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

Drinking cows milk to avoid stomach cramps might indicate a stomach ulcer. I think broccolli is a good source of calcium but I dont know if we can grow strong bones at our age. I think its more of a development in the womb and during childhood.

I have no medical background.

About a year ago I decided to pull myself together and improve my health and fitness. I have high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, diverticulitis, bursitis, was pre diabetic and classed as obese.
I have cut out highly processed food, red meat, refined sugar, carbs and concentrate on protein and fibre, lots of vegetables and fruit. My one vice is I still have a couple of glasses of wine a week. Also, like today, I will go out eat sometimes have what I want but try and choose wisely.
I take vitamin D, omega three supplements, B12 (I was diagnosed as very low) and turmeric- which I now swear by has eased arthritis and bursitis pain.
I swim 3 times a week, go to aquacise twice a week and lift weights for 20 minutes most days.
I have lost 2 stone, half a stone until I am a healthy weight. I am not now pre diabetic, blood pressure and cholesterol has come down. I feel so much better.
The struggle is to now maintain the enthusiasm to keep it up.

1summer

About a year ago I decided to pull myself together and improve my health and fitness. I have high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, diverticulitis, bursitis, was pre diabetic and classed as obese.
I have cut out highly processed food, red meat, refined sugar, carbs and concentrate on protein and fibre, lots of vegetables and fruit. My one vice is I still have a couple of glasses of wine a week. Also, like today, I will go out eat sometimes have what I want but try and choose wisely.
I take vitamin D, omega three supplements, B12 (I was diagnosed as very low) and turmeric- which I now swear by has eased arthritis and bursitis pain.
I swim 3 times a week, go to aquacise twice a week and lift weights for 20 minutes most days.
I have lost 2 stone, half a stone until I am a healthy weight. I am not now pre diabetic, blood pressure and cholesterol has come down. I feel so much better.
The struggle is to now maintain the enthusiasm to keep it up.

Well done! Just don’t feel guilty about your couple of glasses of wine and meals out. For most of my life I’d feel guilty about eating something naughty and then go completely off the rails for the next day or so. I wish I could turn the clock back and eat the way I do now which no longer means I go to pieces if I eat something I feel I shouldn’t.

Now I wonder if histamines cause our nightly trips to the loo or if its lack of physical fitness. Hmmm.

MayBee70

1summer

About a year ago I decided to pull myself together and improve my health and fitness. I have high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, diverticulitis, bursitis, was pre diabetic and classed as obese.
I have cut out highly processed food, red meat, refined sugar, carbs and concentrate on protein and fibre, lots of vegetables and fruit. My one vice is I still have a couple of glasses of wine a week. Also, like today, I will go out eat sometimes have what I want but try and choose wisely.
I take vitamin D, omega three supplements, B12 (I was diagnosed as very low) and turmeric- which I now swear by has eased arthritis and bursitis pain.
I swim 3 times a week, go to aquacise twice a week and lift weights for 20 minutes most days.
I have lost 2 stone, half a stone until I am a healthy weight. I am not now pre diabetic, blood pressure and cholesterol has come down. I feel so much better.
The struggle is to now maintain the enthusiasm to keep it up.

Well done! Just don’t feel guilty about your couple of glasses of wine and meals out. For most of my life I’d feel guilty about eating something naughty and then go completely off the rails for the next day or so. I wish I could turn the clock back and eat the way I do now which no longer means I go to pieces if I eat something I feel I shouldn’t.

Thank you, yes this is the hard bit. I am trying to get used to making good choices but not to deny myself treats. And not think if I have one biscuit, one chocolate or a few chips the day/week is ruined.

1summer

About a year ago I decided to pull myself together and improve my health and fitness. I have high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, diverticulitis, bursitis, was pre diabetic and classed as obese.
I have cut out highly processed food, red meat, refined sugar, carbs and concentrate on protein and fibre, lots of vegetables and fruit. My one vice is I still have a couple of glasses of wine a week. Also, like today, I will go out eat sometimes have what I want but try and choose wisely.
I take vitamin D, omega three supplements, B12 (I was diagnosed as very low) and turmeric- which I now swear by has eased arthritis and bursitis pain.
I swim 3 times a week, go to aquacise twice a week and lift weights for 20 minutes most days.
I have lost 2 stone, half a stone until I am a healthy weight. I am not now pre diabetic, blood pressure and cholesterol has come down. I feel so much better.
The struggle is to now maintain the enthusiasm to keep it up.

1summer, I am in awe. Very impressive regime. You have given us all something to strive for.

I think I will need to print and post 1summer's post on my wall to remind me of what I should be doing.

