What's the single most effective change you've made?

cajuntank · February 2013

Water! Living in Mississippi, it's all about the sweet tea; so once I started to drink nothing but water, a lot of weight came off really quick.

BadAzzBea · February 2013

EXERCISE.. This make everything else fall into place. Check this out.. you can actually eat and be satisfied and still lose weight. Exercise is MAGIC.

SuZQz173 · February 2013

Committed to buying fresh fruit--washing it, drying it, cutting, storing in fridge or freezer immediately, so IT IS READY for smoothies or for eating, as soon as I need it.

Having enough freezer bags at hand, to put the fruit in, and squeeze air out of bags to keep the fruit air-tight fresh frozen.

Before I'd let fruits sit in fridge. Seemed like too much work to prepare when hungry, so fruits got moldy and trashed.

Now, with fruits at-the-ready, I eat the fruits or have them in smoothies. I log how I feel, what fruit combos worked, so I know what to repeat. I love that we have space for notes at MFP.

No wasting the money I've spent on fruits and on being healthy. It FEELS great!

I drink way more water now. With a carafe, so no hesitation about being too lazy to go get some water. I swear, the more water I drink, the more easily I lose weight! Maybe flushing sodium? Noticing, when I don't drink enough water, I gain.When in ER for an emergency, so many women in there dehydrated! Made note to self: drink lots of water!

jennaworksout · February 2013

reducing sugar intake....

Joanitude · February 2013

If I had to pick just one...logging everything every day.

The second best is not dieting or exercising - just making sure it balances out for the day. I am over time changing the way I eat, and I don't have to worry about "cheating" or "slacking" that I see plague some friends. A whole lot less guilt and other negative self-talk that way.

rsharper97 · February 2013

Eating more, upping my protein, and exercising more.

jenniferswooten · February 2013

For me, it was cutting out the Diet Coke and drinking water. Making that change really helped my weight loss as well as my general well being.

gatorginger · February 2013

Eating all day long instead of skipping meals like I used to

Liatush · February 2013

Tracking my food - hands down.

Ta2dchic20 · February 2013

Working out in the morning. Even though I hate getting up early, I have far fewer excuses not to do it.

sfgonzales · February 2013

Giving up soda and junk food (fast food and the crap I used to eat at home), and exercising!

castadiva · February 2013

Bump to read later

_crafty_ · February 2013

Taking out alcohol!

the hell you say?

no . . . just no. :noway:

Angiesolomon · February 2013

Just curious!

For me, it was taking a pot of porridge to work and having breakfast later, rather than eating a breakfast that I didn't want at the crack of dawn...it seemed to make me hungry all day! Now I have breakfast around 9.30am and don't feel hungry between meals, so no snacking. Sounds pretty basic, but it was a revelation to me!

What's yours?

Wow! Same for me, I also increased the portion size of my porridge.

Kimmy_927 · February 2013

I completely gave up pop, even diet pop. I think I'll see more benefits in the long run. I also drink just water for the most part. And I eat fast food maybe once every 6 months.

Amanda82691 · February 2013

Bump!

lbesaw · February 2013

Counting my calories----hands down.

tami101 · February 2013

Mindful eating. I really didn't think about what I was eating before I started logging. I thought I was a victim of a "slow metabolism" because I have a very active job and I didn't think I ate that much. Logging my food on MFP was a wake up call. I don't always eat healthy, but now I pay attention and account for it.

taylorwaylor · February 2013

Clean eating!! I am actually amazed how much i love it now.... I grew up pretty much only eating junk food, fast food, white breads, double chocolate ship muffins, pop tarts, ice cream, and just anything chocolate.... I had a lot of these things daily! I was still skinny until i got really depressed tho.... Ohh! And also, im eating high fat and low carb (no grains or breads) And i havent had any problem with it at all!

tif83 · February 2013

by far the gym. in turn, it makes me *want* to eat healthier too, b/c i don't want to blow all the work i've just done! best thing i ever did (along w/ getting a fitbit- goes hand in hand, tho!)

dizzzy33 · February 2013

Logging everything I put in my mouth, even if I take just one bite. Keeps me accountable and makes me think about if I really want to log it or not.

OddballExtreme · February 2013

After getting diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes last year, the most effective change is watching exactly how much I'm eating. Logging everything here has made a huge difference in losing the nearly 50 pounds. I can also add drinking a lot more water and doing more exercising to the effectiveness. My doctor last month called me "disgustingly healthy" and officially took me off all the medications I had been on. It's hard to believe I'm med-free for the first time in nearly 20 years!