[causeway]

So, was thinking about starting 'Diet No 1' for the year (LOL!) and then thought about doing something a bit different as the whole diet thing doesn't seem to work long term for me.

I've decided to make one positive change (diet and lifestyle) per day and build on that. For example. yesterday I decided to drink at least 2L of water a day, which I accomplished. So far today I've drunk half a litre. Today's positive change is to eat 2 pieces of fruit. I'm sitting here eating lovely green grapes and have a nectarine also.

So, its about building on my positive change from yesterday. Apparently it takes 28 days to form a habit, so in 28 days drinking 2L of water a day 'should' just be part of life.

I've got about 30kgs to lose, although 10kgs would be fabulous. I've got books galore and have done Weight Watchers many times. I tend to lose 5-7kgs and then just can't be bothered so I give up. I figure that this really is a psychological shift I need to make and paying for something I'm just going to give up in the long run isn't going to be effective.

I thought I'd post here and see if anyone wanted to join me. I'm going to do this for January and see what the outcomes are. I will weigh in on Monday which will be one measure of success. The other measure of success is if in 28 days I'm still drinking 2L of water a day and eating 2 pieces of fruit!

Please join me. I'd be interested to see what other people's positive change is.

[cardamom]

Good on you OP! That sounds like a really sensible approach.

Setting small, achievable goals like drinking more water is so much more realistic than saying "I'm going to lose x amount of kg this year" (as I've often done in the past).

Would like to write more but am at work at the moment, but I wanted to say if you feel like some support from like-minded ladies, please feel free to join us in the Lots to Lose support group We're very friendly and chatty, and a lot of us are trying to adopt a similar approach.

Good luck!

[HarrietTheSpy]

I'll join - at least for January. Would love to lose 10kgs.
My diet is generally pretty good, especially as I am on hols now (although there may need to be some changes when I go back to work).
My first positive change will be a weekly one. I will do cardio exercise for al least 30 minutes, 4 times a week.
Good luck to you Causeway ! I find drinking enough water makes me feel so much better, and eat less because I am not eating when I am really thirsty.

This post has been edited by HarrietTheSpy: 05/01/2013, 09:54 AM

[emma_jean]

Can I join? I am in the NYNM thread, and I am calorie counting at the moment, but I like this idea.

[gabbigirl]

I'd like to join as I need to regain my health as I had pneumonia just before Christmas. So am needing to get my energy back, and my willingness to get back on the treadmill. My first action is to go see my doctor, and get my bloods, and all clear that I can start exercising. I am also working on not snacking....I am always picking at the kids food, the food while cooking and then eating a whole meal. Bad habit.


Great idea. Thank OP.

[causeway]

Good Morning.
Yesterday went well and I achieved my positive lifestyle changes. Today is Day 3 and I’m going to add – ‘Eat 5 serves of veges a day’. This will mean a concerted effort to have salad for lunch and veges at dinner. We are having butter chicken (sauce from a jar – trying to clean out the cupboard) tonight and will plump it out with lots of vege.
Just want to welcome those following with me. Cardamom – thanks for your wishes and invitation to your Buddy Group. I have to say that I have stalked the group from time to time and look forward to posting with you and the lovely ladies there. HarrietTheSpy – nice to meet you and look forward to hearing of your progress. Emma_jean, Hi! Please post back with your achievements. Gabbigirl – no doubt will hear from you soon once you’ve got the all clear from Dr.
Just to recap, here is a list of my Positive Lifestyle Changes so far..
Day 1: Drink at least 2L of water everyday
Day 2: Eat 2 pieces of fruit everyday
Day 3: Eat 5 serves of vege everyday
I’m off to portion out my fruit now and finish my first litre of water for the day.
Have a good day everyone. Hi to any stalkers.. and we hope you’ll join in soon!

[amoral lemur]

The changes I have made so far that have stuck are:

Water as drink of choice (I don't count litres but I drink after every toilet stop)

Smaller bowls and plates. I find I am satisfied with 2/3 full - regardless of the size!

Walking to places whenever I can.

I need som new ones.

My big one is sleep. I need to go to bed earlier so I wake up with more energy which impacts my whole day and the choices I make.

[emma_jean]

Sleep is a biggie for me too, so my aim today will be to switch off the computer at 9, go for a walk, and then head to bed by 10. I have started reading The No Diet Diet - anyone here read it?

[cardamom]

Cardamom – thanks for your wishes and invitation to your Buddy Group. I have to say that I have stalked the group from time to time and look forward to posting with you and the lovely ladies there.

Glad to hear it! I stalked for quite a while before I plucked up the courage to join It sounds like you're doing really well.

I've had a think and my newest positive change will be to have at least 2 meat-free dinners a week. I think I'll just do one change a week so I don't get too overwhelmed.

[causeway]

Hi,
Amoral Lemur – I have found that drinking lots of water has stopped me drinking other things. I have been a real Diet Coke/Coke Zero fiend (DH is far worse). The last couple of days I’ve found that I’ve only had one can a day and that’s because I’m drinking so much water. I am also having sparkling mineral water too. I find that it tends to be the bubbles I crave not so much the flavour.
Sleep – we go to bed early in this house but also get up early. This is probably to do with the fact that there is a 14month old in the house and also when I work my start time is 7am. Getting up at 5 or 5.30am is not uncommon. When DH is working dayshift he is up at 4.15am anyway. The beauty of DD waking early is that she ‘normally’ goes to bed early. Today she is at Daycare so she won’t have big sleeps. She’ll be in bed asleep by 7pm tonight, so I am able to have my normal bedtime of 8.30/9pm. DH has just left for a training course for the week so I have control of the remote. Maybe a movie is on the cards tonight! LOL!
I do find that without sleep, getting through the day can be tough. DD is a pretty good sleeper but if she’s up during the night, the next day can be hell.
Emma_jean – Do you find that walking so late makes it hard to go to sleep? Pre child, I would go for a walk at 7.30/8pm for an hour or so, come home and clean up from dinner, have a shower but it would be 10.30/11pm before I could get to sleep… a bit hard when you are up at 5 to go to work!
Cardamom – I would love to do meat free dinners here. This would no doubt result in anarchy. Down the track I might try it but add a steak for DH!
I’m obviously going to have to slow down with my changes eventually, or I’ll run out! I’m pretty sure I can keep this up for 30 days and then I’ll see where I’m at.

AFM - Day 3 went well. I definitely ate my 5 serves of vege, 2 pieces of fruit and drank 2L of water. Today I thought was going to be tough. But as I sit here I realise that it isn’t so tough after all. Day4’s Positive Lifestyle Change is to cut out sugar from my coffee. I am currently drinking my morning coffee, sans sugar and whilst I would really like it to be a bit sweeter, this is something I can continue to do.
I also got on the scale today. Weight is 95.2 and Body Fat is 47%. I’m only 163cm tall so this is not good. Pleasant surprise that I didn’t put on weight over Christmas tho’ so that’s a win! LOL!
Just to recap – my Positive Lifestyle Changes so far are:
Day 1: Drink at least 2L of water everyday
Day 2: Eat 2 pieces of fruit everyday
Day 3: Eat 5 serves of vege everyday
Day 4: Cut sugar from my coffee.

Looking forward to hearing from others. Cheers