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.

Loving the idea of five minutes uninterrupted, RubberDuck :D Not likely, with a 3yo and a 16mo! But I do like Earl Grey, so maybe making a point of drinking that would be a good idea.

I thought that after three months, I'd hate the tea with sugar in, but no, I loved it. I do feel differently about it this time though, I have been reading a bit about just how sugar is treated by the body, and I really can't justify the three to six teaspoons of sugar I'm consuming this way. This artice is really interesting: divinehealthfromtheinsideout.com/2012/07/how-does-your-blood-sugar-work/

Another sugar junkie here looking to quit. My middle name should be haribo. Def keen for a support thread.

What has changed my life this year was starting running (now at half marathon distance) and taking up the 30 day shred

Running
Restricting bread consumption (generally weekends only)

What improvement have you seen from dropping bread, Goat? Does it reduce bloating? Make you eat more imaginatively/healthier? DH and I were just talking about it. I said I'd make salads and do extra risotto etc at teatime so we'd have more varied packed lunches. (Cold risotto is lush for lunch.)

Taking up cycling.

This time last year I made a NY resolution to shift some weight and pleased to say it worked, lost 15 pounds and just have a couple of pounds to go to get below my psychological barrier.

Pleased to say I did it with no gym and no extra exercise apart from a brisk walk 2-3 times a week, mostly at weekends and no more than 10 mins of floor stretches in the evening.

The key is food and yes, I discovered you really CAN burn calories while you sleep!

Completely by chance initially I went to bed a bit hungry and realised that whilst at first it was hard to go to sleep, once I did, I did not feel hungry anymore and more importantly woke up not feeling hungry either.

And yes, you literally feel lighter and slimmer in the morning and this gave me incentive to continue.

Interestingly, in the morning you don't feel like you missed a meal and you don't have the craving to make up either. It's almost as if your body resets itself to a new slightly lighter weight.

I also eat low carb (and gluten free because of my son) and try not to eat after 6pm.

I found going to bed hungry easiest way to shift the weight and once you start seeing the effect, you realise it's do-able and I now enjoy the feeling of empty stomach when going to bed.

Marking place!

Getting a dog. The daily hour or so in fresh air, whatever the weather. (She gets more than an hour! We share her walks).

DustBunny - I used to take a sandwich for lunch at work but take salad now. I'm definitely less tired mid afternoon and less bloaty. I started cutting down on bread in about Feb last year and I've lost 10lbs doing that and adding in one extra run, despite being menopausal when I would really expect to put on not lose. Cutting bread has meant that I've upped my protein which supposed to be beneficial to women my age. I run 3x a week generally 2x 4k as I'm short of time in the week and then anything up to 10k at the weekend but generally around 6 or 7.

I weight less now than I did 15 years ago when I got to my lowest post-third-child weight. Generally I feel much healthier, less tired.

Looking forward to joining you guys. Every year I decide to do something unrealistic - go to the gym 3 nights a week, don't eat carbs etc

I work full time sometimes nights as well, I have two kids, DH works weird shifts, I have two dogs and I have high expectations of how my home should look. I hate an untidy room and can often be found late at night tiding cupboards or cleaning the bathroom.

Two years ago I lost a stone by watching what I eat and no mindless snacking while at work. Over Christmas I gained some back. Then last summer I joined the Herbalife bandwagon, and yes while i managed to lose half a stone and feel great I just couldn't continue both with the expenditure and the lifestyle.

Read the whole thread and loving the advice. I am now 2 stone overweight and about to embark on the 8 hour diet a few times a week as I feel like crap. Dreading going back to work as I doubt my uniform will fit.

I've started a thread for those wanting to reduce sugar intake, here.