What are YOUR RULES?

Hey,

I thought it would be good to hear everyone's "rules" or "goals" that you have set for yourself since you started a new lifestyle/eating healthy/etc.  Here are mine:

1.  2 diet sodas a day- no more!

2.  Some kind of exercise daily

3.  Lots of fruits and veggies and whole grains

4.  Replace "sweets" with yogurt, sugar free jello, etc.

5.  Get plenty of sleep

6.  No eating before bed!

7.  Weigh myself once a week

8.  Set realistic goals

all of those are my goals except number 6-i don't eat 30 minutes before bed which i think is good enough. i like to have my weight watchers dessert an hour or so before bed.

1. no more than 3 diet sodas a day

2. Jane fonda excercise, but if i really don't want to, run or intense walking.

3. lots of fruits and veggies espceically broccoli

4. eat yogurt or fruit if a little hungry before indulging in pretzels

5. weigh myself once a week

6. get to bed by 10

7. weigh myself every thursday morning

8. after i lose the weight, try to maintain it.

9. when i have a good weight loss week don't let myself eat junk food just because i lost weight-i can easily gain it back!

I am kind of stict... because I am already at a fairly small weight, but I am still looking to become healthier.

1. Sweets only on weekends (unless it's a special occasion).

2.Work out 3-4 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning).

3. No caffine or soda (not even diet!! again, unless it's a special occasion).

4. 4-5 fruits and veggies a day. Always eat a salad with dinner.

5.Weigh myself once a week (usually on Saturday mornings right after I get up and before I eat breakfast).

6. No eating anything (whatsoever!!) after 8:30pm.

1. No carbonated drinks, sodas, super sugary drinks, etc.

2. Eat enough of fiber and protein.

3. Drink water whenever I feel thirsty at all.

4. Get enough sleep.

5. Excercise at least 30 minutes a day.

6. Make sure to get enough calories.

7. Try to avoid processed foods as much as possible.

1. Yoga 2x week

2. Try to incorporate whole grains other than wheat

3. Green leafy every day, try for twice

4. 2 alcoholic drinks/week

5. If I'm watching TV, I have to be doing something (fold clothes, balance board, stretching, push ups, whatever)

6. Stop trying to find the closest parking place (work in progress...I carry a lot of crap about)

i too am pretty strict, and have never gone the soda/processed foods route, but I love to bake and I've had to cut that out, which is very difficult. I still allow for the occasional indulgence but for the most part, I'm on my best behavior 7 days a week.

1. Exercise every day--running or Bikram yoga

2. Eat small meals throughout the day and get all my calories

3. Include plenty of ruffage and fresh fruit

4. Weight check once a week only

5. Keep the booze to an absolute minimum--one drink a week and i try to keep it to wine

6. Get plenty of rest, including the occasional nap if my body demands it

7. Whenever possible, walk instead of taking public transportation

8. Supplement with vitamins, aminos and natural rehydrants, like coconut water, to keep my body in working order pre, during and post workouts

9. Make sure I've always got a piece of fruit or some almonds in my bag when I'm out

10. Be good to myself and stay positive about my progress

Cool idea for a thread, it's interesting to see how everyone goes about their new diets!..

for me:

- no cooking with oil (so obviously no fried food)

- eat small meals but more frequently

- no mocha frapuccinos or any other gazillion calorie drinks

-no white bread or pasta, whole wheat all the way

- no deprivation, so reserve 100 calories for two squares of lindt 85% dark chocolate every night...might seem like a lot to some, but i'd just fail my diet without it..and hey, it's not milk chocolate!

- try to walk everywhere , avoid buses and subways ..and take stairs everywhere (always keep my running shoes in my bag) so it comes up to at least 40 min of proper walking a day

My calorie limit is 1200 a day except for Saturday,my cheat day. I usually keep my caloires just under 1500 on Saturday.

1. 1 diet soda a day. Water with everything else.

2. If I crave chocolate or candy which I most always do, I cut something and work the treat into my calorie allowance. I don't say I can't have sweets because then I'll go over board later. What I will do is say something like "I can have this snikers bar today if that is the only snack I get for the day." Then I  get my craving out of the way and I'm still within my limit for the day.

3. I eat no more than 450 calories in one sitting (I usually eat around 330 every sitting) unless it's Saturday.

4. If I am really over for the day and I feel like eating more. l chew gum and drink water.

5.  I hula hoop to burn off any extra calorie intake. I rarely go over and if I do it's not by a whole lot, but I have found hula hooping to be a great way to get moving just a bit more and burn off the extra calories.

6. If I want it I taste it, but only one bite! I only need to satisfy my taste buds and then I'm good. Everything in moderation.

