I remember when chores stopped being a chore.
It was when a few key elements came together, by accident. After years and years of trying to keep up with my house, finally it was effortless.
Two people told me I kept my house cleaner than anyone they knew. And the funny thing was, I was spending a fraction of the time on my house than I had in the past.
It clicked, and now keeping a clean house comes easily.
Weight loss is no different.
We can struggle and struggle, year after year. Then, suddenly, something clicks, and we no longer battle the scale.
It’s not magic. In fact, it’s simple and straight forward. And today, I’m explaining the efficient, effortless strategies that will lead you to your goals even when you feel like your life is moving faster than me and my swiffer.
So let’s dive in. This is your plan—your post-resolution weight loss strategies for the busy seasons.
Streamline Your Steps
I once knew a woman who worked out for two hours every morning, then started her shift as a personal trainer, and finished the day at her Crossfit class. Clearly, her health was more than a habit—it was her hobby.
But most of us want quick workouts, simple meal plans, and direct steps that improve our health. We need something that will fit in our busy bustling, work within our work schedule, and do the job.
So, we need to streamline our steps.
If you don’t have excess time, focus on these five non-negotiables:
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- Strength train at least 3 times a week (grab the heavy weights)
- Hit your step count daily (each week, increase your daily steps by 500 until you reach 10,000)
- Track your protein and calories daily (don’t fuss over fat and carbs)
- Hydrate with electrolytes
- Sleep 7.5 hours each night
When our workouts and cooking isn’t overwhelming and when we see the inches fall off, something cool happens: we feel like we can really stick with our goals. That confidence is invaluable on a health journey.
Automate Your Steps
When I get out of bed, the next 15 minutes flow automatically. I make my bed, walk into the hallway and check the laundry as I go by. Then I grab the trash and on my way, fill up my water bottle. Afterthe trash, I unload the dishwasher.
Each step flows, one after the other. And now, it’s automatic. I don’t delay over which chore to focus on, I’m not running back and forth between half-completed tasks. After months of doing this routine, my morning chores take about 15 minutes.
That’s what you should shoot–an automatic flow to make your weight loss effortless and efficient. It could look something like this:
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- Get out of bed and put your workout clothes and running shoes on first thing.
- As you pass the fridge, shake up a protein drink, and finish it while you fill your water bottle.
- Then, grab your keys and phone and walk out of the door.
No decisions. No delays. No digging for your sports bra that you left in the washer.
Getting out the door is the biggest battle. At this point, your work is done. These three steps will almost guarantee you complete your workout today.
You can take the decisions and delays out of meal planning too. Try automation for your meals with these time-saving hacks:
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- Find your core four for faster meal prepping
- Create a meal schedule for simple cooking
Enjoy Your Steps
We all have tasks we dread. For me, it was the ever growing laundry pile that could hide a small child. But then I found a way to enjoy this chore (and complete it quickly)—simply by associating it with something I really enjoyed.
Every night, when my family and I were curled up on the couch at the end of the day, I’d fold a load. What I loved (spending time relaxing and chatting with the fam at night) overshadowed the task I dreaded (folding laundry). And in this routine, laundry took no more than 10 minutes a day.
What is your weight loss achilles heel? What is the step you’re already dreading, the one that got you last year?
Can you find a way to enjoy it?
Let’s say you hate making time for a walk. While you walk, try…
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- Listening to a favorite audiobook
- Calling your best friend or family members
- Keeping a nature journal
- Or recording a daily personal journal
Reassess Your Steps
The cleanliness of my house works for us. But every now and then something changes my perspective. Coming down the stairs, I might notice that the fan blades look like they’re wearing a fur coat. A smell from my dishwasher reminds me that the filter is collecting leftovers of its own.
We miss things. We adjust things. That’s life! And if our health habits can’t keep up with the ebs and flows of daily life, they aren’t helpful.
Every two months, look over your weight loss efforts. What’s been easy? Have you found a flow in meal-prepping? What’s hard? Are lunches your pinch point?
Step back, reassess, look at what’s working and what isn’t. No judgement—this is a good step that shows you’re in it for the long-haul. Life changes, and our habits should change with it.
For example:
You might be tired of the breakfast you’ve meal prepped for the past 3 weeks. As you walk in the kitchen, you find yourself making eyes at Lucky the Leprechaun on your kids’ cereal box. It’s time for some new breakfasts in your routine, like this high-protein sprouted french toast.
Or maybe you feel self-concious at the gym. That Pat Benitar t-shirt has seen better days, and so have your workout socks. Time for an upgrade! Treat yourself to workout clothes you’re excited to put on.
The Plan That Fits
Weight loss stops feeling hard when your habits finally work with your life instead of against it. When your steps are streamlined, automated, and enjoyable, consistency becomes the default—not a daily battle of willpower. That’s when things click.
If you want this kind of structure done for you (simple workouts, flexible nutrition, and systems designed for busy seasons) LEAN is where it comes together. Inside, we take these principles and turn them into a repeatable plan you can follow without burning out.
Join LEAN and build habits that feel effortless, and actually last.
