Everyday Systems

So this is day 6 for me--so it's all new.

I'm at my regular morning diner and I ordered
Scrambled eggs, home fried potatoes, whole wheat toast
It all fits on one plate. It doesn't look excessive to my eye. Yet I felt guilty today finishing the potatoes. Should I feel guilty?

I'm trying to do NO-S by the book, so if the 1 plate consists of something that I consider fattening- should I worry about it? (of course I could have ordered without potatoes, but I figured it's 1 plate so it's allowed...then I felt guilty so ate about half of the potatoes.

Anyway --any thoughts on this issue---the issue of ordering something that you consider "fattening" but allowing it bc it fits on 1 plate.

Andy

Ah, you've discovered one of the joys of No S. There are no forbidden foods! Now, does that mean calories don't count? Of course not; you can't fill your plates with high-calorie food every day and expect to lose weight. But fried potatoes (and any other non-sweet) are a perfectly acceptable part of the No S diet.

The only foods I've eliminated in a year and a half of No S are foods I don't like.

It sounds like you are doing well!

Thanks!

I don't even feel like I'm being deprived---and I like the feeling on an s day getting closer and closer as the week progresses.

The biggest change has been giving up the snacking that always do--(pretzels, nuts, cookies --and it's just impossible to keep track of that sort of stuff)..plus having seconds or thirds and of course finishing what's on my kids plates ---"hey dad do u want the rest of this?". And my answer was always yes!!

Anyway I'm enjoying the simple brilliance of this system! One immediate objective, as I posted elsewhere, is to stop weighing myself each morning and just let the no s method do it's job.

Thanks!

I don't even feel like I'm being deprived---and I like the feeling on an s day getting closer and closer as the week progresses.

The biggest change has been giving up the snacking that always do--(pretzels, nuts, cookies --and it's just impossible to keep track of that sort of stuff)..plus having seconds or thirds and of course finishing what's on my kids plates ---"hey dad do u want the rest of this?". And my answer was always yes!!

Anyway I'm enjoying the simple brilliance of this system! One immediate objective, as I posted elsewhere, is to stop weighing myself each morning and just let the no s method do it's job.

No, you shouldn't feel guilty about eating fried potatoes.

But, you also shouldn't feel obligated to finish the food on your plate, if you decide you don't want it all.

Cleaning your plate may have been a good idea when food was scarce and expensive (think WWII), but food is not scarce or expensive now in developed countries. In the US, spending on food as a percentage of income is at or near historic lows, according to the USDA. Medical care is expensive, and, if you habitually eat more than you should, you will need more medical care. Eating too much so that you "don't waste food" is a foolish economy in a developed country now, kind of like leaving the door to your house open all winter to save wear and tear on the hinges, while ignoring the increase in your heating bills.

Mrandy1 wrote:It doesn't look excessive to my eye. Yet I felt guilty today finishing the potatoes. Should I feel guilty?

Nope.

That said...

I do eat pizza, french fries, and various other "fattening" dishes. What I don't necessarily do is eat them every DAY. It's that moderation thing going on.

The way I do this is to make a specific effort to throw fruits and vegetables into my meals.

I find myself agreeing with Noel always.

NoelFigart wrote:

Mrandy1 wrote:It doesn't look excessive to my eye. Yet I felt guilty today finishing the potatoes. Should I feel guilty?

Nope.

That said...

I do eat pizza, french fries, and various other "fattening" dishes. What I don't necessarily do is eat them every DAY. It's that moderation thing going on.

The way I do this is to make a specific effort to throw fruits and vegetables into my meals.

Kevin wrote:I find myself agreeing with Noel always.

I'd have expected, given your signature, that's you'd agree with her *sometimes*.

But yes, heed the words of Noel!

EDIT: To add a few more words: the standard advice (and it's standard for a reason, since it's pretty good) is to focus on getting the three-meals-a-day structure firmly under control before you start to worry about what you're eating at those meals. Big picture, it's *much* more important for you to learn to eat three meals a day than it is to fuss over whether there are fried potatoes in a meal. Later on, when three meals a day is a habit that takes no effort to maintain, you might start wanting to tinker with the content of the meals. But if giving yourself a bit of free rein is helpful in getting the three meals habit established, that's worth it, in the long run.

i advertaintly posted the same reply twice---is there anyway to delete a post?

Say no to guilt Randy. IF it fits on one plate, it fits on one plate.

O43

Mrandy1 wrote:i advertaintly posted the same reply twice---is there anyway to delete a post?

I don't think so, but fear not, this doesn't count as seconds.

Mrandy1 wrote:i advertaintly posted the same reply twice---is there anyway to delete a post?

If you wrote the post, when you view it there should be 3 boxes in the upper right hand corner. One says "quote," one says "edit," and one is an "x". The "x' will delete the post.

Ditto the no guilt, esp. on day 6.
Actually, guilt might never be what you want to incite, but after 6 months of 3 meals a day and no weight loss, you might at least consider how dense your foods are and how full you need to be, if becoming a moderate eater is your goal.

It's just very hard for me to imagine that the people who have remained on the boards and had weight gain though following the rules weren't to some degree either getting pretty darn full or rarely getting hungry or both. From the beginning, out of preference, I've been eating about a third of the volume of my N day food in veggies and fruits. I get full and stay satisfied so well that if I think I was eating the same volume of dense food on a plate that I would be uncomfortable a lot of the time or just rarely hungry. As time has gone on, even half of my lunch has been enough on some days.

So eat what looks and feels good and remember you aren't on a diet. And know that you can adjust as you discover your new self.

Thanks to all of you---today was a success and your replies to my post were incredibly helpful!! thanks again!