How does this time of year work for your weight loss goals? For many parents, the end of summer signals the beginning of the heightened stress season, as back to school amps up our commitments, with the holidays nipping at its heels. It’s often hard to stay on track with your fitness and weight-loss goals, when you’re bogged down by school day routines, extracurricular activities, and other time vampires. For others, the summer is the hardest time to maintain a weight loss routine, because the long lazy days have too little structure. No matter what, now is a great time to regroup, rethink your routines, and renew your commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
- Make breakfast part of your routine. You’ve heard over and over again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while some researchers disagree, there’s evidence to confirm that eating breakfast is a good way to boost weight loss. In addition, children who eat a good breakfast are more alert at school, performing better, with less of a decline in memory and focus than those who skip breakfast. With these facts in mind, you might find that breakfast is a great time to bring your family together for a simple but nutritious meal. It’s important to remember that what you eat for breakfast is what matters most. Opt for a fiber and protein rich breakfast over a cereal or pastry loaded with carbs and sugar.
- Plan your lunches. It’s easy to focus on family dinners when you’re planning your weekly meals, but it’s a mistake to forget about lunch. If you’re someone who is at home during the day, set yourself up for success by keeping healthy snacks on hand, and making a plan for a light and lean lunch. If you’re stuck in an office all day, consider brown-bagging it to make sure your meal choice stays in line with your weight loss goals. You might even make lunch prep a family bonding moment, preparing sack lunches with your kids the night before.
- As your schedule becomes more complicated, make sure that exercise is on the calendar. If after school commitments are going to infringe on your exercise time, consider a shift in schedule, perhaps exercising in the morning or on your lunch break. If you’re stuck at soccer practice or a softball game, walk around the track, or back and forth along the edge of the field, rather than sitting passively to watch. The most important thing is to have a plan, and make exercise a regular part of your routine.
- Make dinner plans, and be sure to include local produce. Planning your dinners ahead of time makes weeknights less stressful, and also helps to ensure that your meals will be healthy and in line with your weight loss goals. You’ll be much less tempted to hit the drive-through if you know exactly what you have planned for your family dinner. While you’re making plans, remember that fall is a great time to pile on the produce! Harvest season means tons of healthy options, full of a wide variety of nutrients.
Sticking to your weight loss plan is just part of what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. At our clinic, we believe in working with patients to improve their overall health, through a holistic, natural approach that treats them like whole people and addresses medical concerns by looking at the big picture, not just treating symptoms. To learn how we can help you live your healthiest life, in a state of optimal wellness, visit our website or call for a free consultation today.
