You know you've reached a turning point when....

JoolieW68
JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
in Motivation and Support
At some point during your Health Quest, you realize that things are getting easier, almost 2nd nature.

One thing I noticed is that I actually look forward to eating my salad for lunch every day. A SALAD? Who gets excited about eating a salad? I DO! That's when I realized I'd reached the turning point in my healthy lifestyle...

How about you? Have you reached that point yet? And if so, what made you realize you'd reached it?
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Replies

  • jpuderbaugh
    jpuderbaugh Posts: 318 Member
    I never thought I would be making homemade soup on a regular basis or be ok with the texture of cooked cauliflower. Soup was something I always thought "Ah, why bother? just buy it." but I can avoid any grissly pieces of meat or veggies I don't like if I make it myself.
  • raeleek
    raeleek Posts: 414 Member
    I'm starting to look for any reason to be active and I get REALLY antsy when I don't move enough during the day. NEVER felt like that before.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I just realized I actually perfer water. Right now I've got a sugared soda (I know! I have my reason for it today) and my big gulp of water with a little lemon. I'm actually drinking the water and barely sipping on the soda. In fact, the soda is warm!
  • Lize11e
    Lize11e Posts: 419
    When I use to decide to have a cheat meal I could have it. Now if I decide I'm going to do it I ALWAYS end up making sure I still come in under calories. I'm amused at myself over this. Scenario: I decide to have pizza for supper. I begin to skimp during the day to save calories. I stop and get the pizza (frozen, I can't make myself order one) and go for the thin crust. On the way home I think about how much of it I'll eat. I always end up eating less than that amount.
  • jen10st
    jen10st Posts: 325 Member
    I think I reached that point today. I went swimming with a friend and was starving afterwards (it was way past lunch), went to the supermarket and got my favorite pasta salad from the make your own salad bar. Didn't think too much about the calorie count at the time but when i checked it later it was at least 1500 calories!!!! Normally this wouldn't bother me but I'm so annoyed with myself for the slip-up!
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I haev had a few of these moments lately. I have come home from work several days lately and been really stressed, and instead of wanting to snack on everything in the house, I have wanted to go for my nightly walk to blow off steam. And last night we were having burgers (veggie of course) for dinner,and I actually found myself craving broccoli with them. These things are HUGE for me, and make me really happy! I feel like I finally get it!
  • ksaranya
    ksaranya Posts: 50
    Me too! I love my salad! No dressing.
  • sarahg2290
    sarahg2290 Posts: 54 Member
    I've realized I have completely lost my cravings for junk food! I haven't had fast food in over a month, and honestly don't want to eat it ever again!
  • mauryr
    mauryr Posts: 385
    I might be at a turning point right now... can't seem to lose any more weight - and I'm thinking that perhaps letting myself gain 5 or so might be a good thing - if it's all lean, that is.
  • daisydmchick
    daisydmchick Posts: 9 Member
    I've been yo-yo-ing all of my life...but just had my a-ha moment a couple of days ago...when I realized just how much better I feel when I'm eating better and exercising more...and how much of an influence I am on my daughter. I don't want her to struggle with the same unhealthy habits.
  • bugs5697
    bugs5697 Posts: 85
    I'm starting to look for any reason to be active and I get REALLY antsy when I don't move enough during the day. NEVER felt like that before.

    YES!!! ^^^ THIS ^^^
    My boyfriend gets anxious with me when I can't sit still!!!
    :tongue:
  • OfficiallySexyVal
    OfficiallySexyVal Posts: 492 Member
    I look forward to working out everyday and get depressed when I am unable to! I also have been doing zumba alot and so if I get a song stuck in my head I bop around my office occasionally breaking out a move or two...lol...

    Food is still a battle, but a battle that is getting easier everyday to conquer.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    I go thru periods of each.. for the longest time it was second nature.... then other times I crave alot and sometimes give in/sometimes don't. Also with holidays and birthdays, etc. It's almost like you have a sweet and need to 'detox' again.

    I have come to the realization that it will always been something I HAVE to be conscious of, I will always have to log my foods, and have willpower. But I am super turned off by the calories in things, that I won't touch it.
  • djkamin60
    djkamin60 Posts: 88
    I used to drink 2 or 3 sodas a day. Now I am content with water. Soda consumption now is diet and maybe 2 or 3 a week if I am in the mood for it. Don't miss it at all. I no longer keep chips and salty snacks in the house except for an occasional bag of pretzels. Fruits and veggies are my snack of choice.
  • dibdobw
    dibdobw Posts: 89 Member
    mine is exercise. I now can and want to cycle 20 plus miles, not do it because I feel I have to. I love the gym and walking as well. None of this seems like punishment any more
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    The fact that I'm only drinking water. What's more? I'm starting to want more than my minimum 8 glasses a day!
    just a few moths ago, I had trouble drinking /one/ bottle!
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    I first realized how much my life had changed when I saw a video of an event I had attended a few weeks prior and did not recognize myself. I actually asked a friend who the guy in the video was! Said something like "Who is that on the left? I was at that roda and I do not remember that guy".