Thank you
I can honestly say it’s not been easy, but being told last year I was now classed as obese and my pre diabetes was tipping over to type 2 diabetes was a wake up call.
I am definitely not perfect and learning all the time about food, I follow one or two good nutritionists on Instagram which is very interesting. Reading labels in supermarkets is very time consuming but getting easier.
I have said on here before I want to make my own sourdough bread, that’s my next step.

1summer

Thank you
I can honestly say it’s not been easy, but being told last year I was now classed as obese and my pre diabetes was tipping over to type 2 diabetes was a wake up call.
I am definitely not perfect and learning all the time about food, I follow one or two good nutritionists on Instagram which is very interesting. Reading labels in supermarkets is very time consuming but getting easier.
I have said on here before I want to make my own sourdough bread, that’s my next step.

I’ve changed my diet completely thanks to instagram. I got locked out of Facebook and switching to instagram was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Get lots of recipes and advice on additive free food etc. One of them said Tescos are now selling an additive free wholemeal loaf but I usually buy an Aldi Protein sourdough loaf ( again recommended on instagram). Read today on how you can replace eggs with chia seeds when baking ( I still eat cake but use wholemeal flour and add flax nuts etc). I’m a bit evangelical about instagram! Tescos are selling more organic foods too.

It was Tai Chi for me. Gentle e4xercise with nothing too extreme but even at my first session I just felt so much better for just getting up and moving about. I also made some new friends there which is a bonus.

I gave up alcohol in 1984(recovering alcoholic )and then I gave up smoking about 15 years ago, I just wish I’d given up the smoking before
I smoked for 40 years and last year was invited to go for a chest x-ray had a special Clinic. I think they were looking to see what damage smoking had done so it was all X smokers that were called.
Anyway I was very relieved to get the results. I didn’t have lung cancer but I did have COPD. I’ve known for awhile that I get quite breathless and I’ve got a friend who’s got it a lot worse than me and can hardly walk now has to use a stick and is thinking of getting a mobility scooter.
However, I’m not complacent as I know that COPD can develop and get worse or even progress to lung cancer so I will have regular checks…
I think it’s absolutely marvellous now that so few people smoke…
I do still work three afternoons a week 2 pm till 8 pm in a high dementia care home. There is a lift but I tend to use the stairs unless I’ve gotta take someone or something up in the lift and even though it leaves me breathless I know that it’s better for me to keep moving… it’s quite a physical job and that’s all the better for me. I’ve been there nearly 8 years now. (73 now)

Having a bowl of rice crispies before bedtime, I get a really good night sleep.😴

Shinamae my mother-in-law was an ex-smoker who had COPD and lived till she was 98. She had inhalers but was never an active person!
Sounds like you're doing the best you can, keep it up 🙂

This is an interesting thread. My only concern is that it could be gathering information to sell us something, but my cynicism may be because I, like so many of us in older age, would love a ‘quick fix’ to stave off the passage of time, and some of us can afford to pay for such things. Maybe not, though.

MayBee70

1summer

Thank you
I can honestly say it’s not been easy, but being told last year I was now classed as obese and my pre diabetes was tipping over to type 2 diabetes was a wake up call.
I am definitely not perfect and learning all the time about food, I follow one or two good nutritionists on Instagram which is very interesting. Reading labels in supermarkets is very time consuming but getting easier.
I have said on here before I want to make my own sourdough bread, that’s my next step.

I’ve changed my diet completely thanks to instagram. I got locked out of Facebook and switching to instagram was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Get lots of recipes and advice on additive free food etc. One of them said Tescos are now selling an additive free wholemeal loaf but I usually buy an Aldi Protein sourdough loaf ( again recommended on instagram). Read today on how you can replace eggs with chia seeds when baking ( I still eat cake but use wholemeal flour and add flax nuts etc). I’m a bit evangelical about instagram! Tescos are selling more organic foods too.

I can recommend a Nutritionist called Dominique Ludwig on Instagram she is very good. Great recipes.
I think Supermarkets are being to realise we don’t want loads of additives, sugar and horrible fats in our foods. I did hear Tesco is introducing additive free bread. I also like the Aldi protein sourdough but tend to buy Jason’s Wholemeal sourdough.

I walk for about 25 mins each day and have reduced my food intake.

Gran22boys

Some great ideas here but can anyone tell me how not to crave sugar. After every meal I just want something sweet.

I find cold turkey is the only way that works for me. Since I was a child I've given up sweets chocolates cake etc for Lent. The first week is very tough but it gets easier. By Easter I'm not craving sugar at all. I don't give up permanently. I'm eating chocolate and cake again but much less. By next Lent I'll be as bad as ever. Lent resets me again. I like sweet things so I do start again but after the first two or three weeks I don't crave it.

