You eat kale once a week. You can tolerate green juice and workout some what regularly. By all means you live a healthy lifestyle but some days are harder than others. Here are 3 healthy habits you are not doing that could be sabotaging your efforts and playing games with your mind.
#1. You know your BMR and use it to adjust your diet!
Knowing your BMR allows you to figure out how many calories your body needs to function properly. Multiply this number by 1.2 (sedentary), 1.5 (desk job with a 1 hour daily workout) or 1.7 (active job on feet all day and workout) to find out how many calories you need to maintain your weight. Subtract 500 calories for a rough estimate on how many calories you should consume to lose 1-2 lbs a week. On days you literally do nothing, I’m talking about a hangover on the couch, stick closer to your BMR. If you’re exercising more, like training for a long run, allow yourself to eat more to maintain energy levels. I do not believe a calorie is a calorie or that you need to count each one every day, but it’s helpful to know this number. Some people eat way too low when they first start a weight loss plan causing their bodies to go into starvation mode.
I had mine professionally taken by Fitness Wave and this simple calculator on MyFitnessPal gave me the same number.
#2. You measure your weight loss goals by body fat percentage and not a number on the scale.
Dear god, please do not tell me you want to weigh 125 lbs because that is what you think would be your ideal goal weight without knowing your body fat. I was one of those girls once. Then I learned that I had a lot of muscle and to get down to my “goal weight” meant I would have to drop down to 10% body fat – aka NOT HEALTHY. I’m 5’5 1/2 (I need that half) and my weight fluctuates between 132-138. Even at 137 lbs I still have between 15-16% body fat according to a hydrostatic testing which is one of the most accurate. At 130 lbs, my willpower fights what my body wants until I gain a few pounds back. This is the weight I drop down to on occasion for photo shoots where I’ll be next to six pack abs models. This photo below is from October 2012 when I am around 132 lbs with 15% body fat. See how I lost the last 5 lbs here if you are interested, but I have since gained most of it back – some of it muscle thanks to Barry’s.
It is not healthy to try to achieve a weight that is below a healthy body fat percentage. The “ideal” body fat range depending on age for health is between 15-25%. These are vanity pounds that eventually will jeopardize your health. To try to achieve a specific number without knowing your body can be defeating and have the opposite effect.
To find your body fat percentage, ask a personal trainer, Google for a near by hydrostatic test or grab a body analysis scale. My top pick right now is the Vitagoods Digital Body Analyzer scale, which you can get for 50% using my promo code Sarahfit for $49 (originally $99). I got it right after my body fat was measured in the dunk tank and gave me almost identical numbers. I waste my money on expensive tests so you don’t have to I guess.
#3. When you want to lose a pound or five, you know it’s your diet that probably needs work.
Working out is amazing for all the benefits it provides but a stellar fitness routine will never beat out a poor diet. Forty-five minutes of cardio burns roughly 450 calories on a 140 lb 25-30 yr old female. That is about 4 light beers and if you are my age or older, you may not drink that on a regular Friday night basis but if you are like the younger Sarah “Fit”, that is probably your pre game. It’s easy to over eat, over snack, and over drink these days. Snacking is my weakness when it comes to portion control so I always try to use packages that come portion controlled or I do it myself. One of my favorite go to snacks include heart healthy nuts and trail mixes because they satisfy a salty and sweet cravings. Thankfully companies are listening to my plight and making single serving bags! Orchard Valley Harvest just released a new line of mini bags, one ounce portion controlled snacks, available now at Market Basket around the Boston area.
Offering a mix of fruit and nut combinations in addition to almonds, cashews and pistachios, each bag is certified GMO-free. These are great to add a little more protein to your snacks (I like the pistachios) or satisfy a sweet tooth, the minis are a great grab and go snack choice. I love the dark chocolate almonds to satisfy a sweet tooth. If I have 2 or the whole bag, I know I’m in control.
Orchard Valley Harvest Giveaway
I’m giving away a prize pack from Orchard Valley Harvest to one reader today that includes a variety of the minis PLUS a Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband, $250 Market Basket Gift Cards (MA grocery store) and a Define Bottle water bottle. To enter, leave a comment down below sharing your own unique healthy habit or one that helped you reach a goal.
This post is sponsored by Orchard Valley Harvest. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Contest will end June 24th at 12am.
My one healthy habit that always helps, regardless of my goal, is to have water at hand everywhere. My desk, the car, or next to me on the couch.
My healthy habit
1. Work out 3-4 times a week and really make it as a part of my life (not something I was pushed to do, but something fun).
2. Eat smaller portions of food for 5-6 times a day instead of big meals.
3. Adding more fruit & veggies into my diet.
4. Have a diary to check on my progress
🙂
i try to carry raw, unsalted almonds with me everywhere i go so that i always have a healthy snack option on hand.
One of my best healthy habits is not eating late. I find that when I eat late (especially RIGHT before bed), I feel sluggish the next day and feel that “extra weight” all day. Obviously I don’t gain that much overnight, but it just feels like the food is still sitting there.
By giving myself an hour or two to digest before I go to bed, it gives my body a chance to deal with the food I just ate, and thennn focus on sleeping well 🙂
I absolutely love your attitude on fitness, Sarah. I love seeing a woman empowering other women to live a healthier lifestyle and throw those misconceptions about what a “fit” body looks like. It’s about how you feel, not what numbers on a scale say. You are great!
My favorite unique healthy habit is putting coconut oil in basically everything I cook. Studies have show that intake of coconut oil can help our bodies mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria that can cause illness. I fully heartedly believe in coconut oil and its benefits! On top of the benefits it also tastes great!
i always carry a few healthy snacks when i’m on the go (usually a larabar, apple, and almonds!).
I just competed in a bikini body building competition June 7th. I know all too well that diet and cardio is the key to losing weight and becoming leaner. My tip is: I always meal prep! Taking the time on Sunday to prep all of my meals was the key to my success. Having 2 children to take to actvities all week can get hectic. Having food ready and on the go was crutial as I had to get 6 meals into me before bedtime. Missing a meal time was NOT an option. Rev that metabolism by eating 6 small meals a day…adding fuel to the fire is what burns calories and fat! Tracking isimportant as well so you know exactly what you putting into your body,. Not getting the results you are expecting?? Usually your food log will be the tell tale.
I try to drink as much water as possible (doesn’t always happen, but I’m trying!) and cut down on as much un-natural sugar as possible (it’s so hard, but it makes me feel so much better when I do it).
My healthy habit is to plan ahead! This means keeping an actual physical planner where I schedule my workouts around my busy work schedule -- once they’re written down, it’s harder to bail at the last minute. It means planning out my meals and snacks on Sunday so I am not tempted to grab unhealthy convenience foods when I get tired midweek. And when I travel, it means scouting ahead for fun new workouts to try, packing my running shoes and light weights, and making sure to pack some healthy snacks so I don’t cave too much to vacation eating mode. That being said, I’m also working on learning that it’s okay to slip up, and that balance is the most important thing. If I have a few too many cocktails with my girlfriends, it’s not the end of the world!
My go-to healthy habit is to always start my day with hot lemon water (sometimes I add a pinch of cayenne!) It does wonders for digestion and balances pH levels 🙂
Use a meal delivery service when I travel for work to keep me on track!
I try to squeeze in a quick AM workout to jumpstart my metabolism, even if it’s just 5 minutes of push ups and squats. Adding this in addition to my typical evening workouts helps me stick with my healthy habits throughout the day.
My healthy habit is that I always make sure to have a water bottle nearby, as well as some healthy snacks!
I use tools like myfitnesspal to make sure my nutrition and activity is at the level I want it to be!
No matter what you do, always always eat a healthy fueling breakfast!
My healthy habits are getting to the gym almost everyday. Helps that I am a group exercise instructor so I can combine my passion for fitness and work together. I also bring healthy snacks with me EVERYWHERE I go. All of my coworks at Olive Garden think it is a brilliant idea, but I know just how “hangry” I would get if I didn’t have a healthy snack with me!
My healthy habit is drinking lots of water. Starting when I first wake up in the morning to the last thing I do before bed.
I wear a pedometer everyday and challenge myself to reach certain steps per day goals. It’s fun and ensures I keep up on my workouts to make sure I reach my goals!
No snacking after dinner helped me!
I went from being a pescetarian to totally vegan a while back and what I love about it is how many veggies I eat now! Now I think about my meals in terms of vegetables first, rather than framing them around animal protein like I used to!
lots of water and more veggies!
My one healthy habit I always do is get enough sleep. If I don’t get enough sleep my dietarya nd exercise patterns decline rapidly.
My one healthy habit that keeps me in check (when I actually do it) is to limit my nighttime snacking. If I’m still hungry after dinner, I’ll have a small portion controlled snack rather than bringing a whole box/bag of something in front of the TV. That’s just asking for trouble 🙂
My goal is to try to eat throughout the day to keep my energy and metabolism up and prevent blood sugar spikes. I feel so good when I eat this way! 🙂
I workout 4-5 times a week and always go for walks. I try to eliminate processed foods as much as I can from my diet and prefer to cook my own meals.
One of my favorite healthy habits is to sign up for a race, that always forces me to really put in the time and training. Also, it gives you more of an excuse to skip happy hour because you can tell your friends you’re ‘training’ but just going to the gym.
Another one is to try to eat as healthy as possible during the work day and then you can rest a little bit in the evenings.. Hopefully this helps 🙂
My newest healthy habit is trying a new strength training exercise every week that I haven’t done before, to try to incorporate more strength and less cardio into my workout routines!
Making my workout a priority! When it is scheduled or done first thing in the morning, there is no way I’m going to derail my hard work with unhealthy meals. However, I’ve also learned to live life. I’m not afraid to eat cake or have a margarita once in a while!
I try to keep track of what I’m eating and make sure to get some sort of movement in everyday!
drink lots of water and keep healthy snacks on hand!
I try to get most of my carbs from fruit/vegetables, not from grains. Before my wedding, I went grain-free for six months. While I felt quite healthy, it was not sustainable forever (since I love rice/whole wheat bread/cookies so much). Now, I include grains but try to keep it to one meal/snack per day.
I haven’t been super healthy recently, but I do make sure to pack a nice, big salad for lunch at work because it forces me to eat healthy during the workday.
My healthy habit is to drink water, sleep well, and always park as far away from wherever I am going as I can and to take the stairs when available.
I signed up for a boot camp that meets 5 days/week. It forces me up and out the door everyday.
I keep a google doc calendar with my workout buddy where we schedule the workouts we plan to do together plus our solo workouts.
I get healthy by making sure I’m eating whole foods and exercising every day. I don’t always do a tough workout, but enjoy going for walks and just moving on “rest” days.
One little trick that gives a boost to your pedometer is to park at the back of parking lots. You get that extra bit of activity without realizing it, and it can really add up over time! I also like subbing salsa in place of ranch dressing as an unexpected (but really good) veggie dip, especially if it’s homemade! As Sarah said, portioning out snacks helps so so much with overeating. Sometimes I just can’t help myself with those dang potato chips, the struggle is real!
My habit is at the start of day logging all my meals in MFP. That way I know with what I want to eat how many calories I have for the day. This makes me know that I can’t just have that extra iced coffee if I want to stay within range. Plus once I know what I am eating my mind gets set on that!
