Search found 569 matches

by Thalia
Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:11 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: A strategy if you really must snack
Replies: 3
Views: 11146

Congratulations! And I think pregnancy-related nausea, hunger, and so forth should definitely fall under the same "take care of yourself" provision that sick days do. Anything that keeps you feeling good and nourished us what you need to do.
by Thalia
Fri May 03, 2013 9:12 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: grazing
Replies: 11
Views: 18658

Yep. If we ate hay, we could eat nonstop all day too.
by Thalia
Fri May 03, 2013 9:11 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: No S and Infertility
Replies: 42
Views: 51820

Sinnie, that's wonderful! Congratulations! You have just embarked on the adventure of a lifetime! :D
by Thalia
Tue Apr 30, 2013 6:18 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Mark Bittman on VB6
Replies: 11
Views: 18317

How have you been liking it, Blithe? Are you finding it pretty easy to do?
by Thalia
Tue Apr 30, 2013 6:12 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Mark Bittman on VB6
Replies: 11
Views: 18317

He says in Food Matters that he's an all-or-nothing guy, and does better with absolute rules than with moderation -- it's easier to not drink than to have one glass, that kind of person. So I can see why this works for him, but I wouldn't want to do it.
by Thalia
Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:36 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Pollan Cooks
Replies: 22
Views: 30163

I have just found that a lot of the recipes are kind of "meh." I've made some good things out of it, but also had some blah results, and it has more recipes that don't appeal to me than either of the others. I like Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison much better. It has some more chal...
by Thalia
Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:27 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Pollan Cooks
Replies: 22
Views: 30163

Mark Bittman's cookbooks are great for giving you easy, no-fuss recipes that you can customize for your own tastes. I have The Food Matters Cookbook, his fish book (OUTSTANDING!), and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian -- they're all good, although the vegetarian book is the weakest of the three IMO.
by Thalia
Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:13 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Feeling Desperate!
Replies: 14
Views: 22219

In my experience, WW tries to promote healthy eating, but the meetings end up being completely focused on which processed substitute foods have the lowest point values. Everyone was using their points to eat Skinny Cows and No-Pudge Brownies and sugar-free fat-free instant pudding instead of fruit. ...
by Thalia
Mon Apr 15, 2013 10:02 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: What if eating with other people is the problem?
Replies: 16
Views: 27976

If you fill your plate and don't go back for seconds, you can't really eat more than that plateful. Maybe try to eat a little more slowly, interspersed with talking, sipping water, etc.? Being the first one finished can be awkward and boring ... Humans are social eaters by nature -- I don't think th...
by Thalia
Fri Apr 12, 2013 4:22 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Delighting in strictness
Replies: 9
Views: 17671

If it's dark and high quality enough, one square is actually enough. That stuff can really be intensely flavored, you can't just shovel it in like M&M's.

But I still save it for the weekend!
by Thalia
Sat Apr 06, 2013 12:27 am
Forum: Daily Check In
Topic: The Blessings of Simplicity
Replies: 1881
Views: 2351869

I have also been reading your posts and worrying a little on your behalf -- it seems like something much bigger than your relationship with food is off kilter in your life. Are you open at all to talking to a therapist of any stripe? Maybe someone through your church? Regardless of what you decide, ...
by Thalia
Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:17 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: I should have expected this
Replies: 9
Views: 16563

He claims that going virtually vegan and cutting out processed food dramatically improved his health and he also lost a bunch of weight -- and yeah, he's implying that you'll get the same results.
by Thalia
Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:56 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: I should have expected this
Replies: 9
Views: 16563

It's too bad that he's promoting a rigid concept, and selling it for weight loss. "Food Matters" is much more flexible -- he says HE is vegan before six and it work for HIM, but that what he's trying to encourage is cutting down on (not eliminating) consumption of processed food and animal products ...
by Thalia
Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:17 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Easter holiday oops!
Replies: 7
Views: 14504

I think the danger of taking vacations as S time is that it's long enough that you might get into habits that are hard to break -- but in my experience, vacation is so different from regular life that I can snack and have dessert every day while traveling, and come home and get right back on the No ...
by Thalia
Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:28 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Yikes. Here to avoid eating right now
Replies: 34
Views: 41224

\I think, why not have a small bite of something when food is what I'm really craving? Yep, the problem is that eating something reinforces the habit of eating at that time of day and sets you up for even stronger and more persistent cravings. That bite will make no difference at all to your health...
by Thalia
Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:22 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Walford, Reihard, and the World of Longevity
Replies: 5
Views: 11983

I think there's a fairly recent large study that showed no increased longevity (not to mention the total misery factor!).

