The Healthy Thread

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Silatuyok

Well-known member
I know a lot of us want to start being healthier, and that can be a very challenging thing to do. So why not share our tips for specific ways to start being healthier?

My tip is to start with one thing, and start reducing it little by little.

To cut down on sugar in your diet, starting cutting back on sodas or sugary drinks a little bit each day. Make yourself drink at least one glass of water, and try to build on that.
For me, I found it was easiest to very gradually switch from soda to sweet tea, then mixing sweet tea with unsweet, then finally making the switch to unsweet tea, and now I drink mostly water with an occasional glass of unsweet tea. Granted, it took me many years to wean myself, but I actually enjoy drinking water now and I find soda to be way too sweet.

What have you done to become more healthy, and how did you manage to stick with it?
 
KiaKaha

KiaKaha

Banned
A while back I did p90x which was a 90 day boot camp weight training program. I missed a few days but I stuck at it mostly and started to see some pretty good results. Mostly fat reduction and muscle definition.

These days though I dont do anything nearly as intense. I do try to eat relatively healthy and try to do something active each day. I regularly work out with weights to keep strong and to avoid muscle atrophy. I also do a little cardio and cycling when I can.

Cutting soda out from your diet is a really good idea, there is SO MUCH sugar in those things. No doubt turns to fat without burning it off.
 
coyote

coyote

Well-known member
more cycling
more rowing
more hiking
more kayaking
more time outdoors having fun

less sitting on my ass in front of a computer
less beer

more sex, hopefully
 
lonely_drummer

lonely_drummer

Well-known member
Absolutely_Sweet_Marie said:
I know a lot of us want to start being healthier, and that can be a very challenging thing to do. So why not share our tips for specific ways to start being healthier?

My tip is to start with one thing, and start reducing it little by little.

To cut down on sugar in your diet, starting cutting back on sodas or sugary drinks a little bit each day. Make yourself drink at least one glass of water, and try to build on that.
For me, I found it was easiest to very gradually switch from soda to sweet tea, then mixing sweet tea with unsweet, then finally making the switch to unsweet tea, and now I drink mostly water with an occasional glass of unsweet tea. Granted, it took me many years to wean myself, but I actually enjoy drinking water now and I find soda to be way too sweet.

What have you done to become more healthy, and how did you manage to stick with it?
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Awesome, I'm gonna try that, I really need to stop drinking pop
 
A

A Many Splendored Thing

Well-known member
I suppose I am a very strong willed person when I need to be.

I used to eat fast food and drink diet soda constantly. I grew tired of always hating myself afterward, so I told myself I will stop this now or never.

It was all an addiction, whether mental or physical, for me. Now that I've been off of bad foods for awhile, I never crave them anymore; I can even have them every once in awhile without cravings. I have soda to mix up what I drink every so often, but I mostly stick with water or 1% milk.

I go running at night when I feel like it, and I try to weight lift when I'm not lifting heavy objects all day at my job.

I have begun to picture my ideal self. A person that will never back down when he knows he has the ability to do it all. He will never give up, never give in, and never allow anyone tell him who he is. He becomes who he decides to be.

"To be or not to be, that is the question." -Shakespeare

For me, allowing myself to become just another person in this life is a question of life or death. Living is only as grand as I make it to be, and I want to be someone I can admire.

I suppose this mindset has made me able to do many things even when I felt like crap.

/end rant
 
MikeyC

MikeyC

Well-known member
ShyKiwi said:
Thats always a good workout....
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Apparently it's the best workout.

I have switched from full-cream to skim milk for breakfast cereals, but lately I've been off them and I haven't been eating them. I know I should, especially the healthier ones, but I don't know.

I only ever drink coke with alcohol. Otherwise it's water for me. I think that's mostly the reason why I haven't porked out. I've never enjoyed soft drinks.
 
fitftw

fitftw

Well-known member
I don't drink sugary drinks whatsoever these days, but my addiction to candy and baked goods hasn't wavered since the day I was born. I don't see myself getting rid of sugar completely. Would be nice, but it's just not gonna happen.
 
