Why I Meal Prep & How I Do It
Lately, I’ve been cooking a lot of my own food and eating the same thing over and over again. When I’m achieving results, i personally love this lack of thought. But a lot of people would cringe at the idea. As when it comes to dieting, there are a few kinds of people: Macro Trackers, Meal Planners and intuitive eaters. All have their own merits and all resemble zealous religions with how people follow and defend them. I’ve pretty much done everything minus the sacrificial rituals you’d expect to accompany each of them.
I’ve tracked macros in the past and noticed how annoying it was to be constantly having to think about food, what I’m going to eat, getting the scales out and micromanaging the components of a meal. I’ve also done the most boring meal plan on earth and I’ve intuitively under and over eaten. I believe the best result works somewhere in the middle but leaning more towards a structured meal plan approach.
In my personal experience, an enjoyable meal plan works best for me and is almost like a hack in and of itself. Before any dieting phase i will do a few things:
- Write down my meal plan in accordance with my macros. (If you’d like me to do this for you then hit the link below)
- Ensure my meals are enjoyable and satiating
- Cook my food in batches. I’ll cook 2-3 days of protein at one time (all of my meats) and 2-3 days worth of carbs (rice/potatoes) and then cook my vegetables as fresh as possible.
Preparing meals like this will ensure freshness and also consistency. I won’t substitute foods or cheat on my diet if the food is already cooked (and tasty). Most people struggle with dieting because they make it harder than it needs to be. They make the same decision multiple times per day on “what should I eat?” And over time this compounds into hundreds of micro decisions that constantly weigh you down mentally. To me, when i purely track macros it feels like I think about food one thousand times per day. Whereas when I have my set meal plan it’s simply done!
Don’t force yourself to think more than necessary. Set your plan, prepare as much as you can and then forget about it and let the results kick in.
What I’ve been reading: Tony Robbins- Awaken The Giant Within. Although somewhat dated, this is still a great read. If you’re struggling with things you’re putting off or requiring action to get that one thing going that scares you then this would be a good one to try.
What I’ve Heard: “You don't become confident by shouting affirmations in the mirror, but by having a stack of undeniable proof that you are who you say you are. Outwork your self doubt.” - Alex Hormozi said this and it’s been doing the rounds as a sound bite on short videos. A very simple approach to gaining confidence in any area as confidence is linked to competence! *i type this as I yell to my reflection that my calves are worthy of love*
What I’ve been eating: Decided to be a maniac and smear some Meredith’s goats cheese on my steak. Absolute game changer.