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2012/nia-29.htm
by Thalia
Thu Mar 14, 2013 4:53 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Learning about Food. (My favorite documentaries)
Replies: 19
Views: 27814

Some of the paleo people are opposed to fruit and leafy greens, too, so there's literally nothing left that everyone agrees won't kill you.
by Thalia
Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:04 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Healthy Eating Difficult?
Replies: 7
Views: 16235

I dunno, I think a lot of people DON'T know what a healthy choice looks like, because so much junk is marketed as healthful. Slim-Fast, protein bars, Smart Pop, Powerade, Skinny Cow, Lean Cuisine, Yoplait ... a lot of money is spent convincing people that processed food is BETTER because it has the ...
by Thalia
Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:11 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Back again, bigger than ever
Replies: 23
Views: 32939

Hi Shamrock! I remember you well. I'm back also, after a stressful year for various unpleasant reasons. I just sort of lost my resistance to crappy meals and permasnacking, so I'm having to get back on the wagon. IMO -- vanilla No S, especially to start. And it's the same old concept, no new bells a...
by Thalia
Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:02 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Food Cravings Engineered by Industry
Replies: 16
Views: 24344

The French don't consciously try to fill themselves with fruits and vegetables, but the traditional French diet includes a lot of fruits and vegetables as a matter of course (along with the cream sauces and wine and all).
by Thalia
Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:37 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: The Opposite of No-S?
Replies: 13
Views: 20273

Greek-style fasting does seem extremely healthy to me. You eat every day and don't skip meals, but sometimes those meals are more frugal. And then once in a while you have a feast. If every day is a feast, then feasts stop being special and enjoyable.
by Thalia
Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:22 am
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: No S and Infertility
Replies: 42
Views: 51820

I'm glad it's helpful! We had a very mild male factor (his sperm count was borderline), and that was probably our problem, but we never found out for sure. Taking Charge of Your Fertility is great for maximizing your chances, but if you don't actually HAVE fertility it's not super-helpful and a trip...
by Thalia
Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:14 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: No S and Infertility
Replies: 42
Views: 51820

I had a very hard time conceiving -- it took us two years and it was incredibly distressing and upsetting for me. I second everyone; your diet probably has very little to do with it. Also, I firmly believe that stress does not cause infertility, but infertility surely causes stress. I wish you the b...
by Thalia
Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:45 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Meal Planning / Brainstorming
Replies: 13
Views: 24401

I love to cook (and eat!). Our meals have gotten more challenging since my daughter decided to go vegetarian. She LOVES meat, and it's hard to eat it in front of her mournful little puppy-dog eyes! Plus she's picky and doesn't like food with mixed ingredients, which makes dinnertime a positive joy. ...
by Thalia
Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:36 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Partners' Participation
Replies: 19
Views: 25587

My husband is another one of those loathsome men who need to put on weight -- he asks me for advice about what he should eat to gain.
by Thalia
Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:10 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: Urban ... um, Viking?
Replies: 3
Views: 11864

Oh, are you in NorCal? I've heard the rivers up around Sacto are really beautiful!
by Thalia
Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:09 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Think they can tell? It was going to be a secret.
Replies: 30
Views: 32529

I try not to talk about it too much with family, mostly because I don't want my daughter to grow up with the same eating issues I did, and I don't want to invite my husband to feel like he has to be the food police. They know that I don't eat between meals and will only go out for ice-cream on the w...
by Thalia
Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:09 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: Urban ... um, Viking?
Replies: 3
Views: 11864

Urban ... um, Viking?

