Everyday Systems

harmony

Make sure on S-days that you allow yourself to taste some of the "good stuff". Sometimes getting used to a higher quality can help you avoid the cheap stuff easier. This has really helped me avoid eating the treats I buy for my kids, and I am actually buying those less and less (to my kids' disappoi...

harmony

Tuesday

No-S: not quite. I had some pudding after dinner.

Exercise: It looks promising tonight. I didn't do any last night.

harmony

Monday
No-S: Success
Exercise:? It doesn't seem likely, but sometimes I surprise myself.

harmony

I weighed 170 this morning! I won't get too excited until I see 170 on a normal basis, but I am glad that I have been hovering closer and closer to it lately. So, for this week... At least 3 days of vanilla No-S Try for 3 days of exercise (14 minutes) Figure out some easy strength exercises I have b...

harmony

No-S went well this week! With the exception of Thursday, I was able to stick to it. I had 4 days of SUCCESS! Exercise wasn't as successful. But, maybe next week...

I am really enjoying my S-days!

harmony

My son had a goal ceremony in his class that we went to. I took him to DQ afterwards (I really wasn't in the mood to go home yet). I had a small hot fudge sundae. Other than that, I had three meals, no seconds, no snacks, and no sugary drinks. I never did exercise last night. Tonight I have a better...

harmony

I am not sure what you drink during the week on N-days. I am trying to be very careful not to drink too many drinks with calories. Coffee with sugar and/or cream, hot cocoa, milk, sneaking some of my kids' Koolaid are all things I try to keep in check. 100+ calories per drink here and there can add ...

harmony

You could attempt to postpone lunch until 3 that day. Or have a small bowl of broth soup for lunch to hold you over for the other stuff. I would have a hard time passing up Chinese. yum.

harmony

I just have to keep from snacking before bed and I have another SUCCESS! I had originally planned on seeing a friend today which usually means I cave in and eat whatever is offered. But, the plans fell through so instead I get to claim another green day! I did exercise last night. I logged in about ...

harmony

Tuesday - SUCCESS Though I missed lunch so I didn't get in 3 meals. I am pretty sure that despite the fact that I kept to one plate, I made up for that missed lunch. haha. I have not exercised yet, but I plan to do some Wii stuff and some Tai Chi later on after the kids are in bed. I am definitely a...

harmony

Monday was a SUCCESS!

Exercise: Yes! Tai Chi class

harmony

I had two solid SUCCESS days last week. The other days weren't far off, but they weren't spot on either (darn cookies). I exercised 3 days last week as well. I was so busy on Saturday that I didn't eat much until dinner. The scale has gone down, so perhaps I'm on the right track. I have been hoverin...

harmony

I have always had trouble with making white sauces and gravies using the roux method (where you mix the flour with the butter). I have had much better luck and smoother sauces by treating the flour kind of like corn starch and mixing or shaking it with a bit of cold water, broth, or milk before mixi...

harmony

Something has kicked in lately. I have decided that it is time to lose weight. I have had 2 days of SUCCESS without even thinking about it. I have also added exercise to my day. I have gone a little crazy, but I am sure that will level off. So, I am planning my February goals. 1. Keep cleaning! 2. D...

harmony

January Goals: 1. Keep following cleaning routine 2. Save sugary drinks for special occasions like eating out or going to the movies (this one applies to the kids too). Cleaning: I was able to easily finish all of my daily chores and most of the extra ones. Again, the chore skipped involved the vacu...

harmony

Today I had two small slices of French bread that I had made. Other than that, I was able to stick to 3 meals. I also checked off all of my chore list for the day. I didn't want to work on the house today, and I ended up finishing a lot of it after dinner. I gave myself permission to do it all out o...

harmony

This week did not go as expected. I ended up getting sick on Tuesday night, tried to ignore it on Wednesday, and spent Thursday sleeping as much as possible. Amazingly enough, I made homemade bread twice (a total of 4 loaves), but the cleaning did not happen as expected. I feel pretty good today. So...

