To be clear, losing weight is not the same as being fit. The end goal should be to improve overall fitness, which involves more than just being slim. Although the best results come when this effort is combined with regular exercise, it is possible for most people to make a big difference by reducing calories.

Losing weight and slimming down are not complicated. That does not mean it is easy to accomplish. For some people it may be like climbing a mountain. However, the formula really is simple: take in less calories than you use.

We’ve all heard the maxim: Failing to plan is planning to fail. It certainly applies to weight loss.

Planning ahead, like keeping a food journal, is one of the strategies taught in our weight loss class. It is another one of those principles that is so simple yet so difficult for many people.

Here is a list of 15 ideas to help with planning:

• Make Ziploc bags of snacks ahead of time.
• Plan dinners for the entire week at the start of the week.
• Schedule your workouts and don’t miss them.
• Make sure to have veggies and other healthy options on hand at all times.
• Keep sugary foods out of the house.
• Write down your meals and snacks the night before or the morning of.
• Have back up meal options accessible in the refrigerator or freezer in case what you plan fails.
• On a day when you have an event that will involve food (i.e. dining out, cook-out, wedding, party), leave yourself caloric leeway throughout the day to accommodate for a higher calorie meal.
• Write down all food and exercise ahead of time.
• Take food with you whenever you’re on the go.
• Plan meals before you go grocery shopping.
• When you’re busiest, make a few days’ meals at a time.
• Look up your menu options ahead of time when dining out and limit your choices before going out.
• Buy food for a week at a time.
• Create a calorie breakdown per meal and snack . Example:  1300 calorie plan

Breakfast:  300
AM Snack:  150
Lunch:  300
PM Snack:  150
Dinner:  350
Eve Snack:  150

No one is perfect. Expect to have days when all the plans fall apart or you get ambushed.  Pre-plan to the best of your ability. You will get better at it week by week.

Share your ideas, tips, or tricks for planning ahead.