My menu plan will definitely help keep me sane. Every Sunday I think about the schedule of the week – who has what at what time and when?!?!  This week was no different except I found myself looking at the gym schedule and fitting in the class I want to take with  the menu….ya know, Big Man is cooking this night while I go to class…what do you want to cook this night honey? I assure you I know just how lucky I am to have a man who cooks!

On the menu this week:

Sunday: Big Man’s Father’s Day Dinner – he was inspired watching Rick Bayless make Chorizo tacos.  I did not watch the episode so I am making  this up from Big Man’s description.  I have fresh flounder for the kid – she doesn’t like chorizo.

Monday: Spaghetti and a salad. Big man makes an awesome pot of spaghetti sauce and it will be ready for me when I come home from the gym. I am a lucky girl.

Tuesday:  The karate kid is somehow turning 11!! The birthday girl has requested French Toast and maple link sausages. I will also make a spinach omelet and fruit bowl.

Wednesday:  Beef & Green Beans – chinese take-out style! Wednesday is a busy night. I will make a kickboxing class either before a late dinner or dinner before a late kickboxing class. The kid has karate at 5, Big Man will take her while I either make dinner or go to the gym…have I mentioned how lucky I am.

Thursday: Turkey Sloppy Joe Sandwiches.  Need quick and easy, my senior are graduating. I have been with these kids for three years…it is almost as emotional as my baby girl turning 11, almost.

Friday: Steak night is being moved to Friday this week because of graduation U rescheduled my personal training session to Friday.  And the kid is sure to ditch us for her friends since she is spending Saturday and Sunday nights with Granny (Big Man’s mom who coincidentally has the same birthday as the kid). I want a steak and baked potato night.

I love my menu plan. We don’t always …err ever…follow the plan exactly as it is written.  It does however encourage us to NOT order out – we dont have the wallet or waist for that. Are you menu planning yet!?!

I have told you before but I need to say it again:

I have no idea what I am doing! I am not an expert on anything but I know I need fitness in my life.

I have tried many activities this past year but I have not really had any sort of consistency. Consistency is almost the most important part for me to make fitness a daily part of my life.

Wanna know what the most important part for me is?

PLANNING

Yep, its planning!

I have learned that if I don’t have a plan I fall apart. I need to have a plan and that plan has to be written down. This year I fell in love with menu planning and have since learned all the wonderful benefits to planning my meals. I am currently only planning dinners but I am going to be expanding that. Planning my meals has helped my stress about dinner and has kept my family healthy and has also helped keep the budget in check. Every Saturday I look at the grocery store sales ads and take stock of the pantry and freezer. A menu is planned and grocery list is written.

Why have I not applied this to other areas of my life?

Good question!! and one I have been asking myself all week.

Wanna know what I did the other day?!?!

I am gonna tell you anyway!

Using Microsoft Word I created my own Calendar template and then made a January Work Out calendar, January household chore chart, and a Jen chore chart. I am a lazy person by nature! and I am easily distracted and I procrastinate way too much and while I have not been diagnosed I must be ADD. Last year, this list would have been an excuse but not this year!! This year I am know enough about myself and I have learned ways to combat “my evil ways” to be successful. I will be adding on to all the knowledge I picked up in 2009. I have learned I need direction and a set plan or I fall apart. I can’t just say ” I will workout tomorrow morning.” I need to say, “I will do KB squats and upper body.” I have learned that I need to be specific. I need to tell myself what to do and when to do it!! I need to pull rank on myself! I can tell my kid, my husband, and my students what they need to do. I even give some of them step by step instructions

I started thinking about this and came up with the solution of using a calendar. Much like planning a weekly menu plan I created a monthly workout plan. Saturday will be the first day of my weekly schedule. Saturdays are my Weight Watchers meeting and it seems logical to start my week then.

Saturday: 40 minutes on treadmill (TM)
Sunday: REST day [but also family day]
Monday: KB workout and RB workout and a 10 minute yoga or pilates workout.
Tuesday: workout dvd or 40 minutes on TM plus a LONG strecth.
Wednesday: KB workout and RB workout and a 10 minute yoga or pilates workout.
Thursday: workout dvd or 40 minutes on TM plus a LONG strecth.
Friday: KB workout and RB workout and a 10 minute yoga or pilates workout.

Check out my calendar: jan WO calendar.pdf

I am planning on working out in the morning! This means I have to get my a$$ out of bed by 5:30 at the latest! I will workout for approximately one hour each work day! I have left the weekends more free so that I can find activities to do as a family such as hiking and biking on nicer days!

I know I will feel better for getting my workout finished in the morning! I know I will not make excuses if I get my workout finished in the morning.

Blogging about this plan here with you makes me feel like I have to come back next week to tell you how I made out.

I have a plan!

Planning is the key to my success!!

Are you fumbIing with your workouts?
I urge you to come up with a plan and follow that plan for one month! I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to make something a habit.

I don’t know about you, but I desperately want to make exercise a habit!

Will you give me one month?

I will report back to you next week.

**This post can also be found at bookieboo.com