harmony

Today, the cleaning went well. I did all but one thing on my list and that was vacuum the couch. It seemed like there was always someone sitting or laying on it! I've decided that if I keep up the cleaning through the rest of January, I will reward myself with a new pair of PJ pants. I managed well ...

harmony

Well, I think I survived Christmas break. I didn't pay close attention to what I was or wasn't eating. I do know that I had a couple of chocolates a day since Christmas (my FIL gave me a huge box of them for a present). I have hid the box away so it will not be bothering me this week. :D Something r...

harmony

Things have been going well. I must have been holding on to a lot of water weight because all of a sudden the other morning I dropped 5 pounds. I am almost back to the weight I was before my husband came home on leave. I have been averaging about 2 meals a day - a big, late breakfast and dinner at a...

harmony

I did get a cold, but nothing as rough as what my kids had, so I am lucky. I was obviously not too sick, because I totally rearranged my living room yesterday! After I was done and took the time to sit down on my sofa, I realized that I no longer had a direct view of my kitchen. I am hoping that thi...

harmony

The past two days have been a little off, but it has just been a temporary thing. I will be back on track today. Unfortunately, I cannot claim a pop free week this time, but I think I have all of my Christmas shopping done! I think I am catching a bit of what my kids had (the flu!). If I am lucky it...

harmony

Arts and Crafts are a big part of the continual mess in our house too. My daughter's favorite thing is to take a piece of paper and cut it into little tiny pieces. Throw in markers and glue and she's happily busy for quite a while. It's hard to say no to that. :) I do an excellent job making messes ...

harmony

Well, we didn't get much snow, but my son ended up coming down with a fever and missed 3 days of school. He is not completely in the clear since he still has gunk he's coughing up (I'm sure everyone wanted to know that...), but it was pretty mild considering what it could have been. Now I have to ho...

harmony

Ah yes, I know that surprised look well. I get it everytime at bedtime too. My son seems to be in a constant state of surprise. haha. Each year he gets better at doing things on his own though. I am not sure I can say the same of myself. :roll: I am persistent atleast. I found an interesting site th...

harmony

Tonight, my son had a friend call to ask to stay over at our house. I was making a cake with my daughter when he called. Usually if that happens, I get all flustered and stressed out trying to figure out how to get the house presentable before the guest gets here . Tonight, I just kept making the ca...

harmony

According to what I read on the No-S Diet page of this site, alcoholic drinks are not esses especially if you stick to 2 drinks a day (the Glass Ceiling). I didn't see it specifying wine or beer. So, my guess is that 2 beers would still make your day GREEN.

harmony

Yesterday I had proof that my extra efforts at housework are giving me a workout. The muscles were sore. I worked thorugh it, but I took things a little slower yesterday. I can happily say that I was able to thouroughly enjoy movie night with a clean house. It's a good feeling I want to remember. To...

harmony

I find that I do best if I keep the tempting junk out of the house. I save it for the weekend and make a trip to the store if I want something. I usually only get enough for that day or meal if I can, then make myself go back again if I want more. If my kids want something I know I will have trouble...

harmony

It was a good day today. Breakfast was leftover muffin squares from Tues. Lunch was leftover pizza from last night. Dinner was a creation I thought up. (I'm sure it's been done before, just not in this house :D ). I basically made cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, dipped them in French toast batter...

harmony

I have trouble with exhaustion too. I have a 3 year old, so if I am tired I don't always have the option of sleep. Usually when I'm exhausted I have to work really hard to stay away from the sugary stuff. A lot of my exhaustion is due to over-stimulation (noise, excitement, demands of my attention, ...

harmony

hmmm... I thought I had typed up a post for yesterday, but I must not have submitted it. Oh well. Yesterday went really well. I would classify it as a GREEN day. Today on the other hand, I did myself in. I have been trying to keep myself busy during the day by doing chores and projects around the ho...

harmony

I can't help but document that I had an official GREEN day yesterday. The worst I did was drink sweetened coffee, which is out of character for me but OK in general. It has been a LONG time since I have had such a guilt free day. I plan on having another one. :D I kept myself busy yesterday, despite...

