Everyday Systems

Ellis

Oh, nice to have some time off work! And yoga sounds good! Do you have any more plans made for those two weeks?

Ellis

Thanks, Amy! And you are right about that! Phew, it’s a strange day today. Green, but effortless. I expected to be really hungry, but it actually wasn’t that bad. I went to the gym after work, and when I got home, Mr. Ellis had stir-fried vegetables with rice ready but I just couldn’t eat it. I rare...

Ellis

I'm happy to report that I had a fully green week, and today I was an idiot—but a happy idiot, and no shame! :D It was honestly delightful. I'll list what I ate; it's ridiculous, but hey, maybe someone following my topic will feel a bit less bad about their own S-days. I started the day with cake an...

Ellis

Yeeh for your green day! The meals sound delicious!

Ellis

Yeeh, for the green days! Love your approach about being vegan; consistency instead of perfection. I am the same when it comes to being vegetarian. Doing the best you can is great!

Ellis

Bookclub sounds fun! I really should check if there is one in my neighboorhood. Although I have a hard time to finish any book lately.

Ugh, i love desserts too. They say the body has like a comfort weight range right? I think mine is around 143 lbs.

Ellis

I used to love reading as well, but for some reason can't find the motivation to finish any book. Do you think you get hyperfocused easily?

Ellis

I love that you call it your happy place. Gym doesn't feel like my happy place YET but I hope I will eventually. I do feel proud everytime I go.

Ellis

Thanks, Soprano! Good to hear Pink, I just feel like celebrating friday haha. Amy, let’s do this! Just focus on green days. I’ve had 3 green days so far — easier than I expected! Workouts went well too. I think I need more protein, though. I’ve been sleeping more this week, which is good. The scale ...

Ellis

Fitting into your clothes is definitely a win!

12 pm: a few handfuls of animal crackers as I recovered from taking my 16 year old driving. She is doing great but I am still shaking from the adrenaline every time I get out of the car.

I can imagine this, haha.

Ellis

Ugh, so sorry to hear you had a stressful week! But the one plate habit is really good! Most people gain because of too large portions or getting seconds, so sticking to just one plate is really great!

Ellis

Wow, Linda, 2 hours of pilates is impressive! :D So sorry to hear about your friend, seems like you really needed your space! The WL meds I notice make it so I just want what I want and I can’t eat anything else (in that moment). Interesting! And that must feel amazing! I have to admit, no-S basical...

Ellis

Such good advice from everyone. I also am very mean to myself, which is ridiculous because we wouldn't be if a friend would struggle with the same. Anyways, let's just keep on tracking the days, don't punish ourselves over a red day and enjoy this sane and peaceful way of eating!

Ellis

Soprano, thanks a bunch! You are so right, I get so anxious about it. It IS for life, diet brain is pretty annoying.

We had lunch and icecream today, and I will mark my friday red. I try to let go of the guilt and I am actually excited to start monday again with a green day!

Ellis

Okay, I’m really struggling right now, guys! It started off so well on Friday, I had to go to the hospital for a blood test and a foot check for my diabetes. And good news: no signs of neuropathy in my feet! Phew, what a relief. I had to be fasting for the blood test and I had thoughtfully brought m...

Ellis

I’m really proud of myself! :D I had a kind of non-scale victory. My colleague had gotten me two big cookies. I had low blood sugar, so I was debating whether to have a little piece. But I didn't and just took my dextrose tablets like I should. Sometimes I try to take advantage of low blood sugars, ...

Ellis

Ugh, I totally understand your struggles. I've gained weight again too, and I'm so tired of battling with this.
I just want to be free from the obsession and feel normal, and No-S is the only diet/lifestyle that has ever given me that.

Let’s get back to it together!

Ellis

I'm still not sure. Weighing myself every day makes me obsessive and nervous. But weighing weekly might give me a distorted picture — and then I get upset if I haven't lost any weight. Weighing monthly sounds lovely, but I'm really scared I might gain for a whole month and then get a nasty surprise ...

Ellis

Your motivations are really good! We recently went on vacation to Portugal, and I was wearing my favorite skirt when I noticed that my inner thighs were rubbing together, to the point where it got uncomfortable. I also noticed that my belly gets in the way when I'm driving, and my clothes are starti...

