Everyday Systems

Amy3010

A thinner body and peace with food - it will be so worth it! Hang in there!

Amy3010

Oh gosh, my week was all over the place

...my birthday is tomorrow and there was some pre-celebrating, a full day training at work...

Oh well. I won't beat September, but I can try and finish the month out greener than it started.

Amy3010

I have really cut back on alcohol as well. The past couple years we have gotten so many nice options in non-alcoholic beers here - the latest one I really enjoy is Corona 0%, very refreshing and only 55 calories a bottle

Amy3010

Thanks, Win!

Nothing special to report for the time being, the usual ups and downs

I hope everyone is having a satisfying weekend!

Amy3010

That's great you are happy with how your journey is going right now! Your experience of really waking up to how your food tastes is fascinating and very cool

Amy3010

Pink, please don't feel you need to apologize - there are a lot of us here who are not following No-S to the letter and that is okay! Following it strictly for a time is definitely a part of the journey, certainly in the beginning, to be able to get the habits down and discover how it works for us. ...

Amy3010

No Starving - I love that! Also, living in the gray zone, and being okay with not being perfect. Like you, I have been focusing on just sticking to No-S, being consistent without beating myself up too much. We can do this!

Amy3010

It is so easy to mindlessly pop something in your mouth while cooking! Lately I have been treating myself to a nice non-alcoholic drink while making dinner, I sip on that while I am cooking and it does help me cut back on the eating...

Amy3010

Yesterday - red: I indulged in a few handfuls of peanuts while I was at my volunteer gig. But otherwise I was happy with my eating. I stuck to my one plate healthy dinner when I got home afterwards at 7:30 (late for me for dinner) and shut down the kitchen. My volunteer shifts, which run from 4-7:30...

Amy3010

Thanks, Pink! I agree, sometimes it is helpful to acknowledge other reasons/benefits that accompany eating off plan and not be so hard on ourselves for the least little deviation. That gray zone you mentioned is a healthy place to be :wink: Three green days this week so far, we shall see how today g...

Amy3010

That is a powerful insight! (I can absolutely relate to feeling like a raging failure who might as well binge :wink:) I am thrilled for you that you are finding it possible to be in the gray zone, and are letting go of some of your black and white thinking and taking care of yourself. It really is h...

Amy3010

Hi Pink! You are in a busy phase of your life! I hope as well that things calm down for you in time. It sounds like, despite the fact that you don't have time/energy to focus on food, that the habits you have established over the years and having learned to listen to your hunger cues are helping to ...

Amy3010

Sammybunny711 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 03, 2025 1:51 am
Thanks, friends!! I appreciate the support on this little community so much!!

It's really great here, isn't it?

Amy3010

Well done, Soprano...those alcohol free days really make a difference!

Amy3010

Aww, thanks, Win

- you're right, it's important to keep things in perspective.

Yesterday - green

Amy3010

You're practicing next-level No-S by being able to find the good in days you mark red! :mrgreen: I mean this actually quite seriously - I think it is very important to cultivate the ability to be able to accept that you had a small "failure", without throwing the towel in and turning it into a big "...

Amy3010

Thanks, Win! :mrgreen: I edited to add that I had 8 red days in September, so my goal will be to have less than that in October. :lol: I had to mark yesterday red - I visited a friend that I hadn't seen in a while. She lives an hour's drive away, and has Parkinson's; she's gone downhill since I last...

Amy3010

So great to end a day feeling proud of how you did!

This is definitely a work in progress - you got this!

Amy3010

I totally get the all-or-nothing thinking and feeling bummed you failed. Maybe when you travel to a fun place would be the time to take a non weekend S day? Like me with the buffets, maybe we have to cut ourselves some slack for those kinds of occasions?

Amy3010

Very wise to remind yourself, despite having a red day, that you did better than you would have by focusing on No-S!

Here's to a very green October!

Amy3010

Thanks Ellis and Win...I can definitely improve my buffet skills, but you are right, important to enjoy the food and the company as well :D Finished September with green, and looking back at my HabitCal entries for all of 2025, this was the best month all year! :mrgreen: I am motivated to keep up th...

Amy3010

Even though majority of my days are nowhere near perfect, I’m finding a nice middle ground where I don’t need to throw in the towel over small things I just sort of have a framework and it’s OK if I’m not crystal clear on the lines. High five, Sinnie! This is exactly what I strive for! Finding the ...

Amy3010

Well, after the third buffet this week (another one at my husband's side of the family's annual BBQ yesterday), the final score is: Buffets: 3 Amy: 0 :oops: Yesterday was an S day, so in fact going back for seconds was not a problem, but on Friday at the work event, I actually could have easily stuc...

Amy3010

Perfection is not required - just focus on being consistent and doing your best - you got this!

