Weekly Wellness Prep: How to Prepare for a Healthy Week

Do you ever hear a saying and it resonates with you for days, week, or even months?

There’s a saying that really struck deep with me the other day, and since I heard it, I can’t get it out of my mind:

“If you’re not planning, you’re planning for failure”

Boy, isn’t that the truth.

I wouldn’t be where I am today on my weight loss journey without taking the time to plan.

Plan. Prepare. Potential. Procrastinate? No, no, no. Not that last one. Although let’s be real, that is my specialty!

I know what you’re thinking. Who has the time? I’m already so busy and there’s just not enough hours in a day.

I hate to tell you friend, if you really want to succeed – you have to make the time. Put some headphones in, turn on your favourite podcast or music, and start prepping.

Now anyone who knows me and has discussed my weight loss journey or healthy lifestyle changes knows that I am all about simplicity. I don’t over complicate things. I’m not about fancy meals that contain 500 ingredients in an attempt to replicate unhealthy food. I stick to the basics.

What are helpful ways that you can plan?

Simplify your menu. Dieting doesn’t have to be a chore or a math equation. Just stick to the basics. Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and salads are the most popular among my meals. A good source of protein is the key to any meal, and keeps me full and not thinking about food until my next meal, so I really try to focus on my meat portion first and foremost.
Do not grocery shop on an empty stomach. I repeat, do not do this. This is just a recipe for disaster. Too many temptations, and if you’re feeling hungry you will self sabotage yourself. Plus who are we kidding? Grocery shopping is exhausting. We both know that if we leave the store starving, we will be hitting up that nearest drive thru and closet eating in our car the whole way home.
Create a meal plan in advance. Sit down each week and determine what meals you are going to have each day. I personally only plan my dinners, and I try to make plenty of leftovers that I can use for my lunch one or two of the other days. It is very helpful to know what you’re going to make each night and not have to figure it out mid-day or when the time comes.
Set small, achievable goals. Goals don’t only have to be about a number on a scale. Remember, this is about long term. This isn’t temporary. This is about finding ways to improve your overall health and lifestyle. It’s about improving your habits to increase the chances of succeeding. So what goals can you set to help you become an overall healthier person? How about a goal to plan your weekly meals and challenge yourself to actually stick to them. Set a goal to only have 1 cheat meal. Set a goal to make extra food that you can grab and go in a hurry or on a busy night. Keep it real.

A lifestyle change is about doing what you can to improve your future, which doesn’t only include losing weight for your physical health, but also changing your habits and bettering your relationship with food.

I used to hate cooking. I hated meal prepping. It was so much work and effort and seemed like such little results. Overtime I have found ways to make it easier, and I feel good about the food I prepare. I feel proud of my work. I feel relieved that I have a plan in place and don’t need to stress on the day of.