Adding in better habits

[Anonymous]

Instead of focusing on restricting food and limiting bad habits, my goal for this year is to add in good choices. I think reframing my healthy lifestyle changes in a positive way will make them easier to adopt.

I hope to eat more vegetables with every meal. Add a daily walk and 10 minutes of Pilates. Drink more water.

Anyone else hoping to make similar gains?

[Anonymous]

“Crowd out” the bad stuff with good stuff without eliminating bad stuff completely!

[Anonymous]

Read James Clear habits blog. He goes into the psychology of it. In general it’s about built environment and tiny changes.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, OP. This is exactly what I did 10 years ago - I made small, incremental changes, and lost about 60lbs. Have since maintained it.

Diets and restriction just lead to feelings of deprivation. They aren't sustainable. Things that ARE sustainable? (as you mostly mentioned)

- bulking up your meals with more vegetables
- adding more physical activity when you can, here and there
- drinking more water

Things you can work on adding after you nail those:
- eat out one meal a week, not more
- have a sweet tooth? Cool. Try to make it yourself at home. Or just indulge and get the craving over with! (ditto for salty)
- up your exercise game just a bit
- try to eat your calories, not drink them

[Anonymous]

OP, I have a healthy serving of greens underneath all my dinners. That way I’m eating say lasagna but 1/3 -1/2 the serving. I also eat a Barebell protein bar every night for “dessert”. Protien helps you to stay more full.

[Anonymous]

Love this op!

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere (maybe a NYT article) that you should strive for 30 different plants a week. I keep a list for each week in my planner and trying to get to 30 is surprisingly fun. I find myself ordering sides I normally wouldn't, opting to add an extra ingredient to a salad, etc. You have to eat a lot of plants to get there and I'm rarely hungry enough to also eat junk. I don't always hit the goal and don't punish myself when I miss it, but it's very motivating and positive.

It's certainly easier in the summer when there is lots of good stuff in season! I count vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. I usually eat a few kinds of onions and tomatoes each week but would only count each once. Different bean types I count separately though. I suppose it isn't an exact science but it works for me.

[Anonymous]

+1 good idea, OP. I'm adding yoga and drinking more water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere (maybe a NYT article) that you should strive for 30 different plants a week. I keep a list for each week in my planner and trying to get to 30 is surprisingly fun. I find myself ordering sides I normally wouldn't, opting to add an extra ingredient to a salad, etc. You have to eat a lot of plants to get there and I'm rarely hungry enough to also eat junk. I don't always hit the goal and don't punish myself when I miss it, but it's very motivating and positive.

It's certainly easier in the summer when there is lots of good stuff in season! I count vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. I usually eat a few kinds of onions and tomatoes each week but would only count each once. Different bean types I count separately though. I suppose it isn't an exact science but it works for me.

I started to count, and I kind of love it. OK to count all the different vegetables in my minestrone soup.?

[Anonymous]

I'm with you, OP. Little changes, better choices, and simply paying more attention to what I choose and why.

It all adds up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere (maybe a NYT article) that you should strive for 30 different plants a week. I keep a list for each week in my planner and trying to get to 30 is surprisingly fun. I find myself ordering sides I normally wouldn't, opting to add an extra ingredient to a salad, etc. You have to eat a lot of plants to get there and I'm rarely hungry enough to also eat junk. I don't always hit the goal and don't punish myself when I miss it, but it's very motivating and positive.

It's certainly easier in the summer when there is lots of good stuff in season! I count vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. I usually eat a few kinds of onions and tomatoes each week but would only count each once. Different bean types I count separately though. I suppose it isn't an exact science but it works for me.

I started to count, and I kind of love it. OK to count all the different vegetables in my minestrone soup.?

Yes! Even herbs and spices. Cinnamon is a plant. It all counts.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I’ve kept up Pilates and drinking a lot of water. We also did a couple of meatless meals this week: quiche and mushroom ravioli. I have been making two vegetable options and keeping cut raw vegetables available and it’s so nice to see so much color on my plate each meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read somewhere (maybe a NYT article) that you should strive for 30 different plants a week. I keep a list for each week in my planner and trying to get to 30 is surprisingly fun. I find myself ordering sides I normally wouldn't, opting to add an extra ingredient to a salad, etc. You have to eat a lot of plants to get there and I'm rarely hungry enough to also eat junk. I don't always hit the goal and don't punish myself when I miss it, but it's very motivating and positive.

It's certainly easier in the summer when there is lots of good stuff in season! I count vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. I usually eat a few kinds of onions and tomatoes each week but would only count each once. Different bean types I count separately though. I suppose it isn't an exact science but it works for me.

I started to count, and I kind of love it. OK to count all the different vegetables in my minestrone soup.?

Yes! Even herbs and spices. Cinnamon is a plant. It all counts.

Totally! I make a spring minestrone soup once a month and it gives that week's count a big boost. Asparagus, peas, green onions, tomatoes, artichoke, potatoes, chickpeas, garlic. That's 7 right there!

[Anonymous]

Love it. I'm aiming to fill my plate with veggies too.

And I got one of those Stanley cups every one is all irritable about on that other thread lol -- to help me drink more water.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I love focusing on healthful habits to add into my life. These are the ones I worked on last year:

Eating at least 30 plants a week. Tea, spices, grains, etc. counts. My oatmeal alone has 18 alone thanks to all the various seeds and nuts.

Incorporating more legumes and beans as well as trying new veggies. It turns out I love parsnips!

This year I'm going to try to exercise more and regularly.