“I’m so tired, what can I eat”?

Ever feel so bone tired you can’t even fathom standing up to make dinner?
That happens to many of us these days with work-life balance being not so balanced. Knowing that, we need to be prepared for those days instead of being surprised by them, and sabotaging our weight loss efforts as a result.
Why not have a few different options always available to you for that kind of day?
Keep a list in your planner that says “tired day meals.”
Here are a few ideas:

• Healthy take out from a store on your way home. Identify what you’ll get before you go inside, i.e., broiled salmon and a seaweed salad. Only buy what you need so you can go through the express line;
• Make poached eggs on whole wheat toast (that’s my go-to) or your variety of a 5-10 minute healthy meal. For some it could be a low calorie frozen entree;
• When you do have time, like on weekends, you can cook up a big batch of something to thaw or heat up on tired days. I regularly bake up some skinless chicken and have it with steamed veggies or a microwaved sweet potato for a couple of days’ worth of meals (can also put them in salads).
• Or I can do what I call “industrial-strength cooking” when I do have the time, and freeze individual portions of more creative healthy meals like hearty soups, or chicken dishes from Cooking Light.
• Identify 3 restaurants on the way home that have healthy options and are quick and/or relaxing. Identify what you’ll have by looking at the website ahead of time. Those last minute “I’m tired decisions” can be costly to your calorie count for the day. Keep the phone numbers programmed in your phone so it’s right at your finger tips. The less thinking you have to do, the better in this tired state;
• Order in from the restaurants that offer healthy options. Only keep the coupons around for delivery options that meet your weight loss needs.

Don’t forget to assess if you are tired or hungry. If you’re tired,
the best thing on the menu is some ZZZZZ’s.

Ellen is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, www.thoughtfulweightloss.com. You can email Ellen at ellen@thoughtfulweightloss.com