Can I ask a silly question?

[pinkeggs]

I am considering starting this on the 26th, because that would enable me to celebrate DH's bday on the 25 a day early AND my daughter's on Sept. 25 and still make 30 days lol.

My question is this: how did you "prep" for it? Just plan your meals and recipes ahead of time, etc? I want to set myself up to be as successful as possible. I am aware of the book, though I have not read it.

Also - coffee drinkers? My favorite thing about every single day is my morning coffee with my awful chemical-y, delicious creamer lol. Any suggestions?

Thanks. I have been reading this board with interest and appreciate all the great posts!

[wambam]

Read the book. Know why you're doing what you're doing. The book will also tell you how to prep to be successful.

Experiment with coconut and almond milk for your coffee. Get really good coffee that you don't *have* to have creamer with.

[ElizabethBennet]

I made a menu the weekend before I started including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I made sure to plan large enough dinners so that we would have enough for lunch the next day.

I never could get used to coffee without my chemical creamer (i've been trying for months to kick the habit) and finally just switched to loose-leaf tea. I honestly don't miss the coffee and like the different flavors I could get with teas.

[Deleted]

Not a silly question at all.

Preparation and planning have been critical to my success on staying the course.

I'm doing menus, too, the week before each week so I've got everything planned out, have links to recipes, a grocery list, etc. For most of my meals, I do batch cooking on one day (usually Sunday or Monday) so that I have more than enough for leftovers (including freezing enough for an additional meal later on in the 30 days) so I'm not constantly cooking.

No good advice on coffee since I'm not a coffee drinker (frappes/frappuccinos don't count), although I did have a bit of a Diet Dew habit. I had cut way back already but eased back even more the week before so I wouldn't have the withdrawal symptoms.

[dcannie]

i did not read the book but did read a lot of the forums, faq, etc.
i threw out or used up most of the things that would be too hard for me to resist (cheese, milk, greek yogurt, choc chip cookies) and i also re-arranged my cabinets. i put all of our crackers, pb, snacks, beans and whatnot on the top shelves, and all of the good stuff is on the bottom shelf at eye level. i made a meal plan using mainly recipes from the clothes make the girl site, as well as from some recipes people posted here. i feel like a meal plan is a must, for me anyway.
for my coffee i have been using coconut milk. it doesn't have the creaminess or richness of my old half and half, but it is okay.

[Deleted]

One thing I didn't do was throw out any of my non-perishables because I hate to waste food and I told myself and DH that if we couldn't trust ourselves, than what was the point?

I realize our approach doesn't work for everyone, but it is interesting how 11 days in, I'm just not craving the chips, cookies, ice cream anymore.

I was watching Big Brother last night and they were showing the massive, uber-stocked pantry and panning over all the snacks. What appealed to me most? The shots of the fruit.

Crazy, right?

[Deleted]

I didn't read the book, so when H asks me why, why, why (whine whine whine)....I use the classic "Because I said so." LOL.