Fail to plan and you plan to fail
Share:
I believe we can all learn from each other. Even as Diet coaches and Mentors we are learning all the time. Our members, and especially our successful members, all have their own way of doing things and we love to hear their tips and advice.
Recently I got the chance to interview Dame Kelly Holmes(MBE) and needless to say I took a huge amount of tips away from it. One thing Kelly talked about was being prepared. If you know you will be out for the day, bring your lunch with you. Most of you have oversized handbags that are ideal for fitting a Tubbaware box in. Nuts and fruit are easily carried in a sandwich bag (in the end of your handbag) and having a bottle of water at hand all the times may just keep those false hunger pains at bay. But really we have to prepare, shop and stock up. If you have nothing with you and hunger strikes where on the high street will you end up? I know where I usually go…
The same goes for exercise... If you don't have your gym gear washed and ready to go are you more likely to just give it a miss? No clean gym gear used to be one of my favourite excuses. But if I plan out my week on a Sunday then I wash enough to have ready.
Likewise, having the right food in your kitchen cupboard in your desk at work and even in the glove box of the car can be the difference between staying on track or not. But you have to actually go and get it or buy it online. Be proactive when it comes to food rather than reactive and you are sure to succeed.
The planning rule goes for eating out too. Tomorrow evening I will be going out for dinner. But I have already been online and checked out the menu so I know I can have a salad no dressing. I also know that the people with me will order dessert and it may kill me not to have it but as Kelly said "There will be pain at times but how much do you want to reach your goal?" Yes it will pain me not to have a dessert but I will be so happy when I walk out of that restaurant knowing I made the right choices. I will however treat myself to a glass of wine or two but I will be straight back on my plan on Saturday morning. Kelly also explained that a treat should last all weekend. So get back on track straight away and don't allow it to run out of control. Members: check out and print our dining out guide and if you can look at it before you even book the restaurant. But everyone can do some research, view menus online and often see the nutritional values too. So take 5 minutes out and get an idea of what you can eat rather than what you can't and it may just save your diet.
Another tip that I heard from one of our members is that she grows her own veg and herbs. So when she doesn't have time to get to the shops she simply goes to her garden and picks her dinner. I had never thought about it like that but she has a ready-made fat free green grocer at the side of her house and it's free.
Click the link to read my first Q&A with Dame Kelly Holmes. Dame Kelly Holmes on motivation
I'd love to hear your diet tips, so please do share. Until next time, happy healthy eating.Kind regards,
Julie Fitzgerald
My Page
Hey Chris, I am glad to hear my article helped. I am sure you were much happier when you did go.
Comment by JULESDUB -
Hi Julie, your comment on having your gym kit nicely washed and ironed rang true with me tonight. I have a Tai Chi class at 10.00a.m.tomorrow and my Tai Chi trousers need turning up. I was thinking of missing the class as it is 10.30 p.m. now and don't feel like shortening the trousers but what it is they say No pain, no gain. Good article, Thanks, Chris.
Comment by PIANOTEACHER -