What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

What change have you made that has made the biggest positive impact on your life?

Could be a new job, change of outlook, savings plan, etc.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Losing Weight. I gained 50lbs after marriage and 30 lbs After my daughter was born (Total weight gain 80lbs), I ate the wrong food, working full time, stressed, tired etc.

I carried that weight for almost 2 years. This past June I started a weightloss program and lost 30lbs and I am still eager to lose more weight.

It impacted my life in a positive way becuase I have more energy to play with my daughter, I feel great in clothes, have more confidence, sex life is better , no knee pain or back pain, I just feel good over all and I look forward to losing more weight.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

It may seem small, but mine was getting my drivers license at 34. It really gave me a sense of freedom/independence that I never felt before.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

I was a high school math teacher (employed) but didn't like it. So I quit. It was SUCH a hard decision. I was employed with a good paying job out of college. What would I do? I kinda felt like I threw away 4 years of college and all that money. Someone said to me “Are you going to DIE if you quit??” the answer was no. “Would something bad happen to your family? Would they suddenly get sick or hurt?” the answer was no. “Would you be homeless?” I knew my family or friends would take me in if needed, so the answer was no. I went back and got a bachelors in accounting & I LOVE what I do now.

It took me about 12 years to pay off the degree, but I worked hard and paid it all off and have no debt now.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Although I did it many, many years ago (nearly 20 years!), I think that becoming a vegetarian and living a cruelty-free lifestyle is the most important change in my life.

For one, I was an overweight pre-teen and hated how I looked and felt. It helped me shed the weight. But the real reason why I got into it was because I learned about how animals are treated on factory farms.

Because it was me making the change, and not the whole family, my mom made me go to my pediatrician and talk to him about what I needed to do to get the right nutrition. Also, my mom forced me to learn how to cook for myself, since 'this isn't a restaurant; you'll eat what I make' was her dinnertime mantra.

Being forced to see the doctor and learn how to cook made me passionate about learning where my food comes from AND about cooking techniques. Cooking is now one of my favorite things to do, and if not for making this change years ago, I don't think that I would care as much about cooking or food sources.

We don't eat processed food in our house, save for the once- or twice-a-year when I just NEED some Kraft mac and cheese Hey, everyone has their vices.

Bottom line is, I feel good. I feel healthy. I *am* healthy. This is the only body I will have and taking care of it is important to me; what I put in it and how I treat it. I take a lot of pride in living this lifestyle and knowing that I'm not contributing to the meat and dairy industries is satisfying to me. DH is also a vegetarian, and while that wasn't something I initally looked for as a quality in any of my partners, it sure is nice!

Message edited 9/25/2012 12:35:49 PM.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Change of outlook. I always felt like I was waiting for the future and I was missing out on the present. Instead of always saying "when this and when that" I learned to appreciate what I have now and not worry about what lies ahead. I feel like I appreciate my life more and I am so much happier because I am actually enjoying my life each day instead of always waiting for the "next thing"......if that makes sense.

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Persuing my dreams - it's paid off.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

switching jobs. I left a job in finance to be someone's assistant. At the time, my manager had asked me how I was okay with "being someone's gopher and throwing away my degree." I was miserable in what I was doing and figured why not? Best decision I have ever made. I love the people I work with, I have never once been treated like "someone's gopher" and these people are like my 2nd family. Sure, there are days I don't want to go to get up but not dreading coming into the office every morning makes a world of difference. For the most part, I love what I do.

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Ending my marriage. My ex and I were together for over eleven years and I knew nothing else but I was completely miserable; so after many unhappy years, I ended it. I had no idea where I'd wind up, and how I'd manage but I did it and now I'm a billion times happier with an amazing boyfriend, job and renewed relationship with my family. Best decision I've ever made, it has opened SO many doors for me and made such a huge positive impact on my life.

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Ending my party/rave days and getting my life in order over 10 years ago.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Quitting smoking! The first time I quit (in 2000), it was super awful. I was cranky, gained wait, etc. I had stopped smoking with the aid of the patch and stopped for about a year. Then I went to Greece where everyone smoked EVERYWHERE and I caved. I smoked for another 5 years after that.

Then one day in 2006, I woke up and said "I'm done." Quit cold turkey. Haven't touched a cigarette since (over 6 years ago).

I had smoked for about 14 years before quitting the first time and 5 years after that. I feel great, don't get out of breath and now when I go to the doctor and they listen to my lungs, they are actually surprised that I ever smoked because my lungs sound so good.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

I think for me it's not 1 thing- but the evolution of me taking control back over my life and not settling for anything but what I want

after 3 years of being married to an abusive drug addict and feeling like I had no control over my life I got the courage to leave - what happened after - to put it nicely was a bad lifetime movie

I was 31, $200K in debt and basically unemployed- and single

at this cross roads I decided to take the harder path - paying off the debt, getting my real estate lic and vowing to never be in a bad place again

it wasn't easy- I struggled, I almost quit- I lived on a friends couch, went back to bartending, but I never lost focus- it was that determination that got me here- 3.5 years- basically debt free, one of the top realtors on Long island and totally in control of my life-

so when life threw my another HUGE curve last year of being type 1 diabetic- I didn't just sit back- I researched, I started to understand about food and excerise in a new way