harmony

Thanks Laura, I needed that bit of encouragement. :) Today is going quite well. I am back in the mood for cooking so that helps. I have been inspired by my collection of old Betty Crocker cookbooks (from the 50's and 60's). Since it is just me and two young kids, I use the Dinner for Two cookbooks. ...

harmony

My husband isn't much of a snacker, but he sure is good at supplying snacks for others. I will be starting fresh on Monday. I really do hope I can get back to sane eating again.

harmony

The first quote reminded me of my father-in-law. He never understood why people went to the gym or joined walking clubs. He said they can get their exercise by mowing/raking the lawn AND get stuff done at the same time. He's in good physical shape and he has a very nice lawn.

harmony

I have been forgetting to post, but the week went really well. It has been the best week I have had since my son started school.

I found my book today. It was on the shelf all along. haha.

harmony

Hey Kevin, you use vegetable oil :lol: . The two most recommended are sesame or sunflower oil, but people use coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, etc. I started with olive oil because that is what I had in the house. Then I found sesame oil (regular, not toasted) and started using that. The olive o...

harmony

Another good day. I got a lot done around the house today, too. My slump seems to be over for a while (I hope). Breakfast: leftovers from last nights dinner Lunch: 2 beef enchilladas and rice, blueberry muffin Dinner: frozen pizza, blueberry muffin Muffins definitely last longer than they used to ar...

harmony

Yesterday (Tues) - 3 meals, no snacks. Yeah! :) I have been experimenting with something called oil pulling. Basically, you swish oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes and then spit it out. It is suppose to clean your mouth out extremely well and some people report all sorts of other good stuff happen...

harmony

Monday Nov 2 Today went OK. I had three meals. I did have one piece of Halloween candy after dinner. I am very happy with my three meals, though. I did not snack today! Unfortunately, I misplaced my book. That's the problem when it's so darn small :D (in my house at least). So, instead, I am going t...

harmony

Well, Friday night was terrible, but I managed to finish off Sunday night without having a snack. It felt good and I am quite proud of myself. I have my dinner menus planned for the week, and I am still doing Ok on the exercising. I started using my Pilates DVD I have had for ages. I was pleasantly ...

harmony

I have been making the excuse that I will be easy on myself until my life settles down (by that I mean eat whatever I want whenever I want). I have had No-S in the back of mind the whole time, but I have been lying to myself about my habits. Right now, the only part of No-S I am still faithfully fol...

harmony

I was thrown off yesterday! It is MEA weekend so yesterday my son was home from school and I went into weekend mode. So, yesterday was a little crazier than usual. Today was better, but I had planned to get together with an old friend AND bring cookies. So, I have had a few mini cookies. My cravings...

harmony

I'm still here. :) I have finally found a breakfast I can look forward to again. I have been eating muesli (what I call lazy granola) with yogurt. I make my own muesli by mixing old-fashioned oats with walnuts, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, a dash of cinnamon, and a little bit of brown sugar. Betwee...

harmony

Today went well. I did have a big taste some food before dinner to make sure it was edible and something the kids might eat. I did not virtual plate, but I did eat dinner on a luncheon plate. I also had one little caramel after lunch. But, not bad considering what I have been eating lately and the f...

harmony

I do believe that I managed a SUCCESS today! My plates were large, but I managed no soda, no snacks, no sweets, and no seconds today.

harmony

Yesterday was good. It wasn't green success material, but it was an improvement on other recent days. I have decided on a project (one that doesn't involve thinking about food) that should keep my mind occupied. I also revived a coffee recipe that is helpful when I am craving Coke and don't want to ...

harmony

Oooh, Tai Chi!! I started learning Tai Chi last March and I love it. It's an exercise I actually want to do on a regular basis. In fact, I am off to do some now.

harmony

I have made a soup that is worth documenting! I have been really craving cheese lately, so this is my way to combine cheese with vegetables in a way that is not pizza or nachos. I didn't follow a recipe so there are no real measurements, but it is pretty simple. Cheesy Potato Chowder 1 potato 1 carr...

