What small things have you done that made you feel more healthy?

[Redcrayonisthebest]

My resolution for 2019 is just to feel healthier. I'm overweight but don't want to just do another fad diet. I seem to have struggled recently with a run of minor health problems. Bad back, depression, vertigo, chest infections, D&V etc so..... what small things do you do that you feel keeps you healthy? And/or what changes have you made in the past in order to improve your health? Thanks.

I always think the probiotic stuff is a bit of a marketing ploy, do you find it really works?

I tried bought prebiotics things over the years – never notice much difference.

Then I went through a phase of making own live yoghurt and own sourdough - for bread and pancakes. Did seem to help settle DS gut stayed that way after my making fad petered out.

I’ve found magnesium and zinc – usually with vitamin D have been helpful I seem to get less colds and they go quicker.

I did get into green tea - during a lose weight kick - mainly it meant I drank less caffeine as had a hot green tea instead. Still prefer regular tea and coffee and have gone back to those.

Getting outside and walking seem to help me - though getting enough sleep also helps and I'm really bad at that - DH like to be up really ate and really I do to and DC still like to get up early and often want me up or make enough noise to get me up.

Also writing to do lists and notes on my phone helped me cope with my depression some what. I make ridiculously ‘easy’ / mundane tasks such as vacuuming or when I last washed my hair, washed my bedding etc but it helps me keep on top of things

Yes! I do this too I get to tick my box when I've showered and done my hair and cleaned the bathroom and changed the beds. All the stuff everyone else just does, I have my list for. No one knows about it and it keeps me happy.

Another vote for proper probiotics. I used to get ill all the time despite eating well, being active, hand-washing, etc. I put it down to a weak immune system. I've been taking them for 2 years or so and I rarely get sick since I started.

Eat lots more vegetables. I add more into everything I cook, so for example if I do fajitas I put in courgette, spinach and tomatoes as well as the usual peppers and onions. I make sure at least half of my plate is vegetables, so if we have spaghetti Bolognese I put loads in the sauce then serve something like broccoli on the side and take a smaller portion of pasta.

All the people recommending probiotics, which type?
Also same with the vitamins, just a general supermarket one or would you go to a health shop?

What a great plan for this year!

Plenty of water throughout the day
Get outside (I walk for just over an hour 3x per week
1 yoga class/ week
Limited sugar/ processed foods
Prioritise sleep.

I could list other things that helped me feel healthier (and also lose ~3 stone) but I think these are the ones that contribute most to my feeling of wellbeing.

Good luck and here’s to a happy and healthy 2019!

AgathaMisty do you mind recommending good probiotics please?
Things I do to make myself more physically healthy are having a homemade smoothie every morning, walking to the station instead of taking the bus, vaguely following the NoS diet, and drinking lots of water. Things I do for mental health include taking a long bath at least twice a week, and spending as much time in nature as my commitments allow.

Get more sleep. Boosts your immune system, helps you feel better and it's easier to control cravings when you're not exhausted.

I plan breakfasts. Otherwise I end up grabbing something sugary.

What are proper probiotics?

Eat a lot of pre-biotics, so lots of veg, legumes, leaks are the best apparently!

Leeks even!

Little thing I do is if I feel like a snack, I have to have half of the snack healthy. So if I feel like a few biscuits, I'll have a satsuma first then 1 or 2 biscuits. It's better than having more biscuits than that and it's more filling.

If I feel like a piece of cake or chocolate....have few grapes or banana first then only room for smaller cake slice or less chocolate. Often the fruit or healthy option is much more filling than the high sugar option.

Drink more water
Change my portion size and eat more vegetables
Swim once or twice weekly
Come off of social media - wrecked my mental health

Not really small but long distance walking. I'm training for the coast to coast walk. My pulse has gone down massively. I know this because I've been going to the gym for a year and check it when on the treadmill.

Watching with interest as I'm determined that this year will be a healthier year!

I'm planning on drinking a lot more water ( drinking more in general as I'm terrible!) , walking more and trying to eat a little less crap. I'd also like to look into vitamins I might be missing...

Mental health wise ( as I do struggle a bit) I'm planning to think more about what I like, do some things that I've always put off - like dyeing my hair- and just generally putting myself first for a change...

Some of these are great! I'm working on a list now

I did a 3 day fast starting 10 pm New Year’s Eve till 5 pm Thursday

Was ok..not sure if I feel much healthier though

@Dowser right through New year??
Fasting is supposed to be good for you though.

I don’t drink calories other than the odd very boozy night every now and then.
I don’t drink tea or coffee anyway but I’m astounded at the contents of our work fridge - fizzy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes etc! Eat the bloody fruit and veg for the benefits of fibre if you’re guzzling a smoothie!! But really, I love food and am a bit chubby but none of that comes from drinking sugary drinks - imagine how much fatter i’d Be after 4 milky sugary hot drinks and a litre of full fat fizzy drinks per day

Place marking

I haven’t done it yet but I’m hoping to return to karate classes as doing martial arts regularly made a huge difference to both my physical fitness & my mental well-being. DD10 can be very challenging so I really feel the need for some stress busting me time. I also get myself down to the sea as often as I can, take power naps & try to let stuff go more 🙂

Another vote for swimming - can’t wait to swim in the sea again this summer

Love running and yoga with Adrienne is brilliant, but haven't done anything for weeks, I'm so ashamed. Need to drink more water and eat better. Would like to try the 5:2 but doubt I'll have the willpower.

Posh green leaf tea. I take four wrapped ‘balls’ of it and brew just enough for one cup in my tea pot in the morning, for no more than 3 minutes. It is like delicately flavoured hot water. I re-brew it 3-4 times during the day. Provides an invigorating refreshing drink which feels like a treat, but is also very good for you at the same time. Was worth every penny

Watching with interest. Some great tips on this thread. For me, starting Asda Women's Health capsules last year helped so much. Really helped the Premenopausal symptoms which were really getting me down.

I'm definitely going to look into Yoga with Adriene. I joined the gym recently but have bulging discs in my back and everything at the gym just aggravates them.