What are your best HABITS for losing weight?

anlymc13

aarnwine2013 wrote: »

Weighing my food has been the best habit. All I can say is no wonder I'm fat...

This.

AudreyLou89

Keeping breakfast/lunch staples in the office! If I know there's a packet of instant oatmeal and a k-cup waiting in my desk, it's a lot easier to avoid the drive thru on mornings I get out of the house without a proper breakfast packed. Ditto cans of soup, frozen entrees, etc. I make an effort to pack a well balanced lunch, but on days it doesn't happen I've found that having a back up plan prevents me from heading out to grab something quick for lunch and coming back with a feast of impulse buys from the CVS down the road.

BoxerBrawler

Kind of complex but my belief that I am driven & motivated by a higher power for a higher purpose. Also being surrounded with those who are on the same mission as me... who have the same goals, who walk the same path, and who encourage one another.

goldthistime

My best habit is aiming for a small deficit. You don't need an iron will, or monster burns, or gallons of water, or most of the other "tricks and tips" to survive hunger.

Kalikel

SeptemberFeyre wrote: »

Planning a menu for the week and rarely buying the foods I know I'll have major trouble going overboard with(mainly ice cream).

Ooh, yes, this too.

Smart shopping is key for me. Cannot eat what you don't buy!

Weight loss begins in the grocery store.

Nataliegetfit

Have some healthy snacks at home and work so you have something healthy to eat. Try to avoid fried foods, watch portion sizes. Weigh and log your food helps a lot. Have an alternative to something sweet and salty that is healthy. Drink lots of water hot tea. I seem to eat healthier the days I exercise too. Don't totally deprive yourself of things, have a small piece of something once in awhile and be done. Up your calories a little, eat back like half of your calories burned you will still be doing great, you want to be able to do something long term, not be totally sick and burnt out. Good luck and keep it up.

NikkiMichelleS

The best habits I've learned & kept up with:
Definitely a lot more water & tea, especially in mornings & evening time. Helps fill me up!
Planning my meals ahead, snacks too!
Switching up and rotating foods, not just stuck on several super-healthy foods, but a variety of yummy foods helps me.
Logging every time I eat
And have good snacks handy

Hearing other peoples habits & tips is great & very helpful. Best wishes!

Ruth1212

Weighing myself every day
Weighing food consistently
Regular consistent exercise

loupammac

I haven't been too successful but I find having a water bottle I like helps with my water intake. I also choose smaller bowls and plates when I'm eating which definitely helps when my partner likes to eat larger portions and then go back for seconds. I also like to schedule my exercise in advance using the online booking system at my pilates studio so I often buy a 1 month pass and schedule in all my classes.

Optimistical1

I cleaned out my pantry, fridge and freezer and gave all my unhealthy processed foods to a friend. There is now nothing unhealthy in the house for me to eat. It takes more effort to cook/bake something high calorie than it does for me to grab a quick healthy low-calorie snack. My family and I are enjoying my from made from scratch foods so much better than all that convenience boxed and canned crap I used to cook with. It's takes a lot more preparation and planning, but my family and I are getting healthier, losing weight and feeling so much better.

dcarter1020

1: Weighing myself daily 2: Weighing food 3: Consistent exercise. Weighing daily isn't for everyone but it allowed me to take note of weight fluctuations and connect it to my daily intake and activity. Now that I'm in maintenance I don't feel as much pressure but I try to stay consistent in the habits that got me to my goal.

ZeroDelta

1. Weigh everything
2. If I didn't cook it, I don't know how many calories are in it.
3. The weight on packaged food is a MINIMUM. Packages often weigh more. Don't trust the package weight.
4. If a weight in grams is given on a package use that. Grams have more resolution than ounces.
5. If possible NEVER use a volumetric measure. Way too many variables affect how much a container can hold.
6. Buy a calibration weight for your food scale. It will allow you to verify the scale's accuracy.
7. Enter your food before you eat. It's easier to enter your food when its in front of you. It's also harder to forget things.

13suzie

1. working out early in the morning, before life happens or gets in the way
2. drinking water at every meal and between every meal
3. loading my plate with mostly vegetables
4. I choose to pay more for just one serving of things that I should limit than buy a package and feel tempted by having a bulk supply
5. I lay out my exercise clothes the night before
6. logging food
7. using a food scale
8. using smaller plates
9. drinking tea after dinner to end the eating
10. I sign up for marathons before I am fit, when I know it's time to really get on board a more serious exercise program.
11. I use protein shakes as treats
12. When I eat out, I make it a point to create healthy options even when they aren't listed
13. I log my exercise
14. If I feel too tired go for a run I go for a walk
15. I take a giant thermos of lemon water or tea to movies so I'm not tempted to eat my kids' popcorn

Liftng4Lis

I'm going with food scale, FTW!

Emily3907

Bshmerlie wrote: »

Once I was into the routine for a little bit I started noticing my routine that I would end up going over my calorie goal Fridays and Saturdays. So I adjusted. I lowered my Sun-Mon-Tue-Wed-Thur calories down to 1200 so that I can have 2000 on Fridays and Saturdays. It helps me to stay on track and not have to worry so much about blowing my deficit that I was building all week. So I now look at my weekly totals more than my daily goals. It gives me more flexability and takes some of the stress off.

Same here. I just adjusted my weekend goals for the same reason.

dubird

Just logging. Even if all I'm doing is making a best guesstimate, logging keeps me aware of what how my day is going. I have a tendency to snack from habit, even when I'm not hungry. By logging my day, it's easier to resist that habit snacking when I know that I'm close to my goal!

13suzie

Kalikel wrote: »

SeptemberFeyre wrote: »

Planning a menu for the week and rarely buying the foods I know I'll have major trouble going overboard with(mainly ice cream).

Ooh, yes, this too.

Smart shopping is key for me. Cannot eat what you don't buy!

Weight loss begins in the grocery store.

^^^ This is priceless! Weight loss begins at the grocery store...that is so true!!!

MarziPanda95

Log. Everything.

Kimegatron

walking, which won't be happening in the Winter

OldAssDude

Power walking.

omechicka

I lost 25 pounds in less than a month on an all liquid diet because of my jaw surgery. It's not the best or healthiest way to lose weight, but it sure as hell works. I'm trying that again right now.

brb2008

Planning has been my key habit. Pre-logging foods so I have the "plan" in my mind, I adjust as the day happens but having it planned loosely is key. Work days are easier than weekends, because on the weekend I have my partners feelings and desires in the mix. He likes at least one big breakfast day per weekend, Im leaning away from that stuff so its tough. We are going to work together tonight to make a plan that can please us both and meet my goals as well.

47Jacqueline

Changing the way I lived

Working2BLean

Preparing my own meals using a food scale

Eating out for lunch wasted $$ and added calories

CoffeeNCardio

Greenrun99 wrote: »

Using a food scale

This. As well as using the MFP options smartly.

FabianRodriguez94

I pre-log my meals.
So I will log all of Monday on Sunday as I go to bed.

H34v3nlySinsx3

I'd say that the two best habits to have are stretching every morning (to keep you physically alert and gives a great boost of energy.)

The second habit to have is eating healthy and making proper nutrition decisions.

Good luck!

alittlelife14

Food scale. Meal planning. Putting a physical lock on my fridge at night to prevent binge carb eats. Staying motivated with the idea of friends and family rooting for me.

13suzie

Great posts! Thanks!

13suzie

putting this out there again...any more suggestions of good habits that help you lose?