I am feeling down right now, but I started thinking about some of the positive changes I have made, and it is lifting me up a bit. Sometimes it helps to see a list of the things you are doing differently that have helped and continue to help. Please add yours too!

1. Eliminated all soda, sugary beverages, and diet beverages.

2. Eliminated artificial sweeteners.

3. Eliminated margarine and butter.

4. Eliminated breads and baked goods from my on-plan days (at least 6 days per week).

5. Eliminated white flour and white sugar from my on-plan days (at least 6 days per week).

6. Stopped eating anywhere except the kitchen or dining room tables (no more snacking in bed or at my desk!).

7. Stopped eating anything but fruit, vegetables, or freshly squeezed juice in between meals - and only if I am hungry.

8. Water, water, water! I used to drink no water at all - none! Even one year ago. My veins must have run with Snapple. Now water is the main liquid I consume, with herbal tea a distant second, and coffee a distant third (maybe once or twice per week).

9. Eating lean protein - fish, chicken, turkey - as opposed to red meat or ground beef.

10. Eliminating packaged and processed foods from my diet - the sodium content was killing me and keeping me bloated with water weight.

Those are some of mine. I feel better reading the list, and hope to add other healthy lifelong habits to the list.

I am eating more fresh fruit and veggies

I am drinking more water

I am eating less sugary foods

I am exercising at least 5 times per week

Guacamole- Wow what a fantastic idea. I will have to subscribe this so can check in when I am feeling like I am not doing well enough! (I'm not a 40-something, but I hope you dont mind?)

1. I am exercising more.
2. I am eating more fruits and vegetables.
3. I am eating much less processed foods (want to do better at this one still)
4. I am sleeping better.

And since I am only 2 weeks into making changes I hope to make this list longer!

1. I exercise 6 days a week.
2. I'm eating at a 1000 calorie deficit per day.
3. I'm eating things that are better for me.
4. I'm eating very little sugar.
5. I'm drinking no beer.

Great thread, guac!

I am getting exercise 5-6 days/week

Writing everything in my food journal and tracking calories

Challenging myself with my running

Visting 3fc daily

Guac, you should INSTANTLY feel better after reading your list, it's awesome!!

* i cut out white flour at least 5 days a week and focus on whole grains
* buy organic
* avoid fried foods (its been a month, yeah!!)
* when i want fast food, i go to subway and order a healthy foot long and split it with a friend
* exercise more
* drink more water
* eat more fruits and veggies

I love everyone's lists! They give me things to aspire to on my own. Great job, everyone!!

1. I'm eating less sugar
2. I'm drinking more water
3. I'm making healthier food choices
4. I'm working out 5-6 days a week
5. I'm eating 1350 or less calories a day

1. I gave up drinking soda pop.

2. I am getting at least 7 hours of sleep daily. ( I use to get like 4to 5 hrs.).

3. Eating less processed foods and more fresh foods.

Starting right now I am going to work on my water consumption after reading all of your post!

Thanks for the lists, everyone. Getting a good night's sleep is a pattern I am seeing on the board. Less processed foods/salty foods too. Working out is a must! I need to work on that one.

Good luck, everyone!

By the way...focusing on the victories, awesome achievement!

1. No more fast food
2. No more sugar
3. No more processed foods
4. Exercise at least an hour, six days a week
5. Living the program for nearly five years
6. Have a great support system in place
7. Removed all the toxic people from my life
8. Tracking everything
9. Worked out almost all my emotional overeating issues...only down to actual hunger and the tendency to overeat because I'm eating too fast.

Some I forgot...

1. I've also quit drinking soda
2. And getting 8 hrs sleep at night
3. Cut out all snacking

I think I can count your #7 and #9 on my list too. I have cut out a few toxic people from my life over the last few years - and that's huge to the emotional eating component for me!

I also struggle with emotional overeating, but the past month I have been able to recognize it and stay on plan instead of eating my comfort. I can't say I have conquered emotional overeating because I haven't established a long enough pattern, but I'm on the right track!

kandy - great accomplishments! Soda was a huge hurdle for me. I still snack sometimes, but it's on fruit, vegetables or nuts.

1. I'm keeping track of my calories most days.

2. I skip breakfast so that I can enjoy my calories later in the day when I'm actually hungry.

3. I drink water more often now.

4. I drink less wine ha ha

5. I exercise every other day

6. I don't eat anything after dinner.

Kirsteng I too have drastically cut down on wine. Actually I haven't had any this year. I had a cocktail when I went out to dinner the other night. A long island ice tea at T.G.I. Fridays has something like 550 calories! I looked it up when I got home that evening and almost passed out!