7. keep a hand written record of every calorie I take in.

That's all I can think of right now.

main rules

1. We all have bad days, so emphasise the ones where you LOVE the way you look. I tell everyone, obnoxiously.

2. Move all the time.

3. Food is lovely and not just to be shovelled into your mouth. I like preparing it and arranging it and demanding everyone praises it and takes time out to eat it properly.

Boring rules, not strictly adhered too

1. Bread is for breakfast, there are more interesting/healthy things to eat the rest of the day

2. You can't eat too much breakfast unless meat is involved

3. Never care you are creating masses of washing up by eating tiny amounts of about 10 different dishes for dinner

4. I don't eat: processed crap (I can cook better), drinks other than water or wine (like jesus), supermarket food when I live next to a real market, sweet things (I don't enjoy them enough), and I cook most dishes without oil or with minimal oil, they taste the same anyway.

5. Snacks generally aren't worth it. I drink water and black coffee between meals.

6. Piles of salad/veg in big colourful bowls with every meal

7. Eat enough

Wow, am I the only one who has next to no rules? My only rule is to keep to 1400 - 1450 average calorie days over the week, zigzagging as I need to.

Seriously, I eat what I want and exercise when I have time (life is busy for a grad student). But then again, I consider myself a foodie, I'll eat anything and everything, at least once. I do practice healthy eating habits (c'mon, 1450 calories is NOT a lot, have to scrimp somewhere), but there are no hard and fast rules. 

I don't do rules.  But I do vow to eat a balanced diet every single day for the rest of my life.  The long term is all that matters to me.

Great idea to list your rules! Made me realise I actually have given myself quite a few:

1. At least 1.5 liter water a day. Easy because I don't drink coffee or tea and limit juice and sodas.

2. Exercise 5 times a week every day before work) 30 min cardio.

3. Don't deny myself something if i really want it and am prepared to suffer for it (extra exercise) like a mini kitkat. This only happens once a week or so.

4. Try not to give in to cravings. They are not related to hunger.

5. Try to not have fried food, crisps, sweets, cake or chocolate. I will allow myself to enjoy a bit if it's a special occasion.

6. No booze during the week at home. Stick to vodka-diet coke on nights out. A few drinks once a week is fine.

7. Weigh only once a week.

8. Enjoy life! So if there's a friends birthday limit yourself as much or little as you want.

1. No diet soda at all.

2. Drink lots of water.

3. Eat 6 time a day....3 main meals and three very healthy snack meals.

4. All snacks are fruits, vegtables or safe products like plain cheerios, wheat bread/bagels, etc.

5. Minimal alcohol. Most weeks are 1-2 glasses of wine. Many weeks none.

6. Walk every single day. 2 miles minimum and up to 6 miles.

7. Calethentics everyday. Goal is to get to 25 pushups easily.

8. Have my old favorites like burgers and pizza BUT strick control of portions.

9. Make sure to read/subscribe to health sites for new ideas and motivation.

1. Have breakfast every day.

2. Exercise every day, for at least 15 minutes.

3. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day.

4. Track calories and stick to the limit. Keep a few in reserve for a glass of red wine and some nuts (I love those!)

5. When eating out, assume worst case scenario for calories in anything before eating it. Ask host/hostess what went into a dish if not sure.

Workout 6 days a week

Eat fresh whole foods whenever possible

Eat fruits and vegetables every day

limit processed foods, diet food, sugar free foods, fat free foods, fried foods, fast foods

Eat clean/balanced

Think about the food I am putting in my mouth. Count out servings. Don't snack unless it is a planned snack

Don't eat anything after dinner

drink plenty of water and don't drink my calories

Lift heavy and hard

Walk whenever possible

Take the stairs

work out at least 5 or 6x's a week

drink at least 60 oz of water

limit diet soda to one per day

limit eating out to 2x's per week

weight once a week (thursday morning)

make healthier versions of my favorites (pizza, chicken wings, etc.)

stick to the correct calorie allottment for the amount of exercise i that day

and most importantly ( i think), remember each day is a new day but don't allow myself to fall back into the same trap i did the day before

Never sleep with someone on the first date.

• High Fiber & Protein Foods
• Measure & Weigh All
• BREAK A SWEAT EVERYDAY (whether in the gym or gardening)
• It's ok to take time off from deficits
• Soda only on weekends...NO DIET, just the good stuff

Original Post by trhawley:

Never sleep with someone on the first date.

Prude. 

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by trhawley:

Never sleep with someone on the first date.

Prude. 

 lol

• Never eat or drink anything with fake sugar
• Drink water all day
• Yoga forever
• Stop eating after 7 PM
• Thank my body
• Smile

So far so good!