Who plans their day out?
austinsneeze
Posts: 220 Member
I'm so spontaneous so it's hard for me to plan any meals ahead of time (especially since I'm at college), but I'm wondering if anyone plans out their meals ahead of time. Does it work for you or do you find it too restricting?
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Replies
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I do I do. I could post my diary a week at a time if MFP would let me. I'd have to tweak it slightly for workouts and last minute changes but those are rare. I'm pretty predictable.0
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I plan my whole day, usually week out. But, I have no problem with eating the same thing every day for a week. If I plan on varying what I eat, I always log ahead of time to see how I will make out calorie wise. This way I can make adjustments before it's too late. I have had some luck doing it this way.0
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I'm super busy with Grad school so I find it easy to buy groceries for the week on Sunday, then I know what my lunches are then I don't have to think and I can log them in the morning when I pack my lunch for school.
Sometimes I delete things I don't eat and add other things, but it helps me as a guide. As for dinner, I don't usually log in advance.0 -
I'm so spontaneous so it's hard for me to plan any meals ahead of time (especially since I'm at college), but I'm wondering if anyone plans out their meals ahead of time. Does it work for you or do you find it too restricting?
Wouldn't it be easier if you were at college? like you have a schedule and stuff .... so I don't get how its harder.... to me it would be easier to plan. This kind of seems like a common excuse to me.
Yes I plan everyday ... sometimes for 3-4 days in a row. It's not restricting spending time 1 night saves time for the next 3 nights ...0 -
I eat the same b'fast and pretty much the same lunch Mon-Fri. I have those meals pre-programmed in the "My Meals" section of MFP. Honestly when I was in college, I pretty much ate the same b'fast and same lunch Mon-Fri too. I think it's just the way I am.
It just makes my life much easier now that I have 2 little kids that I also have to plan/cook meals for also. I definitely don't think it's restricting for me. I actually think it's liberating, b/c I don't have to constantly think about food. It's pretty automated.0 -
I'm so spontaneous so it's hard for me to plan any meals ahead of time (especially since I'm at college), but I'm wondering if anyone plans out their meals ahead of time. Does it work for you or do you find it too restricting?
Wouldn't it be easier if you were at college? like you have a schedule and stuff .... so I don't get how its harder.... to me it would be easier to plan. This kind of seems like a common excuse to me.
Yes I plan everyday ... sometimes for 3-4 days in a row. It's not restricting spending time 1 night saves time for the next 3 nights ...
It's actually fairly difficult, my schedule differs daily, I work 30 hours a week, and I tend to stay up later than I should. I'm not making an excuses, I was just looking for variety.0 -
ME! I plan out my whole week usually. Do I stick to it 100% ALL the time? No. But, a failure to plan is a plan for failure...0
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This guy does.
I generally switch my breakfast every other day so I usually eat the same thing for breakfast two days in a row. So I generally log breakfast for today & the day ahead.
Snacks always vary from day to day but I have a standard of things that I generally eat.
Lunch changes day to day.
Dinner changes day to day but we plan our meals and I scale food accordingly to hit macros.
Pre & Post Workout fuel is the same stuff everyday along with supplements.0 -
I try to plan as much as possible, I do a lot better when I'm fully planned for the day.0
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I log on each morning and log my whole day. I am much more successful when I do this.0
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I plan a day ahead only because half the time we don't know what's for dinner until the night before. Then again i also plan my trips out of the house hour by hour in detail, i'm OCD that way.0
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I do...typically after I eat my breakfast because that will define if I need more protien or not...
This week I have planned out 2 days in advance....I am liking it actually.
I am hoping I can start doing it more...makes life easier actually as there is no guessing from day to day and meal to meal what I need to eat to hit my macros.0 -
I sure do. Because it's easier for me... I typically have 3 breakfast meal options.... I keep ingredients for them in the house at all times so I can change it up... but having only 3 it takes the guesswork out.
Breakfast: eggs w/ toast, oatmeal, luna bar.
As for lunch... same thing. I either have a sandwich with veggies, leftovers, or Perdue Simply Smart Chicken tenders w/ veggies or a smoothie.
Dinner: I pair a lean protein with a veggie. It could be chicken, fish, turkey, beef, whatever.
Snacks: I pack my lunch so I pre-log in the morning what I brought with me.... I have cookies at work if the mood strikes... and I have a protein shake most days because I don't hit protein macros without it.
That's it. The weekends are where I allow myself to deviate from the norm because I have the opportunity to work off the extra calories if need be.0 -
I have often do that, especially when I was working on getting enough/not too much of a certain macro. It makes it easier during the day. If something comes up and you choose to alter your plans there is a delete button on your food log. I find it is easier to plan nutritious, filling meals when I pre-log as opposed to grabbing whatever I can quickly and filling it in later.0
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It's an optimal way of keeping yourself on track.0
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Planning my days and weeks is the way I can stay on track. It begins with shopping and what will perish first.
this lifestyle change for me requires many choices and changes so I have to always be thinking ahead ! 0 -
Typically I plan my week out, this way I know what to buy at the store, can do most of my cooking on Sundays, and it makes the rest of the week much easier. It also saves on my deciding last minute to order dinner, because everything is ready to go. I've always like to plan this way for my budget now it helps with my macro and calorie budget as well. Takes some time getting used to, but like anything else once you get in the routine it is very easy.0
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I semi plan. I find if I don't, there isn't anything to eat and I binge on junk.
I usually have 3 different breakfasts I rotate through. It also works to plug them in MFP so I don't miss a day.
Lunch is usually left over dinner. I used to think that I didn't need it, but it is so much easier when I plan.0 -
I plan the night before what I will bring with me to work.
