An Alternative Approach to Weight Loss | Adjusting to Real Life & Changing Strategies

I originally wrote this in March 2024. I've once again adjusted my strategy, but I thought this may still be helpful as I still use some of these strategies. I will expound in another article on where I am currently in my wellness journey. Although I was hesitant to post, I think it is important to show my journey in totality which includes setbacks, adjustments, challenges, and wins.  I hope you find this helpful!

The original article starts here: It has now been over a month since I started my holistic weight loss and wellness journey.  Although this stage's primary focus is addressing and reversing areas that have caused weight gain, I also understand the importance of pivoting when necessary.  There are areas within my current wellness routine that are clearly not working for my current lifestyle. I have been fighting against myself and my environment by trying to maintain routines that simply are not meeting my wellness needs, which is currently hindering my progress and success.  A part of sharing my journey is being truthful and transparent, by sharing the many aspects of my weight loss journey, even when I'm succeeding, facing challenges, and experiencing failure. But these experiences are a part of the journey.

In this article, I will discuss my current routine and the strategic changes I will implement to navigate through the areas that are currently not working.

Let's begin with one of my challenges, trying to do it all. I have been working against myself by trying to "prep" all my food.  While this method is extremely successful for some people, I am not meeting this same success given my lifestyle demands.  Prepping my food is extremely time-consuming. Prepping breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the upcoming week took the majority of my weekend and my weekends are vital for my wellness journey.  A part of my wellness journey. I need more freedom during the weekends to recuperate from the previous work week and prepare for the next. Being stuffed indoors and cooking in the kitchen all day is barely what I would call recovering.  I have no downtime during the weekend, and this is not good for my physical health and my mental wellness. When I became exhausted, I didn't prep and I had no backup plan, which led me to sabotage my diet with fast foods and waste money on the groceries I purchased for the week. I realized I needed a change and needed to change quickly to be successful.

 After work one day, I sat at my desk thinking about whether to cook or walk outdoors. I wanted to walk outdoors and simply take a walk. But I had to choose between cooking or exercising. I had not prepped for the week, but I purchased a lot of groceries. That's when I realized that something had to give. I no longer wanted to choose between working out, cooking, or relaxing for the evening.  So, this is where my strategy changes.  If I wanted to truly enjoy this wellness journey more and be successful, I needed to pivot realistically to fit my current environment.

My solution - I have decided to forgo food homemade food prepping and dine out healthfully. I know, that dining out has contributed greatly to my weight gain; however, it's the unhealthy, ultra-processed, fast foods eaten in a caloric surplus that have caused my weight gain.  I've realized that the restaurants that I frequently visit have plenty of healthy whole-food options.  But, a lot of times, I would overlook those options. However, now that I am on an intentional weight loss wellness journey, I knew I would need to change my eating habits and patterns. Then I thought, why don't eat at my favorite places but choose healthy options to eat? This includes fajita salad bowls, Chipotle bowls with little to no rice (for me), Crisp & Green, and Sweet Greens salads with various protein selections or none.  These places all have healthy options and I'm not overconsuming crazy amounts of calories. These are the same foods that I'm trying to emulate at home, so why not just buy what I know I will eat on a day or bi-daily basis, as I know it is just as healthy as my home-prepped meals.  My groceries aren't being wasted and I'm no longer fighting and choosing between cooking, prepping, or relaxing in the evenings.

 I also realized this strategy was not new for me, as I used to buy prepped foods a few years ago, and I weighed less than I do now. It's kind of hard to stray from "prepping your food" when it's been drilled in many peoples' heads from the fitness industry.  But we are not all the same, we have different schedules, needs, and priorities.  What works for one may not work for the other.  This is currently working for me, and yes, I will continue to dine out.  The healthy dining out part of this strategy is new, but it's worth giving a try. My lifestyle has changed, my workload has increased, the demands of life have increased, and time is one of the most important things in my life. I want to spend my time doing other things, like writing, reading, studying, and relaxing.  This is true self-care.  I plan to continue with this strategy for March and adjust if needed. I will also continue to stay within my calorie deficit while partaking in healthy dine out.

So, what do you think? Have you taken an unorthodox approach to reaching your goals? Do you believe prepping foods for the week is the only and best way to keep on track?  What are some meal planning methods that you have implemented that are against the norm but have contributed to healthy weight loss?

I will see you all next time for my wellness journey updates.

 Until then, be true, be balanced, and be well.