Ellis

Thanks everyone for thinking along with me! :D Amy , that’s a really good strategy! I also struggle with the “what the hell” effect, and it can really ruin your day. Today went well! Well, I ate more than I had planned, but still stayed within the No-S rules. I use an app to track carbs for my insul...

Ellis

Yay, your first green day is done! On to the next one!
I also found it really hard to get through the day during the first few weeks, I had a whole bunch of red days.
But it gets better and better, and hopefully your stomach will get used to it soon, like mine did.

Ellis

Ipearlmom: So great that you’re doing Pilates! And it’s so important to remember, it doesn’t matter what you do, even if it’s just a little bit. I think the key is to look at your energy level and adjust accordingly. :D Update: Today I was really stuck in my head. Diet hopping feels like a curse th...

Ellis

Oof, I’m sorry you’re struggling with family relationships. Unfortunately, I’m no stranger to that either, I cut ties with a certain family member years ago. I always felt like I had to walk on eggshells around her. You’d think it was a nice family day, and then suddenly she’d start throwing accusat...

Ellis

I totally get it. Counting calories can be so triggering, and moderation is really hard! I used to be so afraid of feeling hungry too, but somehow my stomach seems to shrunk from eating smaller meals over a longer period of time. I honestly can’t eat as much as I used to. But it’s still a tricky pro...

Ellis

Auto: how interesting that you teach physiology related to type 1! You're absolutely right — it really doesn’t feel fair. But luckily, it gives me an extra push to put my health first. Sometimes it feels like I’m on the edge of burnout, but I can’t take a break. Just keep going. Oh, and walking is ...

Ellis

I had a big grin on my face while reading about your Petsmart description. Might be a good idea to get them neutered too, they seem very fertile… just kidding, haha! :P By the way, I have a Fitbit and I love it! I went for a really slim one (didn’t want a big heavy thing on my wrist), and it’s super...

Ellis

You're definitely not alone about that haha,

And it's totally understandable that you need some time to yourself. It sounds pretty draining. Glad to hear the medication seems to be working!

Ellis

I also have to commit to another way of eating instead of no-S but it's so nice to be able to share it here. Don't be too hard on yourself, step by step!

Ellis

Welcome back! What exactly happened with your last calorie system? You really seemed to have lost quite a bit with it, if I remember your update correctly. What do you think went wrong this time? I totally relate though — as you know from our chats on Messenger, I’ve also been hopping from one diet ...

Ellis

Amy, thanks! A wedding is definitely one of those events where your diet brain can take over and lead to drastic choices. Stay mindful and approach it with care! Auto, did you manage to develop your routine? Funny that you mention sleep, I'm completely wiped out after my gym sessions! I seriously ju...

Ellis

Welcome back! It’s great that you caught things early and are already making progress again!

Ellis

This sounds like such an insightful breakthrough! Figuring out what actually works for you without making life harder.

Love how you turned the Bugles into part of a balanced meal, I have devoured a whole bag of them as my lunch before with some garlic cream cheese.

Ellis

Sounds like a hectic day, but you're reflecting with honesty, which is smart! Love your takeaway about veggies and hydration! One off day doesn’t undo your overall habits, you’re still on the right track, I am sure!

Ellis

That’s such a strong start to July, three green days and mindful choices, even after a late shift!

Love how you're using past strategies, keep the momentum going!

Ellis

Love that decluttering energy too! Wishing you a smooth drive and as peaceful a visit as possible with your friend.

Ellis

I really relate to this—you're not alone. It’s powerful that you’re choosing determination over waiting for inspiration!

Ellis

Thanks Pink! Almost 1 kilo down! :D It’s been a tough week again — I had a lot of trouble with low blood sugars, which meant I had to do quite a bit of correcting. So I had to eat here and there, but I still marked the days as green. I didn’t eat out of hunger or craving, it was purely out of necess...

Ellis

Win, just wondering how you are doing these days!

Ellis

Amy , it’s definitely unsettling! It annoyed me too that he didn’t say anything else — just bluntly: we’re not doing anything about it, see you next year. I actually would’ve liked a bit more explanation, but I felt kind of thrown off and left the room quickly because he shut it down so abruptly. :...

Ellis

What we eat can be so misleading sometimes. :( I also tracked calories for a while, because I was losing weight so incredibly slowly that I was sure I must be eating too much. It helped to use a smaller plate, because I was eating almost the same portions as my partner — and he’s two heads taller an...

