Small But Super Helpful Habits
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Water! I love diet Pepsi but only getting it when I'm out so it is a treat.
Eating meals at a similar time each day.
Making sure I eat foods that will keep me full so I don't get overly hungry and make bad choices
Get enough sleep!!0 -
My most helpful small change is bringing healthy, low-cal, fat-based snacks to work so I don't munch down 400 calories of someone's brownies or birthday cake. I keep a box of 100-calorie almond packs at my desk and a bag of string cheese in the fridge; I usually only want one or the other, but even if I have both it's 170 calories of satiation instead of 300-500 of empty carbs and sugar. Tremendously helpful!
ETA: I really want to second (or third, or whatever we're on) the people who said using a food scale was a helpful small change. That made a staggering difference to my progress, and it's so much less fuss than it sounds. The food scale alone helped me get to an accurate, healthy 1500 calories/day... when before I was estimating 1500 calories and actually eating more like 3000+. Massive, massive difference.0 -
As almost everyone else mentioned - water! Anything to drink besides water now is definitely a treat. I also realized that those fruity cocktails have a LOT of calories in them and I've cut back and switched to lower cal drinks. Also, logging EVERYTHING! Pre-logging was my next step, but simply tracking everything I ate helped me to eat less.0
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I have a problem with drive thrus, especially if I'm on a trip. Now, I put my purse in the trunk. Problem solved.0
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I work 2 or 3 days in a row, then have a couple days off. Instead of getting up and packing my lunch every day, I pack my lunches for all the days I'll be working and set them in the fridge with post-its listing the weight of each baggie of cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, etc. Makes it easier to take healthy food and avoid eating whatever is being served at work or ordering out.0
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Along with weighing and measuring everything, I also slowed down when I eat. I could whip through a meal in record time. I find that when I eat slower I consume a lot less. Made a huge difference for me.0
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The biggest change I made was making my food at home and bringing it with me, instead of eating out. If you look up nutrition information for just about ANY restaurant, be it fast food, sit-down, even the ones that have a "healthy" atmosphere, all the meals are incredibly calorie dense. So if I know we are going out for dinner, I do an extra workout so I can "afford" it. You can even look up the restaurant's nutrition info. before you go, so you can decide what you can "afford" to eat. There's a ton of calories hidden in what look like decently calorie-wise meals. Also, ordering water instead of iced tea, pop, or beer. Huge difference.
I have not given up my morning teas (from Tim Hortons... yum...) but I have gone from ordering double-double to two milk, one sugar. It's more than a hundred calorie difference for a large cup!0 -
Cutting down from 2-3 24oz bottles of pop a day to one 12-ounce can of diet with dinner, or a glass if I'm out to eat (with no refills). Water the rest of the time. I'm not a coffee/tea/alcohol person, so I still need some sort of vice!
Finding satisfying yet better choices at fast food places (used to get a Whopper all the time, now I get a smaller one without mayo and it's half the calories)0 -
Something I learned and has been very helpful. No matter how hungry you think you are, it will pass, just do something else.0
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Flavored seltzer water. Lime or lemon (obviously no sugar or fake sugar added). Zero calories... you quickly get used to it, and it's a lot better than plain old water. A 12 pack is about $4 bucks.
I mention it specifically because you said you were a bit of a sodahead. I've seen this as a successful switch for a few different people (including me) and a soda-centric family of 6...so it does work!0 -
Full fat butter > low fat (tastes exactly the same)
White bread > Wholemeal
For me it was mainly portion size, I never knew how much I was overeating until I really sat down and thought about it, on average I'd say I was having 2 - 3 portions per evening meal, instead of the 1 I have now. At first I was hungry but now I'm honestly not most of the time.
Another major thing was not drinking my calories, I used to go through maybe 2 - 4 litres a week of milkshake, plus fizzy drinks, now I literally only drink water. Sure it gets a little boring but it's not so bad.
I also invested in some food scales, I now have a better understanding of what a portion looks like. It really helps taking the guesswork out of it.
And last but not least, screw diets, I knew I'd never stick to one so I just calorie count, I can still eat the food I enjoy just a lot less of it.
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These are all such great tips! Thanks to everyone for the advice; I think these will help me make some meaningful changes. It looks like I need to go get a food scale!0
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These are all such great tips! Thanks to everyone for the advice; I think these will help me make some meaningful changes. It looks like I need to go get a food scale!0
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Flavored seltzer water. Lime or lemon (obviously no sugar or fake sugar added). Zero calories... you quickly get used to it, and it's a lot better than plain old water. A 12 pack is about $4 bucks.
I mention it specifically because you said you were a bit of a sodahead. I've seen this as a successful switch for a few different people (including me) and a soda-centric family of 6...so it does work!
This might be the solution to my sweet drink addiction; thanks for the idea!0 -
Kids meals. I'm the QUEEN of the kid's meal lol...even before I got serious about my weight loss, they are cheaper and the portions that we should be eating anyways.
When I do get a full sized meal, I will split it with whomever I'm with or eat half at a later meal. If its not enough food I'll add a salad or some other veggie and unsweetened tea. I RARELY drink my calories, even diet soda is a treat, I don't have the taste for it anymore.
I exercise in the morning. I don't want to. I NEVER want to, but I know full well the life happens and there will be some reason why I can't later. I also feel better 100% of the time after its complete.
I try not to bring "junk food" into my home. I can't eat it if its not there. I eat my junk, but I go get it.I go to baskin robbins and get 1 scoop of ice cream, not bring a pint home. My kids are no excuse for bringing junk food home. I made the mistake of buying some "limited batch" pumpkin oreos...Guess who ate about 5 a day? yea me..lesson learned..cuz just when I think that I can behave around sweets...nope.
