Creating an Environment that Supports Healthy Weight Loss

My brain seems to be overflowing with easy weight loss tips these days, probably because of all the studying and reading I’ve done on the topic of losing weight during the past several decades.

This morning I woke up thinking about how important your environment is to weight loss success.

Have you ever noticed how much your environment affects your success in life?

How much better it feels and how much more work you are able to get done when your office and desk are organized?

How much easier it is to get dressed in the morning when your clothes are clean, unwrinkled and arranged in an organized closet?

Healthy Kitchen

This became so apparent to me during the past few months when I spent a significant time in Florida with my Mom and Dad.

Being happy, healthy and slim is a priority for me, so through the years, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t.

Through lots of trial and error, I’ve created a home and work environment that supports me and my desire to be happy and healthy.

I’ve figured out what works for me and my family. (I’m happy to report that my husband is happier, healthier and slimmer than when he met me too!)

Here is a run down of things I’ve done to support my healthy lifestyle….

My kitchen is set up to make getting balanced healthy meals on the table easy and fun.

The tools and ingredients I use all the time are easily accessible. Counters have free space for chopping and prepping.

The pantry, refrigerator and freezer are stocked with the healthy foods and ingredients I use frequently to make those quick easy dinner recipes.

There are no candy or cookie jars in view.

There’s frozen cookie dough in the freezer, but it takes enough planning to avoid impulsive munching.

The only food in plain sight is a bowl of fresh fruit.

Nuts and dark chocolate are tucked away in the pantry.

My favorite healthy breakfast options are always on hand – sliced whole wheat bread, eggs, cottage cheese, peanut butter, high fiber whole grain cereal, oatmeal, bananas as well as plain yogurt, coconut milk and frozen fruit for healthy smoothies. (I’ve also got a stash of healthy muffins and breakfast cookies in the freezer that can be warmed in minutes and hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator.)

There are salad ingredients and leftovers available for quick and easy lunches.

My yoga mat is unrolled upstairs in the bedroom as a reminder to spend some time each day stretching, strengthening and balancing.

I have a golden retriever who makes sure I walk everyday, which is much more effective for me than any gym or personal trainer could ever be because I love her and want to keep her happy and healthy too! (And I’ve discovered that the best form of exercise for losing weight and staying healthy is the kind you actually want to do.)

My Personal Trainer, Francie

I’ve set up an environment that makes it easy for me to stay on track.

Life at my Mom and Dad’s is a drastic contrast to my life at home. I love my Mom and Dad, but living happy, healthy, slim and balanced lives is not high on their priority list at the moment for lots of reasons. So here’s a brief description of their home environment…

3 to 4 candy dishes filled with a variety of choices at all times

Counters loaded with all kinds of cellophane packaged treats from the grocery store.

A pantry brimming with potato chips, pretzels, corn chips, crackers, animal crackers, granola bars, cookies and candy.

A fridge and freezer overflowing with more food choices than you can imagine.

Counters loaded with stuff making it difficult to free up space to cook when it’s time to get dinner.

There’s nothing inherently right or wrong or good or bad about either environment. (We each have the freedom and the right to live in whatever environment we choose to create.)

But I think it’s important to decide what you want and then go about working to create it and this includes designing an environment to support what you want.

If you want to be happy, healthy and slim but are living in an environment surrounded my all kinds of unhealthy tempting foods, in a kitchen not set up to be conducive to easy healthy meal preparation, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to succeed.

Make it easy on yourself. Create an environment that is in alignment with what you want. Create an environment that allows you to succeed easily and effortlessly.