Losing weight can feel like going to war in your mind. You’ll come across big obstacles, but facing them head-on can help you become stronger and more resilient. Clean eating and meal planning are the best ways to lose weight and keep it off long-term. You focus on the quality of foods you are eating to nourish and heal your body. Here are some of the benefits and reasons to give it a try.
Create a List of “Yes” Foods
Too often we focus on the things we can’t have when it comes to new eating habits and weight loss. This creates a feeling of lack and our brains make everything feel harder than it is. By focusing on what you can have and what you can do, it creates empowerment and a positive feeling that can help you better achieve your weight loss goals. Your mind will focus on these foods as being good and that can help you succeed. For example, instead of saying, “I can’t have sugar,” you can tell yourself, “I can have sweet and delicious fruits when I want something sweet.” Then make sure to have those foods readily on hand.
Provides Structure to Your Eating
Meal planning is great because it provides structure to what you’re going to eat. Some meal plans will be set up in a way that tells you what kinds of foods to eat at each meal. You can even categorize your yes foods so that it simplifies the process of choosing what to eat at a meal. This might look like breakfast is a protein and a grain carb. So you might eat eggs and oatmeal. A snack might be a fruit or vegetable carb along with some dairy protein. This kind of structure also provides much-needed flexibility so that you don’t get bored.
You Never Need to Wonder What You are Going to Eat
With a meal plan, you don’t need to stare into the abyss of your refrigerator wondering what you’ll eat for your next meal. Your meal plan has already been done for you. Whether you plan your own meals or use a meal planning service or weight loss kit, you can build a calendar to help you always be prepared for your meals.
People With a Plan Are More Likely to Reach Their Goals
The truth is that weight loss is about planning and intentionality. When you have goals that are clearly defined, you are more likely to reach them. A meal plan is a tool to help you reach your weight loss goals. It helps you move forward with a defined action plan. Planning meals takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier and easier.
Losing Weight Starts in the Kitchen
Most people think they need to spend hours a day in the gym to lose weight. And while exercise has numerous benefits, especially for improving bone density and muscle tone, when it comes to weight loss, what you put in your mouth matters more than how much time you spend in the gym. One of the best reasons to focus on clean eating and meal planning is that they are the best weapons you have to help you with your weight loss goals. They help you feel better in your body, reduce inflammation, and overcome any food addictions you might struggle with. Losing weight starts in the kitchen, and clean eating will be the best thing you ever did for yourself.
Think Long-Term
While many women lose weight for special events like getting married, they only think about restricting and counting in as much as it helps them toward that short-term goal. In order to have long-term success, you need to see beyond the short-term and look at habits you can make for life. Eating clean doesn’t mean you’ll never enjoy a piece of cake again, but it does mean that you might wait until a special occasion instead of calling every day at 4 PM special.
Don’t Expect Change Overnight
Change will come when you start eating clean and planning your meals, but don’t expect it to happen in an instant. You may get quick results with crash diets, but a long-term clean eating plan can help you maintain your progress and even make more progress after the big event.