“Fail to Plan or plan to fail?” Is this really true? The Importance of knowing and using your “go-tos!”

You have probably seen or heard of the saying "fail to plan or plan to fail!" 

It is true that planning is incredibly important when it comes to being successful at hitting your macro or calorie targets. It is super important as we learn "how" to eat and "what" to eat.  It's also a critical part of maintaining a consistent caloric deficit in order to achieve weight loss. Planning helps because we all know that guessing isn't a great strategy!   And don’t get me wrong, I highly recommend planning to all of my clients.

But will a lack of planning one day cause you to fail?  No, not if you have your solid “go-tos.”  What are these?

“Go-tos” are the things, people, or meals that you go to when you are in a bind or if you haven’t planned.  Maybe you forgot your lunch or you are on the road and need to stop for a snack.  If you think about and identify your current “go tos” in other areas of life, this might make more sense. 

For example, if you have a headache, maybe your “go-to” is to drink more water or take a tylenol.  If you are feeling frustrated or upset, maybe your “go-to” is to call your best friend or go for a walk or journal it. 

Let’s apply this same line of thinking to weight loss and creating a healthy lifestyle. When you didn't ‘meal plan’ for the day and you have to pack a lunch quickly, what's your go-to?  Maybe it's a quick tuna salad or a run to whole foods to get your usual chopped turkey over greens with feta. You should know your “go-to” well. 

What's your go to when you come home from work and you're starving?  I grab a container of egg white, a piece of cinnamon raisin Ezekiel from the freezer, and a tbsp of peanut butter.  I cook up a quick "snack."  Even if this kills my hunger for dinner, I'd rather eat a healthy “go-to” than grab a handful of chips or nuts or worse, not even know what I ate. 

What's your go to when you want something sweet but you want to stay in a caloric deficit?  Maybe it’s a yogurt with measured granola and chocolate chips. 

What is your “go-to”  when you want to eat but you aren't actually hungry?  Drink some water and then get outside and go for a walk.  I find that walking helps cure a lot of things. 

Part of the journey to creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is figuring out your go-tos and then using them! Give it a try!