How Planning Can Make or Break Your Results

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Recently I was reading about how a very famous and successful surgeon planned for his surgeries.  He took days to study and prepare for the delicate operations he did and he would run practice sessions with all the nurses, anesthesiologists and medical people involved in the upcoming surgery.  I was amazed at the amount of planning and practice necessary for the delicate, life-saving operations he preformed.  I thought about the ambition, meticulous analyzing and perseverance this type of planning required and how successful this surgeon has been because of his insistence of detailed planning.

Then it hit me.  If you want to be successful in any endeavor you have to plan and practice before you achieve the final results. This type of detailed planning is not just for surgeons or astronauts.  When it comes to weight loss, people often think it should just "happen" because they want to lose weight.  That scenario is very unlikely.  To lose weight one must plan everyday what foods they will eat, how will they be prepared, when they will eat, where they will eat, how much they will eat......I could go on.  Now this is not meant to dishearten anyone striving for weight loss but it does help to clarify weight loss does take effort.  Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are wishing you weighed less:

1.  Do I currently have the time and energy to devote to healthy eating?

2.  Am I trying to change any other behaviors, i.e. quit smoking, that might interfere with my effort to lose weight?

3.  Do I have supportive people around me to help with my weight loss goals?

4.  What is the real value to me if I lose weight?  What is my motivation?

5.  Am I willing to plan meals ahead of time and lose some of that spontaneity of eating whatever I want?

6.  Am I ready to exercise and get adequate sleep to lose weight more easily?

7.  Am I dealing with many other stresses in life that will make it difficult to focus on weight loss?

These are just a few of the underlying issues that have to be considered when starting a weight loss program.  Give it thought and time and then, when you are ready to commit, be like that surgeon.  Pursue excellence by planning and practicing good healthy eating.  Remind yourself that your health is at stake and you are worth putting effort into yourself!


Educate and encourage,

Amy L. Stacy, MS, RD, CDE, CDN, CPT