    BTW- I LOVE my lunch time salads!!!! - My fav: Spinach with red onion, mushrooms a little feta and the Kraft yogurt based poppyseed dressing. Yum, Yum!
  • Ivana331
    Ivana331 Posts: 230
    I am only 11 days into my new lifestyle, but I enjoy working out. I already did my workout for today, and I am already thinking about tomorrow's workout, and wanting to get up and moving right now, but I eat my exercise cals back and have my diary all planned out, so if I exercise more I will have to eat more and I am not really hungry and still have a snack and dinner left for the day.
    I used to do track and cross country in high school and loved going on the long runs. I Know my body has it in it, now I am getting that good feeling back from working out and enjoying it. :) If I even think about not working out, I get worried, thinking I will gain my 5lbs lost back.
  • scott1646
    scott1646 Posts: 110 Member
    Exercise has become my favorite hobby. Hitting fitness goals daily, weekly and monthly. Even when I was healthier 4 years ago, exercise was never a priority, I rarely did it, but I also ate better. My energy level is even better, even when I was not over weight. I was never really as active in a day, as I am now and my energy level was only great when it was downing energy drinks.
  • bamadwl
    bamadwl Posts: 111 Member
    Hmm..... which ones to post without boring you too much. First of all, Taco Bell and I broke off our long standing relationship about a year and a half ago. I completely quit drinking all sodas and only drink low fat milk, water and decaf tea or decaf coffee these days. For some strange reason I like water at room temp and don't care for it with ice. I quit caffeine a couple of years ago (for health reasons). Talk about a messy end to a relationship! Who says caffeine isn't a powerful drug? I don't care for sweets any more. Last but not least, the thought of fried food nauseates me now (being born and raised in the south, this is a huge deal).
  • tobelittleagain
    tobelittleagain Posts: 1
    When I get up early to go to the gym, and i'm really looking forward to it!
  • fabandfunat51
    fabandfunat51 Posts: 117 Member
    Yes!!! I am eating lunch and finishing up with a fresh ripe peach. . . Oh My Gosh its heavenly! Like CANDY! I haven't had candy in a long time, well not in the amounts I used to eat it which was disgusting now that I think about it!

    My tastebuds have changed so much, and I understand your looking forward to your salad for lunch. . . fresh and healthy foods taste amazing!
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    Three things:

    1) I'm looking forward to running on the treadmill tonight. I've always enjoyed being active but running is a new thing. Who knew?

    2) Chocolate has survived in my desk drawer for 2 weeks. I eat a little square of dark chocolate every few days if I have a craving, but I'm not doing the "ZOMG CHOCOLATE NAO" thing.

    3) I am liking water over everything else. I mean what even is that? :laugh:
  • Christi6604
    Christi6604 Posts: 247 Member
    A couple things:

    1 - I had to cut back on cardio recently to break a plateau...and that made me sad?! I just upped it again...which made me happy?!

    2 - I had to eat more calories last night (I was on a roll running again!)...and I rejected ice cream and oreos.

    3 - I thought I was craving pizza today but realized I was just craving comfort food...and it wasn't a "real" craving. Had a sandwhich instead.
  • wxchaser
    wxchaser Posts: 173 Member
    Exercise. I can't go a day without it! Sunday is my "rest" day, but I feel so bad about doing nothing. I might start incorporating it, but right now, I think I'm just going to leave it as a day off.

    Food. I can't stand fast food anymore! I ate some the other night and felt so sick afterwards.

    I think the only thing I haven't conquered yet is chocolate. That's my weakness, especially when it's that time of the month.
  • jarredondo
    jarredondo Posts: 284 Member
    When I knew I was on the right track was when I was less concerned about what the scale says (though I still keep an eye on the stupid thing) and was more concerned with my 1/2 marathon training. When I started to realize I NEED to go over my calorie goal on Fridays (with healthy food choices) to have a good long run on Saturday morning.
  • CoachJake83
    CoachJake83 Posts: 108
    I knew I reached a turning point when I became excited to exercise on a daily basis. I often get depressed on my rest days, but I know rest is as equally important as exercise for results. =D
  • Lee716
    Lee716 Posts: 150 Member
    I knew I was turning this from a diet to a lifestyle change when I wasn't counting down to my next cheat day. Like really, I felt like a junkie itching for my next fix. Food was definitely my addiction. Now my fast food is almost all but eliminated from my diet. If I do decide to indulge, I skip fries for a fruit option, substitute soda for water and if i can get my chicken grilled on a whole wheat bun then I am so in there.

    Lol, and I hit the gym to prevent going over my calorie budget, if I can't squeeze it in, then I'm not swallowing.
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    These are all awesome. You guys should all be so proud of yourselves for turning your lives around :smile:
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Yesteday I was in downtown Munich (buying two HRMs (one of mine died) the other for my daughter - lol) and I wanted to get something to eat - the healthy fast food place (they exist) was packed, as was the sushi roll place I like - I just wanted a place to sit and read. There are hundreds of them but I would have had something huge and a beer - so i ended skipping over to the market and buying a sack of washed carrots and some salami and eating my dinner on a park bench with my book. Cheaper, healthier and a better view.

    The turning point is that I thought about my options. Bad, good and best.

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