I've seen a few people mention that they've learned a lot of new habits whilst doing South Beach, habits they keep even when they don't stay on plan. I thought it would be nice to share them to remember that even when we aren't 100% on plan, we are still improving our health and doing ourselves some good.

Mine are:

1. I'm looking carefully into what vitamins and minerals are in the food I eat and try to get more bang for my calorie buck, so to speak. Rocket > iceberg, cauliflower pizza > normal pizza, side of vegetables > side of rice. Instead of feeling deprived by having to eat vegetables instead of bread, I feel much better because I know my body will thank me.

2. Not planning all my meals around the main carbohydrate. Before I would have chosen wholegrain pasta and pesto, now I choose pesto topped salmon with lots and lots of vegetables.

3. Eating consciously and exercising consciously too. I have way more willpower not to cheat when I do exercise that day!

4. Drinking lots of water, and not even because I heard it helps get the water weight back out

Over to you!

Through my many failed attempts, I've learned that I cannot eat bread -- or any grain that is really a bed for butter.

I have changed a great many habits. I'm conscious of portion control. I know I must have protein for breakfast. I dropped starch at dinner years ago, but now need to conquer lunch.

I'm watching nutrient counts of vegetables, too, especialy potassium. A quick look at potassium tables made me understand why there are so many chard fans here!

When I run my foods through Fitday, I always check the DVA tables which reminds me to take my multi-vitamin.
I am very, very conscious of the amount of fibre I have each day.
I may not eat that many more veggies but I do feel guilty about it!

I love that! I can totally relate. I think Guilt is the first step to Eating More Vegetables. (the two intervening ones are Buying more vegetables and Cooking more vegetables! That's my 4 Step plan. (I'm between Buying and Cooking.)

I've learned:
~that there can be a downside to foods coming from "tin" cans, so I cook my legumes from dry whenever possible.
~that there are more vitamins in the radish greens than the radishes. (organic), so I add my tops to my green smoothies.
~ to dehydrate vegetables and fruits.
~ to bake without white sugar using whole wheat flour.
~to read labels on everything I buy.
~that although lots of people love oatmeal, that it's a huge trigger for me.
~to tweak almost any recipe that interests me into something healthy.

I think the most important thing I've learned is that it's much more enjoyable to share my journey towards better health with likeminded friends.

Thanks!

Just 'cause it's there doesn't mean I have to eat it.


I've learned plenty of other things, too - but that's my biggie. It's totally changed the way I feel about treats in the teachers' room, restaurant meals, and my DH's junk food stash.

Heidi, I am still really working on the 'just because it's there' part... The staffroom at school is a nightmare, there is literally always chocolate or biscuits there... It is when I know there is something in my cupboards that really gets me. My boyfriend is away with work for 5 weeks, so I cleared out all his sweet stash / museli bars so I wouldn't be tempted. I need to sort it out before he gets back ( two weeks ), it would be unfair of me to expect him not to buy chocolate / muesli bars just because I can't control myself...!

But still, I've come a long way - thinking of the positives!

I just love this and it's so very true for me too. Thanks Debbie and all of you for being here and traveling this journey with me!

I've learned I can live without grains. Never would have believed it. I have made vegetables the main ingredient in most meals with lean protein on the side. I've also found I can't live without my daily nut servings and I love beans. I am way more picky about ordering in restaurants - asking for no potatoes, extra veggies, no cheese, dressing on side, etc. I'm amazed that sugar and flour, things I used to buy regularly at the store, are only on my grocery lists at holiday time. In fact, my grocery lists look a lot different than they used to!

In the past five months I've learned these things:

There is no easy fix. Getting healthy, eating right and losing weight takes a lot of hard work.

Patience! It doesn't happen overnight but it does work if we stay with the program.

I'm now reading more and more labels, watching out for food porn.

My trips to the grocery store, specifically what I am buying, are very different now. It continues to surprise me when I can pass by all the food porn that I used to automatic reach for.

SO true! I just don't lose weight quickly and that was incredibly hard to come to terms with initially. I retain a lot of water, so some weeks I would have no loss, then a woosh. It taught me to measure my success in other ways - like by how my jeans felt, how I looked in the bathroom mirror first thing in the morning or through measuring. DO NOT BE A SLAVE TO THE SCALE!

I've learned two other important things:

Celebrate the small victories! Yes, the ultimate goal is important, but do a happy dance when that shirt that was always just a bit-too-snug suddenly fits.

NEVER put down the heavier you once you're slimmer. It's so easy to come to regard the old you as a stranger, but always remember that the person you were at your heaviest was still deserving of love and respect. I remind myself every now and again not to disparage the 351 lb me; she was every bit as awesome as the present Citizen-Peace!

I've learned that I don't need to be a victim...no poor me I need to eat healthy where so and so can eat whatever....everyone has their cross to bear and this is mine...move on!!! I've also learned that lifestyle change isn't something you say at the beginning of a diet to convince yourself that this is the time. It happens from one day at a time making the right choices and adding those days up and getting back up after a stumble and wow...it's just what you do everyday!! Even when it's a "special occasion"...how many really are that special to thwart your efforts. I've also learned to make this journey about things I can control (eating and exercising) and not about things I can't (like actual weight loss). So...I stopped weighing myself so often (once a month, thank you). And I am learning (finally.........!!!!!!!!!) it really doesn't have to be all or nothing!!! It has to be mostly!

Everything that Tall and Thin said above. I learned it long ago, but I did not follow it (that there is no quick fix, that this is hard work, etc.) Now when I block out my "what you'll weigh January 9, 2014" charts, I'm actually putting down 1 pound a week. On my first diet (low carb, back in the 1970s) I lost a pound a day and that's been my secret standard.

Other things -- not things learned exactly, but consciously monitoring the way I feel. After four days, I do not feel bloated. I don't know whether it's the lack of bread, or the absence of the yogurt smoothie that has been my breakfast for the past 5 years.

I've learned that having a support system like the one that I have here, makes everything seem easier.

I've learned that not having something doesn't always mean deprivation.

I've learned just how beautiful my skin and hair can really be.

I've learned that I don't have to look like a fitness model to be beautiful, and that my personal best may not always be someone else's personal best. I have to do what is best for me, and always strive to achieve the best body that I can...not the best body that someone else can.