Be Prepared. For the Boy Scouts it means you are always ready in body and mind to do your duty. How can you use this motto to help you in your weight loss efforts?

I am of the school of thought that starvation is not the way to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle. My thinking has always been to make the right choices in the foods we eat. For many people, it is not overeating that is their enemy-it is the wrong choices. This article is assuming you know the difference between good food choices and bad. There are many articles that can be found on making proper food choices.

For example; have you ever been trying to diet and found yourself out around town running errands and then suddenly so hungry you could not hardly stand it? Or have you ever been at work and your workmates want to go to the local Mexican restaurant and you did not pack your lunch that day? Normally what happens is you swing into the local fast food joint or go with your coworkers to the restaurant and end up making bad choices. How can this be prevented? Answer: Be prepared.

The above bad choice scenarios could have been avoided by being prepared. The first could have been prevented by carrying a meal replacement bar or shake in your vehicle with you. This could have curbed your hunger until you were home and in a position to prepare a nutritious snack or meal. The second could have been avoided by having a nutritious lunch packed and ready to eat at lunch time. You could have even carried it to the restaurant and enjoyed the company of your coworkers.

The number one enemy of being prepared is time. I dont have time to pack my lunch in the evening! or I dont have time to cook in the evening! I have good news and bad news. If you are going to be prepared it is going to take time. The good news is that it does not have to be as time consuming as you may think.

One way to save time and be prepared is to use meal replacement shakes or meal replacement powders. These can be carried with you wherever you go and mixed and consumed in a matter of minutes. Another way is to do your cooking when you have time. I know of one person that prepares 7 chicken breasts on Sunday night and puts them in Tupperware serving dishes along with brown rice and steamed broccoli. They just simply take one per day to work and have a very nutritious, weight loss friendly lunch.

Some more ideas for being prepared in your weight loss journey:

Have cans of tuna in your desk at work.

Keep a bottle of water with you at all times.

Do your cooking when you have time and cook enough for several meals.

Keep meal replacement powders and meal replacement bars nearby.

Purchase a Tupperware shaker

Learn to like raw fruits and vegetables. These are very portable and hit the spot!

These are just some ideas to get you started. I am sure you can think of many more. The important thing is to have foods around you that are delicious and nutritious and will help you reach your weight loss goals. If you cant stand to eat raw carrots then there is no sense in taking a bag to work You simply will not eat them. You will more than likely make a bad choice when hunger hits. Experiment around and find nutritious choices that are portable and that you enjoy.

Do not let yourself reach the point of no return in your hunger. At this point most of us will eat about anything. Stay ahead of the game and be prepared. When hunger hits make wise choices and your body will respond in a favorable way.

Remember; Be prepared and you will reach your weight loss goals.

I wish for you the best of health!

Bill Herren