Ellis

That’s a great goal, Amy! I think we all have a weight range where we feel comfortable, and it’s good to hear that you’re working towards that! I totally get what you mean — compared to others, I don’t have that many kilos to lose either, and it goes incredibly slowly. You really have to pay close a...

Ellis

Well, it’s been a little while. I was doing pretty well with No-S, but this past weekend I had a very indulgent S-weekend with way too much food. I had a really stressful week at work with all green days, so I suspect I was experiencing some kind of delayed emotional eating on my S-days. :oops: The ...

Ellis

Hope you feel better soon!

Ellis

Being on track does feel good!

May I ask, do you still aiming for weight loss or just maintaining?

Ellis

Hi Pink, I am the same as you. It’s mentally better to have it all in front of you and not feeling deprived. It really is a struggle to find that balance between all or nothing haha.

Ellis

Interesting point about the overweight numbers. It’s really increasing all across Europe. But I was honestly shocked when we were in Orlando… Walmart even had special scooters for people with severe obesity—and not just one, but a whole row of them! We were also amazed by how huge the snack packages...

Ellis

Interesting to read about how fast your colleagues ate. I’m a fast eater too, mostly because I really don’t like it when my food gets cold. Drinking during meals also helps me feel full faster. :D I’m just like you—I get so impatient and can be totally committed to a diet choice for three days, and ...

Ellis

Oof, as soon as your routine slips, it’s so hard to stick to your eating routine too. Hopefully you’ll be able to get back on track soon!

Ellis

Thanks Imogen, Amy, and Pink for your support! Right after I posted, I decided to start watching my carbs again. My blood sugars immediately became so stable! I allowed myself to have something sweet as long as it stayed under my saturated fat limit, but wow… the math. It’s just not doable. Too much...

Ellis

Amy, thanks so much for sharing that wisdom! :D It really hit the nail on the head. Pink, I appreciate you sharing your approach! Do you plan specific S-treats for your S-days, or just go with whatever comes up? How are your S-days going lately? I still feel a bit lost trying to figure out what work...

Ellis

Amy3010 wrote: ↑
Tue May 06, 2025 5:02 am
Hi Ellis! at the moment my favorite meal is a vegan version of "asperges op vlaamse wijze" with a creamy tofu scramble on top of the asparagus

That sounds pretty good! I am Dutch myself and I have to look it up!

I hope you enjoy your trip to Paris!

Ellis

Are you me? :oops: I recognize so much of what you're writing. Always looking for "loopholes" in every diet, needing meals to be enjoyable or else you end up bingeing. And having a big appetite... sigh, it's so frustrating. I'm not particularly short, but my boyfriend is tall and I can easily eat ju...

Ellis

Hey Pink, You are indeed virtual plating! It's smart to allow yourself that cupcake and just put it on your plate! :D And I am the same, I love to observe other peoples eating habits. Not in a creepy way of course, haha. I have a very petite coworker and it seems like she can eat everything, but she...

Ellis

Oh I am so glad to hear there are more vegan options over there! I also remember the huge portions when we were in Florida. My partner and me often shared one portion, haha. What is your favorite vegan meal currently?

Ellis

Thank you, Amy, for your supportive reply! I truly appreciate it! :D You’re absolutely right — this is all part of my learning process. My health really does need to come first. That’s why I’ve been digging a little deeper into the time when I felt good in my body and was doing well with No-S. I rea...

Ellis

I feel really awful. :( Yesterday was an S-day and I ate so much that I actually felt sick. It was my partner’s birthday and we went out for dinner. I had dessert, which really wasn’t worth it, but I still ate about half of it because it was pretty expensive. When we got home, I jumped on the exerci...

Ellis

Amy, thanks for asking! It actually went pretty well! :D Did I eat a LOT? Well… yes! But it felt really good to have that mental break from the diet. I’m now tracking my weight every morning and keeping an eye on my calorie intake. I do have to be careful with that, because it can sometimes trigger ...

Ellis

Hi Amy, good to see you again here! How was your diet over at Tx? It’s good to have an extra motivation like health reasons for changing eating habits other than losing weight!

Ellis

Hi there! Just sending some good vibes here! Easter can be such a challenge with all the chocolate and delicious meals. Just keep tracking! I just started “over” again as well, day 2 and both green. Yay!

Ellis

Just sending some good vibes your way!

It’s nice to see more activity around here! Just keep tracking!

