Fail to Plan and You Plan to Fail

Eating right and staying active are imperative to your business success. With all the changes you need to make in your life, including your diet choices and your activity levels, how will you stay motivated to make those changes and stay on track?

The key to staying motivated to keep on track with any new healthy lifestyle program is to PLAN: Prepare, List, Analyze, and keep Non-Negotiable Appointments.

Prepare- Create a menu for the week and shop for all the ingredients that you will need for the week. After coming home from the grocery store, immediately cut your veggies in pre-measured portions and place them in individual baggies to have available for a quick snack or for your meals. Make double servings at dinner so that you immediately have lunch for the next day. Lay out your workout clothes for the next day or prepare your gym bag. Some people have even slept in their workout clothes!

List & Log- Make a list of your meals for the week, as well as log the activities you will do each day. Place the list of meals in an area where your family can see it so you they will always know the answer to, "What's for dinner?". This will also help prompt you if you need to take something out of the freezer the night before. Your log of activity will stand as a reminder of what you will do as well as a look back to celebrate what you have completed.

Analyze- Take some time at the end of the day to evaluate what worked and what didn't? Did you run out of healthy foods to eat on the run? Perhaps you just need to pack a few more snacks so that you are not tempted to hit the drive-through on the way home. Did you complete your exercise for the day? If an outdoor activity fell through, perhaps you need to plan on an indoor alternative to keep you on track.

Non-Negotiable- Make your exercise time a non-negotiable appointment with yourself that you refuse to break or . Rescheduling This is your time to refresh, renew, recover, and get rid of stress of the day and take care of yourself - body, mind and soul. Even if only for a few minutes in the morning, or a long walk after dinner, take this time as an indulgence essential you need every day.