I get healthy by making sure I’m not just doing cardio but also some lifting and body weight work.
I use a food journal to keep me honest and that way I can see exactly what I’m consuming. You’re right, what you eat is more important than exercise for weight loss. My journal helped me lose and maintain a ten lb weight loss.
My healthy habit just includes making healthier choices through out the day and definitely meal prepping. 🙂
The healthy habit that has helped me the most is to take my dogs on an extra walk a day. That way, they’re benefiting, I’m benefiting, and I get to have some extra alone time while exercising.
My healthy habit is to wake up and get my workout done right away!
Healthy snacks on hand at all times and lemon water.
For me, I really need to stay accountable by tracking my food. It keeps me honest with myself and has proven time and again to be the best way for me to lose weight and be healthy. I’ve always wanted to try out a Fitbit! It would definitely help me with keeping track of all my goals.
One of the best habits that I try to keep is to start the day off well. If I get a good breakfast in, I will continue to make healthy decisions throughout the rest of the day.
My healthy habit is to track my water intake every day.
I love this post! I went to a personal trainer and she was alarmed when she heard my goal was weight loss even though my body fat percentage was already low, so its the first time I realized the number on the scale is not as accurate a measure as I thought it was.
SLEEP is very important to me, and I’ve had trouble getting enough sleep in the past. I get excited & anxious with all I need to get done. I had to become disciplined about getting to bed at 11pm every night. My healthy habit is my night time routine -- I shut off all electronics an hour before I want to fall asleep (10pm on most nights). I meditate, and read a book until I fall asleep.
Glad I wasn’t the only one! So eye opening. If you have muscle like me, it loves to hold on to water too which creates an illusion of weight gain…
I’ve learned a few healthy habits over the past year or so, when I made the switch to a more health-conscious lifestyle. These included buying a 32 oz water bottle and making sure to fill it up and bring it with me everywhere I go, and to drink 2 full bottles a day. I had to research the most portable and easy to clean bottle and went through many of them, but finally decided that a Nalgene bottle was best for me. Another habit I made was cutting out drinking any kind of fruit juice, because they’re all packed with sugar and extra calories. Now I eat actual fruits instead, all natural plus the fiber benefit! There are more but that’s all I’ll post for now 🙂
I’ve noticed that when I drink at least 32 oz of water a day I feel sooooo much better. More alert and alive!
I have always been horrible about drinking enough during the day. I could go all day and drink one glass of anything. To make sure I get enough water everyday I carry around water bottles with time markers on them. It helps me stay on track and hydrated.
By spending a little extra time on the weekends chopping all of my veggies and fruits for the week, I am able to prepare my meals much faster and eat much healthier snacks.
Never letting myself get too hungry and always being prepared with healthy snacks and water.
Always packing my lunch and eating clean at least Monday through Friday when it is more feasible to do so. Awesome giveaway!!
Meal prep!! It has helped me so much. It takes the guess work out of what to eat when I have a really busy day ahead.
Move more and eat less- who would think?!
Water!! I always keep it near me. And realizing the importance of food prep and keeping stocked on fresh produce!
Adding Pilates to my workout routine!!
the one habit that always helped me in the past is focusing on eating veggies as often as i possibly can, ideally at every meal (green smoothies or a veg-heavy egg-white omelet for breakfast); they fill you up, leaving less room and reducing random cravings for unhealthy treats.
I plan my week very carefully. I plan my meals for the week and when I will workout. Then when I become busy I don’t really need to think about it, I just do it/eat it as prescribed. Then I know I’m getting everything in, but only have to really think about it once.
my top thing that i think has helped me on my weight loss journey is eating breakfast. starting the day right helps me make better choices throughout the day.
I find im more likely to want something if i see it, so i put healthy food in sight and avoid the bad stuff. Shopping on-line is great for this because you can make a list of what you want and search for only those items instead of being tempted by stuff you don’t need.
Another important thing i have done recently is to acknowledge the fact that its life changes that are needed rather than one off diets that never ever work.
As soon as i drilled that into my head it has made things so much easier, also a big part of that is knowing im not ruling anything out, im not telling myself i can’t have something -- which usually makes me not want it anyway.
The odd treat is more appreciated and i spice up my every day healthy eating by buying ingredients iv never cooked with before and researching new recipes.
Im really proud of the changes ive made, it was tough to start because i can eat A LOT so portion control came first for me and i felt hungry a lot while my stomach adjusted. But now i feel healthier, look healthier and i don’t feel im missing out on anything.
My healthy habit is not skipping breakfast! Even if I am running late I make sure I have a healthy breakfast to start my day! Also I practice positive self talk instead of “I can’t” I use “I will try” etc a healthy outlook on life and of yourself helps you lead a healthy life!
I’ve totally gotten into the hot water with lemon trick and I really think it helps keep the extra pounds off!
The one thing that has really helped me is keeping my sugar intake under control. No more than 35g per day and I try to avoid the “fake” sugar at all costs!
I freeze my smoothie ingredients together in individual bags (banana, spinach, papaya, grapefruit) then blend with plain yogurt in the morning and take it to work!
Honestly, my biggest healthy habit is that I’ve become of master of the recipe swap. You name it I have found a healthy swap for it. I use all natural, unsweetened applesauce in place of butter, honey or agave instead of sugar, raw cacao powder for cocoa powder, a mix of flax, whole wheat flour, oat flour, and bran for the gluten in stuff.
My biggest vice used to be all the baked goods I would make for friends and family. But now I can pretty much turn anything besides cookies into a relatively nutrient dense, smart calorie option!
Making a plan and sticking to it! This should include both food prep and exercise!
Having fruit with every meal!
I try to make sure that I leave about 200 calories for a “sweet treat” every day. It doesn’t have to be much, but it does help and some days I don’t use it.
I started eating more when I list weight. I was trying to keep calories too lie and would binge.
My healthy habit is meal prep! I don’t meal prep A LOT, since it’s just me, but having a few things ready to go for dinner when I get home for the gym is a life saver. I don’t get home until 7 and the last thing I want to do is cook dinner for 30+ mins!
The one habit I live by ( mostly because I have celiac disease) is reading food labels. If I cannot pronounce it or their are more than 5 things listed I don’t eat it. I look at food as my fuel so I can exercise at the level I want and achieve my goals.
This post is great and came at a great time! Drinking more water has really helped me reach and maintain my goal weight!
Counting calories for a period at a time helps me stay on track and realize what and how much I’m eating
I started a “Biggest Loser ” contest at work with a cash prize. As the organizer of the contest I took my nutrition and exercise extra seriously to set a good example. Although I did not win the cash prize I did lose 40 lbs and have kept it off for 3 years. My coworkers keep asking when the next contest is.
My healthy habit is to eat a good breakfast. Eggs whites, a green smoothie, and a shot of beet juice.
water water water! like over a gallon a day.
always bring my lunch and snacks to work so I’m not tempted to eat treats or go out to eat.
I keep track of the days that I work out and always strive to work out more days than I didn’t work out. So once the month is over, if I see over 50%, I’m happy (although I’d PREFER to see at least 70% of days worked out!).
Working out first thing in the morning is the best healthy habit to get into! After a while it becomes routine and then you can feel good knowing you are done with your workout for the day!
I LOVE using my bike for commuting-it’s so much easier and quicker to get around the city!!! The downside is I’m not a huge fan of riding when it’s cold so I need to wait for the warmer weather to come around. During the summer-no excuses!
Healthy Habits:
1) Drink as much water as I can--if I want a soda, or a snack, I drink a bottle of water first (sometimes I’m bored, not hungry!)
2) Switched out my Quest Bar snack with fruit and our veggies & hummus (my current obsession).
3) I spend Sunday night cooking so I can have healthy food and snacks for the week so it’s just grab and go (SO helpful!)
4) Make exercising a priority-I put it in my calendar and don’t talk myself out of it unless I really need it (I’m coming back from an injury, so sometimes, I just need to rest and ice.)
This is always a work in progress but finding activities I enjoy doing. For example, ballet, soccer and ultimate frisbee. Then I try to make sure I get the right amount of proteins, vegetables, fruits and carbs each day. I try to remind myself that just because you have one bad day or meal doesn’t mean you failed just make sure my next choice is a healthy one.
My favorite healthy tip is lots and lots of water- also adding fresh fruit to add a touch of flavor!
Breakfast and healthy post-workout snacks are my best healthy habits I think. I always, ALWAYS eat a balanced breakfast (oatmeal, or an eggwhite omelette with mushrooms and spinach, or a smoothie) and I try my best after a workout to blend up a protein smoothie with fresh, whole fruits and vegetables to satisfy my “starving” cravings afterward. If I don’t have a smoothie, my hunger pangs get the best of me and I’ll finish off a much too large portion of some leftover in the fridge that’s quick and easy!
My healthy habit is to focus as much on getting my fruits and veggies as I do on limiting sweets. So when I get a sweet tooth, i think “I still have to get 2 more fruits in” rather than “I only have x calories left.” It just switched my mindset from feeling deprived to focusing on the positives that I can add!
There are a few healthy habits that have helped me lose 34 pounds since March!
1. Breakfast -- I’ve been doing smoothies which is quick and easy!
2. Tracking workouts/calories -- I have a calendar that I write calories, workouts and steps for each day. It’s been a huge motivator to see my progress.
3. Set a goal -- I wanted to run a 5K on my 30th birthday and I did it!
I have juice in the mornings along side my breakfast! I feel a good juice really gets the day going. Oh, and another thing for me is bananas! I love them and they make me feel satisfied and I feel good!
xoxo,
BerryBloomXO.com
My healthy habit is to always have water in hand with lemon slices. And I try to workout first thing in the morning so I make sure I get it done. Thanks!
My healthy habit is to walk my dogs at least once a day that way we all get out at least once a day and get excersice!
Drinking water! I drink water with everything. No more soda!
Always have water and healthy snacks on hand!!!
I have started practicing yoga at least 3 days a week. It has helped me focus on myself, along with keeping my stress level down.
Meal prepping, giving up meat and dairy and cooking real food has helped me tremendously. I also make sure not to drink up a lot of calories through out the day by drinking a lot of water.
My healthy habit as of this summer is to email a few friends every morning to let them know how I’m doing with my food and workouts. It keeps us in touch during the busy summer months and reminds me that if I’m going to eat dessert, I’m going to have to tell someone about it.
Water, water, water! Sometimes I think I’m hungry but I’m really just thirsty.
I also find that being held accountable to someone besides myself is helpful which is why I love your Dietbets! I am currently doing my 4th dietbet.
More water (I take my Ecococoon stainless steel bottle with me everywhere!) and more weights!
Honestly, your Tumblr page has been crazy motivational for me. I have always been a bit on the heavier side, but until recently, I didn’t have the motivation to do much about it. Learning to adjust my diet, while finding cheap and healthy recipes, on top of finding the gumption to make it to the gym -- this has been the ultimate challenge for me. The healthy habits that have really helped me in my lifestyle change are: MyFitnessPal (the app that allows me to keep a food diary at my fingertips), Commit (another app that is just another way of holding myself accountable), waking up early and heading to the gym first thing (it may suck to not sleep in, but I feel 10x more productive at the end of the day), bringing a water bottle with me EVERYWHERE (no kidding, EV-ERY-WHERE), and finally, just listening to my body. I definitely haven’t mastered this last one (or any of the above habits), but I am learning and if I can learn to listen to my body, I just might be able to hear it say that it really isn’t as hungry as my eyes tell me I am. 🙂
I’ve cut way back on soda and stopped being afraid of eating healthy fats with food. I’ve dropped 20 lbs just doing that and am trying to get in more exercise.
