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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for the healthiest changes you have ever made?

111 replies

Hannajp · 29/12/2023 08:09

Just that really. I’ve tried things but never kept them up. I know less Internet/phone and more water would be good so I might try that!

OP posts:

YoungBritishPissArtist · 31/12/2023 07:17

Do you walk 5 miles to work m, then 5 miles home? That’s really impressive!

Ahwelltoobad · 31/12/2023 07:28

Mills86 · 29/12/2023 08:44

Drinking half a litre of water with every meal. Even if the last 500ml is made up through a tea and the odd glass here and there, you’ll get 2L daily. That amount makes me feel hydrated and my skin plumper etc personally.

Any form of movement you enjoy. (I hate running but love Pilates.) After a workout, I’m far less likely to make unhealthy choices with food.

I aim for a piece of fruit (usually a banana) and OJ with breakfast, a salad or soup (this time of year) for lunch and two vegetables with dinner for five a day that’s balanced or not all sugary fruit. If I don’t have two pieces for breakfast, I find it harder to eat enough across lunch and dinner.

Reading for 20 mins before bed and banning my phone from my bedroom helps me sleep and prevents work-related anxieties linked to checking my emails.

Having a routine with my young DC! Life is so much healthier and happier for all of us. My DH and I have a better marriage for it as we actually make time for each other. This obviously makes me and hopefully him happier too!

In the last year or so, I’ve become far less of a people pleaser eg I’ve stopped meeting up with people who I find draining and quite toxic and I’m so much happier and positive for it. I only wish I had the balls in my twenties.

Drinking (really nice) wine as a far more occasional treat. Same with chocolate. I love all kinds and I’ll guzzle the cheap stuff and feel crap.

Moisturising twice a day, even on these days when I really can’t be bothered as I’m not going anywhere.

SPF! I can’t see it now but I hope I’ll look back and thank my younger self.

About the SPF: you will thank your younger self! I, on other hand, do not... Me and my neck are very sad I didn't use SPF.

bexboz · 31/12/2023 07:45

Giving up almost all added sugar. I still have occasional treats when I'm out but I don't buy any added sugar products to keep at home (except 90 % dark chocolate which has some). It took a while but my taste buds have completely changed and lots of things taste sweet to me now (eg nuts) so they feel like sweet treats. When I do have added sugar treats I enjoy them but also feel a bit rubbish afterwards which reminds me why I don't do it all the time. Feels like a really good balance - not totally restrictive but also really helps me feel well most of the time.

Allwelcone · 31/12/2023 08:40

10 minutes yoga a day. Also realising you can meditate in bed!

Charlize43 · 01/01/2024 11:11

First day in the New Year and with each day comes the realisation that you can start again with good habits. This morning I took myself off and did my 5 mile walking circuit ( in 90 minutes) as I was pretty horrified when I got on the scales and saw that I'd gained 10lbs over the Christmas period (Then again I've been drinking like a fish, eating chocolate & mince pies and moving very little).

Walking is excellent! As well as getting plenty of fresh air, thinking about stuff to do, jigging along to high-energy disco music, and smiling and wishing everyone I meet a happy new year (like a looney) - It's an excellent tonic for your mental health.

Happy New Year everyone and good luck with your healthy habits.

Katemax82 · 01/01/2024 11:36

When my daughter was a baby I got into eating Greek yogurt with lots of seed toppings and defrosted berries every morning. I was on a health kick and worked out but was the slimmest I've ever been. Might have to get back into it 😁

ShmackAttack · 01/01/2024 11:58

To everyone who managed to quit smoking can I ask how you did it I am trying and failing to do so at the moment and need some help and inspiration

Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream · 01/01/2024 12:46

I had quit and started again so many times @ShmackAttack and then one time it just stuck. It wasn’t so much a health thing for me as calculating the cost over a week / month / year. Then I told everyone at church on Sunday that I was quitting on Monday and I haven’t had a cigarette since. I did use patches the first week, and also had to break the smoking association (so if breakfast was toast, coffee, cigarette, I’d have cereal instead) but I think the big thing for me was having good people willing me on (and praying if that’s your thing).

BuffysBigSister · 01/01/2024 13:17

ShmackAttack · 01/01/2024 11:58

To everyone who managed to quit smoking can I ask how you did it I am trying and failing to do so at the moment and need some help and inspiration

I gave up a pack a day habit (Marlboro Reds no less) 30 years ago after having accupuncture. Never smoked again. As a rule, I am not into alternative medicine etc but for some reason this worked for me.

caringcarer · 01/01/2024 13:39

Drinking 2 litres of water a day.
Making homemade vegetable soup in my soup machine and eating it for 3 or 4 lunches every week. Just chopped up vegetables, a vegetable stock cube, seasoning and water. Very delicious too.

Charlize43 · 01/01/2024 18:44

ShmackAttack · 01/01/2024 11:58

To everyone who managed to quit smoking can I ask how you did it I am trying and failing to do so at the moment and need some help and inspiration

I smoked 20 a day for around 30 years. I quit because my DP at that time, who had been a heavy smoker had a heart bypass and was told if they smoked again it would kill them, so I also used it to quit.

Physically - I used the patches for around two months and then started cutting them in half and then quarters to wean myself off the nicotine. I also bought one of those plastic nicotine replacement cigarettes and after after a while used it without any cartridge as just something to hold and suck air in and out of - which is pretty pointless so was much easier to give up - but I did go on using it for many months though. I think it was to do with the whole motion of smoking, having something to hold and also because I used to go out a lot so I'd need something to 'smoke' - as I said, sucking air was much easier to give up!

Psychologically - I see many art exhibitions and have always loved art books and artists monographs which are often quite expensive to buy (£25 - £50) so set up a spreadsheet and as everyday I normally would have spent £5 on cigarettes so I'd go on Amazon and see that a nice book on Paula Rego would cost £30 and I'd go six days without smoking and each day I didn't smoke I'd mark on the spreadsheet (day 2 £10, day 3 £15. day 4 £20, etc and then on the 6th day I'd order the book. Then I'd move onto the next book! I'd never normally fritter my money away like this, so it's important that you focus of something that you want but you'd never totally buy - a total extravagance. I have a smashing library of big, luxurious art books (today, I'd probably buy rings or jewellery as I've started recently coveting these and would like to build up a collection).

Good luck! You are giving yourself the best gift as you will no longer be damaging her health or setting money alight (to no avail). I'd never go back to it because it is so nice to be free from the addiction although I still love the smell of cigarettes and am quite happy to be around smokers.

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