Small changes lead to Big rewards...

I think this is a great time to put things into perspective and refocus on the little, positive changes that each of us has made over the past year that may seem minute but over time really add up!

Tell us what positive change you've made in the past year or past couple of years in your diet, eating habits, mind-set, or exercise routine that has become a "lifestyle change" !

Just think, something that may have seemed insignificant to you may be a revelation to someone else!

I'll start...

My small change: I switched from coffee mate liquid creamer in my coffee to unsweetented almond breeze which saves me 80cals per day.

Now you...

I made the switch from prepackaged flavoured instant oatmeal, to plain quick oats. 40 cals saved.

I weened myself off sugar in coffee and tea. 60 cals saved.

I switched from bagels to english muffins. 150 cals saved.

I switched from ice cream to frozen yogurt. 50 cals saved.

It adds up, you know? It's the little things, for sure:D

switched from soy milk to almond milk (saved 40 cals)

switched to black coffee and more tea

and my major switch: white to wheat (no save of cals really but so much healthier!)

I changed from

venti non-fat, no-whip white chocolate mocha at Starbucks (490)

to either

a tall skinny caramel latte (90)

or

a large regular coffee with 2 tbsp half and half (50)

I cut out crisps at 150-200 calories a packet..

The removal of fried chicken

Changed from alfredo to marinara

regular frappachinos to light frappachinos

changed to light ice cream and non-fat yogurts

There's a few of my changes that I can think of...

I changed from sitting down to eat one whole bag of Hershey's kisses to just one or two a day =D

I changed from drinking soda alot to water and 0 calorie drinks

cut out sodas (120 kcal)

skim milk to unsweetened almond milk (40 kcal)

milk chocolate sun drops to dark chocolate (20 kcal)

cut out bread, grain based pasta and now eating rice (brown sprouted) & rice noodles  and noticed weight loss (maybe i am allergic to wheat) and brown rice has less kcal than white rice

fat free yogurt instead of regular (40 kcal)

mtbgirl where do you get brown sprouted rice? does it taste like regular brown rice?

whole foods.  precooked and packaged, just heat and serve.  not in the bulk section.  is supposed  to have better health benefits, including more GABA and "happy" neurotransmitter :)

oh ok thanks, l will give it a try.

No more chips. No more artificially sweetened water and I'm working on sweetening my cocoa with stevia not sugar.  Any carbs that we eat is whole grain now- quit eating white noodles and eat whole grain tortillas.  I buy cheese cubes more often now so that if I want a snack in the evening, I can grab one or two cheese cubes- teeny calories but real food.  I drink more herbal tea than I ever thought I would cause at least that way I am getting in fluid. 

I started using Splenda in my tea instead of sugar which saves me 56 calories per cup (which I average 2-3 cups a few times a week).  I have also started adding Slim Fast Shakes for breakfast and some of their snacks into my way of eating.  I can tell you that on a daily average with these changes I save about 550 calories or more.   That's a pound a week!! 

I have also limited myself to one Mt. Dew every other day IF it will not make my calorie intake over my goal.  Otherwise, I don't drink it.  This saves me close to 3000 calories a week...which is almost another pound. 

I think the key to making 'small changes' is focusing on one thing at a time and not moving on until it is conquered.  I didn't make all of these changes at once.  It took me about 9 weeks to get to all of these but I'm feeling great about them!! 

Good luck to everyone!!

I use homemade raw almond milk instead of normal cow's milk.

I don't drink soda at all...even if it's mixed in the punch bowl.

I don't really eat ice-cream anymore, but homemade raw, ice-creams (based from nuts) or else eat frozen yogurt.

I don't use honey in my tea barely at all now, unless for special.

welll ummmm

i dont think i remb the taste of any frizzy sodas anymore....they`re all out

it was the easiest to let go cuz i was never a soda person more of a juice and smoothy girl

and ..now...no more smoothies as wellll....last i had a mango or banana smoothy must have been 7 months back

no sugar of any kind in any of my drinks..... altho i do suck on 2-3chips (hersheys)

i have reduced my fast food intake from every twice a week to twice a month

i have still not been able to control myself around cakes....im crazy for them

i have reduced my addiction to baskin nrobbins mint choco chip which i use to take ATLEAST 5 times a week....to......ONCE in two months......yuppp believe it

mann...i can ggo on n on......and i never realised i had made soo many changes until im posting here...wow

thanx girl

Original Post by 1skyprincess:

I use homemade raw almond milk instead of normal cow's milk.

I don't drink soda at all...even if it's mixed in the punch bowl.

I don't really eat ice-cream anymore, but homemade raw, ice-creams (based from nuts) or else eat frozen yogurt.

I don't use honey in my tea barely at all now, unless for special.

 

 

how do you make homemade almond milk?

CHANGES

From Java Chip Frapp to Regular Coffee with skim milk (500 cals saved)

From a large snicker bar to bite size hershey special dark chocolate (300 calories saved)

Splenda instead of sugar

0 cal drinks instead of regular ones

Carrots and broccoli instead of potatoes in stews

Peas instead of corn in tuna salads

light mayo instead of regular mayo

Hmmm... my small changes over the last year or so:

from white to whole-wheat bread, english muffins, and pasta-- not  a calorie savings, but it lasts me longer and has more nutrients

From ww bagels to ww english muffins-- 110 calories

Morning smoothie breakfasts instead of a big bagel-- 40 calories

Halving the amount of sirloin in my traditional spaghetti sauce recipe-- 50 cals per serving

Filling half my plate with fibrous steamed veggies at dinnertime instead of 1/4 starch and 1/4 veg-- 30 cal

Lost 6 pounds last year doing nothing more than that.

The small changes i have made within this month was cut my sugar for my coffee from 6 to 3 packets

*Snacked on fruits

*Bring my own lunch

*Workout at least twice a week

*Drink tea when i get cravings

*cream on coffee from 6 to 4

Thats all i can think of for the moment!

I have never actually thought about the changes i have been making to get a positive results! This brings it into perspective!

I try to eat my largest meal in the morning or for lunch instead of dinner so I don't go to bed with a full stomach.

I use applesauce instead of oil in recipes - even recipes for social events (no one EVER notices).

Smart Balance Light instead of butter.

Instant dried milk in my coffee instead of skim milk or half & half.  It's creamier and low in calories (80 cal for 1/3 cup and I only use a tbsp).

no more dairy products

steamed foods (or baked) instead of stir fry or fried

lean meats only (turkey, chicken, fish)

started eating breakfast

lots more healthy salads and soups