Also, drinking more water and paying attention to my hungry and full signals.
What!? Way to go girl! That’s incredible.
My one healthy habit is to stay hydrated at all times with ionized purified water.
My healthy habit is to switch out healthier options for unhealthy options. Such as greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Also adding veggies to meals so I feel like I ate more without adding a bunch of calories!
I keep a supply of gluten-free granola bars and yogurts at work. When 3pm hits and I’m hungry -- I reach for one of those instead of running to the convenience store for something not as healthy.
I really believe that planning and prepping is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Whether you schedule your workouts or plan your meals (or both!), they allow you to look at your workouts as part of daily life and for rushed meals or hangry moments to be nutritious thanks to a little pre-planning. I also swear by always having healthy snacks in my purse 🙂
When I was losing weight at school I’d always replace one meal with a salad and water. And if mix up what meats and veggies I’d add to it! It made in a huge difference in my weight loss and how great I felt when I did it!
I set an alarm for every hour while I’m sitting at my desk to remind me to get up and walk around. It always amazes me how fast the alarm goes off again!
My office building is 8 floors high and I always take the stairs!
Fruit and veggie chopping on Sundays in preparation for the week so healthy food is always available and ready!!
The healthy habits that have helped me are getting up and moving every morning and also tracking calories to make sure I am eating ENOUGH. I have a tendency to underestimate what I eat in a day and that has backfired on me in shutting down my metabolism but i am on the upswing!
My healthy habit that helped me reach my goal was to actually get *out* of the habit of drinking Diet Coke every day.
I cannot tell you how much it helped when I finally figured out my BMR/TDEE -- it turns out I was eating FAR too few calories for the running I had just started doing. No wonder I was exhausted every day!!
Something that has helped me tremendously has been to install a silly reminder app that pops up a message each hour to remind me to drink water. You’d think a dehydration foggy headache would be enough, but during a super busy day in the office, I sometimes get so into my assignments that I don’t even get up from my desk! The app reminds me, and I get up for a quick walk and stretch while I refill my waterbottle. Win win win!
Well I am not at goal yet but I am 70 pounds down and I have found a couple of things, first to have breakfast every day and try to have it within 30 minutes of me getting up plus in order to get all my water in I start early and really work at it and last but not least is to find ways to get my body moving in even normal everyday things, parking at the back of a parking lot or walking instead of driving when I can and last but not least, trying to think before I put something in my mouth “Is this helping me reach my goals?” and if the answer is no then finding something that will help me! <3
My healthiest habit is trying to lose the all or nothing mentality. I don’t have to work out for two hours a day and only eat salad to be healthy. On the flip side, just because I indulge a bit doesn’t mean the whole day is a waste and I shouldn’t bother making healthy choices afterwards. This has helped me tremendously!
Weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle is 100% mental to me. I have a hard time believeing that I can actually change my body for the better and my negative thinking is quite crippling. To counteract that I post motivational pictures and quotes around my home to remind me to stay positive.
I avoid processed food and sugar as much as possible. Also, getting as much water, fruits and vegetables into my diet as I can is key.
I have swapped out a lof of the grains in the house. I use all whole wheat pastas, breads, and tortillas. I have also found a new love of zucchini noodles. I use them instead of normal pasta sometimes. Most of the time it does the trick for my cravings!
Some of my healthy habits are to get up and workout or just get moving for 30 mins before work. I always keep healthy snacks and water on hand at my desk. I don’t bring cash so I’m not tempted to hit up a vending machine or cafeteria. What I bring is what I can eat.
Preparing foods, taking enough food to last while I’m at work have helped me reach my goals. Also, having a regular workout schedule and getting in shorter workouts my schedule became busy has helped stay on track. Lastly, making sure I stay hydrated is also very important. Adding lemon slices , fruit, chia seeds, and mint leaves are a great way to make drinking water fun.
I love garden salads. I find I do sooooo much better if I have my base salad(lettuce, red onion, celery, peppers) already made. Then I can add either chicken breast, turkey, edamame, hard boiled egg for protein, and cucumber and tomato to finish off the salad and presto…, quick and easy meal anytime.
My healthiest habit is to just NOT buy trigger foods. I will eat them if I have them at home, so I just avoid them.
Lately I’ve been adding smoothies into my diet and have noticed the extreme difference it makes. My diet feels much cleaner than before and I’m looking forward to the time to come.
I learned that a good way to stop being bored with workouts is to make little cans with slips of paper that have different types of workouts on them, so everyday I can draw out a new workout and never get bored doing the same thing all of the time. It really helps with working different muscle groups too!
The combination of using a food/exercise journal
Has worked wonders along with eating clean!
It really helped me to start keeping a food diary. I was eating more than I thought. I have lost 2 dress sizes in since January!
Two words: Intuitive Eating. I get so caught up in my brain when it comes to nutrition/health/weight management that I totally forget about my body itself!! Keeping my focus on my intuition, what my body tells me, has been incredibly helpful. I dropped wheat without even noticing, added more full fat dairy (love me some full fat yogurt at the end of the day), and found myself reaching for more and more veggies without even THINKING -- just quietly listening to my body. It was hard to get here, but I have finally found a place of letting go that finally has me happy with my body, energy, mood, and life!! (article for those interested: http://bit.ly/1pJbGpq)
I discovered the Flat Belly Diet a while back and read up on the science behind it and have incorporated the principles into my diet and it worked great!! I try to eat a healthy fat at every meal and have finally gotten down to my pre-baby weight!! I also make sure to walk at least once a day, that way even on the worst days, I still got up and moved.
Having a dog is the best fitness tool ever!! Keeps you active!
Hello Sarah,
Great post about the proper way to look at calories, weight, etc. I would LOVE to win this Giveaway for all that you are giving away! Oh…my goodness! I would love the prize pack from Orchard Valley Harvest, variety of the minis PLUS a Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband, Gift card and water bottle.
To answer your question..the current “unique” healthy way I’m trying to reach my goal: I’m actually currently trying to “bulk-up” a little in that my weight actually dipped a bit too low after eating no-so-great (too many veggies/volume, not enough protein & fats). So, to reach this goal, I’m currently eating more “dense” foods, such as smoothies, nut butters, beans, granola bars, protein bars, etc.
~Amy
As a busy mom to two under two, I always make sure to carry a healthy snack with me because I don’t always have time to squeeze in a good breakfast or lunch. I keep a stash of Lara bars and kind bars in my diaper bag. Also, my oldest loves to try to immitate me when I do yoga so we make a game of it. Fun for her and good for me too!
Keeping a journal with three positive things I did each day to help myself feel or look better has helped me tremendously! Focusing on positives has helped produce more positive and less negative, which is huge when you’re someone who beats themselves up (like me!).
My one healthy habit is to fill up on vegetables! I look like I’m eating a mountain of food, but it’s all veg and salad.
It really helps me to stop eating lots of ‘bad food’ at meal times and also controls snacking later on in the day.
Some people think that that when they need to lose weight they should eat tiny amounts, even of veg. Pile those plates high with a rainbow of in-season veg and you’ll feel and look great!
The one healthy habit that I haven’t strayed away from since college is popping a piece of gum in my mouth as soon as my first helping is done. That way I’m not tempted to go back and sneak more bites or just eat the rest of my meal (which I have definitely done before!).
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to win an amazing prize like this!
-- Sara
What a great giveaway! I actually have two healthy habits that I know have contributed to my overall wellness. I carry a water bottle with me wherever I go so and ALWAYS have healthy snack options available (in my purse, gym bag, car, etc). That way I never feel tempted to indulge in not so healthy food because I have delicious healthy snacks with me when the hangry pangs strike!
My healthy habit is makin sure that I get enough sleep! When I get enough sleep getting up early and working out is so much easier and I feel great all day!
My healthy habits:
1. I plan all my meals on Sunday for the week
2. Have a water bottle with me everywhere! I even add cucumber, lime, and lemons too sometimes
3. Morning alarm to get in a morning workout. Alarm is across the room so I can’t hit snooze easily!
I stopped using sweetener in m tea -- it was the easiest thing to keep up with after seeing a nutritionist a few years back. I dropped 5 pounds immediately.
I always carry a water bottle filled with fresh water everywhere I go, even to run errands. I also pack my lunch every single day. That way I am not tempted to go out and get gross fast food or to spend money so that is a double bonus! Everything in moderation is key!
To lose weight I like to have a buddy who will eat and exercise with me. This holds me accountable to my goals, makes exercise more fun, and makes the workouts a little competitive, which I love! It always pushes me to make better decisions at meal times and run a little farther and faster or get in a few more pushups.
One of my top healthy habits is scheduling my workouts in every day, making them as important as any other meeting!
To make sure that I stay on top of my workouts, I lay my workout clothes out at night for my 5AM wake up call, take a class that I pay for (so I don’t waste money by not going) and make “appointments” to run with my girlfriends so I know they are waiting for me and I’m less likely to bail! 😉
I have a lot of things I’ve changed when I’ve started my fitness grind, but as far as healthy eating goes, my number one tip has to do with choosing meals (particularly when you’re out).
I want to stick with healthy eating, but I go out to eat a lot, so I always make sure to first go through the menu and identify what sounds delicious to me. Then I read the ingredients or calorie counts depending on how detailed the menu is, and find the one that is most fit for my diet. That way, I don’t keep myself from eating something I enjoy, but I don’t order something deep fried or anything that will throw me off.
I make virtual workout dates with my Twitter BFF. We don’t live in the same city but we promise to get up and do a certain workout, texting each other before, sometimes during and after. It’s great for accountability.
I log everything!! I know it’s overkill for some people, but for me it works. I would mindlessly (and have done it before!!) snack all day if I didn’t have to enter it into myfitnesspal.
My healthy habit is to always do something little even on “off days”…I could take a yoga class or just do a few planks at home and I feel so much better. Also drinking a ton of water!
Snacking is my downfall so I always try to keep myself busy, like going for a walk instead of sitting on the couch. That way I’m farther away from the kitchen and not tempted to snack unnecessarily.
I meal prep on Sunday nights. I always make sure I have healthy meals during the week so I don’t accidently find myself in the drive through at mcdonalds 😉
I plan the night ahead what I will eat the next day. Also I pack it so it’s easy to grab and go.
I (try to) fill half my plate with veggies!
I only have water and almond milk to drink in my fridge so I can’t waste calories on sugary sodas and juices. I also try to cook most meals and pack a lunch in the evenings so I have no excuse to buy lunch.
I make it a habit to eat whole and natural foods and take a 2 mile walk every day.
I’ve added healthy fats back into my diet and it has made a world of difference
Working out in the morning really helps, especially in the summer. It’s way too hot here in the afternoon to go for a run, so it has to be the morning or the late evening.
I only weigh myself once a week and prefer to measure weight loss and improvements based on measurements and then my body fat percentage. I found that when I was weighing myself daily, my diet became unhealthy and the scale became an obsession.
