by Brently Rousset | fitnessrxformen.com
Failing to eat clean consistently is of the main reasons people fail to reach their goals. Some believe they can outwork a bad diet, but that’s just not possible for most. if you really want to lose those few extra pounds before beach season begins, you need to get your diet in check.
One of the simplest, most effective ways you to do that is to prepare your meals ahead of time. Here are 5 reasons to meal prep and help you get in the shape you want.
#1 Time Management
One of the most common excuses is not having enough time. Not enough time to exercise, not enough time to handle all the tasks throughout your day, not enough time to eat healthy. We’ve all been there. and sometimes the easiest, quickest option becomes a fat-packed, high caloric fast food meal because we don’t have the time.
By preparing your meals for the week and having quality, healthy food options within your grasp, you won’t have to go out of your way to get food, saving yourself both time and some serious calories. Better management of your meals will allow you to better manage your time throughout the day.
#2 Staying on Track
Whether you are trying to lose or gain weight, you should have a plan regarding how much food you should be eating daily or weekly. By having your meals prepared and divided into their specific portions you will be more likely to stay on track with a healthy eating lifestyle.
#3 Save Money
One of the most common misconceptions about buying food is the notion that eating fast food is cheaper than purchasing food from the grocery store and cooking it yourself. If you are still thinking that’s the case, then it’s time to squash that thought.
Preparing your food ahead of time is going to save you both time and money. Let’s use a popular, fast, healthy food option from Chipotle to provide an example of how much money you can save by preparing your own meal.
Chipotle Chicken Bowl
• 1 Cup Rice
• ½ Cup Black Beans
• Double Chicken – 8 oz.
• ¼ Cup Shredded Cheese
• 1 Cup Chopped Lettuce
• ½ Cup Black Beans
• Double Chicken – 8 oz.
• ¼ Cup Shredded Cheese
• 1 Cup Chopped Lettuce
Price: $9.56
Home Made Chicken Bowl
• 1 Cup Rice = $0.17
• ½ Cup Black Beans = $0.20
• 8 oz. Chicken = $1.50
• ¼ cup Shredded Cheese = $0.37
• 1 Cup Chopped Lettuce = $0.10
• ½ Cup Black Beans = $0.20
• 8 oz. Chicken = $1.50
• ¼ cup Shredded Cheese = $0.37
• 1 Cup Chopped Lettuce = $0.10
Price: $2.34
#4 Portion Control
Preparing your meals allows you be precise in the amount of calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein you are consuming. Unless you are bringing a pocket food scale with you go when you eat out, unfortunately you won’t really know the different between 1 cup of pasta and 1 ½ cups of pasta just by looking at it. This lack of precision meal after meal could will lead to you eating hundreds of more calories throughout the day and will put you well over your desired amount. Sometimes it’s not all about WHAT you are eating, but HOW MUCH of it you are eating.
#5 Winning the Mental Game
If you want to be the best in anything you do, you need to focus on winning the mental game. If you’re not mentally prepared to get in the gym and lift some heavy weight, you’ve already lost the battle with yourself. By preparing your nutritional intake for the entire week through a couple hours of meal prepping, you are mentally preparing yourself for the week. By conquering the mental aspect of your nutrition plan you can steer your mental focus towards your workouts each day and stand victorious each day, knowing you are winning the mental battle.