harmony

Despite my imperfections, the scale now reads slightly below 170! I have reached the 160's (barely)! I am still eating sweets more often than I should. I am working on Fall cleaning my house and it seems that it is ingrained in my brain that I need a steady source of sugar in order to get the moment...

harmony

If I were asked to say one thing I did well this week, it would be sticking to only 3 meals. What I still need to improve? Getting the sweets back out of my diet during the week. I have been indulging in desserts and pop. I still have been eating less of them than before I started No-S, but I think ...

harmony

I have been doing well so far this week. It hasn't been perfect No-S, but I have managed to find a reasonable compromise for now. I have the occasional diet soda or a bite of a sweet now and then. I have been able to stick to three meals a day without any snacks, and I don't feel out of control or w...

harmony

Thanks for the meal planning ideas. :) I have thought of trying out a system like that, but I tend to get stuck on what meals to repeat. I insist on trying to please everyone in the family which is an idea I may have to throw out if I want to maintain my sanity. *insert crazy, maniacal laugh here* T...

harmony

I understand the sweets thing. Lately, that's been my weakness. I don't usually crave candy bars, but I am weak when it comes to pretty much anything from a bakery, sweet or not. But, if chocolate is in the house I WILL eat it until it's gone! I wouldn't want it there tempting me. lol. I made chicke...

harmony

Thanks Kathy. :D It was good to be reminded that even a little progress is better than none at all. I tend to think in terms of all or nothing. Today I did surprisingly well during the day. It wasn't perfect, but better than expected. I am in pain, under a lot of stress, and a bit depressed. I am pr...

harmony

"I've fallen and I can't get up!" I feel like I am starting from the beginning again, but this time I have little patience to sit through the hunger or deal with the stress without food or fizzy drinks. But, I am not giving up. It is pretty humbling when I consider my options. Do No-S and lose and m...

harmony

Today was educational. That is code for FAILURE. Yet again. Oh well. One thing that I will do is to think about how I can do things differently tomorrow. I am guessing that my change in schedule is the biggest culprit here. I am waking up earlier so breakfast is earlier, which usually means lunch is...

harmony

I feel absolutely miserable at the moment. I can pretty much guess what is causing it too - POP. I have been letting it slip in to the point where I had it more days than not last week. I haven't had even close to what I used to consume in the past, but I am not used to it now. So, this coming week,...

harmony

- School has officially started for my son. It is amazing how much quieter it is when I'm down to just one kid! It really is a treat. But, I am going to bed much too late and waking up early to get my son on the bus. This means I'm pretty tired, and when I'm tired I crave sugar, sugar, and more suga...

harmony

It sounds like you are handling all of the stress and temptation quite well. I am a wimp when it comes to my family offering me food. It's a good thing they live 7 hours away! I love my family more than anything, but 4-5 days is about the limit for me if I want to keep things nice (depending on the ...

harmony

Thanks for leaving a note on my check-in :D . It's nice to know someone does read these things. That darn scale! I am starting to think it is a lot like gambling. I never know if it will be good or bad, but I keep stepping on the scale hoping for a jackpot! It's a good thing that I don't have to pay...

harmony

I'm back again so soon. :( It was Meet Your Teacher for my son tonight. He has moved up to a new school, so it was pretty exciting (for me at least. haha). Afterwards, we went grocery shopping along with every other parent and their kids. It seemed like a special occasion at the time... Anyway, I wi...

harmony

nursemommy, I really can't add much to all the good advice already given, but I wanted to post anyway because I related to what you wrote. My baby belly fat seems to be pretty stubborn this time around too. But, I'm losing inches everywhere else, so I figure eventually something has to go. I was fru...

harmony

When I first started No-S, I spent every night wondering if I would feel this hungry for the rest of my life. I toughed it out and stayed strict with myself. After 2 months, I can say that it is amazing how little real hunger I have - especially during my worst time before bed. (I'm still working on...

harmony

My first two weekends, I planned ahead what I would splurge on. Both weekends, I found I had planned too much but tried to eat it all anyway. So, I stopped planning and all has gone well since. :D I don't worry about eating too much on the weekends. I think the less I worry about it, the less likely...

