What's the best SMALL change you've made?

achagrius

I have 3:
1. Parking further away
2. Always taking the stairs

I've made same 2 changes I park as far as possible at work and stopped using the elevator even if I have to climb 4 floors.

judyamk

every times I got up to go to the bathroom in the night no matter what time it was. I always ate even if it was 2 to 3 times with a doubt I stopped last Thursday . I lost 3 pounds!!!!
Judy

luca15306

cut out wheat...
weigh all food

ritabrienfit

For me, it's been eating breakfast. I'm not as hungry later in the day and don't even feel tempted to overdo it at dinner when I eat breakfast.

kmajaVCU

Eating 5 small meals a day and eating them at the right times.

eattilldie

i have reduced my bread to 50%.soda is reduced to 10%.

mumblemagic

Small changes:
Switching chocolate snacks for banana & yoghurt or fruit or another low-calorie alternative. Chocolate is now a treat.
Cutting out tasteless calories e.g. rice, bread.
Swapping potato for sweet potato (this is more for flavour than anything but I no longer crave normal chips the way I used to)
Focusing on proteins not carbs to satisfy my hunger. Not managing a very high percentage of my diet as protein, but my blood sugar is much easier to control and I don't get cravings as much.

Big changes:
EXERCISE!

atfirstblush

Nothing to eat after dinner and in between meals. I was eating about 500 extra calories a day by snacking between meals every day.

Ashwee87

One change I made last year and have stuck with it is cutting out soda completely and most other drinks as well. I drink water and coffee, occasionally I may drink tea.

glenelliott5872

downloading the MFP app....obviously

povic1705

I drink a lot of water, more than 2 liters
I dont eat some bread
i dont eat after 20:00 every day
i go to walk after dinner every day.

PS Im sorry for my English, im from Russia.
I would be glad to communicate in English

ACoBildo

Cutting out fried straches (french fries, tater tots, etc.). I liked them (never loved), but always polished them off just because they came with my meal. No point wasting hard earned calories on something you dont love.

bebeisfit

The stairs. I do my best to avoid elevators and escalators if possible. I'm still winded - but feel a sense of accomplishment (and a bit of superiority), especially when most everyone else is standing on the escalator.

bebeisfit

When I first started out losing weight pre-MFP, cutting way down on Starbucks lattes and mochas was my biggest "little" change too.

My best small change more recently, though, is eating a little more at lunchtime and usually including something sweet. Before I was eating around 300 cal for lunch and "saving" like 700+ cal for dinner and I found myself craving sweets in the afternoon and feeling dizzy and hungry by 5 when leaving work and 'hangry' if I couldn't eat by 6 for sure. Now I usually eat a lunch that's around 400-500 and often ends with a square of dark chocolate and I feel great until 6 pm and can wait even longer for dinner when necessary without feeling foggy and irritated.

I've noticed that loading my calories earlier in the day works well for me. I eat a couple of small breakfasts and a bigger lunch and a small dinner - when I do that, I'm successful.

Thanks everyone for these posts - I'm remembering what has worked for me in the past and am getting some great new ideas.

EllenTebbits

This is a great thread. For me it was eliminating all processed food and sugar and switching from coffee to tea.

thepetiterunner

Committing to the first 15 minutes of exercise no matter what. If I want to quit after that, then fine, but 95% of the time I just stick with it after I've started. I can't even count how many workouts I've saved by doing this.

gulfcoastnik

Logging my food and water daily
Exercise 3-4 times a week
Fitbit has helped me tremendously to see how sedentary was
cooking 2-3 times a day
I love making food taste really good for a minimal amount of calories. I make a soup for lunches once a week and its full of veggies and protein and it taste really good. Each week I add something a little different, but it is a staple in the fridge now so the search for lunch will not produce a bad choice.
I give myself permission to have my "things" I want in moderation a few times a week when I REALLY want it.
Understanding what I am doing to make a lifestyle change, not trying to "diet" to lose this weight.

bcattoes

Committing to the first 15 minutes of exercise no matter what. If I want to quit after that, then fine, but 95% of the time I just stick with it after I've started. I can't even count how many workouts I've saved by doing this.

That is a good change, and one I've not heard. I can see how that could be very helpful. I may steal that one.

CSWalker1234

Haven't had a soda in 50 days since I started My Fitness Pal.I was hooked on Diet Coke.

lecia125

1. cut out diet soda
2. started drinking lots of water
3. stopped drinking coffee as I don't like it without the cream and sugar
4. watching portion size and stopping when I am full
5. if I eat it, I log It
6. being more active

kwantlen2051

Portion Control. Being mindful of what and how much I eat and logging everything I eat.

CSWalker1234

Committing to the first 15 minutes of exercise no matter what. If I want to quit after that, then fine, but 95% of the time I just stick with it after I've started. I can't even count how many workouts I've saved by doing this.

CSWalker1234

I love that way of thinking.I needed that.

rosehips60

Committing to the first 15 minutes of exercise no matter what. If I want to quit after that, then fine, but 95% of the time I just stick with it after I've started. I can't even count how many workouts I've saved by doing this.

What a brilliant idea! I'm going to have to use that. Thanks!

rosehips60

My biggest small change is logging every bite that goes in my mouth, no matter what. This has helped more than I would have thought possible. Next best change is water, water,Water!

skeo

Cutting my venti Starbucks Java Chip frappucino from 4x's a week to once every two weeks as a little pick me up. So ultimately cutting down on my sugar consumption. :bigsmile:

HermioneDanger118

I drink a homemade smoothie almost every day. I use 1/2 c. nonfat plain yogurt, 1/2 cup wild frozen blueberries, 1/2 c. frozen raspberries, and 1/2 c. Trop50 Blueberry/pomegranate juice.

My skin is better, I feel better, and it helps me to include fruit in my diet.

Noted. My skin is terrible.

CSWalker1234

A few things others have mentioned.

1. for me, this was HUGE!!! Gave up diet soda (all sodas). But I drank diet coke a LOT, had to have it to get going in the morning, then mid morning, then lunch, then mid afternoon, etc... January 2012 I cut it cold turkey - BEST decision!

2. eating more often - spreading my calories out throughout the day. Having healthy snacks mid morning & mid afternoon. This has helped me tremendously!

3. recording my food and exercise - kept me accountable to myself. I also learned about food and how to substitute. I was SHOCKED to learn about the nutritional value of the foods I WAS eating!

CSWalker1234

Im a diet coke junkie myself.I haven't had one in 50 days so Im trying to break free.I like your tips.

PJPrimrose

Tracking what I eat accurately and being more consistent with my workouts.