I’ve hit that point where I really want to start taking better care of myself like physically and mentally but every time I try to change everything all at once I just burn out so fast. Strict diets, workout plans, waking up early, journaling it becomes too much too soon. So I figured I’d ask people who’ve actually done it like if you had to pick just one habit to start with that made a meaningful difference for your overall health what would it be? Looking for something that’s sustainable and not very extreme (I don’t think I can maintain a huge shift right away). Thank you!
What’s your best advice for someone starting to take their health seriously?
r/Advice
Comments
Smaller, moderate changes.
Eating: Have smaller portions of food.
Gym: Start going for 20 minutes at a time, and just do whatever you feel like doing. Don’t start plans, just get in a routine of going
Sleep: Don’t take your phone to bed, but go to bed once you start feeling tired
As you make progress on these things, and they are less of a mental load to manage, you can start making increasing commitment to them.
Eating: Plan out some meals and buy the ingredients for 2-3 days worth
Gym: Start doing exercises for specific areas of the body
Sleep: Wake up at X time, doesn’t matter when you go to bed.
Then you keep doing it as that mental load becomes normal.
Eating: Start planning all your meals, figuring out what is best for your weight loss.
Gym: Start picking specific muscle groups to work and build a plan for it
Sleep: In bed by X times, give yourself 10-15 minutes of “snooze” for waking up.
Diet: don’t skip breakfast. Focus on protein, fiber, and fats for meals. Eat either 2 or 3 meals a day, but space meals out so your body can digest and process the glucose it just took in.
I used to skip breakfast, or if I did have breakfast it was sourdough toast, egg, avocado, and tomato. And then I’d be hungry again a couple hour later.
When I switched to high protein breakfast, I was able to make it until dinner and not be hungry all day. Then my dinner would also focus on protein, fiber, and fats. Zero snacking. If I wanted something sweet, then eat it directly after dinner so the protein and fiber helps slow down the glucose into the blood.
I lost 50 lbs doing this when NOTHING else worked.