Small Changes That Make A Difference

What are some small habits you have that you feel have made a difference in your weight loss?

Here are some of mine:

Getting off the train one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
Drink a glass of light soy milk with breakfast (really fills you up!).
Pop a piece of gum right after meals to prevent overeating.
Fiber.

Anyone?

Always taking the stairs - at work, the metro, the mall, etc.

Drinking more water (duh) - always keeping a refillable water bottle with me

Making calorie counting a fun challenge instead of a task

Chewing gum has been great for me, too. 

Drinking when super hungry(after i have eaten a meal) because most of the time it is thirst rather than hunger.

 

Having a massive salad for lunch with my meal to keep me full.

Eating breakfast :)

 

 

Parking the car 1/2 mile from work, serving size containers of food - easy to grab when hungry

Many of my changes have been big ones, like biking to work instead of driving, creating low-cal versions of all my favourite dishes, and counting calories instead of mindless eating....but here are a couple small ones:

Using cooking spray instead of a chug of oil to saute things

Taking the far parking spot instead of circling and circling to find a close one

Only having dessert if it fits into my daily calorie goal, and having lower-cal desserts on hand and NOT having candy or pastries on hand.

One other little change (well I guess it was a big change) - I quit smoking, not only so I would not die on the treadmill, but also because my breakfast routine was Starbucks grande mocha and three ciggies. Now I eat a real breakfast :)

I agree some of my bigger changes were stopping drinking pop, as well as for snacking has measured baggies with the proper servings sizes instead of mindlessly just eating what was in the bag.

I also get off the bus 2-3 km before my stop and walk the rest of the way home that was a big one. 

taking the dog for long and more frequent walks during the day.

Having on meal a week that I can eat anything <in moderation of course >

Fewer french fries.

No seconds, thirds, fourths,... of dessert.

-Always take the stairs, and take them 2 at a time

-stand instead of sitting when possible

-do squats, leg lifts, or calf raises when, for example, talking on the phone during a boring call or waiting for something to heat up in the microwave

-If you have several errands to run and they are all on one street, leave your car at the first place and then walk to the rest of your errands.  (Saves gas too!)

taking the stairs.. 9 flights several times a day..

These are all really good (the parking lot one I have to work on though), quitting smoking helped for me too, high cal coffee in one hand and smoke in the other.  That had to stop.  Also packing my lunch for work helps TREMENDOUSLY because now I'm not ordering pizza or chinese food everday and I have a better idea of what I'm actually putting into my body.  No more soda either that had to stop too, if I really need one then it's a Coke Zero or nothing at all and only one.

Use smaller plates and utensils to make it seem like you're getting more food.

1. Buy a pedometer-it actually makes you walk more! Just gave one to my sister in law who is also saying that it makes her walk more.
2. get in the habit of measuring food, at least until you know what a serving *really* looks like (1 cup, 3 oz, etc)
3. Add vegetables whenever you eat frozen or canned soup-I use Lean Cusine or Healthy Choice entrees and always add a cup of frozen veggies.
4. Freeze fruit in pieces and make smoothies (with or without yogurt). MMMMH who needs ice cream?

Eating breakfast

It's the best thing I have ever done for myself.

 

 

If you're feeling munchy, go DO something! A lot of the time I'm just actually bored so I think I'll eat...but if I do something to distract myself...no eating until it's actual meal time.

-drinking more water, less soda (even zero cal soda!)

-adding squats and lunges into my exercise routine

-just using this site to check the calories on things

1. Reading lables on stuff I'd been eating.  OMG!  Some nasty surprises there.
2. Weighing my food. 
   

Wow!  Good question and great ideas! 

I've done several things.  1) upped water to 100oz a day and fiber to 25g+; 2) limited coffee to one cup a day with skim milk and splenda, rather than sugar and cream; 3) dropped pop almost entireld; 4) switched to high fiber pastas, wraps, and breads; 5) worked out 3-4x a week; 6) logged foods to see how many cals/fat gs they really have (eek!); 7) started eating fresh fruit and raw veggies a LOT; and 8) made sure I added a multi-vitamin and calcium to my day.

I hope this helps!  Keep the good ideas coming, OK?  :)

I walk a mile to the bus stop (fast), then at the station, I get off and walk the 2 miles in to work.(fast) I have cut out snacks during the day. I eat fruit at night when I need a snack now. I also take the stairs now whenever I can. and walk at breaks if i can.  the major thing i do is on my days off i  have begun working with 5 pound weights, well i started at 2lbs. 

Eating breakfast - Never used to eat in the morning and now my hole day is thrown off if I miss breakfast

Drinking more water - I switched to a 16oz glass from 8 or 12. Didn't notice having to drink more.

 

Eating a BIG breakfast and keeping a diary of my calories has helped me...

Amazing whats in our food....

Drinking A LOT of water makes my tummy feal full and I dont snack as bad......

Last but not least, making sure I am taking in enough calories... Its true what they say about your body going into startvation mode.. A week after I increased my calories, I lost 3 pouinds