Healthy habits thread?

[YvesEveEave]

Would anyone be interested in a healthy habits type thread, NOT focused on weight loss?

There are so many weight loss threads and I have FOMO, but I don't particularly need to lose weight and I also can go a bit crazy obsessive if I try to! But I'd love a friendly thread to discuss how we are improving our health in other ways.

I'm doing a sort of extended Sober October. I started yesterday. So that's step one. I'm also doing more exercise. I got up early and got on my spin bike this morning, before DCs got up. It was great. Watched half an ep of Call My Agent while cycling away.

I'm also going to start doing daily gratitudes and journalling.

I want to do general self improvement but without the focus on weight or necessarily looks (or else this would be like a princessing thread on S&B if anyone remembers those). Although, naturally, I expect to be glowing soon with inner light

I'll join you OP! A little bit of weight loss (not much) would be nice, but I've very much decided that healthy habits are my priority, and if I get a bit slimmer along the way then great. Mostly I want to feel fitter, healthier, more energetic and stronger.

My recent revelations as far as exercise goes are that little and very often is more effective for me than longer sessions a couple of times a week (which I end up skipping more often); strength stuff makes me feel better than lots of cardio; brisk, hilly walking makes me fitter without the niggly twinges and injuries I get from regular running; I can still manage Parkrun once a week though (just done my 90th this morning) - yay!

I've had some health issues over the past year which I think are food related, so I'm trying to avoid most processed food and identify what foods make me feel good/bad too. I'm also taking a daily probiotic. I need to drink more water - I'm really bad at that!

Hello lazylinguist!

Yes, I agree re running. It doesn't do much for me, although I know others love it. We have dodgy knees in my family, so think the bike is better for me. I do weights and a little bit of hiit once a week with a PT, and a little bit of yoga, which I'm counting as my strength training. Agree re little and often.

I was just reading an article today re super processed food and was a bit horrified, as we (especially DCs) love all that stuff

I am perfectly capable of cooking from scratch, but I've fallen out of the habit as dcs (one a bit underweight) always ask for the processed stuff - things I didn't think were too bad, (I'm hardly giving them pot noodles or anything), like baked beans and obviously mass produced bread are apparently ultra processed, so need to cut down on stuff like that.

I do my daily dog walk (40 mins, briskly enought to sweat a bit and raise my heart rate), then 15-20mins of either yoga or weights, crunches and squats (I alternate days).

We pretty much always cook dinners from scratch anyway. It's lunch foods and snacks where I need to watch it. I'm trying to mostly avoid bread myself (possibly a bit intolerant), but I do have a breadmaker, so I try and stay in the habit of making my own for the family. My teen dc are both very slim. Not big eaters but love sweet stuff, crisps etc. I can resist most things if I try, except anything chocolatey...

Oh a bread maker is a good idea! I do like making my own bread, but it does take time. I think homemade is meant to be a lot better, even though not great if you're intolerant. I don't feel right if I eat a lot of gluten either.

Omg, another item on the ultra processed list is pasta! Another thing mine love. Maybe homemade would be better...I've heard it's easier to make than it seems.

Several months ago I started drinking a pint of water first thing in the morning. I drink it while checking emails and MN, so I don’t even notice I’m drinking it !
And my new one is having a 15 minute Epsom salt bath twice a week, to give me magnesium. I stick bubbles in too, and spend the time on TikTok. I love it !
I think doing one thing at a time, then waiting until it becomes a habit, is the way to go.

Yes, I think one thing at a time makes sense. I think regular exercise is pretty well instilled as a habit for me now. Alcohol is the next one and I'll tinker with, but not be strict about, diet on the side.

I've surprised myself by continuing with the Joe Wicks HIIT workouts I started during the first lockdown. Usually 20 mins per day (15 if I'm pushed for time). I have always been slim but I am now toned and stronger. Something I never seemed to manage when I went to the gym! And it's free!

I definitely need to drink more water and less coffee/diet coke. I also want to start taking probiotic supplements again. I'm nearly 44 and want to stay on top of health and fitness before menopause hits...

The beadmaker is brilliant actually. Even quite posh-looking, non-sliced shop-bought bread often has a crazy ingredient list. I use mine to make pizza dough too - homemade pizza is so much nicer and less bad for you than supermarket ones or takeaway ones.

• Breadmaker. I don't make beads!

Oh I'm very tempted by a bread maker (and possibly a bead maker too ). Does it do everything? Both proves and baking? Might have a little look online...

Yes. You just put in the ingredients and out comes a freshly baked loaf! If you check them out online you'll probably find that absolutely everyone recommends the Panasonic ones - they seem to always be rated above any other brand. Tyey have timer settings so that you can wake up to fresh bread in the morning (though it needs a bit of cooling time before you can slice it really).

Oh that sounds good - have you got a Panasonic?