Meal planning tips from No Limits Fitness

I have a confession to make: I use meal delivery services that are delivered to my front door via UPS.

I'm so glad that I was able to get that off of my chest! Now I'll be able to open my door to retrieve the package, instead of sending my son.

Those meal prep and meal delivery services are heaven sent, even in my home. I try to use local delivery services as much as possible, but I do have moments when I want a meal that is healthy and already done. If you are familiar with some of the more known meal services, they send you all the ingredients and you are left to cook the meal yourself. Some plans even send you the ingredients already chopped and diced.

This is great, but a local couple is taking that a little further by coming to you and offering personal training and meal planning sessions all in one. Rick and Teresa Copley of No Limits Fitness in Tavares are dedicated to every aspect of your health.

Personal training at your home or gym is just the beginning to what No Limit Fitness offers. Meal planning is really icing on the cake, and by Rick’s standards, there is nothing wrong with a celebratory occasional cupcake.

“Fast food is not a daily option in our house, but an occasional pizza is not totally out either,” he said.

When Teresa, a former receptionist at a doctors office, met Rick and realized that he was into total health, she knew that they were a match.

Rick has dedicated the better part of his life to fitness and nutrition. He not only walks the walk, but inspires his clients to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and meal options that include all food. He says that “fitness is my passion and helping other people look and feel better is my life.”

Because his passion demands that Rick be as fit as possible, Teresa knew that she had to keep Rick fueled with the proper food, meaning total nutrition and no fad diets. This means that meal planning is a must.

The couple knew that their clients would have more success if they adopted healthier eating habits, so meal planning was proper evolution. It also helped that Teresa loves to cook and plan healthy meals.

I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon of meal planning and discussion with Rick and Teresa. It was awesome. I had to confess to them both that even I get stuck with meal planning from time to time, and I sought some much needed advice from the both of them.

Meal planning does take some effort, so Rick and Teresa offered some great advice to give which included:

• Plan ahead and don’t get caught without meal options. Plan for every meal and snack of your day.
• Don’t follow fad diets. As soon as you return to old eating habits the original weight will return.
• Make eating healthy a lifestyle. Remember it took a lifetime to get to where you are now so eating healthy is not going to change overnight. Start with small steps.
• Cut out fast food and eating out. When you cook your meals you control the ingredients, especially sodium intake.
• Be realistic and set obtainable goals a little at a time. Plan on having one healthier meal a day, then 2, then 3 it may take weeks or months to incorporate but forward movement in the right direction is always progress.

Although Rick and Teresa gave me some awesome advice, I still asked for a couple of pre-planned meals and their contact information. My first realistic goal is to call them more often.

If you would like more information about No Limits Fitness and its meal planning service, you can email Teresa@NoLimitsFitnessTavares.com or call 352-989-6795.

Ze Carter is a food columnist for the Daily Commercial. Email her at zecarter12@gmail.com.