What's your best little tip that has helped you?

launchpadmkquak

I'm thinking for this thread we should get a list going of little tips that have helped us. It could be with dieting, excising, motivation or anything else. I'm not looking for general things like "eat at a calorie deficit" or "commit to excising" or "do it for yourself".

I'm thinking more like "I suck on a peppermint after dinner so I won't eat ice cream" or "I put sugar free jello in my iced tea" or "I find the cutest girl in the gym and go and use the machine next to her"............

I'm not saying I do anything of those things, I just wanted to give some funny examples of the kind of things I'd like to hear about.

launchpadmkquak

Mine is doing fruit punch crystal light at dinner. Helped me curb my cravings for sweets.

I also enjoy a fiber one brownie in the evening.

Fairysoul

When dessert is being made for holidays and such I started using fruit instead of things like cake. Like fruit crisp for example with less sugar because fruit is flavorful enough.

Fairysoul

Oh another one: on days I can't get in a workout I try to get 10, 000 steps.

I also drink water before every meal.

NorthCascades

Sometimes I buy myself toys to motivate myself to exercise more. Example: I got a sweet carbon fiber handlebar, now I need to go ride some rough pavement and enjoy how comfy they are.

Oh, wait, this isn't the confessions thread.

michaelafoor916

weighing all solids with food scale

AddieOverhaul

When I get my afternoon sweet craving after lunch at work, instad of going for a cookie or chocolate bar I suck on a Werther's. They are super sweet, last a while, and only a few calories (I think 18?)

I also give myself challenges. Like, no Kraft dinner for a month (it's a weakness of mine). Not being able to have it for a month feels doable, and helps me get out of the habit of eating it regularly.

mewilmes

Increase fiber and vegetable consumption

RoseTheWarrior

Using a scale to weigh ALL my food.

Not giving up any particular food group. Just eating less and generally healthier.

gorgeousDK

I lost 14 kg in 14 weeks last spring (before getting pregnant and gain it all again)
If my family was going to McD or for pizza or other fast food we have in Denmark - I would eat with them but only eat 500 calories (only once or twice a month) - it keept me on track with the no meal above 500 calories instead of restrictions.

I love shopping ;-) then I set goals - when I loss 5 kg then I can get the espensive shoes I have been looking at. And the lovely dress at 10 kg. Then it was easier to say no to all sweets.

e_v_v

Rewards for big milestones. I, personally, have a huge weakness for cute workout clothes and shoes. So, I set goals for myself that when I reach (A) goal weight or (B) exercise goal or (C) get through a holiday without eating sweets, then I'll reward myself by purchasing something cute. When I finished my half-marathon last fall, I bought myself a pair of Nike Frees. Look good, feel good!

When I'm tempted to eat sweets or other free junkfood in a public setting (like the teacher's lounge since I'm a teacher), I always ask myself, "Would I go out and buy this at a store with my own money?" If no, then I pass. If yes, then I splurge a little.

lithezebra

Be creative about changing your habits. A lot of my best strategies came from looking at my problems differently, like instead of not eating when I'm bored, I challenged myself to come up with things to do, so I'm not bored.

jacki865

giving up sodas and only drinking water is what has helped me the most. Also my body ran on 3 fast food/dining out meals a day, now that I cut that down to 3 fast food/dining out meals a week the weight melts off. Im on a 1200 calorie diet and I look at my weekly intake more then my daily. Some days I only eat 600 calories, other days I eat almost 2000. It all evens out in the end. I move more, I work out 5 times a week and every Sunday I go hiking which burns a significant amount of calories

CJsf1t

Drinking 2-3 liters of water. It helps me stay full and prevents me from overeating

Eddie__Jones

1) focus on process goals not outcome goals

2) learn to enjoy the process

titinyc

Tip #1: I can't tell you guys how many great habits I've started using the '21 Days' rule. A lot of psychologists say that it takes 21 days to make a practice into a habit, so if there's something I'd like to change, I'll commit to 21 days of it (which is just three weeks and feels totally palatable). For example, "I commit to drinking 8 glasses of water per day for three weeks." By the end of your tenure, it's pretty much something you've grown accustomed to doing daily. It's a really good process practice for little things you'd like to change to help along your journey.

Tip #2: when there's a movie you're reeeeeeeally excited about seeing on Netflix, bring your phone/iPad/laptop to the gym and watch it while walking on the treadmill or elliptical. You'll be so engrossed in your flick that you won't even notice you've just burned off 1000 cals. It's great!

Oh and I'm not even gonna lie, I love the 'workout next to a cute girl' rule. My gym is full of cute dudes and it's my #1 motivator for SURE. Best times to go are 5-7PM when they all get off work!