I finally jumped through all the hoops to get a "kayak fitness pass" good for 30 free rentals at two different SoCal lakes! Well, "lake" -- they're pretty urban. BUT you can take the boats out any time and tool around as long as you want, and one of them, Lake Balboa, is urban and artificial but has...
by Thalia
Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:20 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: Too Hot?
Replies: 3
Views: 12757

I have very little heat tolerance, so I do walk and bike less when it's above the low 80s -- I have to. There is nothing moderate about getting dizzy and disoriented, throwing up, or fainting!
by Thalia
Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:10 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Low Hanging Fruit
Replies: 15
Views: 22479

I am a big believer in pleasure, and the idea of trying to kill your pleasure in eating seems sad and crazy to me. Also, very American -- who else runs around trying to make eating NOT enjoyable but us? And maybe the British ... And we know how skinny this approach to eating has made Americans!
by Thalia
Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:15 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: No-S to avoid food obsession.
Replies: 9
Views: 17712

I agree with Blithe and Millie -- No S can definitely help cure food obsession. Three meals a day, no need to think about whether/what to ear or not to eat in between, and anything on your plate is OK and permitted, no "bad" foods to worry about. Avoiding fashion, weightloss/fitness, and celebrity g...
by Thalia
Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:23 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Have you established new Habits?
Replies: 10
Views: 16194

No S is a habit for me at this point -- it should be, I've been doing it for years! But I'm still struggling to establish exercise and packing a lunch as habits. NOT eating a snack requires less planning and attention for me than thinking ahead to have suitable lunch food on hand, and getting it pac...
by Thalia
Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:48 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Struggling in a new job
Replies: 15
Views: 23263

"Oh thanks for offering. It looks wonderful, but I just ate!"
by Thalia
Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:30 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Decide for yourself
Replies: 10
Views: 17118

I'm reading The 100-Year Diet right now, a cultural history of American dieting behavior -- and she argues that fad diets came well BEFORE we got fat, and are correlated with us GETTING fat.
by Thalia
Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:37 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Questions for the experienced/long timers?
Replies: 45
Views: 61603

My tips: Slow weightloss is much better than a fast loss followed by an equally fast gain. Don't feel like you have to eat "diet food" on your three plates -- eat things you enjoy, and that are filling and satisfying. You don't have to give up bacon, French fries, pizza, or whatever your favorite fo...
by Thalia
Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:05 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Is exercise making you fat?
Replies: 33
Views: 38685

That's one reason that I think that equating "weightloss" with "health" is so damaging. Exercise doesn't make you skinny? Must be no reason to do it, then! It can't possibly improve your health or well-being in any way if it doesn't lead to drastic weightloss!
by Thalia
Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:13 pm
Forum: Shovelglove General Discussion
Topic: Sledgehammer too expensive and high-tech for you?
Replies: 7
Views: 19557

You could start selling them mail-order as fitness gear!
by Thalia
Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:16 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Even if yesterday hadn't been an S day...
Replies: 13
Views: 19559

Oh, congratulations! How exciting!
by Thalia
Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:36 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Something my Mom told me.
Replies: 35
Views: 40436

Obesity is a risk, but not as strong one as, say, smoking (which is also villified now, although much less so than being fat). And I think that making "fat" and "unhealthy" synonymous is not just an excuse to be cruel to heavy people, but it leaves people with the impression that the only reason to ...
by Thalia
Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:45 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Food and love - reflections
Replies: 8
Views: 12848

That is an incredibly insightful post. what I'm coming away with is, it's fine to offer food or to prepare wonderful food as a sign of love -- it is NOT OK to insist that someone must eat it as a sign of THEIR love. It seems like feeding our loved ones is a really basic human impulse, and a good, he...
by Thalia
Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:39 pm
Forum: Shovelglove General Discussion
Topic: Sledgehammer too expensive and high-tech for you?
Replies: 7
Views: 19557

For most of us urbanites, a sledgehammer would probably be easier to find and store than a big, dirty rock. How sad that we've lost our primal connection to rocks. Or something.
by Thalia
Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:49 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: don't read if you don't like talk of calories
Replies: 26
Views: 31825

Eating out and buying prepared packaged foods are huge problems. It's possible to eat reasonably if you don't cook, but it's much, much harder. I find it pretty difficult to eat in a restaurant on an N Day, and when I do, I know I eat more, and heavier, than I would at home -- even if I save half th...
by Thalia
Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:17 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: hungry
Replies: 22
Views: 29181

