Meal Planning

I usually hit the grocery store once a week and see what is on sale for meat/veg, etc. On a budget, I usually plan my meals around that and most often eat the same thing twice that week (i.e. make dinner Monday night, stick half in the fridge and eat the other half Wed lunch or dinner). I have found keeping chopped veggies and grilled cooked chicken or ground cooked meat in the fridge is a HUGE help- its a quick grab for a taco salad, grilled chicken salad, etc. As I am making dinner, I am also usually making my lunch for the next day (or as I am packing my kids' lunches, I make my own)...

Like you, I HATE water. I know, I know. I just don't enjoy drinking it, and usually have to force it down. (I used to be lucky to get one glass down a day and wondered why I had headaches, dry patchy skin, and over ate).... I finally set a goal, went out and bought a few refillable thermos/water bottles and now carry one with me at all times. Its amazing how just carrying one around will encourage consumption. As part of my diet regiment, I drink a glass of water (chug it really) a few minutes before I eat a meal- extra water and it helps with curbing the overeating. I keep a pitcher of water in the fridge and switch it up between adding a sliced up lemon or a sliced up cucumber in it (cucumber water is my new favorite!) I have also tried lime and strawberries, although the lime was definitely overpowering. It's taken a little while for my body to acclimate but I now actually crave water! Happy hydrating!

:indifferent:

I plan on Sunday for the week and get everything together set my new goals for the week.

I do plan a little because I only shop once a week. So I think about how often I want fish or meat, I buy that and then I get veg/fruit according to offer and season. If necessary, I freeze some ingredients. However, I only plan my dinners and have easy things for breakfast/lunch, so cereal, fruit, raw veg or sandwiches.

I tend to buy 1.5l bottles of water and I get 0.5l coke zero as my treat. In winter I drink vast amounts of tea but in summer I never seem to drink enough.

I find it is best to plan breakfast/lunch ahead. log them (honestly) and choose dinner based on calories left, exercise completed and family happenings.

Hi. I shop once per week, Sundays, in the grocery store and the farmers market; I see what is fresh and available and take it from there as far as my meal planning is concerned. However, I more or less only plan to the extent that I stock enough for a week, meals often get decided on the same day when I step into the kitchen; I have a hectic life and couldn't manage detailed planning for meals days ahead.

For water, I carry water around all the time. It helps to remind you that you should drink.

Just so you know, that coffee I have in the morning has a 1/2 cup of half and half and 2 full tbs. of sugar, but I have roughly 1900 calories for the day so I make it fit.

I feel you on the water too, I've been using mio in my water, no calories, and if you get the the mio sport you get a good dose of electrolytes, potassium etc that you will probably want for your work outs anyways.

Also, maybe consider getting something like a bobble bottle or a brita water filter bottle to carry around with you. That way you can refill it where ever you go, sometimes you just have to force the water down until you get used to drinking more of it. I HATE water, but once I start getting heavy in to the work outs for a few months I find suddenly my tastebuds have changed and that water starts tasting much better.

Bump

I shop once a week so I plan a week's worth of dinners. My family is easy for lunch: they all eat sandwiches, so it's either sandwiches or leftovers. Breakfast is always a hot grain cereal with some milk, honey and coffee (I do love it!).

I also keep a list of recipes that we like, and that makes it easier when planning so I'm not constantly having to go out of my way to make things up.