Ellis

Hi Pink. Seems like you found something that works really well for you!

Are you tracking your days green etc?

Ellis

Thanks everyone! :D It’s been a while, and since my last update I’ve switched back and forth between different diets about a hundred times. As you know, I have a few things I need to manage: losing weight, keeping my LDL cholesterol in check (by limiting saturated fats), and controlling my blood sug...

Ellis

Yeeh, things are going well with vanilla No-S! :D Today was my monthly weigh-in, and I lost 0.4 kg, which is about 0.8 pounds. It’s not a lot, but I’m happy that at least the number is going down. I accept wherever No-S takes me. :wink: What might have been even more important was my non-scale victo...

Ellis

Wednesday morning, I got curious about my weight. :oops: I decided to weigh myself. The number on the scale wasn’t what I wanted to see, but I had expected it—a higher weight. This morning, I couldn’t resist stepping on the scale again, and I weighed the same as the day before. I’m not sure what to ...

Ellis

So, the “first” (of my uncountable many attempts) vanilla No-S weekend is over, and wow, I ate a lot. It was expected—that’s always how it goes. Of course, it was a bit more challenging for my blood sugars, but I did my best. And I really enjoyed the freedom. It was amazing! :D I’m ready to embrace ...

Ellis

Glad to hear you found something that works so well for you!

small steps are good! You got this!

I was already wondering how you were doing, since we lost contact on FB! Wishing you the best and keep us updated if you like!

Ellis

I was actually pleasantly surprised regarding the meal delivery and the quality of the food. Not as much salt and saturated fats as expected. If it’s within your budget and your taste then why not give it a go? We have a saying here that goes like this: convenience makes life easier.

Ellis

Looks like the protein bar is something that works really well for you! Keep us updated how it’s going!
Congrats with your green days!

Ellis

Glad to hear you enjoyed that special day!

Maybe you can monitor your stress level to see if you need to adjust your meals those days? I think you handled it really smart! You got this!

Ellis

Oolala, I really appreciate your comments; they’re so interesting to read. Winhappy, thank you so much for your always positive feedback! You’re absolutely right that we should be kind to ourselves. It’s hard enough as it is! :D I now have a 14-day streak with my carb limit of 50 grams. It’s working...

Ellis

Thanks all for the great advice, I appreciate it! :D Unfortunately, what I was afraid of happened. The plates I use to serve my food work really well, but not for my blood sugars. In the past, I didn’t think about it much—I would just correct my blood sugar with insulin when needed. But now, that do...

Ellis

I’m really glad you guys are still active here—your support really helps! :D On Wednesday, we had a communal lunch at work, and that’s always a bit tricky. When all the food is right in front of you, it’s tempting to eat more. I had my own portion, but colleagues offered me their leftover fries. Fri...

Ellis

I love how you phrased that! You are doing great, even when you had some red days! Just keep going!

Ellis

Win, 60% is good!

You got this and I think being honest about your red days is very helpful! Do you think you didn’t eat enough those days?

Ellis

Oolala, thank you! I can imagine how frustrating it is to lower your a1c! I also feel much better when I don’t eat huge amounts of carbs in a row! Winhappy, thank you for sharing! Weighing yourself daily and tracking your average over a week is definitely a good idea. I’ve done it for a while as wel...

Ellis

Oolala; love your unsolicited advice!

It is a perfect question, one I've never asked myself. You are so right, I feel guilty more often about red days and always proud of green ones.

Amy, keep going green! Any ideas what caused the red days?

Ellis

Amy, I think focusing on the process is really important, although checking the scale can be a good motivation. :oops: I notice that if I don’t check it regularly, I end up gaining weight. Eating based on intuition just doesn’t work for me. Now that I know about Amylin, I feel less guilty about my e...

Ellis

I’m happy to report that I’ve lost 0.4 kg in one week! :D That’s just under one pound. Pretty good for one week, especially considering I had two “red days.” I had some low blood sugar episodes and still had Christmas chocolates at home. This is not a good combination, as my body instinctively crave...

Ellis

Checking in really helps, and it’s also interesting to read older posts. I sometimes go back to my older posts to see what I did then.

Ellis

Amy, what a great idea to make book club an S-event! Homemade pastries are impossible to resist. :D Pink, how clever to save workplace treats for mealtimes! How do you handle restaurant dinners? Do you also have dessert then? I’m feeling a bit lost, to be honest. :( I just don’t know what the best a...