Officially_Rosey

Chewing sugar-free mint gum has helped me to not constantly think about wanting to eat. I've been put on a temporary diet for medical reasons and the first days were tough! Chewing the sugar-free gum really helped

angelwings2000

I LOVE Skinny Pop popcorn. I used to derail at the end of my work day on my long ride home. Now, I have 1- 100 calorie bag of Skinny Pop every day on my way home. This satisfies my urge for munching on the way home and keeps me from devouring everything in sight once I get home.

perkymommy

angelwings2000 wrote: »

I LOVE Skinny Pop popcorn. I used to derail at the end of my work day on my long ride home. Now, I have 1- 100 calorie bag of Skinny Pop every day on my way home. This satisfies my urge for munching on the way home and keeps me from devouring everything in sight once I get home.

I like skinny pop! I also buy the boom chicka pop lightly sweetened popcorn.

What helps me the most is faithfully measuring and weighing my foods.

xXxWhitneyxXx

AddieOverhaul wrote: »

When I get my afternoon sweet craving after lunch at work, instad of going for a cookie or chocolate bar I suck on a Werther's. They are super sweet, last a while, and only a few calories (I think 18?)

I also give myself challenges. Like, no Kraft dinner for a month (it's a weakness of mine). Not being able to have it for a month feels doable, and helps me get out of the habit of eating it regularly.

This is a very good tip. I have to keep kraft dinner out of the house too ... its a trigger food for me.

I leave between 200-400 of my daily calories for the evening, my Netlfix and chill snack lol. I usually have something like pop corn and a rice krispy treat. Gives me something to look forward to every day and usually keeps me from eating a ton of sweets through the day.

NAbramovich

When it becomes easy to get my steps in, I up the minimum number by another 500 steps. My minimum is now 14,500 steps each day and will likely increase to 15,000 starting next week.

famousmel

I stopped 'bargaining' with myself. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it. No sleeping 10 more minutes or only working out 30 minutes instead of 40 b/c of the weather. I could talk myself out of anything. That means I should be able to talk myself INTO anything, right?

Officially_Rosey

famousmel wrote: »

I stopped 'bargaining' with myself. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it. No sleeping 10 more minutes or only working out 30 minutes instead of 40 b/c of the weather. I could talk myself out of anything. That means I should be able to talk myself INTO anything, right?

Hmmm, I need to use this tip in other aspects of my life. It would be a good approach in putting an end to my bad habit of procrastination

dutchandkiwi

I love cooking so one of the tricks was; Try out new recipes, but then ones with a low calorie count and lots of veggies. It is how we discovered the spiralizer but also a vegetable mainly dish which started it life as throw left overs together with chickpeas. Since the calorie count is very low we eat it very often now.

TexasPaige

I put a different fruit in my water every day (rotating through). I try different combos. Today is strawberries. I also like strawberries and oranges. I cut up the fruit and put it in mason jars in my fridge, ready to go at any time.

AlphaCajun

Used this when gearing up to be able to jog 5k without slowing, when I get to that breaking point and my head is telling me "it'll be ok, just take a short break" remember what I looked and felt like a year and a half ago. Works for me.

As far as the "running next to the cute girl/guy" thanks, never even thought about it but there's one girl that seems to end up on the treadmill next to me lately no matter how many are open.. hmm...

travelgirl77

What a fun thread! Through some trial and error I found that when I ate breakfast, I generally wanted to eat more throughout the day. So, I usually fast until about noon each day and when I break that fast, I do it with a piece or pieces of some type of chocolate candy (some m&ms, a miniature bar, etc). I look forward to this every single day and I exercise fasted so I don't get this treat until after that is complete. I go on with my normal meal type eating after this. I don't know why it works, but it does.

My second tip is that I have to drink at least 48 ounces of water before I can have my coffee or any other drinks. I feel like it flushes me out

PersianKitty94

Around 9-10 pm every night, I have a cup of green tea and 3 dates. It really helps keeping me away from late night snacking. If I don't have dates, I eat a small pastry with my tea. Another thing I've noticed is that as long as you don't completely cut out foods you love, the greater chances that you will continue calorie counting. I eat a bit of everything. I've lost 9 pounds in 14 days.

meritage4

I stopped the negative self talk. I treat myself kindly and gently.

Fairysoul

These are all great!

KareninLux

I find I saw 'today is just one day' or Tomorrow is another day' ... especially if I have not worked out or if I am even slightly over my cals for the day. This really helps me keep a good perspective on this.

Before one bad day and I would sabotage for a week. No more of that!!

Edited to add: Just checked a report and every time I have exceeded my net calories it has only been for one day and it does not happen a lot !