Prepping for Success

A few years back, I read that if you fail to prepare, then you plan to fail. This could not ring more true when it comes to the subject of nutrition.

If you don’t plan your week well, you will have to think - on the fly - about when it’s time to chow down. More often than not, we turn to what is fast and convenient.

Why I decided to meal prep

That is why 4 years ago, along with my dedication to fitness, I began to meal prep.

It makes no sense for me to put in so much hard work, just to counteract all of that time and energy by eating junk.

Check with your healthcare team first

Before I continue, I want to state that I am not a nutritionist nor a doctor. I am only speaking from my own experience.

You should absolutely speak with your medical provider about your personal health goals and heed their recommendations.

My healthy eating and meal prep tips

This is what I learned from the last few years:

1. Ignore fad diets. There are so many diets that come and go. Often, they are touted by celebrities or people who are claiming miracles.

There is so much noise around food, especially in the states. No amount of starving yourself is going to be sustainable.

The best diet is full of whole foods and is one you can stick to. Everyone is completely different in their goals and needs. Finding what works best for you is the first step.

2. Plan and prepare. I begin my food prep the Thursday before. When planning what I am going to eat in the week ahead, I decide what sounds good, how many of each meal I will need, and what ingredients I will need to buy.

Oftentimes, I choose a genre of food that sounds good and try and incorporate those flavors into my week so it makes it easy to stick to.

3. Make a list and stick to it. Once I’ve decided what I will eat and what I need from the store, I make a list on my iPhone. Putting it on paper is fine if you can remember to bring it to the store!

I like it on my phone because I like ticking the boxes as I shop. Most of the food items I need are on the outside track of the store but if you do walk down the treat aisle, just remember to stick to the list that you brought.

4. Meal prep. I usually take one day to cook my meals for the week, I put the first half in the fridge and the second half of the week in the freezer so it doesn’t go bad.

Prepping your food is key to sticking to your plan. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come home from a long day and been so grateful that my meal just needed to be warmed up.

5. Treat yourself. If you have been able to stick to your plan the entire week, it is absolutely acceptable to treat yourself to a cheat meal.

Giving yourself something to look forward to is motivating and good for your mindset to reset. Even The Rock does it!