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.

Running and drinking water

Audio books on my Alexa thingy. Yoga with adrienne, and drinking loads more water.

Oh god and best of all, the electric blanket being controlled by Alexa so I always have a toasty bed!

And I changed the lighting in my futility room. It’s a much nicer calmer place to be and there’s an Alexa echo thing in there too.

That sounds amazing @Springfresh !!

I am going to try the asda women’s health capsules I don’t know where to start with all the menopace options

I have physillium husk stirred into a smoothie every morning- this is a prebiotic encouraging the healthy bacteria and gives me about 11g of fibre to start the day

I take travel biotic from Holland and Barrett but the secret to a good probiotic is it has to be over 10 billion (whatever that means!!). I have lots of health problems but notice I don’t pick up as many minor bugs as I used to.

Drinking lots of water, eating lots of plants, eating in an 8 hour window every day and fasting for 16 hours, taking turmeric, lots of walking, good sleep

WitsEnding thanks for Denise Richards 10 min stretch recommendation. I used to do hours of yoga but nothing for a couple of years. Have just done her 10 min stretch, feeling muscles I’d long forgotten!

Substituted cheese for chocolate. Cheese and cracker with my coffe instead and chocolate.

For dinner upped my vegetables and got rid of carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes etc) altogether. So easy to do I don't miss them now.

That should read 'instead of chocolate'

I go to the gym 3 times a week, mainly weight training but increasing the cardio now.

Drinking more water.

Limit alcohol to 1 large glass of wine on a Friday, 1 gin on a Saturday, 1 large glass of wine on a Sunday & nothing during the week.

Take a good multivitamin

Eat a varied diet - I like to eat a lot of protein so eat a lot of red meat, fish and chicken but alongside that I have a lot of vegetables. I meal plan every Sunday and have food shopping delivered on a Monday.

I’m spending more time outside as my DS loves the outdoors, and it’s making me feel so much more energetic, even though it is very cold at the moment!

Sleep. I try to get at least 8hrs a night.

Lots of veg proportionate to other stuff on the plate.

Vitamin D spray from Amazon.

No drinking calories! I saw a 200ml iced latte bottle the other day that looked lovely... 500 calories!

Low dose iron and vit C tablets (really really helped PMS)
A walk every lunchtime (massively improved metabolism)
Increased fruit consumption
More hot baths and getting up early
Am down to target weight of 52kg for 5’5” and a BMI of 20 and waist measurement of 28”
It isn’t difficult to maintain either now as the above are habits

Meal planning and online deliveries so I don’t buy anything unnecessary, like I do at the supermarket. Also means I’m really enjoying my food, rather than rushing and getting take out as there’s nothing in or when I’ve had a long day can’t be arsed to cook, I’ll just warm the left overs up. I used to freeze them for another day but realised it added to my week workload, so we have the same meal twice a week Monday to Friday.

I drink a lot of water and decaf coffee, but only one or two a day. I was getting heart palpitations and insomnia due to the amount of coffee I used to drink, so this is mug better for me. I don’t drink any fizzy drinks, unless a mixer when having alcohol.

No snacking between meals.

So many people in my real life have recommended yoga with Adrienne and I keep skipping it. I think I’d like to take the plunge this year. I’ve also been thinking about more baths this year since I’m more of a shower person. I have a lot of tight muscles that need loosening.

One of my resolutions this year is to stretch my body, in many ways. Physically stretching, walking more, yoga once a week, etc but to just take it easy. No high pressure. :)

Pilates
Gentle but quite searching iyswim.
Find your core muscles with Pilates and then your clothes fit better.
You will stand taller and move about more freely,
Eat sushi. I live on it.
Don't eat too much processed food.

Many of your minor health problems can be addressed by making small changes.
Exercise is key. Not Olympic gymnastics but walking. 45 minutes a day, preferably somewhere green or with water makes a big difference. Lots of local authorities have heartsmart walking groups so you can do it in company. Good for any children too.

The other really invigorating thing is outdoor swimming. Plenty of local groups of you prefer company or are not confident in open water. Even a quick dip in the sea has huge benefits. Many lidos are open in winter (a few are heated). The sea temperature is still bearable. Look at outdoor swimming map on google.

Give up or reduce alcohol to weekends only.
Good sleep hygiene.
Lovely warm, luxurious baths cure most ills and have same effect as a 15 minute workout.

Do the no S - at least during the week. No added sugar, no seconds, no snacks.

All above is entirely achievable (well some will balk at cold water swimming) and will have profound effect without dieting obsessively or trying fad diets.

Turn the shower to freezing cold for a minute at the end

Another vote for probiotics here. I notice a massive difference in myself if I run out for a few days. I buy optibac or else biokult.

Homemade food as much as possible.

Exercise regularly.

Drink more water. I bought a turtle can. Keeps water cold for 24 hours ( or hot for 12 hours). I can't believe the difference it has made to how much I drink.

Get as much sleep as possible. Not always easy with a baby. If it means I have to go to bed at 8pm a couple of nights a week then this is what I do.

My first step has been to see an osteopath to fix post pregnancy hip problems that are stopping me getting fit. Then I’ll start running again, I was just starting to improve last year when I then found out I was pregnant and the first trimester kicked in.

Reduce starchy carbs as much as possible. My plan is to avoid them for breakfast, lunch and snacks, but relax for dinner as dinner is my favourite meal and I need something satisfying otherwise I’ll give up and binge. Sticking to one type of lunch per week will help me shop and stick to plan, this week tuna salad, next week a soup, veg frittata week after.

Booze free jan then just weekends after that. More water.

Drinking more water
Half of lunch and dinner to be veg
No snacks
Walking
Pilates was great for my back
Decluttering is great for my mental health

Drinking kefir on an empty stomach every morning has 75% cured my IBS.

I also take an ashwaghanda supplement every day which is meant to be nature’s anxiety medication. I find it really works!

Getting 8-9 hours of sleep a night has done me the world of good recently. When I have less than 8 on a regular basis I feel horrendous!

Walking between 6000-12000 steps per day.

Listening to podcasts about health such as The Food Medic’s one.

Smmothies are good for me.

The stop nail biting app makes me feel much better about lots of things.

A 10 minute stretching and weights session every morning. If I miss more than a morning because I'm going out early I know it.
Walking every day for at least 30 mins
Need to up my water and veg intake. Been good on the alcohol this Xmas and it's been pretty easy. Will carry on with 4/3 or 5/2 No drink to drinking days which I have been doing for a couple of years now and definitely feel better for it.
Thanks for the yoga and stretching video recommendations, I'll be looking at them later.

Following 😌

I got Probiotics For every day... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0042WVT1G?ref=yo_pop_ma_share these for my daughter - don't think she's used them so will have them for myself