Ellis

So glad to hear the dessert after dinner mod helps you! Getting rid of that food noise is such a win. And hooray for the green days! What makes a day a green day for you? Having 3 meals and the dessert mod? I’ve been going back and forth with my diets and I am in doubt to allow sweets everyday. I ha...

Ellis

You’re absolutely right, Amy! These are drastic measures and probably unrealistic to stick to forever, but I think it’s what’s best for me at the moment. I do feel better now after a few days of sticking to it! Thankfully, the risk of complications isn’t something I constantly worry about, but as my...

Ellis

It sounds like you’ve found a good balance, and of course, being honest with yourself by keeping track of your days! That’s really great! :D And I hear you about the all-or-nothing mindset—I’m sensitive to that too. Did you give yourself permission to fully enjoy the Christmas holidays, or did you s...

Ellis

You are so right, Amy! Finding that balance is key, but it’s really a tough journey! So, that’s Christmas done for another year! :D It was lovely, and we celebrated with our family and in-laws. There was plenty of food, and even though I had given myself permission to fully enjoy it without any rest...

Ellis

Hi Pink, I read back through some of your comments, and it’s super interesting to hear your observations. I’m the complete opposite when it comes to vacations—I have a sort of fear of missing out on the special desserts and snacks, so I end up eating way more than usual. The festive treats in Decemb...

Ellis

Hi Win, how are you doing lately?

Ellis

Hi Amy, I admire your perseverance in keeping track of your days so diligently, even when they’re red! :D How long have you been following No-S? After a few months of diet hopping, I’m back again—I don’t understand why I keep stopping. I totally agree with Pinkhippie about tea! I absolutely love tea...

Ellis

It’s been a while, but I’m back. :oops: Unfortunately, heavier. Since even before our vacation in October, I started struggling to stick to my original plan. I became impatient and desperately wanted to “quickly” lose some weight. You can probably guess what happened—setting a deadline had the oppos...

Ellis

ladybird30: That is so true! Are you maintaining your current weight? I've lost 2.9 lbs since last month! :D Like I said before, no more excuses and self honesty. I actually added calorie counting now. I know I know, why would I do this to myself? :oops: Well.... we booked a vacation, and I have ap...

Ellis

@ Soprano: I weighed myself soon after the vacation, so I was hoping it was just water weight, but unfortunately, it wasn't. My frustration grew as time went on. I had also walked a lot, so I couldn't imagine that I had gained almost 2 kilos. Unfortunately, the kilos were stubborn. I've now lost al...

Ellis

Well... gained 1.9 kg because we had a vacation of 2 weeks. I feel bad about it, but oh well... Can't have zero S-days while having vacation, right?

Planning to have just one NWS-day this month for my birthday.

Ellis

Right after my previous post I found out that 1 S-day didn't work. :oops: I became completely restless and wanted to eat as much food as possible in 1 day, and I already felt very full in the afternoon. So halfway through the day I decided to just go back to the 3 meals on all days. Before, I felt r...

Ellis

Phew, it's been a while. :oops: I don't even know exactly when, but I fell off the wagon, sort of. I started feeling more restricted having 3 meals every day (even on S-days). And as soon as I feel restricted, I start binge eating. :( It began gradually, for example on a stressful day at work. Also,...

Ellis

Thanks so much Win and Amy for cheering me on. It feels so good to share my progress. :D Yesss.... I actually struggled a lot to get back on track since the start of the new year. I had a couple of red days and a few NWS days, but I was determined to not let it ruin my good work so I did my best to ...

Ellis

Hi WIN, those opposite thoughts are pretty familiar to me, sadly. I call it the diet brain. :P It can make you diet hop as well. An active social life can be hard to combine with any kind of diet, even the no-S diet. It is still the most fair and sane way of eating though. :D We had a new years lunc...

Ellis

Happy belated new year everyone! :D The december month was a lot of fun. We had a week off work, which was more than welcome! We obviously had the Christmas dinners with the family and I was gifted a lot of food. :D I took a couple extra S-days and unfortunately had a few red days, but overall I thi...

Ellis

Hi Soprano, how are you doing lately?

Ellis

Hi Ladybird, hope you are doing well!

Ellis

How's the new job, Amy?

I hope you are adjusted to the new routine!

Ellis

Did you increase your portions, Win?

Hope you are doing better!

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