There is no question that if you not only want to lose weight, but also keep it off, you are going to have to start eating healthy meals. The best way to make sure you are eating healthy is to prepare those meals yourself. That way you can include the best foods for optimum weight loss.

So, what do you do if you think you just don't have the time to cook homemade healthy meals? Well, the first thing you should do is make sure you really don't have the time to do it or is it that you just don't want to make the time? Most people can find the time to do the things they really love or want to do, but couldn't possibly find the time to do the things they hate or don't want to do.

Maybe you don't have time because you don't know how to cook or you think healthy meals take too long to prepare. Or perhaps you just don't know what to cook or how to plan a healthy meal. All of these things can be very overwhelming if this is how you feel, so just telling yourself you don't have time or making sure you don't have time is just a defense mechanism.

However, I can tell you from experience that you can cook a meal in 15-20 minutes and it would literally take almost no cooking skills. Let me give you an example. One of my quick meals is baked salmon fillets (wild caught) that I sprinkle a little seasoning on and bake in my toaster oven (15 minutes); whole wheat pasta that once cooked (about 10-13 minutes after water boils) I put in a bowl and stir in a little olive oil, garlic and kosher/sea salt; and spinach saut?ed in olive oil and garlic (a few minutes if fresh, about 10 minutes or so if frozen). Now, wasn't that fast and easy? Plus it is healthy! Just make sure the first thing you do is put the water on to boil for the pasta before you do anything else and you should be able to make this meal within the timeframe.

If you really can't cook or feel planning meals is too hard, do yourself a favor and start reading about and learning how. Take control of your weight loss efforts and you will have a better chance of succeeding.

If you really believe you don't have time to cook healthy meals, you are going to have to examine your life and eliminate the things that are keeping you from taking care of yourself. All the "things" you are busy with in your life don't mean much if you aren't healthy or don't have a quality life.

Getting healthy and weight loss should be a top priority, so get others to help you out or learn to delegate some of your tasks, or learn to just say "no" sometimes. Weight loss and healthy eating is a lifestyle, so make home cooked healthy meals a part of your life.

Jeanne Ewen is a CPA and a lifelong thin, fit, healthy woman who has a passion for learning and talking about health, nutrition, exercise, weight loss and personal development. Please visit her website at http://www.tipsbyjeanne.com/