What's one health habit you've started that's actually made a difference?

Many years ago, when the kids were still with us I watched a doctor on tv recommend taking a daily Zinc tablet to prevent getting colds.
Although I don’t take them regularly I do take one as soon as I feel a cold is starting which always seems to stop the cold from getting worse.

Going to the gym 5 days a week, 9 classes, weught/resistance training, circuits, zumba, pilates, tai chi., stretch and core classes. All have helped with fitness, posture, 'creaky' bits and stiffness.

Side benefits are a very busy social life, and hoping all the thinking and coordination, esp with the zumba, are helping my brain.

Also very rarely eat bread nowadays, eat lots of 0 fat Greek yoghurt and honey with various 'seedy' additions. My nails are rewarding me now by needing to be cut because they're tooling, rather than because they're brittle and breaking!

Walking 3 miles a day at a brisk pace has had a magical effect on my weight and shape.

I use interdental brushes, different sizes, between my teeth. Advised by the dentist and it certainly has improved my gums. I think bad oral health can contribute to heart disease and other systemic illnesses so it's hopefully worth the cost and effort.

Me too

Started a one or two mile speedy walk before I eat anything, first thing after awakening. This was suggested by the exercise tutor at my wife’s pre-diabetes class run by the NHS. The latest version of my iPhone Fitness App allows an ‘outdoor walk’ to run in the background which tells me my speed, distance etc and the height I have climbed - my route includes a steepish hill at the end so I get slightly breathless which is really good for cardio and over either route I climb 100 feet in 20 or 40 minutes. I have improved from a 20 minute mile to a just over 16 minute mile since March and doubled my distance without any harm. The NHS Active ten app also encourages moving more and records the number of ‘brisk ten minute’ walks I do in the course of a day - now about 6-10.

I have kept moving. I broke a vertebra and recovery was long and painful. The one thing that was emphasised by medical folk was to keep moving no matter what.
That was 9 years ago and I am still moving every day. My dog helps.

I started doing a strength class a couple of years ago and it's really made a difference. I now have biceps😁

I changed to lactose free products. Huge difference. IBS flare ups practically ceased.

Daily exercises and 16 : fasting. I think i need to cut our refined ca rbs.....

I love pre-meal nibbles whilst cooking. I was eating crisps, switched to celery sticks and carrots with a very small amount of hummus. It helps even out the blood sugar so you dont get a big spike. If you start with carbs the spike is much larger and takes longer to go away - bad for inflammation and blood sugar control in general. The celery stick/carrot/hummus combo is also good for a between meal snack and M&S do a pre-prepared version in a little pot if you are out and about. Same principle with meals. Eat the protein or veg/salad first and then the carbs.

I cut out fats and sugars and my bp went down as did my cholesterol. I also dropped a dress size. However I still crave naughty foods.

I've been going to the gym three days a week for around a year and feel much better for it. I've found that I can't do more days than this as I'm just too tired so it's counter productive. The gym is just a short bus ride away and the monthly sub is not too expensive.
Also I've been dieting for three months or so, I've not lost much weight yet (just over a stone so far) but people have noticed I look trimmer - though I suspect this is more due to the gym than the diet!
I used to have painful joints and lower back at night and some days had trouble climing stairs, but I'm looking forward to having my annual check-up to see how my blood tests and blood pressure have improved.

(Apologies for any typos, I can't seem to edit posts today).

I was so fed up with getting out of bed every night several times to wee. Had various pills from GP but not much good. Ran out last week but took 2 paracetamol at bedtime and I sleep right through now!

Primrose53

I was so fed up with getting out of bed every night several times to wee. Had various pills from GP but not much good. Ran out last week but took 2 paracetamol at bedtime and I sleep right through now!

I have the same problem Primrose53, it drives me mad, 3am every night and often again.

cc

Primrose53

I was so fed up with getting out of bed every night several times to wee. Had various pills from GP but not much good. Ran out last week but took 2 paracetamol at bedtime and I sleep right through now!

I have the same problem Primrose53, it drives me mad, 3am every night and often again.

Try it and see what happens. I don’t wake up now until about 8 am.

Baby steps and not the draconian regimes that I used to go on ..
No wonder eventually they'd fall by the wayside..
I'm eating more vegetables and drinking more water.
I'm going for a walk every day .

I have paused my exercise regime during this hot weather going to work three times a week is enough exercise for me 🥵
But usually every other day I do 100 kettlebell swings and some deadlifts, I also do sit to stand and heel raises which are apparently very good and help the heart, I also do some tai chi.there are so many exercise videos on YouTube all for free..

Primrose53

I was so fed up with getting out of bed every night several times to wee. Had various pills from GP but not much good. Ran out last week but took 2 paracetamol at bedtime and I sleep right through now!

I’ve read that paracetamol has an antihistamine effect that’s how it can make you tired, also antihistamines dry everything up including your bladder. I have a friend that takes an antihistamine to avoid night time trips to the loo.

I do sit to stand and also walk daily if I can (but I have always done that).
A game changer has been balancing at count of 40 on each leg before I shower.
On a recent visit to UK using a lot of escalators and London Tube I was astonished at my confidence jumping on and off trains and escalators. I was doing this into my 60s but after my retirement I seemed to become quite tentative.
Re diet I vary between trying to control what I eat and wondering whether it is worth it because at 73 the time left to me to eat chocolate has got to be limited simply because of the numbers.................

1. Muesli for breakfast after bowel cancer.
2. Read a book every month. No trashy crime or romantic novels. Some fiction, some non-ficton.

Gym and swim twice a week. Bridge once or twice a week. That’s all I have, or want to have time for.

It’s too soon to conclude, but for the past couple of nights I haven’t had my usual cup of coffee. I have found I fall asleep faster. They say a hot drink helps you sleep. I mistakenly or rather foolishly thought, it included hot coffee 😂

Giving up drink in my 40s, although I do have occasional drink on holiday without any problem, I’d just rather not drink.