My latest healthy habit is to substitute nonfat plain Greek yogurt into recipes. I like to view new healthy habits as a lifestyle change rather than a way to lose weight.
I’m a new mommy to a 7 month old baby girl. I’m trying my best to set a good example for her by eating healthy and staying active. I like to take her outside as often as possible on playdates, for walks around the neighborhood and in our backyard for summer pool fun. It’s hard to get workouts in when I have little help, or when my husband is working, but I make it work! Thanks for the opportunity.
My healthy habit is going to the grocery store and skipping the “aisles”, only going around the edges! I’ve even learned to eat peppers walking to work like an apple!
One healthy habit I have is biking to work every day. I also walk my dogs -- they are always down for a little exercise and are good at getting me off the couch.
Sleep and going to CrossFit are my healthiest habits. I need portion control.
My Healthy Habits
1. Whenever possible book fitness classes before the day of, you’re (or at least I am) more likely to get in that workout.
2. Journal what I am doing for exercise and what I am eating and how it makes me feel. Doesn’t happen 100% of the time but helps me stay in line!
Two things:
I work out in the mornings so that I can check that off my to-do list for the day, and things like drinks after work, dinner plans, or just not wanting to go to the gym on a nice night won’t sabotage my fitness goals.
I also download and use the LoseIt! app to hold myself accountable for my calorie intake on days/weeks when I feel like I need to get back on track.
Awesome giveaway!
Two things:
I work out in the mornings so that I can check that off my to-do list for the day, and things like drinks after work, dinner plans, or just not wanting to go to the gym on a nice night won’t sabotage my fitness goals.
I also download and use the LoseIt! app to hold myself accountable for my calorie intake on days/weeks when I feel like I need to get back on track.
Awesome giveaway!
A fitness app helps keeps me motivated
love this giveaway! I totally agree with #3, focus on food. Hard lesson to learn!
For me it’s going to the gym at the same time every day. I made it a habit, and it stuck!
I like to use fitness apps to help me keep track of my diet and exercise, as well as drinking water throughout the day and before meals!
I start mu day with apple cider vingar mixed with a little OJ!
My 1 health tip is avoid processed or added sugar, as much as you can. It is just about THE most unnecessary and harmful thing that we repeatedly put into our bodies.
My healthy habit is to plan my week in advance, both in terms of what I’ll be eating and what my workout plan is -- I keep this all in a spreadsheet and print it out for my desk so it’s right in front of me. This really helps to keep me on track!
Even though I am fairly active, I noticed that I sit so soooo much at work and on the couch after work or on weekends. For my New Years resolution I decided to make it a goal of mine to get up every hour to stretch out my legs and take a stroll (even if it’s just to the bathroom!). Now, it’s an automatic habit!
Yoga has helped me lose 20 lbs! I’ve never felt better, although I have a long ways to go it is absolutely amazing that something so fun could have you lose weight and build up your strength and flexibility. Feel free to find me on IG -- TashaYoga 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I use the myfitnesspal app to track all my meals and snacks. It has helped me so much, no more calorie guessing. I’m down 42 pounds and still going!
My healthy habit has been to indulge in cravings. This might not work for everyone but I’ve realized if I’m craving something very specific (usually unhealthy), I try to eat everything but the one thing I’m craving. If I just gave in in the first place, then I would have saved myself the unnecessary avoidance calories. I’ve also started keeping healthier food options at my desk at work so I can snack on those items instead of running to the vending machine and grabbing a bag of chips and still feeling unsatisfied. Usually kashi cereal is my snack of choice.
My healthy habit is to do all the shopping by myself and keep the junk food out of my house. If I bring my husband and kids, we always end up with a lot of unhealthy snacks in the house. When I shop, I tend to buy more fruits and veggies.
My most helpful habit is to think of my “future self”. I don’t think I have ever left a workout thinking that I wish I had skipped it, so even if I don’t feel like doing it in the moment, I know that starting is the hardest part. I think this way with food too -- I know that I won’t feel my best later if I buy and eat a whole bag of candy/other junk, so I try to stock up on real foods (and then they are my only option at home later!)
Walking minimum 10,000 steps thanks to my fitbit
sneaking in exercise whenever i can!
Waking up early to exercise so I don’t have an excuse to skip later in the day!
Hi, the one thing that helps me lose weight is walking at least an hour a day. When I quit my exercising, my weight comes right back on.
My healthy habit is not being allowed to watch two of my favorite shows unless I’m at the gym! No bachelorette unless I’m on the elliptical!
I try and drink only water through out the day!
The most important healthy habit for me is planning ahead. This means planning out my gym routine/workouts at the beginning of the week, planning out what I will eat for the week before going grocery shopping, and prepping meals ahead of time and packing a lunch to take to work. If I don’t do this then I am a mess all week nutrition wise and in the gym.
Eating a protein filled breakfast!
I get bored of the same exercise routine. My library participates with Hoopla, so I can borrow various workout DVDs from wherever I am for free. This way, even if you can’t get out of your house, you can get a workout in.
Small meals and keep between 1200 and 1500 calories depending on the workout of the day.
My one healthy habit is that I walk whenever I can. I walk to work everyday (weather permitting), park as far from where I’m going, etc.
One of my healthy habits I stick to on a daily basis is to ALWAYS carry a water bottle around with me! Another one is having unsweetened cocoa powder on hand, so when my sweet tooth hits, I’m not feeling too guilty 😉 It’s only 10 calories a serving!
My healthy habit was making sure I was hydrated all the time- bringing a one litre nalgene around with you is one of the easiest ways to do so. Drinking water can help you realize if you’re actually hungry or not, and is so important to body processes.
When it comes to working out, I am a little bit lazy. But I found a way of working out while going to work. I use my bike as a way to save money on gas and at the same time to burn some calories. I love biking!
The most important habit for me is keeping a positive attitude regardless of what comes my way. When I started my first full-time job and had to commute, I had trouble fitting exercise in. After a pep talk, I reset my mentality and fit any amount of exercise in when I could. And, I remained positive even when I wasn’t happy with the results. Mostly, I was positive about the fact I had a job AND am able to exercise.
I recently got a standing desk and it’s helped me from sitting on my butt all day long. When i do want to sit, I have a exercise ball I sit on which helps with my posture.
My unique healthy habit is that I’ve replaced my mid-afternoon sweet snack with a cup of tea and a piece of fruit. If I’m really craving sweets I’ll have an almond vanilla tea. It always satisfies my craving. Thanks for the great posts!
My top tips are making sure I get in extra water, keeping my portions in check and being very mindful about getting in a solid amount of sleep (and staying consistent with it!). Great giveaway:)
My latest is drinking hot water with lemon!
I work at a University and therefore have access to a DEXA machine which is one of the most accurate measurements of bf%! It keeps me on track!
i love to schedule my workouts for the week and keep them visible on my laptop desktop!
I figured out that I feel so much better when I eat more fruits and vegetables, so to get them into my diet I make sure to eat at least one fruit/vegetable at every meal. Baby steps!
I try to make sure that I always have healthy snacks available. My biggest problem is that if I get too hungry, then I pig out when I finally get food. Having healthy snacks (but nothing TOO tempting like trail mix) reduces this problem.
People always tease me because I drink so much water. I try to have snacks inbetween meals to keep my blood sugar balanced, also.
The only way for me to keep an eye on my weight is to track what I eat. I eat mindlessly too often and would overeat if I didn’t keep track of how much I have consumed.
Scheduling my work outs keeps me accountable!!
Healthy habit -- meal planning and weekend meal prep! And I plot out my workouts for the week so I am more likely to hit them!’
Question -- which scale!?! I can’t find the $124 one on the website
I think they dropped the price. The one I use is the one that is $99. It should only be $49 with the coupon code though!
Recently I’ve been very conscious about how much water I drink, which is unfortunately not as much as I should be drinking. I’ve found out now that I’ve began switching my snacking cravings for trying to finish my new water bottle, I’ve gained that much more energy! I love carrying around my new bottle that I painted, and I feel like an overall happier person! Who knew?
I eat frozen fruit if I’m craving something sweet!
Great post & tips Sarah!
What I found most difficult for me was reaching my daily recommended water intake. Often the only time I would drink water is when I would work out. So now I have a gallon jug that I fill up every morning that has markings on them with different times throughout the day. Ex. 8am, 10am, 12am, etc. I have to finish the water till it reaches the line by that time! Really helps! 😀
I started to cut my sugar back to between 20-25 grams a day. I am losing about 2 lbs a week. The bonus is that I am now so much more careful about what I eat, along with just eating better for it. My next step is to start training for 2 Half Marathons later this year, and adding in weight training.
My unique healthy habit is to meal prep every Sunday. This allows me to have no excuses when it comes to eating healthy. All of my veggies and fruits are chopped and divided up to allow me to conquer the week. I also make a weekly goal. It helps me stay motivated towards becoming the healthiest version of myself that I can be. I take time to visualize my goal and plan out the steps i will take to get there and then hang it on my wall on Sundays. It keeps me motivated and allows me to stay on track! 🙂
I work out 5-6 mornings a week with The Gymbox. All kinds of different workouts keeps me motivated.
My healthy habits are:
1. working out at least twice a week, cardio and weight training
2. drinking at least two bottles of water a day.
3. Counting calories and seeing what I’m eating all day helps too. The My Fitness Pal app helps a lot!
Staying hydrated! I carry around a large water bottle every where I go!
My new healthy habit is to drink green smoothie with chia seeds for lunch.
My tip -- stay hydrated! Drinking lots of water makes me feel good and curbs cravings 🙂
My healthy habit has been incorporating green veggies in smoothies I make for breakfast! I am an on-the-go girl so it’s a great way for me to start my day healthy! It also keeps me from making unhealthy decisions later in the day so I stay strong throughout the day! Thanks for the informative post and this giveaway!:)
Mine would be trying to be a better version of me. I know my body and myself. I now know more than ever that I have to compare my health to only my previous health. I know where my happy weight it is and what really works for me.
I have found my most important healthy habit is to enlist a partner. I finished my first half because I trained with my sister (even though we live far apart). I also look for running groups and talk with a friend or family member when I need to eat healthier.
My healthy habit is drinking lots of water and working out as many days a week as I can!
A healthy habit that has helped me is scheduling my workouts for the week in advance!
I started tracking my macros, it’s a little bit of extra work, but I can see my body adjusting in just days.
I never deprive myself of sweet treats! I find treats to crush a chocolate craving that I don’t feel guilty about !
My healthy habit is avoiding refined white sugar and carb-cycling to promote muscle growth.
My healthy habit is using myfitnesspal to track my eating so I can see how proteins, carbs and sugar I eat
I like to use all my support system. Including my therapist. Make sure I eat protein:)
My healthy habit is to meal prep on Sundays. This way I have a ton of healthy options ready for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks throughout the week when I’m the busiest.
Drinking water throughout the day helps me maintain a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it make me feel more energetic, it’s keeps my hunger and cravings in check.
Healthy habit: moderation.
What I did to shape up was power yoga. Not only is it a great workout to build muscle but mentally you will get much stronger, yoga taught me to appreciate the body that I had and how I could adjust it to my liking. I learned to really connect my mind and body and started to see working out not as a punishment.
