One tweak or change that helped

NotSoPerfectPam
NotSoPerfectPam Posts: 114 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Is there one thing that you did that made a difference: in how much weight you lost, how you felt in general, your hunger level, etc??

For me, giving up alcohol really helps me keep at my calorie goal. I also am trying to move to more "whole foods" because I'm realizing that I don't feel as good as I could eating processed foods.

What else have you done that's helped?
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Replies

  • sbl1881
    sbl1881 Posts: 213 Member
    Moving towards "whole" foods and weighing everything are the big ones for me.
  • xcaranicolex
    xcaranicolex Posts: 38 Member
    Losing the all or nothing mentality made a huge difference. One bad day doesn't mean failure over all. It took me a long time to realize that and I still every now and then struggle w that sort of thinking but perspective helps.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Logging everyday and weighing my food on a food scale.
  • Linzon
    Linzon Posts: 294 Member
    Weighing everything and moving away from the idea of 'forbidden foods.' There's some things I don't eat nearly as often as I used to because the calories just aren't worth it for me currently but if I really want something I make it work.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Not to demonize food, eat all food in moderation and that includes beer. I make it fit.
  • sanfromny
    sanfromny Posts: 770 Member
    Getting a food scale! I was very off eyeballing portions
  • lemonychild
    lemonychild Posts: 654 Member
    Changing my thinking from I have to drop xyz pounds by 2 weeks to .. This is a lifetime journey, it never stops, so it doesn't matter when I lose it by, I will just keep going along on my journey
  • wsrep
    wsrep Posts: 20 Member
    #1 rule for me is I don't drink my calories.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I think losing the fear of fat was the linchpin.
    Other tweaks: Learning about the hunger scale. Meal planning and conscious food shopping. Improved sleep routines. Replacing lots of my black-and-white/all-or-nothing mentality with nondualism. Understanding that I am in charge of my own life and my choices.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    When I first started I didn't have issues losing or being in a deficit, when things started to "stick" I stopped eating at the salad bar for lunch and eyeballing, and made sure to weigh on my lunches on a food scale the night before.

    I also learned a high volume way of eating that is very satisfying to me.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Sleeper1968 wrote: »
    Being honest about what I was eating and drinking.

    This, and getting a food scale.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    Focusing on weekly rather than daily goals. I "save" calories during the week and "spend" them on weekends and special days out. It keeps me out of all-or-nothing thinking
  • ralexhou82
    ralexhou82 Posts: 17 Member
    Just echoing what others are saying...I am learning to be accurate with my logging. I have tried in the past with just estimating calories and it's a failure every time!
  • NotSoPerfectPam
    NotSoPerfectPam Posts: 114 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    When I first started I didn't have issues losing or being in a deficit, when things started to "stick" I stopped eating at the salad bar for lunch and eyeballing, and made sure to weigh on my lunches on a food scale the night before.

    I also learned a high volume way of eating that is very satisfying to me.

    So what is this "high volume" way? Just a lot more veggies?
  • NotSoPerfectPam
    NotSoPerfectPam Posts: 114 Member
    All great and inspirational ideas!
  • chimaerandi
    chimaerandi Posts: 153 Member
    Weekly calorie count/calorie banking versus daily.

    Getting out of the mindset of getting slim for an event. This is a thing that's gonna take as long as it's gonna take, and it has to be for me, not for a wedding or a vacation or whatever. I think that only leads to disappointment.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    Planning my days in advance.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Cutting sugar and starches. It made eating less easier and improved some health issues.
  • ElegantElle
    ElegantElle Posts: 24 Member
    Fidgeting, I know it sounds dumb but I make an effort to fidget. I have a stationary job. I'm stuck at a desk and rarely have time to get to a bathroom much less walk. Making time to stand up and bouncing my knees during my 12hr shifts is just my little way to burn a few more calories.
  • koslowkj
    koslowkj Posts: 188 Member
    Crochet. As odd as it probably sounds, it's true! I used to always snack or drink wine while I was studying or watching TV at night. Crochet gives me something to do with my hands so I don't eat.
  • generallyme2
    generallyme2 Posts: 403 Member
    Pre-logging. I pre-log my food (sometimes I have to make adjustments to grams of an apple or something) but it gives me a good idea where I stand, especially on protein and iron which are hard for me. It also helps me avoid impulse 'bites' or treats I don't really want.