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Silatuyok

Well-known member
fitftw said:
I don't drink sugary drinks whatsoever these days, but my addiction to candy and baked goods hasn't wavered since the day I was born. I don't see myself getting rid of sugar completely. Would be nice, but it's just not gonna happen.
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I'm the same way, I have a massive sweet tooth. But when my dad was diagnosed with diabetes, I decided I needed to find a way to cut back. I've developed a taste for dark chocolate, and that's how I usually get my sweet fix these days. It's supposedly good for you anyway, so it's a win-win situation!
 
Phoenixx

Phoenixx

Well-known member
Over the last few years, my diet has changed significantly. Main reason is because I had to, but since doing so, my body doesn't feel quite so sluggish anymore.

When buying fruits and vegetables, I usually try to go organic. It's harder in the winter, of course, but during the spring and summer I always go to farmer's markets to get stuff, and my mom grows a lot of it herself too.

Same goes for meat. We never buy meat from the store anymore, except for chicken. My parents raise angus cows and they buy pork from the local farmers around here. It's a lot cheaper and tastes better too!

Lately I've been getting headaches from refined sugars, so I've been trying to avoid them completely. (Holidays are here, so I've been putting it back in my diet. But I've been limiting my intake, so it's not quite so bad) Instead I try to use either raw sugars or honey. I still try to limit my consumption of either one.

For beverages, I usually just drink water, tea, soy milk/coconut milk, or fruit juice (have to watch the sugar though). I don't really get into coffee too often and soda just makes me feel gross. I mostly just drink water though.
 
emre43

emre43

Well-known member
Six months ago I was 15 stone and overweight. I decided that I wanted to change so I started having lighter lunches, sugardy drinks and haven't had a snack in that time either. Just breakfast, lunch and tea. I now weigh 13 stone. Really pleased with that as it's almost my perfect BMI being 6 foot 2 :).
 
Phoenixx

Phoenixx

Well-known member
LazyHermitCrab said:
eat seaweed :)
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^ This stuff is fantastic! I never thought I would like it so much.

rtmd6q.jpg
 
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Silatuyok

Well-known member
I stopped buying meat at the grocery store. When I do eat meat, I try to limit it to grass-fed whatever from local farmers or hunters. This has multiple benefits:

1. I am forced to eat a lot more fruits and veggies than I would if I were still filling up on meat at every meal.
2. My grocery bill is cheaper on a regular basis, though I end up needing that money to pay more for the occasional expensive organic meat.
3. It supports healthy and sustainable agricultural practices.
4. Grass-fed meats are healthier.
5. I've had to get creative and learn how to cook different types of yummy vegetarian meals.
 
Moa

Moa

Well-known member
Earlier this year I hired a fitness coach to help me reach my goal of becoming stronger and healthier. Now that I'm in my 30's, I really wanted to start building muscle, since women lose it so rapidly as they age.

I now eat much fewer calories per day. More protein, more healthy carbs. Less bad fats, more good fats. Almost no sugar.

I lift weights 3 times per week, and do HIIT cardio twice per week.

I don't know what I weigh, nor do I care. I look and feel better than I did at the beginning of the year, and that's what counts. Here's to 2012. :)
 
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Silatuyok

Well-known member
Another tip I got from my bf's father is to shop around the outside edges of a grocery store, and avoid the aisles in between, because that's where all the processed foods are!
 
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A Many Splendored Thing

Well-known member
Fact: Apple's give you more energy than caffeinated drinks in the morning. Especially the pure sugar drinks that make you crash later.

Glad to see many of you staying healthy. I really do feel better when I eat better and exercise more.

Being vegetarian would be so easy if vegetables and fruits had more protein, and meat didn't taste so dang good.::p:
 
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