I don’t eat in the morning until I am actually hungry. I used to force myself to have breakfast super early, and realized it was just not working for me. Now I listen to my body and drink a ton of water when I wake up, and wait until I get to work to eat breakfast.
I always bring something healthy to eat with me so I’m not tempted to order something out of hunger.I also cut out snacks unless it is fruits or vegetables.
I drink tons of green tea! I find it’s amazing for my skin and health in general. It’s a great antioxidant, debloats, helps with weight loss, boosts immunity and much more!
My healthy habit is to meal prep every week so I’m prepared!
No matter what, I start off the day with a healthy breakfast. I find that if I start off on the wrong foot, the whole day feels off.
My healthy habit was realizing that quick fix diets and diet pills aren’t going to to work in the long run. I lost 70 pounds on a low carb, low fat, low calorie diet and I gained all of it back, plus some! So no more fad diets for me. It’s all about a lifestyle change! Also, recognizing that no food is “bad” or “off limits” was helpful for me. Yes, I would be better off if I avoidedcertain foods, but that doesn’t make them bad. Carbs, for instance, are not the devil! Lol
Hello Sarah….my healthy habits include sitting on an exercise ball while at my desk. I also keep an exercise band and do bicep or tricep curls. You will always find a bottle of water on my desk if you stop by..BTW you look AMAZING in the last photo shoot--not just your hair but you look leaner. Here’s hoping you read my comment,,,
Love…Maritza
That photo is from a couple years ago! I said so in the post haha but thank you!
Sorry Sarah…I’m talking about the recent photo shoot can’t remember who you were modeling for…I remember the picture you have posted now with the workout wear is when you were doing the fitness videos I believe in California?Hmmm,,,not sure..nevertheless, you looked great then and now…:o)
Ohhhh haha ! Yes on Instagram. Thank you 🙂
Portion control and weekly food prep are key for me!
My healthy habit is to always carry a reusable water bottle with me to make sure I am staying hydrated!
My two puppies help me to get moving. And once I start with their daily walk it always seems to transform into a longer workout once I get home.
I work really hard to cut back on sugar and track my food (so I know when I’m just being lazy and bored and actually hungry). I also make sure to squeeze in additional dog walks for more exercise and motivation, those little guys really keep you moving!
If I’m craving sweets (and it happens ALL the time!), I grab a piece of fruit instead. I keep it on hand for times of need. Usually, this rids my need for sweets and all of those extra calories! Win, win 🙂
I find that staying hydrated really helps me cut down on snacking. It keeps me feeling more full, and i often realize later that i was in fact thirsty and not hungry in thd first place!
One healthy habit I try sticking with is packing celery and carrot sticks instead of pretzels for a snack at work.
I do a couple things to keep me on track and in fighting shape:
1. I aim to drink 75-80 oz. of water a day to keep my hydrated so I don’t mistake thirst for hunger. Plus, it keeps my digestion moving so I feel like my body is processing what it needs efficiently.
2. I schedule my work outs by the month on a large desk calendar and in my iPhone so I can plan the rest of my life accordingly. When I complete a work out, I put a sticker on the calendar. Slightly juvenile? Yes. But some days, thinking about getting to put a sticker on that day gives me the extra push I need to get moving.
My most important healthy habit is definitely planning ahead — meal planning, food prep on Sundays, and scheduling my workouts for the week on my calendar have made a huge difference for me! Thanks for doing the giveaway! 🙂
Every time that I have been successful (before losing any and all willpower), I have used MyFitnessPal to track all of my meals and workouts. Even though I eat similarly most days, without that app, I always seem to go overboard. Accountability is key for me!!!
One healthy habit I really stick to is drinking enough water. I am constantly refilling my water bottle all day long and it not only keeps me hydrating, but moving throughout the day as well! It can be so easy to get stuck at my desk for hours, but downing lots and lots of water helps get me up and away from my desk!
Meal planning is my healthy habit. Without it my meals would be all over the place!
I try and drink water throughout the day. I keep water at my desk all day to make it easier.
Hi! I recently started working full time at a desk job and have found it difficult to keep up an active lifestyle. I now make sure I exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and eat a mostly clean diet. It gives me more energy throughout the day and helps me stretch out my body after sitting at a desk for 8 hours. My favorite exercise right now is going for runs around the lake near my apartment. The beautiful scenery helps distract me from my difficult workout.
I make sure I drink tons of water, and I have stopped drinking soda.
I try to drink a gallon of water a day and joined a CSA this year for fresh organic veggies.
My unique healthy habit, and one I work on daily, is too stress less. Whether it be what I ate, did I workout, etc. The less stress and emphasis I put on my body, the better I am to reach my goals. I have learned that I need to make small changes daily that I can live with for the rest of my life. Work on happiness and the rest will follow.
I shoot for at least 10,000 steps a day. Also, stretching regularly helps keep me feeling loose and ready for the day to day or a tough workout!
i usually lose 10 pounds when i finish school year, i go to university so i would pack on 10 pounds since i stay home a lot, so when year is over i try to drink a lot of water, try not to overeat and walk more!!! i usually workout 3-4 times a week so i go up with my wokrouts 4-5 times a week, depending on my mood 🙂 and i do stay away from carbs such as bread, rice after lunch… 🙂
Waking up early in order to get my exercise in early in the day.
It’s a typical tip, but I drink lots and lots of water!
I’m halfway through a Whole30 challege, and I cannot believe how much cutting out sugars has helped me! My new healthy habit is getting my sugar fix from some fresh fruit instead of sweets.
When you’re feeling snack, grabby some veggies! Fiber filling and low calorie!
The hardest but most effective health tip for me personally is limiting sugar. It’s so hard with my sweet tooth but I feel so much healthier!
I bring my Klean Kanteen water bottle with me everywhere I go so I stay hydrated.
I like planning my workouts the day before as well as getting them done first thing in the morning! Helps me feel better throughout my day!
My recent discovery is that deprivation never works for me. Instead I look for healthier recipes or versions of the food and then prepare it with along with a filling healthy meal or snack. So instead of feeling sorry for myself because I can’t have peanut butter, I portion it out and have some with a banana and then make a bowl of veggies to eat along with it so I feel both full and satisfied.
My healthy habit is definitely to meal prep over the weekend. If I don’t have some healthy choices ready to grab in the fridge when I get home from work I’m likely to make poor food choices.
My healthy habit is to drink at least half of my body weight in ounces per day. The easiest way for me to do that has been buying the 33oz Camelbak Eddy. If i fill it up twice a day, I know I’ve gotten in my daily goal:)
My healthy habit aside from working out during lunch instead of going out to lunch is to get my fiance on board! It’s great to have a partner to workout with…and it’s even better when the person you live with is as involved as you!
My newest healthy habit is choosing unsweetened iced tea over coffee. I know that coffee is a trigger for me -- it makes me crave carbs -- so tea is a smarter choice (plus it hydrates me better). To make it ‘excuse proof’, I buy unsweetened tea K-cups and keep a ton of ice on hand. My old excuse was that I didn’t have time to make iced tea -- not anymore!
Lots of water & crunchy veggies!
My healthy habit: I am a nurse and make a conscious effort to chart/do computer work while standing. So many nurses will sit to do their work but I feel better knowing that I am standing!
My one healthy habit is planning healthier meals for my family and I.
Thank you for the opportunity to win & for helping others with their health goals!
My healthy habit is to keep healthy snacks in my purse--if I’m prepared, I’m less likely to reach for a candy bar.
Some of my health habits are
1. “meal prepping” (so you can shorten the amount of time you spend on cooking meals AND portion out your food according to your macronutrients and calories intakes more accurately),
2. staying active even if you don’t have time to fit in a 45-min/one-hr workout (stretch a little, do short HIIT routines, do some squats when you go visit the bathroom, take the stairs instead, do calf raises when you are waiting for a bus or train etc) The little things do ADD UP!
3. floss and brush your teeth after meals (if you are like me and you tend to snack ‘a little’ after meals, especially after you had your dinner and your dessert lol, you might want to avoid further binges or cravings by brushing your teeth. haha it might sound weird but well it works)
4. and of course, always stay hydrated. 🙂
My two biggest healthy habits are:
1. Early morning workouts with my bible reading time; It helps me wake up and it leaves me no excuse to “have no time” or “be too tired” later.
2. Really making veggies, fruits, greek yogurt (any lean protein) staples in my diet. Finding my favorites as well as favorite ways to spice them up 🙂
My healthy habit is just eating in moderation and not forcing anything down. Nothing is a fast fix, so you have to watch what you eat and exercise. I have the exercise part down, so just going from eating anything to slowly making choices to not eat one or two things has worked for me!
It really helped me to stop eating after dinner. I was notorious for having a bowl of ice cream after the kids went to bed. I sleep so much better without the food weighing me down when I go to sleep.
Healthy Habit!
-- Drinking water when I feel hungry or snacky so that I have a chance to think about it again before I make a choice to reach for the chocolate or nuts! 🙂
Food prep, staying hydrated and being happy!
My healthy habits have been to focus on eating more vegetables, drinking more water, and eliminating processed foods.
How long will your vitagoods promo code be valid?
I’m not sure -- they didn’t say but I would assume at least a couple weeks.
I buy healthy snacks and stock up my desk so they are my only option & keep a water bottle on me at all times.
My habits are pretty simple but they work for me. I eat as little as possible of processed food and drinks plenty of water everyday 🙂
I haven’t reach my goal yet but sense I started those habits I’ve seen more result than ever and actually like what I see in the mirror. Good habits makes you feel good about yourself and changes your perceptive about everything even yourself!
I started slowing down my eating and enjoying my food which made me realize when I was full and stop eating.
Planning ahead has always helped me! That way I know what I should eat all day and I won’t be temped to grab something in the heat of the moment. Also this helps so much with meal prep because I know what I need to cook for the week and what to bring with me! : )
My healthy habit is to pretty much have water in my hand at allllll times. Also, getting enough sleep!
Drinking lots of water and eating intuitively.
Two of the biggest things I try to do are drink lots of water, and eat healthy snacks. Great giveaway!
I began exercising regularly and consistently to lose the last 15 lbs or so of pregnancy weight. I finished my first 1/2 marathon last month and am so happy with the changes I’ve made to my shape.
Great post!
My healthy habit is packing a healthy lunch and snacks for work the night before. It saves me time in the mornng and I eat better at work cause my food is portioned out. 🙂
The healthy habit that helped me is to break down my long term goal into 1 week chunks. Planning each week at a time helps me keep myself accountable.
I regularly update myfitnesspal app to keep track of all the calories i eat through out the day.
My healthiest habit is to keep a notebook and keep track of my workouts and my meals each day. It helps keep me accountable and, when I am going food crazy, it helps me realize how much I am actually eating!
i always take the stairs, even though the escalator or elevator would be easier.
When I’m feeling hungry it’s usually because I’m thirsty. When the hunger strikes I drink at least a glass of water first.
My healthy habit is filling up four big water bottles first thing in the morning. I can see exactly how much water I need to consume throughout the day to stay hydrated.
