When I think about how to eat well and live well, it is important to have a plan. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not some super-Type-A-plan-every-minute-of-every-day type of person. I swear! However, it is important to have a plan of when you are going to eat in order to make food a priority. The majority of us who don’t eat well or are at a weight that we don’t want to be at is not because we are eating super unhealthy food. Most of us are gaining weight off really healthy food! Frustrating right? The problem is that meal timing needs to be taken into consideration. It is not just what you eat, but when you eat that is important.

Plan of action for a new year:

1. Write down your goals! Start writing every single thing you want for this year. It can be super minute and materialistic or it can be a big picture goal and life-changing. Write down everything that comes to you and then think it through and see if you left anything off. Then divide the goals into different aspects of your life–relationships, health, finance, career etc. When you look at your goals choose two in each category that are the most important to you.

2. Let’s look at your health goals. Look at the two you chose and figure out what you need to do to make it happen. More often than not, it will come down to schedule, planning and organization to allow you to reach your goals.

3. Take out a new piece of paper and create a schedule. When will you go grocery shopping? When will you exercise? How long will it take to get to your destination? How long do you need to run your errands? This may all seem silly, but this is the holy grail of it all! I am serious. In order to reach your goals and create long-term, sustainable behavior change (ie. In order to make it work!) it all has to fit into a realistic plan. If it is not realistic it is not going to stick.

4. Start to figure out what works and what doesn’t. If you have a partner or support team, get them in the conversation because it may involve asking for help so the schedule works. It may also mean hiring someone to help with something in order to make it work.

Notice, how I have yet to discuss nutrition or exercise. Before we can even discuss what foods you should eat and how many calories to eat, we have to have a schedule that works. It is all about the schedule!

5. ARE YOU WORTH IT? Ask yourself that question. Do you believe that you are worth creating a new schedule that helps you reach your goals? It may inconvenience someone or cause a few people to have to change routine or habit but it means achieving your goals. So…are you worth it?

I think you are!!

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