Setting yourself of up for a successful healthy lifestyle

We all have reasons for why we can't work out. I'm too busy, I work too late, I have to take care of my family. The list can goes on for days. But, what really stops us from taking care of ourselves. Is it the feeling that everything else is more important, or I can do it later. I am the queen of excuses, it has been going on for so long, I can't even remember when it started. The excuses and procrastination have kept me from achieving many of my goals. If you look at your daily schedule filled to the brim with appointments and responsibilities, where do you fit YOU in. 

This is why self love and self care is so important. When you don't love yourself first, you don't put yourself first or your health first. Everything falls to the waist side. So, how do we change this? Well, do you want to change? Are you okay with your health? Being healthy meaning having a balanced diet and being active. But, most importantly being happy with yourself even if you know your have work to do.

Every year around my birthday I decide I need to make a change. I know I'm not living a healthy lifestyle as far as my diet and activity level. But, I can never follow through and I give up shortly after I start. 

At this moment in time, I am ready to start again but in order to do that, I needed to set myself up for success. Here are the things that I am doing differently to make sure I succeed in my goals:

1. Edit your social media. I went through and started following people that inspire me to do better. I need as much positive support as I can get, @hayet.rida, @garnerstyle, @goldskinned, @bluebirdkisses are just some of the women I follow that have the positivity I need.

2. Talk to the people around you and let them know you are on a new path. A healthy support system is extremely important in success you don't need anyone around that will sabotage your success.

3. Get Techy. I just got an Apple watch to monitor my calories, activity, and sleep. You can also use a fitbit if you don't have a smart watch. And, also apps like Nike Training Club, My FitnessPal, Sworkit, Map My Run, RI28 and a host of other apps can monitor your workouts and guide you through the process of getting in shape.

4. Positive Affirmations. Because if you don't love yourself, who will. I know I am beautiful, and I know I can conquer the world, if I move. check out Sarah Jakes Roberts and Woman Evolve

5. Balance. Realizing change doesn't happen over night. Rome was not built in a day. I eliminated as many unhealthy food out of my cabinets that I felt comfortable with. There are still somethings there because my family still indulgences from time to time but I picked things I don't eat to steer me away. I have also given myself one day for one meal to eat what I like so I won't binge or back track. I'll have that time to look forward too.

6. Start. Just start moving. Whether its jumping jacks during commercials, walking the dog, playing with your kids. It has to start somewhere. My kids even do workout videos with me...lol it keeps me going because I know they are watching me.

What are some thing you are doing to set yourself up for success? I'm always looking for new ways to keep going...

Mealtime: Family Meal Prep

I'm always on the go. Whether its waking up at 4am for work or picking the kids up from school, it always seems like I'm taking care of someone or something. By the end of the night, I just want to go to sleep. After rethinking my day, I thought a little family meal preparation would really help. 

What does this look like?
 So, I pick two days out of the week to cook two to three meals that I can remix for each day.

I choose two proteins, usually chicken and seafood.

So, this is what's in heavy rotation at the Prince household this week?

*Roasted Chicken (bake chicken with onion, garlic, rosemary; to switch things up and marinate with lemon-peper seasoning), jasmine rice, and mixed veggies makes. The chicken and jasmine rice will live on through the rest off the week and I will only have to make veggies.

The chicken with live on in two ways:
*Chicken Wraps: Left-over baked chicken, cheddar cheese, with jasmine rice: just added garlic, cilantro and lime on a tortilla
*Chicken Noodle Soup, whatever home recipe moves my fancy from pinterest

*Italian sausage and turkey pepperoni Pizza:
Turkey Pepperoni, seasoned tomato sauce, with mozzarella cheese on a pre-made crust. 
*Spaghetti- Usually, I will save some turkey italian sausage and use it to make spaghetti. My trick to making is a little healthier is mixing zucchini noodles with wheat noodles or I just tried spaghetti squash. 

And, so my family doesn't catch on to my meal prep remix system, I switch up the sides and salads. It has been working out pretty well for me. But, if I run out of ideas and Pinterest, I also visit foodnetwork, bbcgoodfood, and tasty.

I prep snacks for when Maverick gets out of school so I will have them on hand. Meal prepping has been on and off thing for my family, but I did notice I have way more time at the end of the night to wind down properly.

Do you meal prep for your family? What are so recipes in heavy rotation?