The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret
If you don't have watermelon in your fridge, go buy one now, chop it up and enjoy the awesomeness all week! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Like most people, my weight has always been something I’ve struggled with. Almost 10 years ago, I made a major change in the way I looked at my health and dealt with eating. I’ve tried many different types of ‘diets’ and I keep coming back to the same truth.
Once you have committed to being healthy and that the way you eat needs to be part of a lifestyle (not a temporary diet), then the big secret is:
Convenience
If you are doing paleo, vegetarian/vegan, weight watchers, or anything else (including your own thing) – you must have access to foods that are easy and convenient (and extra bonus points if it tastes good!).
I think all of us would love a personal chef (looking at you Wilson) 
But it’s not in the cards for everyone (including me). I know how I want to eat, so it’s my responsibility to surround myself with foods that I can eat when I want to. So once a week, I prep food for the week so that it will be extremely convenient to eat well.
If your pantry is stocked with chips, cookies, and granola bars: odds are that you’ll be eating that sooner or later. When you need something quick, you’ll grab for those. So filling your house with healthy choices and making it easy and convenient to grab foods will truly make it a lifestyle and help you lose/maintain weight.
Fruit
It’s not enough for me (convenient enough for me) to just have fresh fruit in my kitchen. I chop (or my lovely wife chops) a large bowl of berries and fruit for the week. It’s great with greek yogurt, as a side dish for a meal, with a few walnuts, or even by itself. Easy to make and easy to have nearby the whole week.
Veggies
I try to make vegetables more than half of each meal. When visually looking at a plate (even when I’m eating out), I make it a point to have more veggies than anything else. I burn out on eating salads, so I prep vegetable sides that will be easy for me to eat when I want. I have some killer butternut squash and parsnip hash browns pre-made, thaw in a minute, and taste great with any meal. Mashed cauliflower is another good choice; mega healthy and reheats well.
Snacks
Prepare or have multiple snacks on hand. Paleo/Lara bars, kale chips, hummus (awesome with veggies) are all quick and easy. If they are ready and available, when you go to the fridge, there is something to eat.
The Bottom Line
Just make it easy for yourself. The way to make it a life style and stick with it is to make it easy and convenient.
I’ll use several for training, but would like to give some away to others that are still training this winter and could take advantage of them.
I'm The Running Mike, a triathlon coach, running coach, and endurance athlete that likes to run, bike, and swim. 
