Ready for challenge nine?
Did you ever notice how much better you do something when you are prepared? Being prepared is one of the best ways to guarantee healthy living. When we have a plan all we need to do is stick to it and we are golden. For this weeks challenge I want you to think about how you have been doing since the beginning of the year on both your nutrition and fitness goals. Select one or the other, or both if you chose and do a few thing to help you prepare each day this week which will assist you in completing your goals. Below I’m sharing 3 ideas for each to help you get started!
3 Ideas to Better Prepare For Healthy Eating All Week Long
1. Plan your meals and go to the store with a list of exactly what you need. I have a love hate relationship with food planning because I am more of a wing it or use what is in the fridge type of cook. However, when I write down exactly what I plan to have for my meals each day it makes all the difference. I typically look at my week in two parts. Part one is Mon-Fri or the work week. I think through what I am going to make for all of my meals and if I am not going to make something for lunch I decide ahead of time where I am going to get something to eat and I stick too it. That way I am not running somewhere that is a less healthy option. Part 2 is the weekend or off days. Typically weekend meals are a bit more fun as I may try a more labor intensive recipe or we may got out. Just like during the week if we eat out we typically select a restaurant where we know there are healthy options. If I am going somewhere I have never been I always look at the menu ahead of time and go with a plan for what I am going to get or how I might modify an item on the menu. For example, sometimes I make my own salad dressing and bring it with me so that I know I am having a good quality oil.
2. Think about your week and what you have going on after work. If you have kids you more than likely have one or more nights a week where you get home and need to get dinner on the table fast. This is where planning is critical. For nights like this I love a crock pot meal. I prep everything the night before, pop it in the fridge and then in the morning it’s as simple as getting it out and turning it on. It may seem hectic to do things ahead of time but the reality is when you are not being rushed you make better decisions.
3. Once your meals are planned its all about the food prep. You can attack this in a number of ways but a few of the things I like to do is to wash and chop all veggies that I need for the week. This is one of the messiest most time consuming parts of cooking. If everything is chopped, organized and ready to go you can just grab what you need sans the mess during the work week. Chopped veggies are also an instant snack if you need to grab something quick. For work meals, I recommend packing the entire week ahead of time so all you need to do is open the fridge in the morning and grab what you need.
3 Ideas to Better Prepare For Your Workouts
1. Use a planner or your online calendar to schedule your workouts. Jot down what days you are planning to workout as well as at what time. When you schedule your workout into your day and see it on your calendar you are much less likely to make an excuse to not do it. The simple act of writing it down holds you accountable. I also love that at the end of the week you can look back and see how much or how little you accomplished. Going into the next week you have information that will help you see where you were really successful or where you need to make changes so your planning is even better going into the next week.
2. Decide roughly what your workout will look like each day and when you schedule your workout on your calendar jot down what your exercise plan is. For example, legs, arms, cardio or what workout video or class you will complete.
3. Get your workout clothes together the night before. Whether you workout at home in the morning, during the day or take a workout bag with you to your job get everything pulled together the day before. If you workout at home lay everything out in your bathroom or where ever you plan to get dressed and if you take a bag with you to work pack it up at night so all you have to do is grab it in the morning.
Ready, Set, Go…. Challenge Time
The first step is to set up your free account on healthstorylines.com if you have not already.
Challenge Nine Instructions:
1. Use the tips above to better prepare for the week ahead.
2. In the journal section of the Health Storylines app record what you did to be better prepared each day to crush your nutrition and fitness goals this week as well as how you did and how it made you feel.
3. If you feel comfortable and want to share, post a screenshot of your journal entry showing how you prepared ahead of time to eat a healthy meal/workout or post a meal picture/workout picture to your social media audience and use hashtag #wholelovleylifeprepared on your Instagram, Instagram Stories or Facebook so we can engage with each other’s posts. And, if you are ok with it (I will get your permission first) I will repost on my Instagram Stories.
Let’s continue to inspire each other!
If you need any help using the Health Story Lines app check out this amazing video!
If you missed my earlier challenges you will find them here!
