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Mastering Meal Prep for Better Body Composition: Pulse's Guide to Eating Smart (3-minute read)
Hey there, Pulse fam! Let's dive into the world of meal prep and body goals – because who doesn't want to look and feel their best, right? Meal prep companies are all the rage these days, and for a good reason. They promise convenience and healthy eating, but let's take a closer look to see if they live up to the hype.
First things first, let's break down the basics. We all know that achieving our body composition goals involves finding the right balance of nutrition and activity. But what exactly does that balance look like? Enter the energy balance equation – it's the key to understanding how what we eat and the frequency of how we move affects our bodies. While we won't dive too deep into the details today, just remember this equation: Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) equals Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) plus active calories. Now, if you minus the calories consumed, we have our deficit, surplus or maintenance position. Got it? Good!
Now, let's address the elephant in the room – calorie counting. While it's true that keeping track of your macros is essential, it doesn't have to mean meticulously tallying up every morsel of food. For many of us, calorie counting can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety. That's where meal prep companies come in clutch! Let's explore some of the perks:
The Benefits of Meal Prep Companies:
Convenience on Point: We're all busy bees, and meal prep companies get that. With ready-made meals delivered straight to your door, mealtime stress becomes a thing of the past. Just heat and eat.
Portion Control Made Easy: No more guessing portions or second-guessing servings. Meal prep companies serve up perfectly portioned meals designed to keep you on track with your fitness goals.
Nutrition on Lock: These companies are pros when it comes to nutrition. They whip up meals packed with all the good stuff – lean proteins, veggies, and healthy carbs. Consider them your personal nutritionist in the kitchen!
Menu Variety: Boredom? Not here! Meal prep companies offer a wide variety of delicious dishes, so you'll never get tired of eating the same old thing.
Now, while meal prep companies offer incredible convenience and nutritional value, they're not without their drawbacks. But here’s how you can make the most of them:
Tips for Success:
Educate Yourself: Understanding the process is key. Take the time to learn about nutrition and how it impacts your body. Knowledge is power, so empower yourself with information. We have all been driven somewhere, got there, and then think wow I didn’t concentrate at all, and I have no idea what route we took…. Well don’t do that with your health.
Conscious Eating: Take a moment to savor your meal-prepped creations. Be mindful of portion sizes and nutritional content. Compare your meals to your previous eating habits, be it at restaurants, the cinema or any other time. Don’t just inhale your food, consciously eat it and be aware of what you’re eating.
Budget Wisely: Meal prep isn't always cheap, but there are ways to make it more budget-friendly. Why not get 5 days on, and two days off? This is a common feature where you can plan, record and monitor two days of your calorie intake, learning from the other 5 days, and learning to replicate these values. If you opt for this we just suggest that you do some planning before you embark on this process to avoid failure, make sure you have the shopping list, you have the recipes and you have carved out the time.
Eating Outside: Not literally outside, but eating outside of your macros. Be careful to not allow yourself the ability to just have ‘one’. Because eating outside of your meal prepped macros is not the plan, and it is additional calories that matter, calories that tip the scale. There’s no point saving $50 a day, all week, and then spending $500 on the weekend - you’re now out of pocket by $250. It is the same principle with your food.
Something you should be very aware of, since you’re doing it all the time - consciously or unconsciously - is creating effective lifestyle habits and being consistent with them. It's more than likely that you have been consistent with unhealthy lifestyle habits, and now the reason you’re looking for change is because of that.
Remember the lifestyle habits that you create, impact the behaviors that you present in your life, and ultimately the person you become. This is where consistency over time comes into play. The little things you do day-to-day, such as daily walking, or the type of food you pack for lunch, or the snacks you take on your car journey or share in your company meeting all add up and impact you. Action you take with consistency turns into a habit, habits become behaviors, behaviors become lifestyle, and your lifestyle is a reflection of you.
Now, here's the fun part – putting it all into action! If you're ready to take your nutrition game to the next level, why not give a meal prep company a try - we have curated a list of some to try on our Instagram account - @feelthePulse.me (these have also been listed below). With their convenience and nutritional expertise, they're sure to help you crush your body composition goals. So what are you waiting for? Get preppin' and let's make those gains together!
Stay tuned to Pulse for more tips, tricks, and inspiration on your health and wellness journey. Together, we've got this!