Habits - What did you change?

akaMrsmojo
akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
in Motivation and Support
Beside the obvious, eating more calories and exercising, what habits did you change when you started your weight-loss journey?

First time, I would put my workout clothes on first thing in the morning so I would feel obligated to workout before I did anything else.

This time, I am drink water with lemon every morning.

Replies

  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I weigh and measure my food. I like to buy foods in bulk and portion them out in snack bags so I can grab a bag and go without worrying about eating too much. My husband is liking that method, too. Means he can eat a bag and not not feel like a pig because it's a tiny snack bag and not a 500g carton.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Cut out all soda. Plan my meals for the week on Sunday. Use my crockpot and recipe websites WAY more.
  • Shamrock_me
    Shamrock_me Posts: 161
    I eat chocolate everyday! Usually in the form of a protein bar or fiber brownie, but I do. I liked chocolate but it always gave me tremendously horrible headaches so it was a once in a while thing. Now whatever I've done by shedding weight it doesn't bother me the same. But I treat myself because it's good for my emotional being and because it's in something I already need to eat (protein or fiber) it's also a physical treat.

    Biggest change is the perspective of "I don't think I can..." to "I know I can do it.. maybe not today or tomorrow but I will succeed." whether it's work out related or related to other parts of my life like social or financial or personal. Believing in yourself is real power! Though I'm still a skeptic sometimes!!
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    I weigh and measure my food. I like to buy foods in bulk and portion them out in snack bags so I can grab a bag and go without worrying about eating too much. My husband is liking that method, too. Means he can eat a bag and not not feel like a pig because it's a tiny snack bag and not a 500g carton.

    I love that idea. I may use it.

    I definitely use the crock pot more and eat out a lot less.

    If I have calories I need to eat, I eat chocolate. I know it is not good food but makes me happy. As long as I do not go over my calories, I am happy.
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    SLEEP

    Once I learned how important sleep is to my weight-loss, I made/make sure to sleep at least 7 hours a night. Getting enough sleep is very high on my priority list.
  • fervc64
    fervc64 Posts: 53
    Cutting back on my caffeine intake.
  • WrenStory
    WrenStory Posts: 103
    The only habit needed for weight loss is to consume fewer calories than you burn, and so that's what I focused on. I also curbed my drinking drastically, quitting for the most part (I've had a few slips). The alcohol habit change was not for weight loss, it was for emotional and physical health.
  • sportyredhead01
    sportyredhead01 Posts: 482 Member
    - Eating out less, making more food from scratch, which my husband has enjoyed as well.

    - Measuring my food. Now when I have a cup of something, it's a measured cup not just filling the glass up.

    - Eating more protein and less junk.. I never knew how important protein was. :happy:
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    No more takeout or fastfood .......

    I batch-cook once or twice each week now ....... I use the slowcooker for soups, stews and chili ....... and roasting batches of veggies ....... then I break it all down into smaller portions, putting some into the freezer ........ easier to bring my own healthy lunches & snacks to work ........ so I save $$ and lose weight at the same time :drinker:

    Happy losing !
  • Angecus
    Angecus Posts: 19 Member
    The main one is that I quit smoking (3 days now)
    I signed my 11 y/o son up for the gym and now we go together
    I started tracking my food (which is really eye-opening. I should be eating half of what's usually on my plate, lol)
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    It's an ongoing battle - not snacking my way through the entire afternoon.
  • CJisinShape
    CJisinShape Posts: 1,404 Member
    Cut caffeine to one caffeinated coffee a week, and/or a soda. Cut out most fast food - don't even have the taste for McD's anymore. I eat a lot of homemade chicken soup with huge veggie chunks.
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    Caffeine is my only really vice left. Last time I stopped regular soda and became addicted to diet soda. Last year I switch to unsweet tea. But I still have to have my coffee in the morning. I am down to one cup a day.....mostly.

    I wish I could drink water, but plain water makes me sick.
  • _Thanatos_
    _Thanatos_ Posts: 166
    Eliminating all soda
    No fast food
    Less sugar
  • kooltray87
    kooltray87 Posts: 501 Member
    I eat according to portions and not the size of the plate :-P plus I wait about 15 mins or more before deciding if I want seconds....which I usually say no to.
  • KittyViolet
    KittyViolet Posts: 220 Member
    I cut out all sugary drinks, including fruit juices unless I juice/squeeze it myself. I was drinking 3 iced teas a DAY as a teenager. Oh, my poor face. 8\ Water and milk was all I needed, until I recently switch over to water and almond milk.

    I also reduced my carb intake and upped the fruits and veggies.

    I forced myself to learn how to cook, and cook a lot because leftovers are just awesome, even though I still don't like to lol. Doing dishes sucks.

    And of course, I invested in some rather lovely pink and black running shoes! I haven't owned a pair since high school Gym class. O.O
  • iorahkwano
    iorahkwano Posts: 709 Member
    1. Measuring cups & tablespoons/teaspoons to make sure I'm not overeating on serving sizes.

    2. Using smaller plates, bowls & forks.

    3. Portioning my liquids by only filling my cup up 250ml at a time (My cups unintentionally have a line where 250ml is).

    4. Checking labels for calories, carbs, sugar & protein.

    5. Switching sugar for Splenda (Not everyone's cup of tea but it's 0 calories, diabetes runs in my family & it's one of the safest/more natural sugar substitutes according to studies).

    6. Ordering out less, bringing my own snacks to movie theatres & if going to restaurants, I eat until I am satiated, not DYING.

    7. Ordering low calorie drinks at bars (i.e. Diet 7up [0 calories] with southern comfort in it [65 calories]).

    8. Fighting the "bored snacking" by drinking low cal fluids (Water, soymilk, tea, coffee, homemade hot chocolate, etc.)

    9. Making sure I get protein with every meal (Eggs, chicken, almonds, peanut butter, etc.)

    10. Avoiding places that have things my will power will not resist (Muffins, chocolate, ice cream).
  • nhughes1864
    nhughes1864 Posts: 102 Member
    I carry around a 32 oz. water bottle so that I drink my water first before going to other drinks like tea or soda.
  • FitnessPalWorks
    FitnessPalWorks Posts: 1,128 Member
    I also realized I wasn't sleeping enough - I now have a set bedtime and wake-up time, which takes discipline since I work from home and can make my own hours so to speak... but the 7-8 hours of sleep is now a must.

    I am one that not only started my "diet for life" but also cut gluten out at the same time. For any of you that have done that you'll know it's not easy so it's best I work from home and not out in the general public at this point as I'm only on day 86.... :)

    Prior to cutting gluten I was way WAY too sick (constantly) to work out... I'm almost to the point where I have the energy to do so and can actually COMPLETE a workout without getting sick while doing so. No joke. So I'm pretty excited about that. I like the idea of putting workout clothes on first thing in the morning. I may try that one! :)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Now I keep track of everything that I eat. Also, I no longer eat two helpings at dinner plus two to three servings of dessert.

    ETA: Also, I if I'm mindlessly snacking, it's gonna be carrots instead of candy or chips or snack cakes.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    Still having to tweak different things. For example I have finally convinced myself that cashews are not my friend. I simply cannot have them in the house without eating too many of them until they are gone.

    So I guess the biggest one is just putting certain foods on my, 'don't buy and don't eat' list.

    Which is turning out to be a lot of foods now. But it works because I'd rather not eat them than use precious energy to fight cravings all day.

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