Making Health a Priority

Read the blurb or just skip to the tips :)

Picture this. It's your schedule, and man alive! Is it full or what? Seriously, is there ANY space in your planner that isn't filled with pencil scrawl?

Step back. Breathe. It will be ok. 

It can be so hard to fit exercise and healthy meals into a busy lifestyle. Sometimes, it is just so much easier to hit the drive-through than to even think about spending the next hour making a meal from scratch. Who has time for that? I mean, do people think you're superwoman or something? Sheesh. So what's a girl to do? On the one hand, you're swamped. Or tired. Or just plain not feelin' it. It happens. On the other hand, you really need to fuel up on some food that is GOOD for you instead of snarfing the first thing you can get your hands on.

Or am I the only one who has that problem?

Planning ahead is so important when trying to lose weight or just be healthy in general. This past week is my personal testimony to that. I decided to be very intentional about having wholesome, nutritious food with me at all times. Basically what that meant for me was packing my lunches before going to work (instead of grabbing a microwavable diet-dinner), carrying fresh fruit to snack on, and always having my water bottle close by. It meant saying "no" to last-minute munchies.

It was especially hard this weekend. For example, on Friday I was working one job from 9-4, then another one in the evening. I wasn't sure if I would have time to come back home and make dinner for myself, so I had to plan out all of my meals ahead of time on Thursday... and it worked out really well! Because I took the extra time on Thursday night to make Friday's dinner, I was able to keep my eating on track. I did the same for today, and I'm really glad I did! What was waiting for me when I arrived at work? A fresh bourbon-cheesecake bundt cake.

I know, right? Tasty.

So instead of pigging out on sweets tonight, I stuck to the dinner I brought with me: vegan stuffed zucchini. Topped off with some fresh fruit, I can tell you right now that "stuffed" is definitely the right word. But, does this mean no cake for me? Um, no, actually. See, I decided that instead of having a big slice of cake tonight ("while I can"), I am going to take home a small sliver for tomorrow. That way, I can adjust tomorrow's meals accordingly and I don't have to worry about eating TOO much cake because I'm only taking a little bit home with me in the first place.

The moral of the story here is "Eating cake is ok. Go for it." Ok, it's more than that. Incorporate your cake-eating into your plan! Planning ahead is a must! Remember these words: Plan ahead or plan to fail.

Here are some tips to get you started.

- Prepare food ahead of time. A casserole you can throw in the oven, ingredients chopped for tomorrow morning's breakfast, or a veggie wrap and an apple that are ready to grab as you're headed out the door... know your needs and get creative. This can apply to groceries as well. Did you buy a head of lettuce? Wash, chop, and bag it so it's ready to be thrown in a salad at a moment's notice. You can also separate bulk snacks into little baggies (i.e. 1oz of almonds per baggie).
- Even it out. Big meal coming up for dinner tomorrow night? Eat a small breakfast and a light lunch. Save up calories during the day to eat more later. 

- Don't grocery shop when you're hungry. This is just setting yourself up for disaster, because your stomach will be making the decisions, instead of your brain. If you're very hungry, it is natural to crave fattier foods; your favorite temptations will be even harder to resist. Instead, write out a grocery list and stick to it.  

- Don't go to a restaurant when you're hungry. Another uh-oh situation. Restaurant menus are overloaded with options, ranging from Healthful to Heart Attack. Do you know anyone who shows up to Buffalo Wild Wings and says, "Wow, I'm starving! I think I'll have a grilled chicken salad." I sure don't. Have some fruit before going out for the evening. If your stomach is lightly satisfied with an apple or banana, you'll be able to think more clearly about what you should order.

- Know what you're up against. In addition to snacking beforehand, do some research on the restaurant you're going to. What's on their menu? Do they provide nutritional information? If so, look it over. Narrow down your options to a few of the healthier dishes the restaurant offers. See how many calories (or points) are in their complimentary rolls - do you still want one? Hey, you might even just want to skip the entree entirely and go for a dessert. Just make sure you're well informed about what you're thinking of eating.
- Learn how to say "no". Or, "Thanks for offering, that looks very good. I actually brought my own meal, so I am set!" You'll probably have to say "no" to yourself more often than to other people. Just remember to be more in tune with the big picture instead of the here and now. That foot-long chili dog might hit the spot for the moment, but will it help you reach your long-term goals?
- Don't find time to exercise, make time. Take a good look at your plans for tomorrow... heck, for the entire week. Make note of what you're going to do for exercise and when. You may need to wake up an hour earlier or take a walk over your lunch break. Fit. it. in. You'll be glad you did.