Random Musing

Like many people on here, I have a lot of weight to lose. I've been very heavy basically my entire life -- I don't think I've been a healthy weight since I was about 7 (?), so not surprisingly, I've been on a lot of diets/weight loss routines in the intervening decades. And I've lost weight at times, getting close to my goal weight and then retreating.

Recently I was thinking about all my previous weight loss failures, and I realized they weren't failures, even though I'm again trying to lose the weight. With each effort, I picked up some random habit/knowledge/strength that has stuck with me, even through the weight gains. A long time ago, I stopped drinking non-diet soda. Now, I realize diet soda's not that much better for you, but it does help cut calories. Long ago, I stopped eating white bread and would only eat 100% whole wheat. Now I can't stand the taste of white bread. I could go on and on with the list.

I'm now realizing that all these things I picked up through the years are making my transition to a healthier lifestyle so much more manageable than it would have been otherwise. I've decided to stop even thinking about my previous "failures" as "failures," but as my learning process (my really, really LONG learning process, but my learning process, nonetheless).

What are some of the habits that you developed previously that have stuck with you?