Yeah, I think we've totally lost the distinction between "Having a good appetite for dinner" and "starvation." A little hunger makes your meal more enjoyable, it's not a bad thing! Imagine if you tried to nap five or six times a day when you weren't sleepy, because "you might get too tired later if ...
by Thalia
Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:14 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: don't read if you don't like talk of calories
Replies: 26
Views: 31825

Yeah, I'm pretty aware of what a "good" vs. "not-so-good" plate looks like calorie-wise, and although I happily go for not-so-good sometimes, I do try to keep most of those plates fairly generous on the produce and fiber. Sometimes fries find themselves on one of my three plates, but they aren't reg...
by Thalia
Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:14 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: don't read if you don't like talk of calories
Replies: 26
Views: 31825

Eating heavily processed fast food as a major part of your diet is such a bad idea for all kinds of reasons -- calories are the least of them!
by Thalia
Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:48 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Crazy Aunt Purl, on Walking
Replies: 7
Views: 12305

That is a really charming piece! I'm going to go on and read more of her blog.
by Thalia
Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:49 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Chronic Back Pain - Will Nos Still Work?
Replies: 11
Views: 20044

Urban Ranger, Shovelglove, and No S are all separate ideas -- you can do No S without any exercise at all, and at least your eating habits will improve. I'm sorry about the pain and hope they can find a way to work around it! Hopefully if you're eating well and walking, your back will become stronge...
by Thalia
Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:04 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Orthdoxy -- when the rules stop making sense to me
Replies: 32
Views: 34918

I guess my perspective on the rules, and the angle I tend to give advice from, is this: I'm one of those people who's really good at justifying things. It would be very easy to me to declare to myself that food doesn't count because I'm REALLY HUNGRY. Or because fruit is good for me, so I ought to e...
by Thalia
Wed Jun 08, 2011 4:12 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: walking again :)
Replies: 27
Views: 43851

I do like shorts -- but I find that a long, light cotton skirt is even cooler and more comfortable, one of those tiered peasanty things. Would something like that or a longer sundress be an option if the shorts aren't working?
by Thalia
Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:01 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: I'm Curious About This
Replies: 24
Views: 30805

That is simple, full of pretty colors, and much better than the pyramid. I'm not sure it's easy to get the nuances of the slightly bigger "veggie" chunk compared to the "fruit" chunk and so forth, but it's definitely an improvement. It's kind of annoying that they count "oils" as empty calories -- y...
by Thalia
Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:58 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: The Egyptian Mummy Paradox
Replies: 11
Views: 18068

Ha -- the slimming secrets of the dead: Never Eat Again, Lose Weight, Get That Skeletal Physique You've Always Wanted!
by Thalia
Tue May 31, 2011 9:12 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: making up for missed meals...?
Replies: 15
Views: 22362

I would count "a piece of fruit on the way out the door" as breakfast. It's not a very BIG breakfast, but a small meal is still a meal. When you're ravenous, it's a good idea to have a hearty lunch or dinner, not to add an extra meal after dinner. Breaking the rules is not the end of the world -- ju...
by Thalia
Tue May 31, 2011 6:36 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: check in's
Replies: 12
Views: 17512

Dave, I thnk maintenance is a much bigger victory than losing it in the first place! Congratulations!
by Thalia
Mon May 30, 2011 12:52 am
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: I'm Curious About This
Replies: 24
Views: 30805

Wouldn't it be nice if it encouraged people to think of their food as belong ON a plate? the main problem I see with this idea is that the majority of many people's calories now comes from snacks. How to do you divide a bag of Chee-tos or a tube of Go-Gurt into wedges? so people will fuss about thei...
by Thalia
Fri May 27, 2011 4:25 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Use Spam Product to Stay Healthy
Replies: 15
Views: 19731

I love Spam! I'll have the spam, spam, herbal supplements, spam, spam, eggs, and spam, please.
by Thalia
Thu May 26, 2011 8:51 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: 90 days of No S, Urban Ranger, Shovelglove?
Replies: 107
Views: 113280