Mostly to make sure I eat enough, or I will get dizzy.0 -
I'm so spontaneous so it's hard for me to plan any meals ahead of time (especially since I'm at college), but I'm wondering if anyone plans out their meals ahead of time. Does it work for you or do you find it too restricting?
Wouldn't it be easier if you were at college? like you have a schedule and stuff .... so I don't get how its harder.... to me it would be easier to plan. This kind of seems like a common excuse to me.
Yes I plan everyday ... sometimes for 3-4 days in a row. It's not restricting spending time 1 night saves time for the next 3 nights ...
Lol, have you ever been to college? It's not just go to class and come home like high school. College is stressful, and schedules VARY, especially because most college students (such as myself) work, have other things to do, etc., and weeks with exams or papers due are DIFFICULT, and studying for these is extremely time-consuming. I find myself drinking too much coffee these weeks, or forgetting to eat at all just because I'm so busy. OR I'm so stressed out that I overeat as I work on my paper. Finding healthy things to eat at school sucks too. I'm pretty much stuck either packing my lunch or buying a granola bar from the vending machine. Also, college students are typically broke. Trying not to eat like a broke college kid is difficult when you actually are one.
As for me, I generally TRY to plan my day out in advance. Otherwise I'll eat like a broke college kid. It varies when things come up as well, such as a quiz I forgot I had etc., or when I realize I no longer have healthy food in my house, nor do I have the time to go get some healthy food if I actually want a healthy amount of sleep......but I generally try to stick to my eating plan.0 -
I most definitely plan out days, but not every day and I certainly allow for changes to be made if circumstance or my mood demands something else. That said, I stay within reason of the boundaries I've set for myself in MFP. My goals are also not strictly weight loss, but body re-composition so I play with macro nutrients and calorie intake quite a bit.0
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I do!
It's something I do at the beginning of my day.
I cook most of my own meals though, so that helps.
I make sure to pack in all the nutrients I need and then see how much I have left over for beer and dessert 0 -
I plan .. I even plan my exercising. I find it a lot easier to just look at the plan that I've set for the week and then just do it than it is to try and think about what to eat when I'm hungry. I LOVE checklists ... dork here ... so this definitely works the best for me 0
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I plan out dinners, only because I'm a working mom and don't get home til 4:45 and my daughter goes to bed by 6:30 so I need to have dinner on the table no later than 5:30. I've started prelogging my dinner at breakfast time, and that gives me a good picture of what I can/should eat for lunch/snacks.0
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I just recently started to plan my day out since this past weekend (Friday).
Yes, I have had to go back and make minor adjustments here and there but for the most part it has helped me stay dedicated to what I say I will consume and I can work in any "extra" calories. (Out to eat, adult beverage in the evening)
It was much easier to NOT PLAN and bring a lunch and think to myself, I feel like eating (insert restaurant). If it is already mapped out, I seem to stick to it. Day 5 and so far so good. I like knowing what my day will look like. I try to plan down to the last calorie, before workout.
This makes it easy to decline any food offerings that are made during the workday or even at home with my kids.
You should try it for a couple days and see how it works for you.0 -
I am a list person too and a planner. I decide for the week M-F, meals and snacks. This makes everything way easier for me, my grocery bill, budget, diet, after work time with my kiddo and boyfriend. It very much worth taking up my Sunday afternoon to make my week so manageable.0
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I totally do this! I usually eat the same breakfast (smoothie) and lunch day in/day out, so after I go grocery shopping I plan out dinner meals for each night and log it into MFP.
I usually plan out one to three days in advance. I just find it easier to stick with knowing what I "can" and "can't" eat for the day.
I don't log exercise until I actually do it.0 -
I grocery shop on Sunday's with the weeks lunches and dinners in mind. I keep life rather simple eating oatmeal or soup at lunch and my snacks are usually yogurt, jello, fruit and veggies. I suspect that your most spontaneous moments are in the evenings when everyone suddenly decides to go to the bar or out for dinner, which can quickly derail any diet! My suggestion would be to keep your breakfast and lunch menu very light on calories so you have more room for outings.0
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I plan my meals and my workouts for the week. Prep days are Sundays and everything is in its own container ready for me to grab! Makes things easier for me if I don' t have to think about it.0
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I'm so spontaneous so it's hard for me to plan any meals ahead of time (especially since I'm at college), but I'm wondering if anyone plans out their meals ahead of time. Does it work for you or do you find it too restricting?
Wouldn't it be easier if you were at college? like you have a schedule and stuff .... so I don't get how its harder.... to me it would be easier to plan. This kind of seems like a common excuse to me.
Yes I plan everyday ... sometimes for 3-4 days in a row. It's not restricting spending time 1 night saves time for the next 3 nights ...
Lol, have you ever been to college? It's not just go to class and come home like high school. College is stressful, and schedules VARY, especially because most college students (such as myself) work, have other things to do, etc., and weeks with exams or papers due are DIFFICULT, and studying for these is extremely time-consuming. I find myself drinking too much coffee these weeks, or forgetting to eat at all just because I'm so busy. OR I'm so stressed out that I overeat as I work on my paper. Finding healthy things to eat at school sucks too. I'm pretty much stuck either packing my lunch or buying a granola bar from the vending machine. Also, college students are typically broke. Trying not to eat like a broke college kid is difficult when you actually are one.
As for me, I generally TRY to plan my day out in advance. Otherwise I'll eat like a broke college kid. It varies when things come up as well, such as a quiz I forgot I had etc., or when I realize I no longer have healthy food in my house, nor do I have the time to go get some healthy food if I actually want a healthy amount of sleep......but I generally try to stick to my eating plan.
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