Being Prepared Will Save You from Those Cravings

We all know the importance of being prepared for things. 

If we are speaking of our jobs or our families, we are very good at being prepared. For instance, I have never used a set of jumper cables but sure as sugar they are in my car. 

So let's talk about being prepared when we are dieting. Super Bowl Sunday was really rough around here. My family was thrilled to be making all sorts of goodies to snack on for this occasion. (Disclaimer: None of them really like football.) Anyway, the house was jam packed with things that I should never eat. However, I was prepared. 

I had good-for-me snacks to handle whatever cravings their snacks may send my way. My favorite low-cal frozen dinner makes a garlic spring roll. Those were a huge help in getting past the need for junk food. I had chocolate rice cakes handy for sweet crunchy fun and I had cucumber slices and hummus to get me through the chips and dip. All in all it was a successful dieting day. 

The point is that I was prepared. You need to be prepared every day for every meal or snack. You should know every time you head for the kitchen exactly what you are going in for. If you let yourself look around for something to eat, you will find trouble. 

Here are my suggestions: 

• You need to treat this like you are training for a new skill. We aren't just talking about losing 5-10 lbs to fit into a dress for a special occasion. We are talking about changing how you live to keep you healthy. You need to get educated on how to eat and when to eat. Also, it is a good idea to get out of your comfort zone here. You need to try new foods. Stop looking for a replacement for chicken strips. Get rid of the idea of them all together! There are so many foods out there that are packed with protein that can put away any more need for those crazy strips.
• Sit down and write out a menu for the week, including snacks.
• Hit the grocery store to make sure you have all of your ingredients.
• Do your prep work before the week starts so you aren't taking too long to prepare.
• Try new recipes to keep from getting bored.
• Keep quick snacks on hand to keep you out of unexpected hurdles, like cake and cookies at the office.

One last note for you: I have been using a website to diet this time. So far I have found it to be very useful to me. It is very detailed and gives me a place to track my sugar values. I love how user friendly it is and it is FREE to use! If you are still looking for a diet to follow, give this site a look.  http://www.sparkpeople.com/

Blessings and happy snackin'!