Back from an amazing time in Atlanta for FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo)!!! I have some highlights to share and hoping to get a post together in the next week in case you want to hear about the awesome speakers and things I tried at the expo. And a recipe coming tomorrow :) For now here is a post about how to stick to your goals!
First step in sticking to your goals is deciding what your goals are! I personally feel like writing things down helps keep you accountable. Write down your goals and use them as your personal mantra to accomplish them! If you are starting out adjusting to a new diet or workout plan the best thing to do is keep a journal. I recommend this strongly for emotional eaters or those struggling with weight loss to write down how they are feeling and what they eat during that time. For workouts, it’s a great way to keep track of your progress or writing out a schedule can help you stick to your plan.
Reasons to keep a food or fitness journal
- Motivation
- Accountability
- Adherence
- Reflection
- Improvement
I am very good at keeping myself both motivated and accountable normally but when I am training for something I like to write out a training plan. If you recall for my triathlon I had weekly athletic activity goals to meet. Did I always meet them? No way, but it definitely helped push me to stick to it as closely as possible and helped me feel confident on race day. You can find multiple plans online if you’re just starting out or not comfortable writing your own, or consult a certified coach.
Food wise planning goes a long way too. You guys know I’m huge fan of meal prep! Well meal planning helps too… before you go grocery shopping for the week think of some meals, snacks, etc. that you would like to make… I would say shoot for 3 meals you would plan on serving… think about your proteins, carbs, and veggies. Making one large dish that has multiple servings at the beginning of the week works well for me and my husband. I’ll make something on Sunday night; we have it that night and usually eat the leftovers for a couple days during the week for lunch or dinner. Stick to your list while shopping and avoid buying unhealthy foods you are trying to cut out. Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Reach out to family members, significant others, friends, or even strangers on the internet (I’m referring to bloggers, not creepers) to help keep yourself on track to reach your goals!