all the food you need for the week, prepare as much as possible in a block or two of time. I usually choose late one afternoon and maybe a weekend day to do food preparation. I prepare enough for several meals and during the week when I’m busier I can always throw something into the Crock Pot or grill up a piece of fish – quick and easy. It’s all a matter of having planned it out so you have the ingredients in the house and a plan in hand. Just knowing what you are going to cook that night for example takes away so much of the pressure.
BRING FOOD – When you leave the house for work, a long day shopping or even traveling, make sure you are prepared with food. Bring along your meals that you would have eaten at home or have some quick options to grab and take along. The last thing you want is to be out and end up having to eat fast food or come home starving and overeat because you didn’t have anything with you for a meal or snack.
Blocking out slots in your calendar for meal planning, grocery shopping and meal preparation will allow you to “find” the time to cook real food. If you make health and weight loss a priority, you will be able to stick with a clean eating plan. I hope these tips help you overcome the obstacles keeping you from meeting your health and weight loss goals.
Think you need more help with a diet plan? If you need more guidance and would like a personal diet plan consider my Lifestyle Diet Plan. When I customize a plan for you I also act as your coach and guide you along the way with daily feedback on your food logs. You not only have an eating plan layer out with options for each meal and snack but you have accountability and coaching as I follow you daily through your food logs, giving you feedback, answering questions and solving problems as they arise. Check out my Lifestyle Diet Plan today!
Are you looking to transform your health? Mary works with clients all over the country developing personalized nutrition and exercise plans for weight loss and health. If you’re ready to get started on your journey to health and wellness contact her today!
Visit BodyDesigns Two Week Detox Plan or BodyDesignsbyMary for more information.