My top tip would be adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to water, which makes it all the more refreshing while balancing your body’s pH. I hit a slump awhile back with working out -- even my favourite HIIT workouts and community center cardio classes frustrated me -- so I went back to viewing exercise as a hobby. As long as I’m outdoors I manage to have fun, and taking the focus off of “how many calories have I burned?” to simply enjoying the activity for what it is has made an immense difference.
My healthy habit is meal planning and scheduling my workouts. When I plan out healthy meals and snacks for the week I’m more likely to eat healthier and stay on track.
I plan my meals for the week. I find that this helps me make healthier decisions for the week when there is less guessing what I should make for dinner (especially when I’m really hungry).
The biggest thing for me is writing down what I eat. It’s so easy to loose track of how quickly calories build up if I don’t keep track of what I’m eating. And it helps me hold myself accountable if I actually see in writing what I’m putting in my body.
I figured out which foods I couldn’t stop eating (peanut butter! ice cream! cookies!) and cut them out completely. After about 2 months or so I started introducing them in again, once I could limit portion control to a healthy amount. If I ever start eating enormous amounts of these foods again I just cut them out for a while and slowly introduce them back in.
Planning ahead is key for me. I plan my meals and snacks at night for the following day.
Always having a water bottle and healthy snacks with me when away from the house.
I like to drink tons of water-first thing when I wake up and before I go to bed. Green tea is also amazing as it helps boost the metabolism. When I stay hydrated, not only do I feel better, but I look better as it helps with bloating and I tend to eat less during meals.
I am 3.6 pounds away from my goal weight. Tracking food and exercise has helped lose 25 lbs. I also benefited from prepping fruits and veggies when I get home from the store.
I joined ClassPass recently and force myself to take new classes that will push me out of my comfort zone. Changing up my routine from the usual cardio and weight training has helped me see great results. Plus, it has helped me stay energized about working out because I’m always doing something different.
I keep a food journal and make sure to drink 64 ounces.
my healthy habit is to work out with my sister or friend
I just try to get moving every day
My healthy habit is to walk as much as possible. Even when I can’t get a workout in I’ll make time for a long walk and never end up gaining weight. The more movement -- the better!
I prep my work lunches the night before to guarantee a healthy mixture of foods for the next day.
Getting a workout buddy with competitions and prizes was my great motivation! A Fitbit would add that much more since she can’t workout with me any more!
My healthy habit is portioning things out! If I don’t take a portion of almonds, hummus, or anything out of the container I’ll sit there and eat and have no idea how much I ate. I need to portion everything so I know what I’m consuming. Also, I love running!
Carrying around a reusable water bottle has been really helpful. Not only do I drink more water throughout the day, but I’m getting better at not mistaking dehydration for hunger!
Great post. What finally helped me was getting my diet down and also planning. Planning is essential to avoid getting off track!
My one healthy habit is to drink at least a glass or two glasses of water first thing in the morning. It gets my body going and starts my day off well. 🙂
I try to think twice when I feel the urge to eat something that is not very healthy, so I discover if I really need to eat that or maybe I am just feeling ansioux.
1. Eat smaller meals throughout the day. This keeps me from being ravenous by dinner time. I try to never let myself reach the point where I’m starving because if I am, I know I’m going to grab whatever I can find and snarf it down.
2. Drink more water. I carry a water bottle with me at all times. I drink a cup of hot lemon water in the morning when I wake up. Drinking more water helps so so much and it was amazing for me to figure that out -- so simple, I know.
3. Plan ahead. I always have a healthy snack in my purse -- a Quest bar, some almonds and raisins, if I have a fridge it’ll be string cheese and almonds or carrot sticks with a single serve hummus, a banana with a single serve peanut butter pouch.
My healthy habit is trying to get at least 10 -- 15 minutes outside every day with no sunscreen! I work in healthcare and I see so many people deficient in vitamin D 🙂
I reached my goal by staying consistent with my exercise routine.
From time to time I revisit old pictures to see the changes in my body. It helps remind me this is a journey and not a quick fix. I love visiting blogs for healthy meal inspiration as well! In addition to workouts, I also walk to work (about 1.5 miles), when it’s hot or cold I remind myself how grateful I am to not sit in traffic and get the ‘extra’ workout in as my ‘commute’!
Planning my workouts into our family’s schedule has helped me. If I don’t carve out the time, no one will do it for me!
A healthy habit that has helped me reach my goal is being super strict about portion control, especially when I indulge in a special treat here and there. I can still enjoy whatever it is without going overboard.
I journal what I eat so when I question what works and what doesn’t with my body (food wise) I have answers!
A few healthy habits I do when I want to lose a few pounds is to limit dairy, limit sugar, and only buy healthy snacks to keep in the house! 🙂
Always being prepared with healthy snacks to prevent myself from becoming “hangry” and eating anything in sight! 🙂 Another thing that’s helped me is leaning on social media for inspiration and motivation! YouTube and Instagram are my go-to spots. — Thanks Sarah!
My secret to success has to be starting every single morning off right! I always try to wake up happy, focus on my goals for the day, then get into a short work out to get my bloodflowing, drink at least 16 ounces of water, and have a really good smoothie for breakfast! Makes each day so much better! 🙂
A healthy habit that helped me lose a few pounds was to take 15 extra minutes in the morning and walk to work! It took the stress out of waiting for the unreliable #39 bus from Copley Sq, helped me wake up and jump start my metabolism for the day!
Walk more…so simple and easy to do in Boston. These are great tips Sarah, thanks!
My healthy habit is to enjoy everything in moderation 🙂
I found that planning my meals made me hyper aware of eating, I was constantly thinking about what I was going to eat next and how far away it was even though I wasn’t hungry.
I also started a free Couch to 5k program in my area, not only did I lose stubborn weight but I got to meet new people and make new friends. We encouraged each other and kept each other accountable. I can’t wait as we gear up for a new class next week!
Drinking lots of water and always having healthy food choices on hand at work and at home.
My healthy habit is to make sure I walk to as many things as possible rather than driving. Ex. work, friend’s house, grocery store. I also make sure I walk after dinner.
What a great giveaway!!
My healthy habits are journaling, getting at least 5 workouts a week, and adding greens to my smoothies. I’m guilty of calorie counting. I have about 30lbs to lose. 😛
I have been drinking a lot more water in the last four months, which is a big deal because I was that girl that was always drinking just coffee/tea and dehydrated. I’ve noticed that with drinking water my body as a whole feels healthier. I’ve also started incorporated lifting weights and building muscle in the last couple months.
The times I’ve felt sluggish is when I’ve noticed I haven’t had as much fruits and veggies in my diet. I’ve gotten so busy to get to the store to freshen up on my supply. So now, I always make sure to take the time to at least have a few steamer bags in my house at all times to quickly steam some broccoli or any kind of vegetable. Quick meal/sidedish and a weight saver!
To help keep myself motivated to keep exercising making healthy food choices I keep a current photo of myself and older pic of myself (from my fitter days lol) up on my fridge as a reminder of why I should stay on track. It’s so helpful for me to see where I am now and where I want to get back to. I used to post fitness athletes also but I find that looking at myself in a way helps me to “face” myself and “fight” my weaknesses 🙂
My unique healthy habit is sticking to a sleeping, eating, hydrating, exercising routine, every single day. Doesn’t change on the weekends and it helps me stay energized and keeps my blood sugar levels regulated.
A healthy habit I’m really proud about is drinking water equivalent to more than half my body weight in ounces every day!
I used to be obsessed with weighing myself every morning. But, I’d get frustrated if I knew I ate well and worked out the day before, but still gained weight. After talking with a nutritionist, she helped me realize that I didn’t need to weigh myself every day. So, now I only weigh myself once or twice a week and use how my clothes fit as a measurement of progress.
I always carry a 1.5 Liter bottle of water with me. I also log all my workouts as tracking progress is my motivator. I also carry dry snacks with me like dried fruit and almonds.
I drink a Gallon of water daily. It keeps me hydrated and feeling full so I don’t overeat.
my healthy habit is getting off the bus BEFORE my actual stop!
i sit at the desk for the majority of my day, so by getting off the bus early, i can get extra steps in before and after work 🙂
I eat salads for lunch! I’ve also started making my own dressings so I know exactly what I’m eating.
Know your “trigger” foods (for me almond butter, trail mix) and keep them out of the house!
Love this!! What’s really been helping me is recording everything that I put into my mouth. I don’t look at calories, but I look at the big picture, and at the end of the day, I’m able to look back and ask, “did I eat healthily today?” For me, I’ve been an emotional eater, so if I look back and see I had a lot of processed food (i.e. store bought cookies, candy, etc.) I can almost always relate it to what I was going through in the moment so then next time, I can relieve stress by doing something other than opening the fridge! It’s also a nice way to see where you’re getting your protein, fats, carbs, etc. 🙂
I replaced my office chair with a stability ball: it works my core, and I am also more likely to get up more often. I’ve also learned to decifer food labels and nutritional info.
My healthy habit was to give up drinking pop and started drinking tea and infused water.
My best healthy habit is to meal-plan every week. My husband and I sit down on Saturday and map out our meals for the whole week so that Sunday morning’s grocery shopping trip is easy and we never have to mull over what to do for dinner (which usually results in making a bad choice, such as takeout). When I know that I’m going out somewhere, I’ll try to look at the menu in advance and identify a couple of healthy options.
My healthy habit is to always look at myself in a positive way. If I get stuck in a rut or am feeling down about my body b\c I haven’t reached my goal or that day’s workout didn’t go as planned, I look at myself and find something positive to say. Example: Last night I went to soak at a hot springs and was not feeling very good about getting in a swimsuit. I told myself, it doesn’t matter what I think I look to like to others, I know that my legs just carried me on a difficult 10 mile mountain bike ride and that is pretty dang awesome.
One of the habits that I have picked up came from a couple inspirations. This includes BexLife, Tone It Up, my #fitfam, and most recently SaraFit. And that’s to love yourself, inside and out. Taking it day by day and changing/modifying the way I think about myself and what I put in my body has really made me appreciate myself. I feel more confident and healthy, and less bloated 😉 no more adding Doritos as a food group with my lunches. It’s hard to give up things you love. But if you think of it, day by day, you won’t even realize that it’s been 3 months since your last junk food. That’s when the bigger picture of a healthier habit comes into play for me.
I struggle a lot with overeating. I make up for this by keeping junk food out of my house so that when I do snack, I only have healthier options. Also, I try to portion out my meals to keep from eating too much of that. It’s still a struggle for me but I’m getting better. I have started using tips like taking a big drink of water before I go for a snack or meal. It really helps! Besides that, I do my best to get out and workout as often as I can. No amount of working out can make up for overeating though! It takes a lot of willpower and it’s a work in progress, but I am starting to make progress!
One of my healthy habits is to walk places instead of taking public transit. The first summer I lived here I lost weight without even trying by walking home from work every day. And I got to enjoy the outdoors! Win-win.
My Healthy Habits:
1. Incorporating 4-5 days/week of strength training via functional fitness to increase muscle mass, and therefore BMR.
2. Making sure I get to bed on time. 7-8 hours every night!
3. Consuming super foods everyday! “Let food be thy medicine”
I always try to plan my meals on the weekend for the rest of the week. I also try and prepare as much as i can on sunday so it makes it easier throughout the week.
