All week I have been talking about creating a plan, whether it is for your family’s meals or for steps to make a healthier you in 2014.  Personally, I find that I make excuses (plus procrastinate way too much).  Excuses are merely reasons for allowing yourself not to succeed.  Too often we are our own undoing.

Grab a pen and paper.  Think of something you want to achieve in the New Year.  Now jot down all the “reasons” that are popping into your mind that potentially could stop you.  These reasons you’ve given for failing to reach your desired goal are just clever excuses.  Excuses that are so clever that you have convinced yourself that they are legitimate.  Like me, you haven’t attained your goals or plans because you have given into those excuses and they are very convincing.

Let’s make this New Year different.  How you may ask?

Now let’s refocus on your goal and my goal.  I know for me, if I lose focus on my goal for even a brief moment, those clever excuses take over and allow me to procrastinate and leaving me without progress,  satisfaction or any kind of accomplishment.

Here are two steps that have helped me to reach my goals/plans:

Step 1: Simply make a plan — let’s take meal planning.  Write out your meal plan and include a list of acceptable food choices and/or recipes.  Personally, I sit down with a weekly menu planner grid (if you want this please email me), which has spaces for 3 main meals and 2 snacks.  I fill in each meal, even putting in leftovers so they don’t fill up my fridge and get thrown out because they didn’t get used.  From the menu plan, I then write out my grocery list.  I live a good 20 minutes from town, so I shop for a week’s worth of groceries at a time.  Some of you may choose to shop every couple of days, which is fine because you have already planned your meals.

Give it a try and you may find your body is not only happier, but healthier, because you haven’t reached for packaged food to create a meal in a rush.

Step 2: Have Accountability — I know that if I share my goal/plan with someone else, I tend to stay the course and achieve sweet success. I need individuals who are willing to actively check up on me like ask me directly how it’s going.  Right now, think of at least one or two people you can enlist to hold you accountable for reaching your goals.  Share your plan and why meeting this goal is important to you.

I have shared with you that I am aiming to lose those pesky pounds that crept on during my recent vacation.  Simply writing about how I am doing has helped me stay the course when I go sideways.  I have already implemented planning ahead for my meals, so I don’t get caught too many times without food I can eat.  I even plan what to eat when I eat out.  Like tonight, I am eating out at a restaurant.  I know that I won’t be eating any bread products (I am gluten intolerant), but I need to have 3-4 oz of protein, lots of fresh veggies (choosing a salad), and I can have some kind of complex carbohydrate.  I usually stick to the main macronutrients when “creating” a meal when I eat out.  I have even checked the menu of the restaurant to figure out my options, but that is so I won’t cave to those clever excuses to indulge in something else.

If you want to have help with meeting your health and nutrition goals for the New Year, don’t hesitate to contact me.  I have a couple of open spots to work with new clients.

Call or email Brenda to schedule your FREE Discovery Chat.