What’s the one habit that changed your health journey the most?
Hey everyone! We all know fitness and nutrition can feel overwhelming with so much information out there. But usually, there’s that one small habit that makes the biggest difference in the long run. For me, it was simply drinking 2 liters of water daily—it reduced cravings and boosted my energy.
What about you guys? What’s the one habit that completely changed your health or fitness journey?
Replies
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Calorie counting (food logging), of course.
5 -
I have two:
- logging food
- Being open with those around me that I’m logging my food and what my goals are. This leads into handling peer pressure and family and all those ‘you don’t need to lose weight’, ‘just have one’, ‘ just live a little’, etc.
6 -
logging food.
And equally as important, getting a fitness tracker.
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Love this question! For me it was finally getting consistent with logging everything I ate, even the “little bites” or snacks I used to ignore. It really opened my eyes and helped me stay accountable without feeling like I had to be perfect. That one habit has made all the difference.
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weighing everything I eat using grams and logging it. In particular logging my meals at least the day before so I know what my meals will be in advance. This stopped me from eating out and snacking. Also consistently grocery shopping for the week.
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Definitely weighing and logging. My eyes and stomach will always be bigger than my common sense.
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That’s a solid approach! Logging food keeps you accountable, and being upfront with friends/family builds support instead of resistance. Handling those ‘just one won’t hurt’ moments is huge.
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Exactly — logging food is key, and a fitness tracker makes it way easier to see the full picture.
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Yes! Those little bites add up more than we realize. Logging everything is such a game-changer for awareness.
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Logging everything accurately; linked to that, I can ensure I've eaten sufficient protein which is what helps me feel fuller for longer so I don't mindlessly snack.
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Honestly, I can't pick out any one habit, though the things most others have cited are important.
For me, the single biggest thing that changed my health journey wasn't exactly a habit: It was committing to changing the relevant habits, and really, really meaning it.
I'd known for years that I'd be better off if I lost weight and fine-tuned my nutrition. I'd even known the main habits I'd need to revamp if I wanted to do that, and knew the kinds of changes I'd need to make. I would've even told you I wanted those outcomes. In reality, I didn't mean it, because I wasn't willing to put in the work. (NB I don't even feel like it was super hard work, in retrospect.)
If I knew what flipped the switch in my head into the "committed" setting and kept it there, I'd bottle it, sell it, make millions. 😉
6 -
For me it is not eating to much at super and not eating after supper. I still don't drink enough water probably.
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I have a few things
- Drinking a crapload of water - with lemon slices, ingestible citrus oils and a sliced chili pepper.
- BIG SALADS. While my stomach is used to big amounts of food, I ate big salads to fill that. You then slowly start making them smaller and smaller.
- Making sure I have enough fiber every day. If you're full of s**t, it won't help with weight loss lol.
- Tracking ALL food. Having that calorie "budget" that I can't go over, and then the macros that guide you in the correct direction. I realized I was eating more carbs than protein most of the time due to the salads I was having and just less protein than I should (by mistake).
- I stopped feeling sorry for myself. The victim mentality of " this sucks and how come I can't just be naturally slim" etc wasn't helping. I made it about LOVING MYSELF THIN and not hating myself to get there. I now take the time to appreciate all that my body allows me to do and I'm also thankful that I have access and money to be able to buy all the foods that I want and should be eating.
- Drinking. This was tough for me especially while experiencing the biggest grief of my life so far. I had to change my thinking around this, realize that I didn't NEED it, and also understand that is is likely THE reason I'm not losing weight. Lots of calories in alcohol and also there's word out there that alcohol stop or slows down weight loss also.
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I absolutely love love love the part about Loving yourself thin!!!!!
changing my inner choice of words was huge for me. Someone on another thread was talking about “forcing themselves to do this and so”, and my immediate reaction was, I’d have been so hostile to myself for requiring “forcing” I wouldn’t have lasted the day.3 -
Two for me:
1. Logging foods and having a calorie goal2. Establishing an exercise plan.
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for me- limiting after work drinks. They were adding up!
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For me, it has been interiment fasting. I read a book, recommended by my coworker, called Delay, not Deny by Gin Stephens. It changed my life, corny, I know, but true lol
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- Drinking a gallon of water a day
- Intermittent fasting for me. Helps me focus in better, has helped the food noise and not eating too late helps my stomach feel better at bedtime.
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I find what works for me and stick with it. And, I keep it simple. I was making it more difficult cooking all sorts of recipes and ideas..mixing things up. Now .. I stick with key meals that consistently result in weight loss. And, I do an enjoyable easy exercise that works.
less is more.. and less of me.
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For me it was accepting the fact that I am in control. No one else is responsible for my health and no one else was to blame for my size or shape. People can bring donuts to work. My husband can buy sodas or ice cream. That has nothing to do with how I take care of myself.
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Your mind is in your control. I like this. Starting of a new battel Mind vs Stomach.
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I also like KISS - keep it simple sweetie
and do OR not - choice is mine. Make the choice.
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I like this. So many people (me included) think weight loss has to be difficult.
Imagine my surprise when I found out it really wasn’t.
I think it’s part and parcel of feeling like we have to punish ourselves for gaining weight.
KISS, indeed.
2 -
There have been a few things for me:
- Logging food;
- Eliminating certain temptation foods from the home - if it’s not there, I can’t eat it;
- Prioritising myself and giving myself permission to do this for me 😊
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There are two huge ones that really helped kick start it for me:
- Limiting alcohol - I was drinking as often as I felt like, usually alone, and usually a lot of it (let's estimate 4x a week, at an average of 4-6 drinks). At first I tried less alcohol by only drinking on weekends, then I moved to social events only and limited myself to 1-2 drinks each time. In my case, this was a struggle but I was fortunate to be able to do it on my own over the course of a few months. I rarely drink at all now, and have noticed I am way less anxious, less lethargic, and I make better food choices (mostly because I'm not ordering pizzas after a few drinks anymore lol).
- Hitting fiber and protein goals - I've seen a lot of people mention logging food, and this goes hand-in-hand with that. Eating enough protein and fiber has been a game changer for me. I didn't acknowledge how non-satiating the foods I was eating were until I started hitting these goals. Hunger is way less of a problem now than it used to be. I stay fuller for longer, and that is what made it easier to focus on other macro/micro nutrients as time went on!
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what are you eating to hit your fiber goal?
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This is a very interesting conversation.
I would add - social support; be with people working on similar issues in real world groups or online places like here.
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That’s awesome! Cutting back on alcohol and focusing on fiber + protein are huge wins — better energy, less cravings, and way easier to stay on track long-term.
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