What are your best HABITS for losing weight?
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Weighing. loggoing, and planning...... one without the others is not effective!
This and working out.0 -
Meal prep! I prepare all of my breakfasts and lunches on Sunday/Monday so I'm ready to go for the week. I even do a couple extras to have on hand just in case I'm at the gym late and want something fast for dinner - then I'm not tempted to do a drive thru or eat crap0
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My best habit has been logging my food. I used to eat until I finished something just because it was almost done (re: wheel of brie). Now that I weigh things out, I know that 3 more bites could be 300+ calories for some foods. Three more bites every day can really do ya in when you love cheese haha.
Offering to be the DD more. Then I don't feel comfortable drinking and I save myself empty calories.
Drinking fruity red wine instead of sugar-bomb daquericoloda concoctions.
Bringing enough food to lunch so that I'm not tempted to get junk from the deli downstairs.
Eating way more vegetables because they're so low in calories but high in filling.0 -
Making exercise a part of my schedule, not something I just do whenever I get around to it.0
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Bringing my lunch to work instead of eating out. Enjoying the foods I love in moderation. Finding substitutes that make my meal delicious but yet lower in calories like the Flatbread pizza I now make often at home.0
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Focusing on one small nutrition or fitness goal at a time.0
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Eating out rarely, and planning for it by making my other meals/snacks low-cal that day.
Not eating unless I'm actually hungry.
Don't eat until I'm FULL, eat until I'm not hungry anymore.
Exercise.
And, of course, logging. I think that really is the most important since I really think we just don't realize how much we're eating until we really start paying attention.
I recently started logging EVERYTHING - including when I "taste test" while cooking. I found one day in particular I felt I hadn't done too badly but I didn't log until I had ordered my hamburger and French fries... That day I literally ended up almost 3,000 calories OVER my limit!! The terrifying thing was that I truly felt I had made good choices an eaten proper portions. While you are re-training your mind and body you can't assume anything. Take it right back to the most basic level.
I also practice substitution. I started with trading regular soda for diet (don't judge!), then soda for juice or lemonade, but now I drink coffee and water almost exclusively. When I eat I try to drink water every few bites, and eat all of the vegetables first. Then I move on to protein, fruits, and finally any bread. You can also find altered versions of your favorite dishes to save on some calories! I LOVE researching recipes and substitutions.0 -
Planning my meals the night before0
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i decide for the week what i plan to eat in general. I learn every week what works best for my weight loss. so then i go to the store and sometimes what leaps out and grabs my taste buds - those are the food items i get - last week it was blackberries and watermelon. YUMMY! eating food that absolutely is delicious will be no problem to eat it - it wont feel like diet food.
then i see how it affects my weight loss, so then I try to see a pattern, and so then i tweak my food choices a bit and try that.
I also eat real food, not powdered protein and stuff like that. I just prefer it. Like I'd rather eat a steak than a milkshake made from a protein powder. I just wouldnt eat it if it bought it.0 -
Food prep is ESSENTIAL. If you have good food ready at all times, you will EAT IT. I had to learn that the hard way but it absolutely works. Log everything that you eat and I mean everything! Log all of your exercises too! I even log when I clean my house. It all adds up!! When you can see your numbers it increases your likeliness of making smarter choices. I prep my meals for the week--not each day.
Cardio! Cardio! Cardio!
I'm not a health nut or anything--I do have wonderful cheat days!! But I make sure that I don't go crazy with it. I have to have a special treat here and there to keep me normal.0 -
Not eating so much... and running a lot.0
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Drinking lots of water and dropping added liquid calories/sugars.0
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Being Honest when logging Food and staying motivated.
It is easy to get discouraged when you are putting the work and not see results.0 -
I got into the habit to eat half portions when I go out to eat and take the rest home for lunch the next day. It automatically cuts your portion sizes and still allows you to eat what you enjoy! I also try to have fruit or salad/veggies with every meal to keep me fuller longer. Club Soda (Seltzer Water) instead of Soft Drinks and less carbs!0
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weighing food is a good one, the other upside to weighing things like pasta is that now i only make whats needed, and no waste because i've overestimated x0
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also.... batch cooking!0
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Working out on my lunch break, rather than going out to eat with coworkers has made a big difference.
I was reading this and thinking "I don't have any habits for losing weight" (i.e. for weight control). All my life it's been an effort to control my weight. I've done it, but it's never been habit. I have to think about it all the time.
Then I read the comment above and I thought, "Wait, I do have habits that help!". I workout during the work day and I bring my lunch. These may truly be the two things that have kept me most on track.0 -
Full gallon of water every day and weighing my food.0
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Pre-logging! During the week I pre-log my breakfast, lunch, snacks and sometimes dinner for the next day. This helps make me plan ahead to keep on track. There are usually about 300-500 calories left over for snacks and such, so my day doesn't feel completely planned/controlled. Just enough to keep me on track!0
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Eating vegetables at every meal. I am a hungry person. Vegetables really bulk out a meal. They also have lots of vitamins and minerals that help my body feel better so I can move more. Oh yeah and fiber to keep every thing moving.0
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getting in all my calories in at dinner so I am not tempted to eat after dinner.0
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1) Drinking a full glass of water (8oz+) within fifteen minutes of waking and continuing though out the day.
2) I don't drink my calories (milk, juice, beer, soda)*. I'd rather eat. *The exception is protein shakes, I can only eat so much protein to reach 150-180 grams per day.
3) I cut pasta, bread, and white potatoes. I just feel better without them.
Those are the 3 I live by.0 -
Running0
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Food scale/logging properly go hand in hand.
Doing cardio even if you're not that interested in it atm
Learning to not let mistakes derail all your efforts, life is lived one day at a time.0 -
Meal planning, TRUTHFULLY logging everything, hiking daily, cutting out beer, white bread, mayo, milk and reducing starches with dinner. So far so good. Some cravings are tougher than others.0
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Meal planning, TRUTHFULLY logging everything, hiking daily, cutting out beer, white bread, mayo, milk and reducing starches with dinner. So far so good. Some cravings are tougher than others.
Cutting out the beer was the hardest for me but I did it!!0 -
I've recently given up soda (I only drank diet sodas) and cut back on sugar, which is what I think kick started my weight loss. Portion control. I give myself little "treats" (ie. a piece of dark chocolate after dinner sometimes) so I don't overindulge or feel deprived. I've gotten into healthier snacking (hummus and carrot sticks instead of chips).
I jump on the treadmill for 30 minutes at least 4 times a week, followed by some weights. Sometimes, I'll go on Youtube and do the Zumba fitness routines (my favourites are the ones by Lauren Fitz) just for fun
I don't weigh my food or keep a log like a lot of people here, but I do watch my portions and never go back for seconds. I'll take my time eating my meal so that I feel full afterwards - my husband eats fast and is always hungry for seconds :S I also READ LABELS and follow the serving portions.
I also found that having a protein shake for lunch has helped.0 -
Checking my mood before I eat... A lot of times it's stress induced...0
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Accurate and consistent logging.
Staying active.0 -
Here are mine...
Drink lots of water between meals.
Eat frequently
log what you eat
stay active, doing what you love
make small changes over time
don't beat yourself up when you have a bad day0
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