Setting yourself up for success instead of failure is all about planning and preparation.

Make it Easy to Exercise and Eat Healthy

You now know that losing weight is all about making healthy choices and part of that is making it easier to make those healthy choices. If you schedule a workout in the morning and force yourself to run around trying to pack your gym bag at the last minute, that isn’t making exercise easy, is it? And if you promise to eat healthy but realize all you have to eat is a bag of Doritos and a pint of ice cream, how healthy will your next meal be?

Setting yourself up for success instead of failure is all about planning and preparation.

* Stock your pantry with healthful foods. I don’t know about you, but if there’s junk food around, I’ll eat it. If there’s not, I’m too lazy to drive all the way to the store to get it. Get rid of the junk, and make it a habit to have cut-up fruit and veggies, popcorn, whole grain bread and yogurt handy so you always have a healthy choice.

* Make the foundation of your diet healthy. Successful weight losers often eat the same types of meals every day, just one way they continue being successful. You don’t have to eat the same thing all the time, but it’s great to make your staple foods as healthy as possible. Cereal, bread, pasta, rice, dairy products — all of these items can be as healthy as you want them to be. By switching to more whole grains, higher fiber and less sugar, you can start to build a healthier diet from the ground up.

* Plan, plan, plan. Plan your workouts and get everything you need to make them happen. Plan your meals for the week to make sure you have all the foods you need to stay on track. Take some time each week to sit down and map out your schedule for the week and what you’ll need. The time you take now will pay off as you find it easier and easier to stick with your program.