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?

I went vegan :)

Sleeping more...

Giving up dairy and eggs has been an amazing change for me. I have felt really healthy ever since. Also running has made a difference to my life. I did the Couch to 5k and now regularly run. I only drink alcohol about once a month (on a night out, not at home). It makes me feel completely awful the next day so I would like to give up altogether but I can’t quite get my head round going to a party and not drinking yet.

Went vegan.

Got divorced and learned to say no to things I don't want to do. It was so liberating it's literally put a spring in my step.

Food wise. I drink plenty of water eat regularly and eat an almost vegan diet. I don't smoke and rarely drink. However I am overweight and don't exercise.

cycling to work for sure / getting more sleep /getting up early even at weekends (no t wasting days)

Hi
You sound like me. I was bone shattered all the time. I made the following changes and have really noticed the difference:

Only have 2 cups of caffeine a day and never after 12pm
Go to bed earlier. You get better quality sleep before 10pm
I stopped drinking and smoking (which you have and don't drink much)
Cut gluten from my diet (this made a massive difference)
Took a iron supplement drink every day for 2 weeks as was lacking in iron
Started a food prep list to make sure I was getting enough of the right stuff
Took a pro biotic (not the yoghurt drinks)
Put my daughter into nursery so I got some me time
Started running and cycling.
I'm the wrong side of 40 with a 2.5 year old.
Above sounds like a lot but I couldn't handle feeling so tired all the time. It's awful.

I hope you start to feel better soon xxx

Cut down on carbs

Have nothing to do with toxic negative people - I cut them out of my life gradually

Vit D supplements

I work hard & now treat myself once a month; nice face cream or pedicure/manicure. Id spent years not really treating myself.

2 week holiday every winter.

I feel like a new person and it's nice.

Took a iron supplement drink every day for 2 weeks as was lacking in iron

And then what? If you were lacking in iron before the supplement, then what change did you make? And how did you know improved after two weeks? A blood test?

Not exactly a change more a discovery. For years I would get episodes of horrendous headaches, upset stomach with vomiting. It would last for around 4 days. I used to dread special occasions like weddings in case I had one my 'upset stomach' episodes. On top of this I developed really bad rosacea. By chance I read on the internet a possible link between rosacea and h.pylori, had the test and it was positive! Had treatment for it and since then (15 years ago) my rosacea cleared and never had the headache/vomiting thing again! Felt like a different person, life changing for me.

If you're feeling anxious, try the Waking Up meditation app. I really like it and it helps with the anxious thoughts.

Yoga. One class a week still made a difference to my mental and physical health.

Quit drinking 19 months ago!

Going vegan - I feel amazing, and get so many compliments on my skin. Can’t recommend it highly enough 🥰

I felt exactly like you OP a few weeks ago. I had been really healthy until about 2 years ago when stress from work just took over my life. It all came to a head about 2 weeks ago then I got the flu + a horrendous stomach bug and was bed ridden for 10 days. This has been the kick up the butt I needed. 1 coffee a day max now, 1 x carbs a day, no processed food and I'm drinking so much more water.

Swimming, woodland walks, good friends.

I went vegan.
All my adult life I suffered from iron deficiency anemia and was on iron tablets for it.
I went vegan and 6 months later I was able to come off the iron tablets. 2 years on and my iron levels remain consistently good.

That and leaving an abusive relationship

I'd get some blood tests done just to check for thyroid imbalance. It can make a massive difference. The biggest thing I've done to affect my health was to stop working - mind you I was doing 12 hour shifts and lots of night work.

Exercise! I exercise usually twice a day... cardio, core, Pilates, boxing... variety keeps you from getting bored. I never want to do it but once I’m doing it is ok and afterwards the happy hormones kick in!
I’m nearly 49... have an 8 year old and 2 jobs! Exercise helps even when I’m feeling really tired!
Had a decent size personal gym built in my back garden and it has changed all our lives! Friends come over and use it too!

Try kefir, we make our own and feel wonderful on it. It sorts out you gut bacteria that helps your body digest food so it has the energy to mend other ailments. Even my sciency daughter said ‘I just feel better, I can’t put my finger on it I just feel better’ you can buy the grains online and grow your own. Or try the smoothies in the shops for a few weeks first.

Keto. Thought I had arthritis until I tried it and things stopped hurting!

Going to bed earlier - look younger and fresher
Took up boxing and spin classes

Gave up booze 👍🏼

taking about 20 billion viable cells of non dairy probiotics (capsules) a day. I had no idea I was allergic to dairy and was taking the dairy ones for the last 2 decades, had no idea that was contributing to the worst of my diarrhoa. But the main issue is keeping candida at bay as had it v bad in throat, thyroid, brain and lungs before

stopping drinking alcohol 17 years ago, it almost killed me I am a recovering alcoholic but clean for 17 years, I died 7 times was in a coma for 3 weeks, had to learn to talk again, my liver haemorrhaged as fast is they were pumping blood in I was pumping it out, my doctor told my kids if I lived I would be brain damaged, paralysed or both he had never seen anyone as ill as me live, I proved them all wrong I live a full life, but there is always a reason why you drink heavily mine was my childhood, hell just doesn't cut it!!