    I never pre-log exercise though- I want to be sure I get out and do it ;)
  • minniestar55
    minniestar55 Posts: 350 Member
    Accountability. Meaning, looking at what I eat, being honest with myself about it; measuring, weighing, logging everything. Started with WW about 5.5 years ago, worked perfectly, have been at or below goal weight for 5 years; transituoned to MFP since its free & makes it just as easy to log. For me, without accountability, weight is challenging to manage.
  • leahkathleen13
    leahkathleen13 Posts: 272 Member
    Switching my main size portions to vegetables and drinking water has made me feel fuller.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    NotSoPerfectPam wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    When I first started I didn't have issues losing or being in a deficit, when things started to "stick" I stopped eating at the salad bar for lunch and eyeballing, and made sure to weigh on my lunches on a food scale the night before.

    I also learned a high volume way of eating that is very satisfying to me.

    So what is this "high volume" way? Just a lot more veggies?

    That is one thing, but it's also looking at an ingredient of a meal and thinking about how I can make it go farther. Like choosing to use egg whites instead of full eggs, so that I can also have room for avocado. There's also certain substitutions I'll make for higher calorie foods. I use a lot of lean meat and low fat dairy so I can have larger portions.

    But vegetables do play a big role. I eat hundreds and hundreds of grams of veg per day.
  • Scamd83
    Scamd83 Posts: 808 Member
    edited April 2016
    NotSoPerfectPam wrote: »
    Is there one thing that you did that made a difference: in how much weight you lost, how you felt in general, your hunger level, etc??

    For me, giving up alcohol really helps me keep at my calorie goal. I also am trying to move to more "whole foods" because I'm realizing that I don't feel as good as I could eating processed foods.

    What else have you done that's helped?

    No strict rules on what type of food you can eat, when you can eat it or any particular structure to adhere to. That helps me a lot. Somedays I don't want to eat in the morning, some days I do. Sometimes I have carbs before a workout, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I'll have high GI carbs after a workout, other times I'll have a meal which contains veggies and fat. It's nice to just go with the flow.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Stop drinking calories and weigh my food for me.
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Linzon wrote: »
    Weighing everything and moving away from the idea of 'forbidden foods.' There's some things I don't eat nearly as often as I used to because the calories just aren't worth it for me currently but if I really want something I make it work.

    This. In the past 10 days or so I've had tacos and a cheeseburger.

    Also, for me, last time I got seriously stuck at 165. I tried 12:8 IF and the scale finally started moving down again.
  • qb63
    qb63 Posts: 88 Member
    I saw a quote once, a long time ago, that said "A year from now you'll wish you had started today". Never thought much about it but this year, starting on January 1, I finally decided there might be something to it. My goad was 1-2 pounds/week until I reach goal. In my old yo-yo dieting mindset that would have been ridiculously slow, and I would give up after the first setback. 13 weeks in, 14 pounds down, and thrilled about it! :)
  • jpena412
    jpena412 Posts: 42 Member
    xcaranicolex wrote: »
    Losing the all or nothing mentality made a huge difference. One bad day doesn't mean failure over all. It took me a long time to realize that and I still every now and then struggle w that sort of thinking but perspective helps.

    Thanks for the reminder! Was feeling very frustrated by the up-tick on the scale this morning. I constantly have to remind myself that there will be fluctuations and it's okay to not be perfect in the eating/ exercising department!
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    The biggest thing was just to stop overeating. ;)

    Not thinking I had to have a sweet treat every single day and upping my fiber intake were also big helps for me.

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