Showing posts with label plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plan. Show all posts

Sunday, May 20, 2012

To Plan or Not to Plan...


Are you a planner or someone who just goes with the flow and lets things happen?

I have always been a planner.  There have been times when I’ve found this to be a thing that gets in the way of living.  However, when taking on a new lifestyle, planning is a key to success.

Sure, it’s easy to follow this weight-loss program without too much planning – but not planning at all is going to result in not-so-great results.

I love that I just have to open and prepare (in a few cases, open and eat) five packets a day to get most of my day’s meals ready.  That leaves my Lean & Green to plan for.  And it requires planning.  Even the five packets a day require planning.

I need to be sure that I’m stocked up on my Medifast meals and order in a timely manner so that I don’t hit that “I’m going to run out!” panic mode.  That surely wouldn’t do me much good while trying to control my food choices and make decisions that will get me to goal. 

I need to plan my Lean & Green meals so that I have plenty of vegetables and leans (beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, cheese, meatless products) on hand to create tasty meals that will keep me satisfied.

I need to think about what my day’s schedule is like so that I know if I need to have a few bars or bags of bites in my purse or if I can prepare a day of shakes to pull out of the fridge in my classroom.

Tonight, I’ve planned for the next two days.  I know that I’m going to the Brewers’ game right after school tomorrow.  I won’t have time to pick up a healthy dinner between school and the game, so I wrote down my Chipotle order and left money with my dad and he’ll have it packed up and ready to go.  I know that I’ll need one Medifast meal for at the game, so I’ll have a bar or bag of Barbecue Bites in my purse for the game.  I know I’ll need lots of water to get through the night, so I’ll have a few large bottles of water ready to go.  And, knowing that I will be the ball game late tomorrow night, I have my meals for Tuesday planned so that I don’t have to worry about them tomorrow night or early Tuesday morning – when I know I will be wanting to squeeze in as many hits of the snooze button as humanly possible.

This is planning to succeed.  This is how I’ve lost nearly 50 pounds and plan to lose a whole bunch more. 

Sure, I could leave it to chance – but then I’d be having a bratwurst with Secret Stadium Sauce and sauerkraut for dinner tomorrow – followed by a soda or a beer.  And I’d be without meals for Tuesday because I’d still hit the snooze button in the morning.

I choose to plan.  Sure, sometimes I take it a little far – but it’s a long way from the starting line to the finish line.

Go get ‘em, tigers!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Keeping it Clean & Simple

Originally Published April 27, 2012


Yesterday I had the great fortune of being welcomed into a facebook group of medifriends.  It is an active and chatty group of ladies that are really working their journey - wherever they are in this process.  Some are very new, some are in transition and some - like me - are returning customers.  This is what inspired yesterday's Find Your Happy Place blog post.

Well, this group is taking on a challenge for the weekend - we're keeping it CLEAN & SIMPLE today through Sunday...longer if we're inspirted.  No extras in our meals, sticking to our water, adding in some green tea, and staying true to the program.  I love it!




Sometimes, we need a reminder of what it is that's going to get us to goal - and through goal into the healthy lifestyle that will keep us going and active for the rest of our lives.  It's good to review the program and sharpen our focus.  Not that we purposefully let things loosen up - but life gets a hold of us and sometimes, the picture is a little blurry, the scale is buried under a spaghetti squash (yes, that is the case this very moment), the measuring cup is in the pile of dirty dishes.  

Well, this weekend is the time for us to put on our glasses (maybe I should clean the lenses...), bake that spaghetti squash for another day and do the dishes!

If you're inclined to challenge yourself to clean up your routine, I welcome you to join me and would love to hear how it goes for you.  You know where to find me.

Happy Medifasting Weekend, my friends!

Go get 'em, tigers!