Setting Yourself up for Success at the Losing Game
by Dian Thomas
When
you order a meal in a restaurant, you expect a wait of 15 to 20
minutes.
When
I began a serious weight-loss plan, I knew I would have to work the
same kind of turn-around time into my meal preparation or I would not
stick to my new eating habits.
I
worked on my system over many weekends when I had time to try
different setups.
I
loved eating at restaurants where I could see the chef cooking and
observed that when an order for a dish came in, the ingredients he or
she needed were already prepped and ready to go.
In
a similar way, I reorganized my refrigerator so that I could look
inside, get inspired for what I wanted to cook and whip up a
delicious, nutritious meal in just 15 minutes.
This
simple system has helped me lose 125 pound and continue to prepare
fast, delicious and healthy meals.
Here
is my setup:
Top
shelf: Soy
milk is to one side. The back is stacked with one cup containers
filled with premeasured, ready-to-go snacks and side dishes.
You'll
find one-half-cup portions of nonfat cottage cheese, one-cup portions
of nonfat yogurt, butternut squash, salsa, etc. On the top shelf
there is also a four-ounce package of meat thawing until ready to
use.
The
next two shelves: Vegetables
are the mainstay of my diet, so the contents of the next two shelves
contain the backbone of my eating program.
Several
rectangular plastic containers, all the same size, are lined with a
paper towel (towels absorb excess moisture to prolong the shelf life
of produce) and filled with various vegetables. Some that you'll find
in my fridge today are celery, green beans, mushrooms, peppers and
Brussels sprouts.
Each
container has a plastic shower-cap-type lid, which you can buy in
most supermarkets.
The
next shelf down holds mixed spring greens that I buy every week for
my daily green salad.
Two
bottom drawers: Here
I keep the fruits and vegetables I use in smaller amounts, such as
onions, sweet potatoes and carrots.
Fridge
door: You
will find nonfat Miracle Whip, dressings, grated hard cheese, Smart
Balance Light spread, and nonfat cream cheese.
All
I have to do when I want to fix a meal is open the refrigerator door,
select the meats and vegetables, and prepare them.
Taking
time to design a system that works for you will allow you to produce
a healthful meal faster (and cheaper) than patronizing either a
fast-food outlet or restaurant.
Dian’s
Book Tipping
the Scales in Your Favor
shares her weight loss journey. For years Dian’s tried and
tried to lose weight but it was not until Jackie Keller said to her
in California, “I can help you lose weight” that she
caught the vision and lost over 115 pounds and, most important, she
has been able to keep it off. Get Dian’s book today and begin
the journey to healthy living. Go to www.DianThomas.com
to learn more.
Dian
Thomas’s Idea Pack Library:
You will never run out of ideas when you have this wonderful set of
books. Check
out Dian Thomas’ Creative Books Library Special. She
now had a special offer to save 60% on 5 books and 1 DVD. Get Dian’s
creative library for only $40.00. Save $60 dollar and have over 25
years of her creative and amazing ideas. This package will be great
for gifts, for fun, and for kids and grandchildren. Take advantage
of this limited offer at www.DianThomas.com.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com