Helpful habits I’ve picked up lately:
1 -- Get an accountability buddy! Anyone (whether in person or over text/Internet) will help you stick to your goals, whether they’re working out or eating well. It’s less likely that both of you at one time will feel tempted/lazy/unmotivated, and therefore you can help each other out at key times!
2 -- Follow healthy accounts on Instagram. There’s something about daily seeing healthful meals and workout tips that just puts it in your head constantly that you want to be like that.
I have difficulty committing to long term programs so I started making week long routines. I wrote out the work outs I want to accomplish that week on a large dry erase board so I can mark my progress as I complete each one. If I make it the whole week I reward myself with froyo or sweet treat that weekend
My healthy habit:
Always have a smoothie with breakfast (and eat a full breakfast)
Snack well- almonds, rice cakes, carrots and hummus
I’ve found a power through running. I never thought I could run more than a mile and just finished my first half marathon. I love it! I also love to include toning and weight exercises in all my workouts, because they’re just as important as cardio 🙂
I know it’s an old go-to, but drinking a full glass (or two!) of water before a meal really helps me to keep my portions down a bit, because I already have something in me! Giving up all forms of carbonation also really helped bring down the amount of sugars I was having.
Being a desk jockey, it gets easy to lose track of time, so I have started setting an alarm to go off every hour and a half. Then I take a break and go on a quick walk. I’ve found this little action makes a big difference and often I feel like I do better work too!
I’ve found that I’m more likely to stick to a healthy diet if I write down my next day’s meal plan each evening before I go to bed. Sometimes I still stray from it, but I’m at least more likely to eat the healthy fruits and veggies I’ve written down rather than carby snacks like cereal and bread that are all too available at home (I live with my folks in the summer).
I get plenty of sleep and drink water as much as possible. We also eat healthy options (when we can) and cook most of our meals. Thanks
Keep healthy snacks in my office and pack my lunch so I’m not tempted to get take-out.
Healthy habit is drinking water and exercising 3-4 times a week.
My healthy habits..
I drink a glass of lemon water as soon as I wake up, I’ve noticed a big difference in bloating since I started.
I switched energy drinks with green tea.
I eat more vegetables and protein at dinner time to prevent late night snacking.
All these new habits have helped me get so my h closer to achieving my goals!
My healthy habit: Each Monday, I use my lunch break to run to the Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s near my office. I stock up on enough salad supplies to last me throughout the week and store these in the fridge at work. I am NOT a morning person, so I often lack time in the mornings to prepare a healthy meal. With all my lunch supplies ready to go at work, I never have to worry about being unprepared and eating out. It usually only takes 5-10 minutes to throw everything together and I end up eating tons of greens, veggies, healthy proteins and fats each day!
My healthy habit has been adding chia seeds to my morning water. I’m trying to up protein and fiber in my diet.
No matter what I have a workout routine at the same time everyday. It doesn’t hurt to have a “don’t think, just do” mentality. 🙂
I write down fitness goals at the beginning of each month, and read them when I wake up and right before I go to bed. This helps me keep my goals in mind all day, and help me make better choices!
Doing something active daily -- keeping active every day keeps you on track.
There are a few simple healthy habits that always make a difference for me…
1. Drinking water. I always carry around a 32oz bottle that has a straw to keep hydrated throughout my day.
2. I’m always on the go so at the beginning of the week I make little grab bag snacks. I fill up plastic baggies with trail mix, cheese and almonds, fruit, or veggies.
3. One of the most important is getting enough sleep, or atleast trying too. I try to make sure even with my crazy schedule that I get at least 7-8hrs of sleep every night.
My healthy habit is to drink more water and add more fruits and vegetables to my lifestyle. I really enjoyed reading this post! Thanks Sarah!
I set goals each week on things that I should try to stay away from such as bread and sugar. This is helped me feel a lot healthier by the end of each week and into the next. I also exercise each day with an off day somewhere in between! Since I am a big candy lover, giving up sugar is tough for me, but it is good for me to do!
Some Healthy Habits that help me:
1. Wake up and start with a small workout right away.
2. Tell everyone about my goals so I stick with them/ have a workout buddy
3. Not get down when I mess up/skip a workout
4. Track my runs based on mileage only, not on pace.
For me, one tip is to get my workout done in the morning. I then don’t have to worry about any excuses to NOT exercise that may creep up during the day and it also sets me up in a positive mindframe for the day to make good food choices.
My healthy habit came about indirectly. About 2 years ago, I adopted an energy filled dog. Not a day goes by where I do not get out and take him for a long walk, run, or bike ride. I love it!
I bought a calendar for my fridge and each week I write what my workout plan is for each day. It helps keep me accountable for what I’m committing to! Whether it’s a barre class, cardio of some form, weight training, or a group exercise class at the gym -- it helps me keep variety in my workouts and remind myself to get them done if I’ve committed to them!
Number one for me is to drink lots and lots of water because it keep my metabolism going. I work out 4x a week and pretty followed Sarah’s book (I bought it it’s awesome and colourful) as close as I could and lost 8 lbs. Oh and don’t eat carbs after 3pm.
Counting calories got me to my goal weight a few years ago.
Two of my healthy habits are always having water with me and always eating breakfast! 🙂
I started doing Zumba and step classes which really helped me loose weight I was seeing progress so I sticked to it going at first 2 days a week and after 2 classes a day 5 days I week. I love Zumba and this really helped me kick off my weight loss. I wish I could win this prize so I can have a new challenge and new toys to live a better me. Thank you so much!!!
Planning!! I am always sure to set up my week so I cannot fail w/my diet. Meal plan before I food shop, then Sundays I precook/pre measure all my food -breakfast at home, snacks and lunch for work and dinner planned for when I get home.
Keeping a list of ingredients I need for my ten favorite healthy meals in my phone. It makes grocery shopping a lot easier, and if I haven’t had time to find a fun new recipe, I can fall back on the tried & true ones!
What really worked for me, and I guess it’s not a surprise for anyone, was to stop eating processed food. Eating healthy whole foods gave me a lot of energy, and I didn’t starve.
I am currently a student at Boston University studying cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. Even though I was busy throughout high school, and have always been interested in health and fitness, when I began to struggle with an organic chemistry class, I found myself having to cut out some of my favorite parts of the day, including getting to the gym. For a week or so, I kept my same daily routine, but replaced my gym time with more studying, and at the end of the day I was drained and frankly, unhappy. I began to re-think my daily activities and found that by modifying my sleeping patterns, I could fit in the time to run on the esplanade or hit the gym. Instead of working out in the afternoon, I began waking up early and going to the gym in the morning before class. I was astonished by the noticeable difference in my attention span as well as an extra energy and overall optimism that lasted throughout the day. I was motivated to give even the small, tedious tasks the same effort I had put into my morning work out. By starting out the day in a healthy way, I found that I was more inclined to eat healthier and by the end of the semester not only had I reached a goal fitness level, but I also achieved great success in my classes. By making that seemingly small change, I was able to jumpstart my motivation academically and health wise.
One of my close friends has come an extremely long way with her health goals and has used fitbit over the past year to get healthy and stay motivated. I have been thinking about purchasing one for some time now in order to recharge the motivation I was able to find last semester throughout the summer, as well as support her as she continues to strive to become healthy.
1) I always have water on me. I drink water all day everyday.
2) I started journaling my foods. Everything I put in my body, I write it down
3) my daughters and I are always visiting our local farmers for fresh produce and eggs.
I definitely rely more on my body fat percentage than my weight. Some healthy tips are definitely meal prep, lots of water, and I always make sure to eat some protein within one hour of working out and of course have breakfast within one hour of waking up 🙂
Definitely just watching what you put into your body and making the smart choice. Obviously, I have my cravings, but who doesn’t. Also, I’ve recently started drinking my fruits and veggies, and it has already made a huge impact. I’m only a week in, and already I have more energy, and even my skin has cleared up. But the number one thing that has helped me, has just been to choose wisely, and plan your meals, for the rest of the day.
My healthy habit is to stop thinking I’m still that skinny chick who can eat whatever the hell I want and make people jealous lol. because one day, I was that girl…..jealous of the skinny chick who can eat whatever the hell she wants haha (sucks to get old!!)
My healthy habit is eating more but smaller healthy portions more water and doing zumba you burn alot of calories.
I have a few healthy “habits” that I try and stick with:
1. Always have healthy snacks, such as nuts, apples or bars, on hand at all times. I can be a bit of a grazer and never know when I’ll get hungry or need a snack, so I like to try and have my own on me at all times.
2. Treat yourself a little each day 🙂 It doesn’t mean I have a big dessert every day. But I like to at least have a small piece of dark chocolate. I have a big sweet tooth, so I let myself have a little something so I don’t go crazy!
3. Work out first thing in the morning. Sometimes I can’t get out of bed, but most mornings I never regret getting up early and getting my workout out of the way. And I always feel better later.
The healthy habit that helps me make the most progress is getting enough sleep. If I stay up too late and don’t get my 7.5 -- 8 hours, I probably won’t get in my morning workout and I am much more likely to overeat and indulge in other bad habits the following day. I look at getting enough sleep as my foundation that supports the rest of my healthy habits. Being tired lowers my willpower far too much.
I try to sweat a little each day! Whether I have a lot of time or hardly any, I try to get in at least 15 minutes of something (running, sprints, plyometrics, weights) high intensity to sweat!
Thanks for giving us those tips and for offering this giveaway. It’s really generous of you. My healthy habit is avoiding animal products and limiting the amount of processed foods I put into my body. I also like to do different types of workouts so I don’t get bored with doing the same thing all the time.
I was able to meet my goal of eating a variety of different grains by researching new recipes and fun dishes to try out. It made me look forward to eating farro, bulgur, buckwheat, and wheatberries!
I always drink water as much as I can throughout the day to stay hydrated, keep my skin and body healthy, and to help me from snacking as much.
I recently started riding my bike everywhere I go around he city and it is so nice. I save time since I’m not waiting at the bus stop and I’m getting almost an extra hour of cardio in every day!
My healthy habit
1. Work out 3-4 times a week
2. Eat smaller portions of food for 5-6 times a day instead of big meals.
3. Eat breakfast
4. Adding more fruit & veggies into my diet.
5. limit drinking
6. get more sleep
My healthy habit is to stop comparing your body to someone else’s. AKA stop obsessing over fitspo and thinspo. everyone was created with a different body and bone structure therefore you will never look like the people in (photoshopped) pictures.
My healthy habit is to always have a water bottle with me and to have my fridge stocked with fruits and veggies to snack on.
I think that the one habit that has helped me to get healthy and maintain has been waking up and exercising first thing! Some mornings this means a sweaty 3 mile run some days its simply a walk with my dog or an indoor DVD but getting my blood pumping first thing sets a good tone for the rest of the day!
I had developed three healthy habits over recently that have improved my health immensely.
To start, in January of 2013, I was hospitalized with several abdominal bleeding and after days of testing the only thing the doctors found was that I couldn’t process high fat products (meat, dairy and processed food products). Immediately, I adopted the whole food, plant-based diet and my metabolic numbers improved drastically and I no longer experienced abdominal bleeding nor other digestive issues. I even lost 50 lbs and became the exact weight for my height!
