Setting yourself up for success...

Some things I do..and some I need to do to keep me focused, motivated and successful on my quest to lose weight and get into shape....

I keep my gym bag packed in my car...clean work out clothes, a fresh pair of socks and my mp3 player filled with my favorite songs. That way, it's just as easy to stop off at the gym as it is to go to "happy hour"...and healthier too...

Pre-cook and package meals and snacks....how often do you eat something you really don't even enjoy, that is counter-productive to your eating plan, simply because nothing is prepared? Bag up your favorite nuts in zip-locs in portions, have your favorite fruits or veggies ready to go. Pre-cook several chicken breasts to have on so that you can throw healthy meals together quickly.

Any other ideas?

I bought this cookbook called the New Dieter's Cookbook and it is huge and filled with really good ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. It has pictures for every recipe and they're pretty easy. Plus, it doesn't taste like diet food because it's home made. 

I completely agree. It's about planning because so many of us sabotage ourselves out of expediency (vending machine) or without thinking or when we're in a hurry...

Last weekend I bought a lot of fruit (A LOT)...my favorites: strawberries, blackberries, grapes and apples. I cut and washed the fruit and put it in plastic containers so I could grab some every day on my way out the door. It worked spectacularly.

Not to get into a discussion of food, but I love Lean Cuisine's ravioli meal and the Santa Fe Rice & Beans. I don't know if the ravioli is new, but it's my absolute favorite. It's just under 300 calories. I feel like I could live on only those (several a day) and stay in the calorie range I want!!