Going into the grocery store without a list is as bad as going into the grocery store hungry, as far as I’m concerned. When you go into the grocery store and shop while you’re hungry, you’ll pick up anything in site. Suddenly everything looks appetizing—especially the “bad” foods that tempt us like magnets when we least expect it.
When you go to the grocery store without a list, you may not be starving and wanting to pick up everything in sight, but you’re likely going to walk around the store aimlessly, forgetting your mental list. And when that happens, you suddenly start picking out easy meals that are certain to sabotage your weight loss efforts. Personally, I’m much more likely to walk out of the store without the ingredients I intended to get, and instead, a cart full of sugary, bread-laden, pasta heavy meals. By the time I’m halfway home, I usually wind up with that sick guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing I’ve just blown it—again.
Save yourself the anxiety. Make a list, even if it’s a small one. Plan your meals out. Winging it may work some of the time, but if your weight loss efforts are serious, you’ll need to think about what you’re going to eat. Lists keep us on track. They should be our guide to sticking with our weight loss plan.
If you do go to the store and happen to forget your list, try shopping only on the outer perimeters of the store. That’s where the fruits and vegetables are kept, and the dairy necessities as well. By avoiding the inner aisles, you also avoid some of the tempting sugary treats and unnecessary snacks you may be lured into buying.
The grocery store doesn’t have to be scary when you’re dieting. Make a list and stick to it. You’ll be glad you did.
Check out Dr. Mehmet Oz’s Suggestions for Weight Loss