Not only did this inspire me to continue my education in nutrition to add to my current degree, I started training that year for the Tinker Bell 10k 2014 (it was the most amazing experience!) and this year am training for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon 2015! What I have learned from this is that being healthy is a lifestyle. It takes time, effort, and should be a loving experience that you share with yourself.
In short, I have three healthy habits:
1. Eating healthy
2. Staying active
3. Appreciating and loving my body
I created a vision board that I put out where I can see it everyday. It keeps me positive and keeps me on track!
Eat healthy clean meals 4-5 times a day, but most importantly don’t deprive yourself of your favorite treats. Workout 5-6 times a week to feel good but have fun doing it! Overall goal to feel good and be happy should be everyone’s goal to achieve:)
My healthy habit is a mental one--believing in myself! :] Nothing like having a strong self-esteem to accomplish your goals.
If I get hungry between meals, I try first to have a glass of water
My unique happy habit is, when I feel like I’m “hungry”, I do 25 jumping jacks and drink water and then wait 15 minutes to see if the hunger is psychological, or actual hunger!
I’ve found that planning for the week ahead every Sunday helps me to stay on track throughout the week. On Sundays I prepare a big healthy meal to bring for lunches throughout the week and make a plan for my workouts.
My healthy habit is trying to include a green smoothie in my breakfast. That way I know I already have had a healthy dose of greens:)
I always keep a water bottle with me no matter where I am. I’ve also learned to make my own version of Lara bars so that I have a healthy and filling snack with me especially at the office.
My healthy habit is to join a CSA garden share. So many benefits! Fresh local produce, new varieties of vegetables, supporting the economy, consistent intake of veggies from week to week, the list goes on…
You have to stay motivated and push through those times when you don’t feel like working out. At the moment you may not but you will 100% regret that decision. Start being healthy now before you get sick later!! Drink plenty of water and if you get bored by that then add fruit/veggies to your water or drink unsweetened iced tea!
My one healthy habit I am glad I started was drinking water and giving up soda. It has changed my life
I do 25 squats every morning and every night. Typically, I try to get a real workout in too, but I find that is something I can do NOT MATTER how busy I am and it does help keep/get me into shape. And sometimes if I have a free moment and the kids are occupied, I will just do some lunges/push ups or whatever. I find doing that ensures I at least get SOME kind of workout.
I try to drink A LOT of water and I eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies.
I have gotten myself into the habit of drinking lots of water all day. Before I eat, before I snack, when I run and when I’m just relaxing, it helps me feel satisfied all day as well as keeps me from feeling bloated and my skin feels much fresher and brighter too!
My healthy habit is limiting my alcohol intake. It’s not always the most fun, but I really try to limit it since I know how bad it is for you.
I allow myself a cheat day.
My healthy habit is to stay positive. Positivity helps your immunity, and really your overall health. I’m still always trying to improve my positivity, and it can be difficult if I don’t like how I look in the mirror, but once I work out or eat a healthy meal my positivity to have the ability to be what I want increases.
My healthy habit is to not eat in the evenings.
My healthy habit is fruit infused water. I put cucumbers, grapes, orange whatever in my fruit. I know that I will help keep my fruit intake up and still get my water without all the bad chemicals.
the best goal I reached was flexibility and being consistant in yoga. I tried classes and videos. Then I read the 30 day plan of yoga written by richard hittleman. Incredible results. Still a favorite today.
I work as a behavior therapist specializing in autism. My healthy habit is to make sure I work in a 5-10 minute of exercise with each of my kiddos I see throughout the day. Sometimes I do yoga with them or I create an obstacle course and it through right along with them. I get to stay active while helping my kiddos with their body awareness and sensory needs.
I started doing workouts that I really liked, so I could stick to it and have fun. I would change it up all the time, so I wouldn’t be bored with it 🙂
I meal plan! Being prepared and knowing what is for dinner every night helps stop me from running out and getting fast food.
My healthy habit was developing a love of the REAL taste of fruits and vegetables -- without dips and dressings. It took a few weeks, but I came to appreciate their taste and now can’t imagine masking or adulterating it with the extra fat and calories in most dips and dressings -- it seems like a waste to me and I would much rather taste the goodness of the food itself.
Daily yoga
I eat veggies! I put veggie in dishes in creative ways. I always have raw veggies on hand to eat in place of high calorie/ processed foods
I have cut soda out of my diet. Water, water, water.
I put on dance music while I’m cleaning so it becomes a fun way to exercise.
I drink water first thing in the morning to start my day right. Also, exercising in the morning is a must. I try to brush my teeth after each meal to avoid mindless eating, or make myself a cup of tea when I’m not hungry but just feel like eating. 🙂
I only drink coffee and water and I usually drink water when I’m feeling snacky, most of the time I’m. Ot hungry after.
I only drink coffee (once a day) and coffee.
I make fitness a priority, making an effort to work out at least an hour 6 days a week. I live in the Boston area near so many Market Baskets, so crossing my fingers!
My healthy habit is to keep a log of what I eat. This helps me to see if I’ve been eating too much junk when I’m trying to eat clean! It also helped me to drop soda because I was drinking so much of it.
My healthy habit is doing my workout first thing in the morning-- I feel accomplished leaving the gym, and it sets me up for better choices at the office and way more energy! It’s a win-win.
One habit that really has helped me is small snacks throughout the day, they stop from getting hungry and then making poor food choices.
My healthy habit is to always have water everywhere I go and to drink it with a majority of my meals instead of soda (I’ve done this since January). I also substitute granola for junk food in between meals as a snack.
Always drink lots of water.
One thing that has been helping me greatly, which I know we ALL know, is to make sure to have a huge serving of filling veggies with each meal. This really does help me to have what I like, and to feel full and satisfied with my meal. Just this simple change has helped me lose 10lbs. 🙂
One thing I have been doing, very simply is to add a huge portion of veggies with every meal. It really has been keeping me full, and still allows me to have what I like, but less of it. This little trick has helped me lose 10 lbs so far.
When I first started my weight loss journey, I took most of my advice from the internet and my fit and active friends. I thought they knew their stuff and they did, but they knew what stuff worked for them. For months I was miserable and I hated every minute of my workouts at the gym. It finally occurred to me one day to try other things besides the gym. I needed to figure out what worked for my body instead of just relying on my friends and internet research. I needed to get out there and have my own personal experiences. I started running, then hiking, and biking. I got my kids to join me and guess what? I was having fun! I lost 40 lbs in a few months and found many activities that I now love to do and I look forward to trying new things. I realized my body could do more than I had thought. So I say just jump in and try a variety of activities. You will never know what you can and cannot do or the things that you enjoy and find not so enjoyable until you try. It changed my life on more levels than just weight loss.
Learning to love exercising in the morning was key for me!
Started a workout routine working out just 15 minutes each evening with my SO -- great for bonding and getting in shape!
Putting workouts for the week on my calendar and keeping a bottle of water at my desk every day helped me stick to healthy habits.
Balance — life, food, exercise, work….Finding a sustainable balance is important for me to stay healthy.
I walk everyday even if its only for 20 minutes I always try to get a walk in
One of my healthy habits is using substitutions, such as using ground turkey (or black beans) instead of beef, quinoa instead of rice, almond milk instead of dairy..etc. And experimenting with veggies!
I’ve also made it a goal to engage in new-to-me physical activities such as Dragon Boating and Hiking.
My healthy habit is choosing an exercise goal to train for like a running race or a triathlon, so I’m motivated to workout in order to be prepared for the race. Also, I like workout classes where you sin up ad pay ahead because I’m much less likely to skip them then.
My habit is to stay positive! Even on my bad days, when I fit in a short workout, or don’t give my regular workout my all, I remind myself that I’m still doing something! I’m still caring about myself and my well being, and there’s no sense in throwing away all the good for a tiny bit of bad when it happens.
My healthy habit is to get to sleep early and make sure I am sleeping 6-7 hours a night. That way when I wake up for that morning workout it doesn’t feel like as much of a chore. The green smoothie and lots of water every day help a lot too.
Hey Sarah!! My healthy habits include cardio before work and strength after and setting a timer at work to force myself to get out of my chair every 30 minutes. I also love coconut water when I have a craving for something sweet in the afternoon!
I also use myfitnesspal.com for losing weight. I have cleaned up my diet and am now working out 3-5 times a week! It has been great so far.
My healthy habit is that I take the stairs whenever possible. Both my apartment and office are on the fourth floor of their buildings so I take full advantage of all those stairs! I also love water, which helps me stay hydrated throughout the day.
The best things I did for myself was to realize I was worth the effort! I said “no” to dessert unless it was a special occasion, filled half of my plate with veggies, and made going to the gym a priority. Not just putting in half an hour on the treadmill and calling that a workout, but actually using weights really helped me! Deadlifts and squats.. I swear by them now 🙂 I lost about 25 lbs (over two years) without really thinking much about it, and really made it part of my lifestyle. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
My healthy habit is making working out a part of my life, rather then something I fit in. My schedule works around working out and not going is not an option!
My new healthy habit: packing lots of gym clothes when I travel for work! I found out during my current work trip that my hotel has a partnership with a local gym, and I have been taking advantage of the complimentary passes. I’ll research this option for all my future travels. No more excuses about the hotel gym being too small or lame, etc.
I always start my day with hot water with lemon. During the summer, I also add a walk around the neighborhood before going to the gym or doing my workout.
To be more healthy I stopped drinking soda and replaced junk food with fruit.
My healthy habit is to try and eat more fruits and veggies than I do meat as well as not eating any complex carbohydrates after lunch.
tracking my calories
Green smoothies for lunch helped me reach my goal!
My healthy habit is drinking lots… and lots of water!
A healthy habit that has helped me maintain my goal of 80lbs off for the past 11yrs has been to continue to mix things up with my exercise & challenge myself by pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Also, finding a healthy balance with food & exercise while still enjoying life is key!!!
One healthy habit I have incorporated is: Rather than pouring dressing onto the salad, I dip my fork in the dressing between bites to still have flavor but with only minimal amounts of dressing. It really helps to cut back on the calories.
Really thinking about WHY I was eating what I was eating helped me reach my goal. Instead of eating based on the time of day, I ate when I was hungry (be it every hour or every 5 hours), and I tried to only eat things that my body was craving (and if I truly wanted chocolate, just eating the chocolate instead of eating the fruit and nuts AND then the chocolate).
I had to get my family on board to help me begin my weight loss challenge. It was hard to do on my own and now my family is holding me accountable. It was hard to let them know where I truly was but once I did, it was freeing! They have helped me every step of the way. I also am getting only water now! That was a hard habit to change as I was a major Coke drinker.
My favorite habit has been keeping water with me, ordering water when I go out, and simply drinking more water!!
I try to try calories as much as possible, I currently use a little note pad. Im not even close to my goal but Im giving it everything Ive got!
Ive been overweight for over 20 years and I just want be there for my family for as long as possible. i want to be my kids hero and be my wifes knight in shinning armor.
My healthy habit to lose weight last year was to do insanity and run at least 3 miles everyday. This year, I have been running longer and faster with the help of chia seeds!
My healthy habit is to add chia seeds to every meal
Hi, I have gone Vegan but i can’t seem to give up the pastry. I have not seen a change in weight but i think it’s becasue i don’t exercise and my job is not more of a sitting job. I would love some help.