harmony

I have discovered that my weight really is a poor measure for me right now. But, I have been No-Sing for around 2 months and I am getting really close to being down a pant size (despite August having a lot of red and yellows for me). I have about 15-20 (or more) pounds left that I could do without ,...

harmony

My husband once told me that the secret to losing weight was to stop thinking about food so much. Back then, I thought that would be impossible. I was never much of a binger, but I spent countless hours thinking about food, making menu plans only to panic about my weight, change my diet, and start a...

harmony

I am going to start negative tracking. I have caught myself thinking I could cheat just because I was no longer publicly accountable for my failures (I'm sure SOMEBODY takes the time to read this :) ) This will help me keep to No-S and limit how much time I spend on the computer. With that, I am goi...

harmony

I'm going to take a short break from habitcal and daily check in. I won't be taking a break from No-Sing though! I am officially committed to keeping this up. Everything has been going well. My between meal hunger has become quite manageable, my plates are more reasonable, and my clothes are fitting...

harmony

You really do end up with a healthier lunch , especially if you work on getting more color (from natural sources, of course). If you haven't already discovered it, www.justbento.com is another site that is more about everyday bento boxes. The author is Japanese so the food and recipes follow suit. I...

harmony

Hmmm. I seem to be able to break Corelle just fine.

I love thrift stores. They usually have some pretty interesting plates.

harmony

Back before I decided to work primarily at home, I discovered the idea of the Japanese bento box lunches. I never did anything fancy, but it was a way to make lunches more interesting. There is no requirement that the food has to be Asian. You can use leftovers from dinner. I also found a post that ...

harmony

I am tired. I am hoping to have a slower day tomorrow if life allows. I am finding that I am eating smaller meals on weekends. Since I can snack if needed, I don't feel the need to eat something "just in case". The only time I usually snack is after dinner - not all day anymore. Although today I had...

harmony

How many weekends have you "pigged out"? I had the same reaction for the first few weekends where I went a little (or a lot) crazy and felt ill afterwards. I finally came up with the strategy that I would not plan so much. I do not keep sweets that tempt me in the house, but on weekends if I want so...

harmony

Day 5 This weekend is a local celebration in the neighboring town. They have a petting zoo, wild animal exhibits (think snakes and lizards), and a bunch of inflatable rides (obstacle courses, giant slides, bouncy things) for the kids. Food vendors, live music, and stands set up with all sorts of int...

harmony

There is a site www.Mediterrasian.com that has both meditteranean and asian recipes, as well as information on the two diet, etc. etc. I find it a good resource and a good read. I have not had an opportunity to try many of the recipes, but the ones I've tried (mostly the Asian ones) were pretty good.

harmony

BrightAngel wrote: Each No S forum member brings his or her own personal experiences, values, and opinions. So far, the forum tone has been one of Tolerance and Understanding of our differences Each one of us strives to voice our opinions with as much kindness and open-mindness as we possess. This i...

harmony

Thank you. :D I just had pizza tonight. I forgot the avocado though. lol. I enjoyed that article. It was funny and interesting. It is good supporting evidence that portion control via limiting to 3 meals of a pre-determined amount (for us that's one plate) can lead to weight loss AND better health. ...

harmony

Today was pretty exciting. No-S is a definite failure today. I wonder what smiley I should use for that? Maybe :twisted: ? If I wouldn't have taken all of the S-days when my family was up I would have considered this a special day for sure. It started with pony rides and root beer floats. Then we ha...

harmony

Thank you for your story

harmony

It is hard to know what is healthy anymore. I used to think I knew, but I really don't anymore. The more I research, the less there is for me to eat. It has basically come down to everything at the local grocery store is poison - the meat, the vegetables, the bread, the milk, etc. etc. It may just b...

harmony

Day 3:

It was an odd day, but I made it. Breakfast was the only normal, relatively healthy meal. The other two meals went a totally different direction than planned. Dinner was free though, so you can't beat that.