THIN CRUST PIZZA!!! Check out the calorie and carb difference...the topping is the best part anyways.
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Logging my food really keeps me on track. I think I lost a pound in the first two days I started tracking my food intake.0
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I have a problem with drive thrus, especially if I'm on a trip. Now, I put my purse in the trunk. Problem solved.
Now that is a handy hint.
Further to this, don't take money to work if you don't need it. Take your lunch from home and you can't buy anything else if you don't have money.
Or if you need money,take only the largest note - that way it is there for emergencies but you won't want to break into it just to buy a chocolate bar.
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Eat an apple every day.
Take the stairs.
Eat a salad every day.
Park far away from the building.
Walk to the next office instead of emailing.
I don't recommend eating apples everyday as they are very high in sugars. They are actually a 'useless' fruit nutrition wise. They are reportedly more efficient at waking you up in the morning than a cup of coffee.0 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Eat an apple every day.
Take the stairs.
Eat a salad every day.
Park far away from the building.
Walk to the next office instead of emailing.
I don't recommend eating apples everyday as they are very high in sugars. They are actually a 'useless' fruit nutrition wise. They are reportedly more efficient at waking you up in the morning than a cup of coffee.
Don't mind this one. An apple (or two, or 3) is awesome! It's my best snack because it keeps me full for ages, and my best pre-workout because the sugar helps me go further. It's also my best weapon to maintain a sharp brain when I work.
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Bumping!
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Eat an apple every day.
Take the stairs.
Eat a salad every day.
Park far away from the building.
Walk to the next office instead of emailing.
I don't recommend eating apples everyday as they are very high in sugars. They are actually a 'useless' fruit nutrition wise. They are reportedly more efficient at waking you up in the morning than a cup of coffee.
I disagree. Can't see any reason not to have a apple ( or two) a day and I don't agree that they are useless nutrition wise at all.
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amusedmonkey wrote: »Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Eat an apple every day.
Take the stairs.
Eat a salad every day.
Park far away from the building.
Walk to the next office instead of emailing.
I don't recommend eating apples everyday as they are very high in sugars. They are actually a 'useless' fruit nutrition wise. They are reportedly more efficient at waking you up in the morning than a cup of coffee.
Don't mind this one. An apple (or two, or 3) is awesome! It's my best snack because it keeps me full for ages, and my best pre-workout because the sugar helps me go further. It's also my best weapon to maintain a sharp brain when I work.
I didn't know apples were caffeinated, huh...
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weightliftingdiva wrote: »amusedmonkey wrote: »Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Eat an apple every day.
Take the stairs.
Eat a salad every day.
Park far away from the building.
Walk to the next office instead of emailing.
I don't recommend eating apples everyday as they are very high in sugars. They are actually a 'useless' fruit nutrition wise. They are reportedly more efficient at waking you up in the morning than a cup of coffee.
Don't mind this one. An apple (or two, or 3) is awesome! It's my best snack because it keeps me full for ages, and my best pre-workout because the sugar helps me go further. It's also my best weapon to maintain a sharp brain when I work.
I didn't know apples were caffeinated, huh...
I tend to get hypoglycemia which gives me a horrible brain fog. Note I said "MY" best weapon. With that said, there are actually promising preliminary researches linking apples to improved memory and reduced alzheimer's risk.0 -
This is such a great topic! The little things really add up and they're things you can introduce gradually and use forever!
Mine is my handy dandy water bottle. It's by my side 24/7. I got a "fancy" one so I would want to keep it with me. I have a whole bottle of water before my coffee, all through the day and before each time I eat. It makes me feel full and realize sometimes I'm just thirsty instead of hungry.0 -
Don't eat anything "white".., no "white bread, sugar, pasta, rice", instead eat "whole grain bread, sweet potato's, whole grain pasta's, etc"-1
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Become purposely "inefficient" at home. If you are not pressed for time, not multi-tasking could burn quite a few calories, especially if you accompany this with walking faster. You could for example go for the laundry, put it where it needs to be, then come back straighten shoes, then run to the room on the opposite side of the house to tidy up..etc.0
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Some of these are great!
I/I've
1.Stopped asking the kids to help me unload groceries from the car, usually takes me several trips
2. Park uber far from the doors of the grocery store, and always walk my cart back to the store....I don't use the little designated cart areas in the lot
3. Pre log and pack my own lunch for work every day
4. Always have music playing in the kitchen so I can dance around and sing while I'm cooking....this one is not a huge hit with my boys.
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ellen_couliez wrote: »no patatos/bread/pasta and rice
Definitely not this. ^^. If you restrict yourself from too many foods, you will probably get frustrated and give up. Weigh and measure everything. Buy a food scale. Make sure your eating the correct amount of calories, (find out your tdee). Don't eat too little, make sure you are doing things you can do for the long run.
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Just water can get monotonous - herbal/fruit teas can be ok... but try a few different ones - some can be foul
- you don't have to restrict foods. If you eat healthy most of the time (wholemeal/veg/fruit plus fish/meat) you can have a treat or indulgent meal now and again on your weightloss journey. That way, if you crave something that you really feel you can't do without, you know that you can allow yourself a smaller portion (within your calories for the day) or even indulge in a meal (that goes over your calories for the day - maybe once a week?! - that shouldn't affect your weightloss too drastically and can soon be made up if it does!)0 -
What a great topic thread and a lot of helpful ideas!
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