Planning

Planning is the key.  I was somewhat worried about this upcoming week.  Anita my zumba instructor is taking the week off (she takes a week here and there).  Typically on those weeks I also take the week off.  I didn't want to do it.  I don't want to take a week off of exercise.  That's not acceptable to me. I also know that according to the c25k program that I have been following that I will no longer be sitting around with a 'training run' that needs to be completed. Knowing that I have that waiting to complete really is a good motivator for me!  Ohhhh this is bad...no set in stone zumba and no training runs that NEED to be completed. I knew I had to come up with a plan.

I have been planning out our meals for quite some time.  I start by sitting down with my work schedule and Todd's every changing work schedule for the week and I first of all figure out which (if any) meals we will be eating together.  At that point I know which meals I need to plan for.  I try to plan our meals and place them throughout the menu strategically so that they can be easily used as leftovers.  I then make my grocery list from that.  Todd usually eats the leftovers and I eat fruits and veggies for the meals that we are not together (ok ok ok, my work lunch is lots of fruits and veggies.....but  if you know me you will know that I usually eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if I'm home alone for dinner...no I refuse to give up my pb&j...and well, since I don't eat much meat, the peanut butter is a good source of nutrients for me).   This week I took it a step further.   I laid out our meals.  I laid out Todd's leftover meals.  I then went onto myfitnesspal and I put in all the planned meals and filled in my other meals.  I know exactly what I am eating for one week. When it comes time to pack my lunch there is no question.  I can tell you what I'm packing next Friday! Of course there is room for adjustments.  This is life and adjustments are always happening.    As if that wasn't enough.  As I mentioned earlier my exercise was in danger.  Not from me...I was determined but it was in danger because the routine was going to be shaken.  So I took the menu planning one step further.  I planned out when I would be exercising..such as running in the AM or PM.....gym in the AM or PM....which gym I would be going to....and even if I would be doing a class at the gym.  There is definitely room within my planned schedule for those little "I think I can throw in a little walk or a little exercise dvd or some minutes using the Xbox kinnect. Always room for that...but my core workouts are planned and scheduled!   And then because I'm a geek, I put it onto a spreadsheet and printed it up for the door of the refrigerator!  


Planning is going to see me through this journey and planning is going to keep my weight off when I lose!  There is no ifs ands or buts about it.  I may have doubted it and wondered if I could at one point.  But not it's not a want...it's not a try....it is definitely I WILL succeed!!