No-S:

kitchen cleanup

Tai Chi:

harmony

As long as we are giving out recipes, I have one for a simple Ranch Dip (it really is yummy.)

1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 tsp salt (I use less)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp parsley flakes

Combine and chill.

To change into a dressing, add buttermilk.

harmony

Even though the scale doesn't register a loss, have you noticed if your body has changed shape or do your clothes fit differently? I am on my second month of No-S and I really haven't changed much on the scales (I have about 20+ lbs. to lose), but I have pants from the beginning of the summer that w...

harmony

Day 2: No-S: :mrgreen: kitchen cleanup: :mrgreen: Tai Chi: :mrgreen: I said no to many candies and that cookie that is still there. :shock: I lucked out and the final birthday party for the month is scheduled to happen on a weekend. I would like to try to finish the month with my weekdays all green.

harmony

Day 1 (second time around) : SUCCESS It felt like I was constantly reminding myself that I wasn't going to eat that one sugar cookie my mom left. I kept offering it to the kids, but no one would take it! Oh well, it will have to wait until Saturday I guess. haha. Breakfast: We went out and had a far...

harmony

Tomorrow I will be back to my old routine. I am going to start over and aim for another 21 days. I also need to work on some of my other projects I started on before this visit took over (but I will wait a day or two before I worry about those). I am excited because my cookbooks came today. I am goi...

harmony

Thanks for your advice and concern Bushranger. :) The aches and pains do puzzle me. They don't seem to ever happen at the same time. They are very polite and take turns. :) It could be diet related such as gout, but it could also simply be a case of bad posture and too much sitting at the computer. ...

harmony

I seem to be having a string of bad days. I am hoping this is the last of them. Today started out with terrible sleep, then progressed to crying in Walmart, a pizza that came with pineapple instead of pepperoni, and now a swollen knee. I have never had knee problems before, but just this last year, ...

harmony

I doubt anyone will notice, and that's OK. I'll know. I would think that the people who would notice first would be those that don't see you everyday. With weightloss this gradual, one day we will look through our old pictures and realize, wow I have changed. My waist size is bigger than my hip siz...

harmony

Seriously, if it can't go in the dishwasher, it has no place in my home and I really don't like to eat off plastic. lol. I'm so glad there are others that think like this. :) I am now working on filling my plate the way I think it should be and then going back to my milk again if I need to. I know ...

harmony

you need to set up your personal environment so that you tune out all the eating cues that are present in today's environment -- the Dairy Queen signs, the food commercials, the candy bars in the checkout line. That's what this diet does. I have been completely amazed at how simply keeping these ru...

harmony

Sorry, I don't mean to antagonize. This is probably something that we would not be able to settle anyway. I do respect your opinion on the matter even if I don't agree with it.

harmony

I am so glad that today was an S-day. It was just one of those days that had the potential to be really fun, but it just didn't work out that way. I admit that I self medicated with a bit of food and some fizzy drinks, but I am happy to say that I ate a lot less than I normally would have pre No-S. ...

harmony

That's fine with me.

harmony

I use both 10 inch plates and 8 1/2 inch plates. I use the 8 1/2 inch plates most of the time, but sometimes get out the big ones if I want to squeeze a salad on there. When I use the smaller plates there is little plate to be seen. :) But that is just how I was used to eating before I even knew abo...

harmony

Hi wendykay! I had the same experience as you did my first two weekends of S-days. I felt like I had to eat so much and squeeze everything in on the weekend. I usually ended up physically ill. You are right in that you have to get rid of the guilt somehow. Technically, you did not goof up your S-day...

harmony

Bushranger wrote: I feel we need more black and white back in our lives. Over complicating things and seeing everything in shades of grey, although the commonly commended modern way of thinking, often isn't conducive to a peaceful mind. Not in my experience anyway. I guess I have had the opposite e...

harmony

I agree that you should keep the tea, but avoid the Slimfast. If the tea helps you feel like you are less deprived it will probably be a big help in getting through those first couple of weeks. If you are hungry enough to eat three meals, you should eat three meals of real food and enjoy it. :D Like...

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