Steps to weight loss – part 2 Food
In my last blog I talked about how you can set yourself up for successful weight loss by getting prepared and we focused on Vision. As I mentioned I like to break it down into four parts – vision, food, move and mindset and will give you some ideas of what you can do in each of these areas to set yourself up for success. For this weeks blog we are focusing on Food and I am sharing some practical steps you can take.
1) Remove foods you no longer want to eat
This is key to success. Removing temptation will support your efforts and make this so much easier for you. If you are surrounded by foods you are choosing to avoid, it becomes a battle of willpower and no surprise – willpower often loses! This is a simple yet powerful step.
2) De-clutter and re-organise your kitchen
You might wonder what this has to do with losing weight but it has a lot to do with it! Having a clean clear space is going to encourage you to want to cook. The first step is to go through each press (yes every press!) and remove all the items you don’t need, food that is out of date, all the extra wooden spoons you don’t need! Trust me, you will be amazed at what you will find – even in a cutlery drawer!
Once you have cleared some space it is time to re-organise that space so that it supports your healthy habits. Simple things like switching the location of the coffee maker with the blender can make a big difference. The things you want to use daily are the things that need to be to hand.
3) Stock up on healthy foods
Now that you have created some space for your new healthy foods, it’s time to go shopping – the fun part! Find space for the new items, simple things like keeping the fruit bowl in a place where you will see it often (mine is in the middle of the kitchen table) makes a big difference. Label the shelves in your fridge so you know where things go (once you start loading up with veg you run out of space quickly!). You may also need to pick up some equipment, things you will need include:
- A blender (if you need advice on buying a blender have a read here)
- Sharp chopping knife
- Water bottle (ideally glass)
- Snack container for on the go snacks
4) Ask for support from family and friends
This is key to your success. Family and friends need to be on the same page as you. There is no point in your partner thinking they are doing something nice for you by bringing home some ‘treats’ for you on a Friday evening if you are doing your best to avoid them! The secret here is to be very clear what kind of support it is you need – quite possibly family and friends will be able to provide different types of support. One friend might become your exercise buddy, another may try out some recipes with you, while your partner might do the cleanup after dinner so you can get your walk in – all different kinds of support. Identify who can support you with what and ask them specifically for that help.
I hope you start putting some of these steps into action and in my next blog I will discuss some of the practical steps you can take to set yourself up for success with regard to exercise.
If you are ready to commit to losing weight, you might be interested in my INSPIRE Healthy Weight Loss programme.