Lurkers, why not start planning to declare yourself for Memorial Day through Labor Day? Great idea! I'm in. For me, S days are the easiest times to get out and do something fun for exercise, so I will do five days a week of strength and aerobic exercises, and my two off days will probably be during...
by Thalia
Thu May 26, 2011 3:32 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: "How to eat dessert and still stay skinny"
Replies: 6
Views: 13062

The more I've read that blog, the more it has seemed to me that she has some serious psychological issues with body image and fear of food. Like everyone else, though, I agree that it's best to be very choosy about treat quality! Office donuts do not provide nearly enough pleasure to make them worth...
by Thalia
Tue May 24, 2011 6:25 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Back again, hoping to stop the insanity
Replies: 15
Views: 20563

I don't think you need to do low-carb if you don't have a particular health issue exacerbated by carbohydrates. Most M.D.'s do not have nutrition training and are not particularly great sources of diet advice. She wants you to lose weight -- she doesn't necessarily care how you do it. And -- welcome...
by Thalia
Mon May 23, 2011 4:27 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Starting No S diet
Replies: 18
Views: 27711

I agree about the fruit -- it's quite filling, thanks to the fiber content, and this is the BEST time of the whole year for fresh local delicious fruit! Where I live the cherries are in, the berries are great, we're starting to get peaches ... My lunches and breakfasts have been half-fruit lately. I...
by Thalia
Fri May 20, 2011 6:09 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: 2 mile challenge
Replies: 3
Views: 10780

It's Ride Your Bike to School Day here -- and I did ride to school with my daughter, before work.
by Thalia
Fri May 20, 2011 4:09 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: how long to change your mind
Replies: 10
Views: 17127

By far the hardest thing for me when I started No S was not snacking -- especially after dinner. It took WEEKS. I think it was probably about six weeks before I didn't have this constant low-grade desire to go forage in the kitchen in the evening, maybe longer. One thing that helped was making sure ...
by Thalia
Fri May 20, 2011 3:58 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Hungry at Bed Time
Replies: 27
Views: 34159

Maybe you need a heartier dinner? Feeling hungry right after a full meal seems off -- that shouldn't be happening.
by Thalia
Thu May 19, 2011 5:22 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: 2 mile challenge
Replies: 3
Views: 10780

Thanks! I signed up. I actually don't care that much which team wins because all three organizations are worthy (I wish they would donate more based on the points, instead of just giving a lump sum and making the organziations compete with each other to receive it) and I think Clif Bars are overpric...
by Thalia
Fri May 13, 2011 4:53 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Old Timers Success
Replies: 10
Views: 15526

I'm not a good poster girl, but I've been doing No S for about two years, I think? Maybe more. I got down 23 pounds below my starting weight, but then got sloppy with portion sizes (buying lunch on workdays) and was never really getting any exercise, so I put some back on -- around 13 pounds from my...
by Thalia
Fri May 13, 2011 4:06 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: This is how it feels to be free!
Replies: 6
Views: 11595

Yeah, I've been doing this about two years, and the feeling of freedom and a better relationship with food is still very much there. I don't know how long "initial stages" last, but I figure I'm probably past them.
by Thalia
Thu May 12, 2011 7:27 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Juice?
Replies: 17
Views: 23528

I don't think it's a great idea to drink large quantities of fruit juice, so I don't do it. I don't think it's incompatible with No S, though, just my personal preference. I do drink 1-2 cans a day of Diet Coke (down from more like four!), so yeah, not a purist.
by Thalia
Thu May 12, 2011 4:44 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: new to no s and feeling guilty about eating carbs
Replies: 26
Views: 29305

If you throw a little cooking oil and some ground chilis and garlic or soy sauce in there, rice or polenta or pasta is pretty damn tasty! I could subsist more happily on that than on, for instance, an all-meat diet. Fortunately, we don't have to choose between them. A little meat/eggs/dairy, a littl...
by Thalia
Thu May 12, 2011 4:33 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: other readings
Replies: 9
Views: 14740

Here are the books that I think complement No S philosophically: My Life in France , Julia Child -- at one point she talks about how she and her husband stayed thin, even while she was testing recipes for her books: walk a lot, skip desserts, don't eat huge portions. They never once did a "diet." Ho...
by Thalia
Wed May 11, 2011 3:58 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Breakfast
Replies: 29
Views: 37056

My weekday breakfasts are very unimaginative, because I don't like to get up earlier than I absolutely need to! Some kind of self-righteous hippie cereal with bogus health claims on the box (currently it's Flax Plus, sometimes it's Heritage Bites), fresh fruit, and 2% milk. Small glass of o.j. On we...
by Thalia
Wed May 11, 2011 3:54 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Healthy vs. "Tasty"
Replies: 18
Views: 25546

In some boba drinks the pearls are tapioca; in others they're gelatin or bean paste or various such things.

