Prepare for Success: Reset Your Mind

Posted on by increasethepeach

Yes! You’ve accepted the challenge, now it’s time to prepare to make the best of the challenge. We started this community because we believe life isn’t meant to be lived alone. So, don’t go at it alone, grab your workout buddy, tap into this online support system (trust me we all need accountability) and let’s get started. There are many reasons why people don’t succeed with fitness challenges and often it’s because they didn’t go in with the right mindset. To be prepared to make the best of your challenge, don’t go at it alone, locate your accountability partner and take advantage of the online support system (trust me you’re not the only one struggling). Mental focus and discipline are extremely important to achieving your goals, so let’s talk a bit about

Increase the Peach Fitness Challenge Mantra – “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” -Yoda, mental focus, and discipline are the fuel you will need to crush goals. Learn more about the mantra and the difference between “trying” and “doing”.

Once you’ve reset your mind, it’s time to reset your relationship with food.

Eating Healthy on a Budget

A healthy and balanced diet is essential to your health and fitness goals, no matter how often you’re in the gym working out, buying all the latest fitness DVDs or diet pills in hopes of achieving that killer body you’ve been dreaming of. The fuel you provide your body is the differentiating factor, to truly obtaining your health & fitness goals. In order to achieve maximum results, it’s best that you reassess your eating habits but that doesn’t mean you eat plain, tasteless, boring foods to achieve this.

For some eating healthy proves harder than getting to the gym! Somewhere down the line, it’s been ingrained in us to think healthy eating is just plain tasteless or way too expensive. (It kinda is expensive…but it’s an investment into your health) However, if you set yourself up for success by planning ahead and by making smart decisions, clean eating habits are simpler than we think, can cost less than the processed junk we often consume and the tastes as well as the benefits are truly awesome.

We commit to journaling meals using Under Armour MyFitnessPal app, logging meals is a great way to stay on track and hold yourself accountable! DOWNLOAD the app.

We’re a huge fan of  First Lady Michelle Obama, she created the Let’s Move! initiative in an effort to solve the challenges of childhood obesity and you probably haven’t given much thought to it because you’re thinking I’m not a child. But the site offers a lot of tips that can help you to save and eat healthy on a budget. , here are the notes that we took for myself when I changed my eating habits a few years ago:

We took notes so you don’t have to! Tips to help change your eating habits:

PLAN

  • Plan meals and snacks for the week according to an established budget
  • Find quick and easy recipes online.
  • Include meals that will “stretch” expensive food items (stews, casseroles, stir‐fried dishes).
  • Make a grocery list.
  • Check for sales and coupons in the local paper or online and consider discount stores.
  • Ask about a loyalty card at your grocery store.

PURCHASE

  • Buy groceries when you are not hungry and when you are not too rushed.
  • Stick to the grocery list and stay out of the aisles that don’t contain items on your list.
  • Buy store brands if cheaper.
  • Find and compare unit prices listed on shelves to get the best price.
  • Purchase some items in bulk which usually cost less.
  • Choose fresh fruits and vegetables in season;
  • Pre‐cut fruits and vegetables, individual cups of yogurt, and instant rice and hot cereal are convenient, but usually, cost more than those that require a bit more prep time.
  • Good low‐cost items available all year include:
    • Protein — beans (garbanzo, black, cannellini)
    • Vegetables — carrots, greens, potatoes
    • Fruit — apples, bananas

PREPARE

  • Some meal items can be prepared in advance; pre‐cook on days when you have time.
  • Double or triple up on recipes and freeze meal‐sized containers of soups and casseroles or divide into individual portions.
  • Try a few meatless meals by substituting with beans and peas or try “no‐cook” meals like salads.
  • Incorporate leftovers into a subsequent meal.
  • Be creative with a fruit or vegetable and use it in different ways during the week.
For those of you looking for a grocery list, TheGraciousPantry.com provides a detailed clean eating shopping list. You can also try 100 Foods Dr. Oz Wants In Your Shopping Carts it’s a bit more detailed. But if you’re able and trying to do a big overhaul of your pantry it’s a great list. Everything won’t be for everyone so search the web-streets for something that best suits you!