I recently became vegan- which gave me back the control the diabetis was trying to take from me

now instead of looking at pizza and saying I CAN'T eat that- I say I DON'T eat that- and it changed my life and my health- my AC1 is almost that of a non-diabetic and I take less medicine after 18 months- when the doctor swore I would need more by this point

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Quitting smoking cold turkey after 10 years. Unfortunately, I know firsthand what the effects of smoking can have (lost MIL to lung cancer at the age of 53). She never got to meet 6 out of her 7 grandchildren and I watch my DH still grieve her loss every day even five years later. I never want to put my children through the tragic ordeal DH and his siblings went through and throwing away those cigarettes was the first step.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Deciding to adopt our Son - forever life changing

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Getting out of my abusive marriage. Fixing myself, meeting the man of my dreams and starting my life over !!!!!

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Posted by PearlJamChick

Although I did it many, many years ago (nearly 20 years!), I think that becoming a vegetarian and living a cruelty-free lifestyle is the most important change in my life.

For one, I was an overweight pre-teen and hated how I looked and felt. It helped me shed the weight. But the real reason why I got into it was because I learned about how animals are treated on factory farms.

Because it was me making the change, and not the whole family, my mom made me go to my pediatrician and talk to him about what I needed to do to get the right nutrition. Also, my mom forced me to learn how to cook for myself, since 'this isn't a restaurant; you'll eat what I make' was her dinnertime mantra.

Being forced to see the doctor and learn how to cook made me passionate about learning where my food comes from AND about cooking techniques. Cooking is now one of my favorite things to do, and if not for making this change years ago, I don't think that I would care as much about cooking or food sources.

We don't eat processed food in our house, save for the once- or twice-a-year when I just NEED some Kraft mac and cheese Hey, everyone has their vices.

Bottom line is, I feel good. I feel healthy. I *am* healthy. This is the only body I will have and taking care of it is important to me; what I put in it and how I treat it. I take a lot of pride in living this lifestyle and knowing that I'm not contributing to the meat and dairy industries is satisfying to me. DH is also a vegetarian, and while that wasn't something I initally looked for as a quality in any of my partners, it sure is nice!

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

I was working on a PhD when I met my DH. I was studying art history and criticism, which was fun (I liked the coursework), but the academic life was so lonely and depressing. I was locking my office, writing, by myself all the time, which was so hard for me. I am such a social person! I decided to leave half-way through and apply to NYC Teaching Fellows. I am now teaching students with autism in a high-need school and I couldn't be happier. My old life was kind of fun and sometimes glamorous (lots of openings, museums, conferences, etc.) but I make such a visible impact in these kids lives....I would never trade it.

I owe it all to my DH too....he was the one who really supported me when everyone else was like at me leaving a fully-funded PhD program.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Not letting my past define who I am now
Losing the weight that held me back, and now living a fit lifestyle
No longer letting people treat me like crap
Adopting a dog
Finally going to marriage counseling
Making sure to reflect daily on my blessings. I won't always have what I have. I want to make sure to be thankful for it now instead of mourn when it's gone.

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

This is a great question Jennifer. For me I think it was losing my chub as a teenager through diet and exercise. I was never fat but was a chubby kid it did wonders for my self esteem.

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

Ridding toxic, selfish, self-serving, heartless people from my life. It's too bad I didn't realize this years ago.


ETA: and moving out of NY!

Message edited 9/29/2012 8:02:39 AM.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

In my senior year of college, I switched career paths. I wound up graduating a year early, getting my M.A., and finding the specific field in which I'm currently working.

If I would've stayed in the field I was in at the time, I'd say it's highly likely that there is less than a 10 percent chance that I'd have a permanent, steady job right now.

Re: What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

I lost about 900lbs worth of in-laws and it really is like dead weight was lifted from me. I do not need toxic people and there is no "should" when it comes to people who treat me like crap. The only should is that I should walk away. DH is also feeling a relief of stress!!!

I made a work change in how I select cases and I limited my practice areas even more. That has worked out well for me and I am back to a place where I have great clients whose futures I care about.

Message edited 9/26/2012 10:33:05 PM.

What is the most important/effective change you've made in your life?

- Having my son. That feeling when I look at him knowing my dh and I are in love, created him, and watching the amazing love he shows us.

-Losing over 50 lbs at weight watchers. After all my yoyo-dieting, after having 2 m/c deciding something positive needed to come out of it. Doing it the right way, loading up on fruits, veggies, protein, and limiting the salts.

- Ridding myself of toxic people after giving them multiple chances. My mother disappeared while my son was in the nicu days old and I traced her down on mothers day( they only live 15 mins away) Two years later she & dad & sister disappeared but for months outside of mailing a birthday card, then at xmas sending a card. She then called to drop off a xmas gift, and I told her to see ds if she wanted to give it. Nothing but stress and health problems for me since. In June I related my not wanting to get put on prescriptions while pregnant when it could be avoided by agreeing to drop the topics. They refused to drop it,they thought I should obey the parents AND insulted my 3 yo, and unborn child...My kid is 3, 7 months last year over 3 months so far this year of them consciously deciding not to see him, and not insulting all of us has been the best time. Its like baseball1,2,3 strikes your out.