V3ra

Shinamae my mother-in-law was an ex-smoker who had COPD and lived till she was 98. She had inhalers but was never an active person!
Sounds like you're doing the best you can, keep it up 🙂

That’s excellent news 💐💐💐
Apparently, they are going to give me a checkup once an year
Mine is not that bad at the moment I don’t need inhalers, but as I said in my contribution up thread, I am very aware of what it might upgrade itself to….🤷‍♀️

@Jan75 I was diagnosed coeliac many years ago. Its genetic for us ( both brothers, mother and one daughter).
There are a number of places where you can eat out safely. My favourite is Carluccio's (no connection with that brand). They are brilliant and serve gluten free bread. I've been eating at our local branch for years. The plate comes with a little flag saying 'gluten free'. I also eat gf at Marks and Spencer. Do try them.
My local Italian used to be great, but they must have changed the chef and last time we ate there, I had an embarrassing reaction.

theworriedwell

MayBee they have for me. I started with day time ones which stopped me rushing to the toilet added the night time ones. I pay £99 for a three month supply which gives me enough for two daytime and two night time capsules a day. I was up two, or more and more often three times. Last night I slept 7hrs 45 minutes and didn't need to dash to the toilet then. I feel it's worth just over £1 a night for that. Don't know if it works for everyone but it has been a game changer for me.

I’ve got to do something. I may need a TKR and one of the things that worries me is having to get up for the loo several times a night. And yet I’m fine in the daytime. Reading the ingredients I started taking two soya capsules and a pumpkin one each day but it hasn’t really helped. When it’s time to get up I’m exhausted. Someone on instagram says we have to train our bladders to not think we have to go to the loo so often and that the mistake we make is going to the loo so often ‘just in case’ which we actually start in childhood. I spend a fortune in supplements anyway so I probably should give Jude a go. My partner gets a double discount at Boots twice a year so I could get some then.

Gran22boys

Some great ideas here but can anyone tell me how not to crave sugar. After every meal I just want something sweet.

During the pandemic, because I was worried about food supplies drying up, I started having just half a KitKat after each meal. Prior to that if I had any chocolate in the house I would often eat the whole lot in one sitting. I now find that I have to finish off my evening meal with something sweet as it’s a way of telling my brain that’s it; eating is now finished for the day. I now make myself chocolate chia puddings with flax porridge chia yoghurt maple syrup cocoa and various fruits. I wish I could stop having just a tiny bit of sugar in coffee as it all mounts up. Wouldn’t dream of having sugar in tea, though.

1summer

MayBee70

1summer

Thank you
I can honestly say it’s not been easy, but being told last year I was now classed as obese and my pre diabetes was tipping over to type 2 diabetes was a wake up call.
I am definitely not perfect and learning all the time about food, I follow one or two good nutritionists on Instagram which is very interesting. Reading labels in supermarkets is very time consuming but getting easier.
I have said on here before I want to make my own sourdough bread, that’s my next step.

I’ve changed my diet completely thanks to instagram. I got locked out of Facebook and switching to instagram was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Get lots of recipes and advice on additive free food etc. One of them said Tescos are now selling an additive free wholemeal loaf but I usually buy an Aldi Protein sourdough loaf ( again recommended on instagram). Read today on how you can replace eggs with chia seeds when baking ( I still eat cake but use wholemeal flour and add flax nuts etc). I’m a bit evangelical about instagram! Tescos are selling more organic foods too.

I can recommend a Nutritionist called Dominique Ludwig on Instagram she is very good. Great recipes.
I think Supermarkets are being to realise we don’t want loads of additives, sugar and horrible fats in our foods. I did hear Tesco is introducing additive free bread. I also like the Aldi protein sourdough but tend to buy Jason’s Wholemeal sourdough.

I like the Aldi loaf but it doesn’t make very good sandwiches..better as toast with a topping. I had slipped into the habit of eating white bread again, though, and it did wean me off that. My partner ( he does all the shopping) got me some of the frozen avocados today so I’ll try them out. And he found the organic frozen blueberries, too. It might save me a lot of money opening up unripe ones or leaving them too long to ripen.

My suggestion is a simple one.

I noticed that my stepfather (94) would go straight to the kitchen sink (no downstairs bathroom) to wash his hands thoroughly with soap and water every time he got home from being out.

Basically washing off the germs from outside door handles, ATM buttons, supermacado shopping trollies etc. you get the picture.

I do the same now.

It became a habit, so much so that if I forgot (at the beginning) it felt plain wrong.

How many of us, as he said, leave germs on our hands - only to say eat a biscuit with a cup of tea half an hour later, picking up that biscuit with unwashed fingers? I couldn’t not do this now!

My mother aged nearly 102 at death , did exactly the same FGT.

Must be a generation thing. But I am mindful to do the same. Males sense.

Maybee mentioned organic frozen blueberries. Don’t know if I’m allowed to mention brands but I’ve started ordering organic frozen fruit packs from a company called Pack’d. It’s all very good. We just take out a small portion in the evening for breakfast next morning.