Which one lifestyle change you've made has had the most positive impact?

[iloveblue]

Hi
Just that really.
I am 37, a mum of two, work full-time plus running a small craft business in the evenings and am feeling old and weary.
I'm overweight and have neglected myself and my health for far too long, so it is time to make changes.

I would love to hear what changes were the most beneficial to you.

Cutting out midweek wine. I've lost 7 lbs this year and thats the only change. Not much weight for a year but it shows how small changes can add up.

Stop drinking, joining the low carb bootcamp on here run by BIWI. This made me face the fact my marriage was shit and I finally after a few years of misery, left.

Taking up cross country running again. Reading " getting your sh1t together"
Organising dc weekends in advance and filling the calender properly. Organising my career properly. See below.

I have mind maps of my life and where it's going, ( if you don't know where you're going how will you get there, and when? " And I really try to be strategic in everything. This takes time:) I dont watch TV ( unless it's something I really want to watch) as I feel my life slipping away when I could be thinking, researching, catching up with friends, emailing, writing, having a beauty night:)

My wardrobe is pared down, my house is organised, I have plans. It's all still quite shit unfortunately though, but everyone tells me it will get better so I will at least be helping it along and hopefully look fabulous when it does.

Its funny you should say that rookie - I have an Omron pedometer on my Amazon wishlist as I speak. Think I may have to treat myself.
Cutting out sugar sounds so hard to do but I know it would make a huge difference to my health.

Yes, what does "cutting out sugar" mean?

Cycling to work, 20 minutes twice a day made a huge difference and gets you out in the sunlight for all that vitamin d - especially good at this time of year

Signed up to healthy snack box things. At first I forced myself to have them instead of unhealthy snacks at work. Now I have two for lunch and no snacking at all so good portion control too. Once I'd stopped eating rubbish snacks the rest was easy.

Signed up to a fresh meal package thing. Got me cooking healthy, different meals. Once I'd got the habit I ditched the package and started doing it myself with an online shop.

Got my house in order. I didn't have a routine so weekends were mostly housework catch up which is dull and draining. A good rota with a little/often system meant I felt in control, on top and freed up weekends so I could actually enjoy time off!

Obviously all done one step at a time but my life is unrecognisable from 6/8 months ago

Cool thread!

Doing the 5:2 diet. I wasn't keen but DH really wanted to do it. We have been doing it since August. I didn't need to lose much weight but have dropped almost a stone and feel SO much healthier.

Now I just need to sort out my organisational skills. This term has been crazy with all my dc's birthdays, Christmas, new schools for 2 of my dc's, relatives visiting etc...I am looking forward to a fresh start in January!

Brilliant thread! Thank you for the inspirational posts!

Cutting out sugar means different things to different people. I have cut out all processed foods which I know have sugar in them, but I still eat fruit. I snack on nuts and things like dried apricots and dates, but am very moderate with the dried fruit as I know it is full of sugar. I've lost somewhere between 10 and 12 pounds in three months, not sure exactly how much because I didn't weigh myself before I started.

I have cut out most carbs at the same time and the combination of low carb and low refined sugar has made a huge difference to how I feel. I am not getting blood sugar spikes and dips and I feel loads more energetic, although much of this may be to do with not having to cart around so much extra flab.

Lots to take in - thank-you for all the suggestions and sharing your experiences. Its very heartening to know that one or two simple changes can make a real difference.

bluestocking I had a friend who gave up chocolate who said that it was hard at first but after a few weeks she lost the craving for it - was that your experience with giving up sugar?

Stopped smoking
Detox diet. Will do another once I stop breatfeeding dd.

About 8 months ago I started running, then in the summer I joined a running club. I've now made loads of new friends, have a new passion, feel fitter, healthier and more positive. I'd highly recommend it .

Actually, I've found it very easy this time, but I have cut out sweets and choc before and struggled with it like your friend. I think it's much easier if you cut out all sugar - not sure why but there's probably a good physiological reason!

www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Nothing-Nicole-Mowbray/dp/140915484X

I read this book earlier this year. It really helped me focus when I wanted to stop having so much sugar.
The plus side was my chronic headaches disappeared.
I lost 9lbs very quickly.

Cycling to work, I am definitively in better shape than when I was walking the same distance. Go to sleep at a reasonable time and above all, moving to an area where there is a lot of stuff happening all the time.

Walking at least half an hour a day and wearing that little Omron pedometer on your list! A really good incentive. Helped me shift 10 pounds that I'd failed to get rid of for years so I'm as light as I've been in 20 years. Not 'slim' but no longer 'overweight' on the BMI chart!

Started pilates too which has been good for strength and gives me an hour when I can't think about anything else as too busy concentrating!

This has made me think, I have made some massive lifestyle changes gradually over the last few years. I hadn't realised just how many.

The one with the quickest result is definitely giving up sugar. Very hard for the first 3 days but by 10 days you really don't want it any more. My moods, weight, skin and energy levels have all improved immeasurably.

Running is my favourite though, especially having joined a running club. That really has changed my life.

Sadly, I think the best thing I could do to improve my life further would be to spend much less time on MN.

Losing almost five stone - in other ways it's been a high-stress year, but I look and feel endlessly better at a healthy BMI for the first time in years, have more energy and confidence. And as someone who resents clothes shopping, that is now so much easier and less fraught and time-consuming.

Running. Nearly ready to start again after having my baby, can't wait!

Walking at least a mile a day hugely reduced my stress. Pilates fixed my sore back in 5 sessions.

This is an inspiring thread. Lavender honey, I have plans for my evenings but often find I'm tired and resort to the tv. Do you just push through the tiredness?

I got off sugar and it was great (while it lasted) and will probably do it again in the new year. I used a book called the Sugar Detox by Brooke Alpert. I've adopted some of the habits from the plan permanently, like eating plenty of protein and whole grain crackers (eg Dr Kargs) instead of bread.

Counselling has made a big difference for me this year too as I have better self esteem and can handle stress and difficult situations better.

Hmm, seems giving up sugar maybe the way to go, that and more walking and smoothies for breakfast. All relatively doable I think. :-)

A couple of years ago I lost 4 stone through diet (Mostly 5:2/4:3). Then this/last year I have got into regular exercise (and lost another stone, as well as toning up), that's been brilliant. Next goal is to drink more water and do something about my terrible 'convenience food' and sugar habit. I don't eat too much now, but I eat the wrong stuff and little else!