What’s the one single change you made that most benefited your health?

[ethelfleda]

I feel rubbish all the time lately. Lethargic and wound up etc. I’m sure I need more sleep, more exercise, less sugar and less caffeine etc but I’m not feeling particularly motivated!
What is the one single thing you’ve done that has made the biggest positive impact on your health or wellbeing?

Giving up alcohol 4 years ago! Mental and Physical health improved massively...

Stopped Smoking 6yrs ago.

Got a dog. Obviously not the owning of a dog that is key but it's the walking. I've had him two weeks and already I feel in a better mood, have lost weight, and I just have more energy and enthusiasm. He's a collie so I'm doing 90-120 minutes a day with him. I think 90% of the effects are from being outside more though.

There was a paper published recently by NICE that said that spending time exercising outdoor was more effective at mood enhancement than all but one NHS prescription antidepressant.
So I'm guessing it's having mood lightening effects on me!

Also Co Q10 supplement. Recommend.

If you're lethargic talk to your doc as of you need iron supplents, when you start taking them they will make you feel like a new person.

Quit smoking. No longer have a cough, nicotine stained smelly fingers and I can taste food

Drinking a lot of water and replacing my morning coffee with a cup of hot water. I also only have coffee twice a week. Also going to sleep early. I go to bed at 9ish every night.

Cut down the booze and had specific healthy eating days each week. Also ten minutes of exercise a day. Get home, put joggers on, dance around like a nutter for five minutes then five minutes of stretching.
I appreciate that’s not 1 thing, but they are quick fixes and you can pick one or two of them each day.

Acupuncture. It’s sorts a multitude of things my gp couldn’t fix.

Leaving a toxic relationship.

I'm in a very similar position to yourself OP.... constantly battered/on edge etc. Generally eat well, cook from scratch, don't drink (I do smoke but just not ready to ditch these yet as it's basically caffeine and nicotine that fuels me on a daily basis).
Recently (last few months ) been to n fro to GP , had bloods done, thyroid levels had changed (as has prescribed meds), also appears I've got both Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.... got a referral for musco skeletal clinic for further assessment and still in pain daily but at least know I wasn't losing my mind. Please go and get yourself checked out best of luck to you x

Prioritising sleep. For me, everything else stems from there. If I’m well rested I get stressed less easily, I don’t stuff my face with sugar to get through the day, and I have the energy to exercise.

Yoga every morning.

Vit D.

Lifting weights and doing some abs a few times a week has gotten rid of pretty much all my aches and pains and made me look trimmer. I am a bit evangelical about it.

I need to put some of these into practice!!

Vit D.

^^ this, I was soo exhausted and lethargic all the time. Joints just ached, felt bone tired. Anywho blood test and vit d deficient. Really common in Afro Caribbean community

Keto. Reversed my pre diabetes, lost weight, stopped the pain in my knees and back, lowered my blood pressure, lowered my heart rate. Changed my life.

Yeah, I'll go with alcohol if you drink it!

Ditch it.
(Says she drinking a glass of wine right now.)
I know when I stop for a few weeks though I feel so much brighter.
More energetic.
Gets up actually on the alarm when it goes off or even before instead of smacking snooze and crying lol

On Wednesday I began a low carb diet. It's not long, but in that time I'm significantly less bloated, I've been sleeping much much better (from lying awake till 5am every morning to feeling pleasantly tired and sleeping by 11pm). My anxiety and OCD, the latter of which I've had for years, has decreased by about 80%. I can't believe the difference it's made in such a short about of time.

Quick low down on my health:
I quit smoking nearly three years ago
I drink 3 cups of black coffee per day - with one sugar.
I get to bed roughly between half ten and 11 - my son sleeps with me (he is nearly two) he sleeps through most nights but wakes up at 6ish (but thankfully, DH usually gets him)
I drink red wine - usually two nights per week I may have up to half a bottle
I drink a lot of water
My diet is fairly healthy - not perfect but I do cook from scratch most nights and most days I eat plenty of veg
I don’t get enough exercise but I do move around a lot - walk a lot etc
I’m not overweight
I’m 35

Thanks for your replies so far

Stopped drinking in 2013.
Stopped smoking in 2016.

Stopping smoking and becoming a vegan, next step I want to stop drinking alcohol at home

Exercise. Ive more energy, sleep better and feel better. Less aches and pains and better mental health.

I think vit d deficiency is common across the board these days- I'm so pale parts of me are actually blue.

Still need vit D tablets. Made a huge difference. Currently trying to get DH to take it.

Cycling to work.

Reading with interest. I feel the same Ethel - no motivation either. No time etc etc. Really need to force myself to make a change...