Like, you know, embryonic tadpoles.
by Thalia
Wed May 11, 2011 3:51 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Restart!
Replies: 7
Views: 12289

That sounds like a really great, workable system!
by Thalia
Mon May 09, 2011 11:03 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Help?
Replies: 19
Views: 26766

I think that's great advice. I'd also try to cut down sweets, rather than eliminating them all at once, because they seem to be very, very difficult for you. Maybe one sweet per day, immediately after dinner, before leaving the table (so it's part of the meal, not an invitation to a free-for-all)? W...
by Thalia
Mon May 09, 2011 10:26 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: 90 days of No S, Urban Ranger, Shovelglove?
Replies: 107
Views: 113280

I've been doing GREAT with urban ranger, but haven't worked in the resistance exercise yet (unless you count wrestling my huge comfort bike in and out of the closet where it's stored so I can ride it!). That is my goal for this week -- 14 minutes with my husband's "rubber band" resistance thingies e...
by Thalia
Fri May 06, 2011 4:27 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Getting silly at weekends
Replies: 8
Views: 15484

A lot of people recommend sticking to a three-meal structure with added treats, instead of grazing all day. Also, planning your treats -- think ahead what would be a really yummy special treat and make it something you really enjoy and look forward to, don't just eat whatever junk happens to cross y...
by Thalia
Thu May 05, 2011 4:09 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Food Revolution "postponed"
Replies: 17
Views: 22801

NPR has done some in-depth pieces on Jamie Oliver and the LAUSD. It's not as simple as valiant noble food crusader against eeevil bureaucracy that wants to force-feed children crap -- they have a budget of something like 17 cents per lunch, for one thing. And Jamie seems not that interested in actua...
by Thalia
Thu May 05, 2011 4:04 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: The Weather
Replies: 9
Views: 15981

I definitely eat less when it's hot out. I think there is some kind of biological craving for calories to warm you up in cold weather, because our instincts don't recognize that we now have central heating.
by Thalia
Wed May 04, 2011 8:51 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Withdrawal
Replies: 11
Views: 14179

LOL, exactly! Evil, evil watermelon. We have become so freaking insane about food as a society. I think there is literally NOTHING that everyone agrees is OK to eat in moderation. All animal products = right out. Unless they are the main thing you should be eating, according to the contrarians. Grai...
by Thalia
Wed May 04, 2011 3:51 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Oprah episode - 20 years younger?
Replies: 7
Views: 15571

Yeah, it's hard for me to take Bob Green seriously, since his one great testimonial is a smart woman with a will of iron, who still yo-yos desperately between extreme diets and rapid weight gain. The important part isn't LOSING weight, it's being able to keep it off -- and his only answer to that is...
by Thalia
Tue May 03, 2011 11:46 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Withdrawal
Replies: 11
Views: 14179

LOL -- actually, I feel awful if I go a couple of days without many fruits or vegetables. I DO crave them if they go away! Everything seems too dry and stale and salty if there's no produce mixed in.
by Thalia
Tue May 03, 2011 7:00 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Snack Compromise
Replies: 6
Views: 12559

Maybe you could adjust your mealtimes and/or workout time so you aren't going four or five hours without eating before a workout?
by Thalia
Tue May 03, 2011 6:59 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Poll: What is/was your weakness- snacks, sweets, or seconds?
Replies: 12
Views: 17651

I don't have that much of a sweet tooth -- my problem was SNACKS, all the way. Eating food that was floating around the office, hitting the vending machine, nibblings something while cooking, and especially eating in the evenings. And diets just made it worse -- I would rush through or skimp on dinn...
by Thalia
Mon May 02, 2011 4:45 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: still trouble with evenings
Replies: 20
Views: 25587

