I learned early on in my weight loss journey that
pre-planning was definitely in the cards for me. I have a better week and even a far simpler
day when my meals are planned out for me.
It makes avoiding temptation easier and it even gives me things to look
forward to – whether that is dessert, a snack, or even a particular meal of the
day.
Undoubtedly pre-planning takes a little getting used to,
especially if it’s not something you did prior. I do not feel it takes a whole
lot of work – if I had to guestimate I would say it takes me about 3-5 minutes
to pre-plan my entire day the night before.
Once I know what I’ll be having, I then pack those items up to have in
the refrigerator so when I need to leave in the morning I can grab my bag
(without having to think) and off I go. Now I choose to pre-plan the night
before because when I wake up in the morning I already know what I’m having for
breakfast, snack, lunch and dinner. It
simplifies my routine and I love simple.
Dinner is always noted in my tracker and my nightly snack is occasionally
jotted down, but there are times where I leave myself with 2-6 points to figure
out what I want for snack that night (depending on my mood).
Pre-planning can help you in a multitude of ways. It can help you watch your spending on
groceries (if you’re on a budget you can pre-plan a weeks worth of meals based
on your budget and pick and choose from that meal chart). It can push along
your weight loss by keeping you focused and on track. It can be that unseen “angel” on your
shoulder giving you the strength to resist the daily temptations that come
along with life and food. It just makes
things so much easier.
I personally meal plan daily because I find it to be easier
for me, but I have also planned my meals for an entire week – including breakfast,
snacks, lunch and dinner. I usually
pre-plan weekly meals when I really need focus and structure, particularly when
I’ve been in the same food rut. I like
to switch up what I’m eating and when I’m stuck I put everything on paper
because it forces me to think outside the box.
Typically I plan my meals around what is in the house
(cabinets, freezer and refrigerator), but since I do grocery shop 3-4 times a
week (usually it’s to run in to get fresh produce or vegetables and a few other
odds and ends) if I see something I want to make I’ll pick it up and
incorporate it into the meal plan for the next day.
Breakfast items are typically staple; so I plan those
according to what I feel like eating.
Sometimes it’s a “true” breakfast: eggs, home fries and sausage/bacon –
other times it’s a deli meat sandwich or even cereal. There have been a few times where a leftover
hamburger has been my breakfast! The
beauty of pre-planning is you really can see and adjust where you spend your
point allowance. For instance, there are
instances where I know lunch and dinner are going to be higher in points, so
I’ll keep breakfast under a certain amount of points but I ensure it is are
going to be equally as filling.
9 times out of 10 I bring a packed lunch from home with me
to work. For years I’ve instilled in
myself that it’s just ridiculous to spend $10+ for a meal at lunch for
something that I may not necessarily enjoy.
Occasionally I do decide to have lunch out on the go, but I try to
ensure those meals are as pre-planned as possible. There have been instances
where what I have brought in to eat was just not edible (which I’ve learned try
not to bring something in you’ve never eaten before) I do make the exception to
grab a quick bite out. But I try to
stick around the same points plus value my original pre-planned lunch was
at. For example, one time I brought in
vegetarian eggplant hamburgers with salad and wheat flax pita bread. The whole lunch was to be 7 points plus. I had never tried eggplant hamburgers before,
but I was feeling adventurous. When I
assembled my hamburgers and took one bite I was completely repulsed. I couldn’t
even stomach it with a blocked nose (not that I’d want to spend 7 points plus
on something I had to block my nose to eat!).
I ended up needing to reevaluate my lunch plans. Do I go to Subway? Do I
go to McDonald’s? I wasn’t feeling either option – so I ended up at the local
grocery store, picking up a frozen dinner for 5 points plus and some fresh
fruit.
Dinner is normally my biggest point allowance and
consumption. I don’t cook just for
myself; I cook for others, so I have to take into account the pallets of
others. Not everyone is going to like
the same things, so it’s all about finding a common ground and introducing new
foods in fun and unique ways that are flavorful and enjoyable. I cook because I enjoy it, but I’m not going
to make two separate meals – well that is, unless I REALLY want macaroni and
cheese (my boyfriend will not eat a food dish that has cheese in/on it – outside
of pepperoni pizza) or I want a lower point pasta. In those instances I’ll throw another small
pot of water onto boil – but other than those 2 instances our meal is our meal,
no exceptions. Plus, I find knowing what we are having for dinner ahead of time
gives us a meal to look forward to.
Understandably life happens and sometimes plans change. There have been many times where dinner is
completely planned out and the phone rings and we’re extended an invite to come
over or go out for dinner. Yes, I follow
Weight Watchers but that doesn’t mean I cannot go out for dinner or eat someone
else’s food. That’s the flexibility with
Weight Watchers – I can go out and enjoy myself and not feel guilty because I
can dip into my 49 weekly points if needed. It’s nothing I get stressed out
over, as long as I have the points I’m golden.
The only extra work is deleting what I’ve already tracked in my tracker
and replacing it with the new meal I’ll be having in replacement of it.
One of the reasons I love pre-planning is because it keeps
me honest and it keeps me incredibly focused. How? Well, yesterday was National
Donut Day and I love donuts (probably just as much as I love pizza). I still eat donuts whenever I want one
because it’s a food I enjoy. Well, on this grand day donuts were being given
out free to customers who ordered a coffee beverage from two of the local
coffee shops in town. I didn’t order a
coffee from Dunkin Donuts, but I did order a coffee from my favorite local
coffee house (who also, BTW, sells THE best donuts). I decided to bypass the donut – letting my
boyfriend get 2 donuts for himself. Why?
Because I didn’t plan on having a donut – but I DID plan on having a piece of
cake I had made the day before. That
piece of cake was delicious and far better than the momentary enjoyment I would
have received from the donut. Plus, my
cake was 4 points plus compared to the 9-13 points plus that donut would have
cost me. Now – if I decided that I
really wanted that donut, I could have just juggled up my day. I would have not had my piece of cake, I
would have not had my Pringles and I would have dipped into my weeklies for the
remainder of the points I’d have needed to cover it.
I enjoy this method because it keeps me on track and
focused, but it also allows me flexibility.
What I have written down is not etched in stone. If things need to be changed up, I can do
that, without guilt. But I also know I
feel like a rockstar having gotten through a whole day, resisting temptation
and feeling satisfied with my choices.
QUESTION:
Do you pre-plan your meals?
If not, is it something you consider trying?
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