Planning and mood

I love this tool. As you might of guessed from my hubby rant I was in a horrible mood yesterday. I have been on vacation this past 10 days and had not been planning my food. Well, last night I made a plan for the entire week. This morning I did food prep for the week and made some yummy receipts and I feel so motivated and in control. I love that I don't have to run to an expensive fad diet club anymore. I just have to plan protein forward with real food and the rest takes care of itself. Just wanted to share.

I have to plan and do prep work. It's the only way I can keep on track.

It's been a busy social time for me this weekend and it's actually made me kind of anxious. What will be available for me to eat etc., etc?

I feel out of control and it really causes me anxiety.

Yesterday was a big BBQ and I figured I would just bring my own stuff. I offered to bring a veggie tray and made sure I had low cal/fat dips. I brought my own veggie burger, light cheese slice and a "thin" bun. I felt so much better being able to plan that meal and know that I could enjoy the Bbq and not stress.

Planning is key to staying on track IMHO.

Sounds great all your planning Leeann. Good for you for taking the steps you need to continue to take care of yourself. Don't let anyone steer you off course. If you need help and/or support let us know and hopefully some of us can help. I am not feeling so great emotionally today either (relationships are hard and I often feel misunderstood). So, if some of us are not feeling like we can contribute to helping, I am beginning to see that there is a lot of support here and one of us can surely help. ...take care.

Barb

You inspired me to get my meal prep back in action. I was housesitting for a friend this weekend and got off track so I need to get back in the driver's seat and not leave my food choices to the last minute. I end up eating stuff I shouldn't eat. Thanks for the reminder.

I read somewhere- and found this to be soo true- half the battle of losing weight is meal prep and planning!

I agree and this is an area that I also struggle with. As I have a small fridge at work, all I need is to shop for lunches and bring the groceries with me. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't and as I work alone, if I don't plan, I don't eat. I'm making chili tonight and will label the smaller containers so my sons don't eat them - but portion from the large one I always make for them. A container of 1% cottage cheese works in the fridge, or half a package of sliced turkey or chicken that I MUST portion out to no more than three slices. The Armstrong cheese sticks are often on sale, and my go to snack at night is either fresh or frozen berries with half a cup of Skyr yogurt. Dinner is protein with some veggies and breakfast, during the week, is always a protein shake and an egg on the weekends.

The KISS rule keeps it simple for me, controls my portions, and although often repetitive, I haven't minded it yet and it is working for me.

As I have been told, it will only get harder from here and I think the food prep and shopping will always be key to success. Encouragement and motivation from others helps us to this.

I found that BPA FREE 1 cup storage containers go a long way to help portion control. I was watching this diet guru on TV selling these portion containers ---- so I thought hey I will get 1 cup ones and fill them 1/2, 3/4 or full and there are my portions, then I freeze or eat the next days. I also bought 1 cup Pyrex to microwave- I do not use plastic.

Me too, love these containers but get easily bored of the same foods. So much so that meal prep though necessary has become burdensome and I miss the Opti days. I supplement at least 1 protein shake a day and at least one protein water and tend to make the rest of my day about small snacks in the form of yogurt, smooth cottage cheese, ostrim meat sticks and refried beans/ricotta and beans or tuna in order to build some variety when working.

When I am home, I am always looking for fresh ideas that are easy to make and don't get too dry or boring as I end up eating the same thing for a few days related to our small portions and high protein needs.

What are you prepping in terms of meals, are you able to share any inspiration?

i have puchased a few cookbooks but find the portions are huge or recipes more complicated than they are worth considering the small amount we eat and the final protein tallies small.