Giving up eating after dinner was the single hardest thing for me when I started No S. It took weeks before I stopped spending the evenings CRAVING something to eat, because I was just so used to eating a lot then. However, I think breaking that habit is probably the single most useful change I've m...
by Thalia
Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:32 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: gain weight
Replies: 11
Views: 16926

Spam -- another S!
by Thalia
Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:56 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: gain weight
Replies: 11
Views: 16926

My husband has trouble keeping his weight up (and yes, I hate him for it!). For him the key is less what or how much he eats and more doing some kind of resistance exercise on a regular basis. Based on that, I think Shovelglove would be more helpful than No S for you.
by Thalia
Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:10 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Read while you eat
Replies: 16
Views: 22645

I LOVE reading while I eat. Although I'm sure it's true that it keeps me from experiencing and appreciating my food as fully as I should, it's such a relaxing pleasure to me that I can't see giving it up.
by Thalia
Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:08 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: * * * * April Challenge * * * *
Replies: 38
Views: 40089

I'm glad everything went well, renee! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
by Thalia
Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:57 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Feeling like quitting
Replies: 14
Views: 20803

Flourescent-colored highly sweetened yogurt in a tube. So you don't need a spoon, two hands, or any working sensory equipment to eat it.
by Thalia
Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:36 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Michael Pollan is funny
Replies: 9
Views: 11969

The Puritans disapproved of enjoying your food too much, in addition to anything else you might enjoy.
by Thalia
Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:24 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: The Lindsay Lohan of No S
Replies: 25
Views: 29826

Eye-rolling? Feh. If this was easy for any us, I don't think we'd need No S in the first place!
by Thalia
Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:21 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Feeling like quitting
Replies: 14
Views: 20803

Food is pretty essential, both as a source of pleasure and to, you know, keep us from DYING -- I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about it! I think if we as a society thought about food more and gave it the respect it deserved, we would probably spend less time driving around eating ...
by Thalia
Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:39 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: 90 days of No S, Urban Ranger, Shovelglove?
Replies: 107
Views: 113280

What's RE90X?

I don't think that's an unreasonable plan for anyone, especially if you've been No Sing your food for a while! I will be down with this for May.
by Thalia
Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:50 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Jennifer Lopez
Replies: 3
Views: 7767

I think one of the things that's useful about No S is that you don't have to worry about a stopping point -- when am I thin enough? Am I still too fat when I look like Jennifer Lopez (who, whatever you think of her as an artist, has a GORGEOUS body IMO)? When you get to a good weight, you're not goi...
by Thalia
Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:43 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: I actually threw it away!
Replies: 12
Views: 19742

Congratuations!
by Thalia
Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:42 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Thinking of adding mid-morning mini-meal
Replies: 10
Views: 17501

A little bit of fat is good not just for adding calories, but for longer-term satiation. Fat plus fiber will hold you over surprisingly well! So yeah, nuts in your oatmeal, or whole-milk yogurt with fruit.
by Thalia
Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:24 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Do you take any supplements?
Replies: 22
Views: 29816

I don't take anything. Well, Claritin, but I don't think of that as a supplement -- it's a drug.
by Thalia
Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:52 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Weight Fluctuations
Replies: 9
Views: 17706

Drinking water helps you flush out salt, and causes you to release the water your body retains to balance the sodium. It's not "bad stuff," but it does affect the scale if you care about seeing a lower numbe when you weigh.
by Thalia
Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:56 pm
Forum: Urban Ranger General Discussion
Topic: I'd love to be an Urban Ranger...
Replies: 18
Views: 51421

You are a competent adult, not a toddler. No one should be forbidding you to walk. It's good that he cares, but you can't let his paranoia about safety set unreasonable limits on your life -- it's not like you want to take up bungee-jumping! Walk where you'll be around other people, and/or during da...
by Thalia
Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:37 pm
Forum: No S Diet General Discussion
Topic: Advice needed re special days
Replies: 15
Views: 22807

Really? What if it was something really FILLING and lovely and special and time-consuming? :wink: And you know you'd have leftovers to take for lunch the next day, or have for dinner again?