Amy3010

I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling, Sammy...it sucks to feel so hopeless about being able to make progress. I have been there and I understand. But it sounds like you gained some important information yesterday, and confirmation that the 3 meal structure is actually really helpful for you. Don't...

Amy3010

Ellis, you're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful - I didn't mean to hijack your thread!

It helped me to write it and remind myself of those things as well...

Let's just keep plugging along - perfection isn't necessary, as long as we do the best we can.

Amy3010

Welcome back, Win! Yep, it's that time of year when a lot of us want to buckle down before the holidays.

More power to you!

Amy3010

Thanks, Win! Nice to see you here again! :D I had a good day yesterday, had my weekly walk with our son's dog, saw two of our sons and DIL in the afternoon, food was all on point and super reasonable up til then - but still have to mark it red: we had a dinner event for the organization I volunteer ...

Amy3010

First two days of the week red

- just dumbly being tempted by a little something sweet after dinner. It makes me annoyed with myself, and as I wrote over on Ellis's thread, sometimes makes me question my approach...but after considering everything, I will press on.

Amy3010

Ugh, that is so annoying - I hope you feel better and get your sense of taste back soon!

Amy3010

I also find evenings to be a huge challenge...and I always am mad at myself for messing up a perfectly compliant day right before bed! Like you said, it's the mental state in the evening - I really need to work on that too

Amy3010

I am sorry you are going through this. I understand your frustration and disappointment 100% - and how feeling this way makes you think you desperately need to find another approach, anything, that will get you out of this circle you seem to be going around and around in, get you to stop obsessing a...

Amy3010

Oh no! I hope you feel better soon

Amy3010

Screw ups will happen...the important thing is how you proceed after the screw up, and it sounds like you got that right. Hang in there!

Amy3010

The wedding was lovely! Great food, everything was vegan, but I did not go hog wild - I was having a good time talking with people I knew and dancing

Amy3010

Thanks for your support, Sammy and Soprano (this board has got to be the kindest place on the internet :D ) Yesterday was green - I was training a new volunteer during my volunteer shift in the evening, which really helped me stay on plan - I was not tempted to nibble on the treats they put out for ...

Amy3010

Well done, Sammy!

So nice to enjoy a fancy meal out with your husband - and it fits perfectly into your three meal plan!

Amy3010

Looking back at your old journals is useful to get insight into what behaviors were making it possible for your body to be at a lower weight back then...but be mindful about restrictive thoughts getting in the way of the progress you are making right now. You are doing really well and working on get...

Amy3010

It's a great feeling - the trick is to get in the habit of reminding ourselves of this before eating off plan.

Amy3010

Thanks, Soprano :) A late-in-the-day change of eating plans yesterday - red. :roll: Son and DIL dropped in unexpectedly - stress about the job offer in Paris and they wanted some input - I threw together an impromptu meal for 4 with what I had on hand and we had some wine... Non, je ne regrette rien...

Amy3010

I agree, sometimes things just seem to click, for no apparent reason. I guess somehow we are just ready? In any case, I am so glad to hear you are feeling so good! :D It's a great feeling to stick to your plan! When I am tempted to eat off plan, I often tell myself that I will feel so much happier w...

Amy3010

Good job on the green day!

Shifting your focus to the habits (input) rather than on what the scale says (output) is a great approach.

Amy3010

Nice work!

Amy3010

Thanks, Soprano and Ellis!

My week is still looking nice and green. Just taking one day at a time...

Amy3010

Well done, Sinnie! :mrgreen: Like you and Sammy, I also log my food on N-days, usually pre-planning what I'm going to eat for the day, and then adjusting where needed. I know one of the benefits of the original No-S plan was not needing to keep track or log, but I find it helps a lot. Keep up the gr...

Amy3010

It sounds like you are really getting a handle on your eating routines - well done!

Amy3010

Hang in there, Ellis, and like Sammy said, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself the time you need to grieve. Maybe it will be helpful to get away on a trip?

Amy3010

Thanks, Soprano - I realized yesterday after posting that a big part of my disappointment when I don't do well is also rooted in not wanting to let folks here on the boards down, either... The support really helps and is appreciated! Another green day in the books yesterday! :mrgreen: Plus another r...

Amy3010

Thanks, Soprano

Yesterday was green - Monday is usually my most consistent eating day of the week. Let's take that Monday energy forward another day!

Amy3010

Thanks, Sammy and Ellis...what generally pushes me into the red zone is being at loose ends in the afternoon and evening, and then giving into urges to eat off plan. I am going to do better this week! I am tired of letting myself down.

Amy3010

Way to go, Soprano!

Amy3010

Aww, Ellis, I am so sorry to hear about your cat

I'm glad you found some comfort in having an S day...I hope moving forward with it this time goes well!

Amy3010

After one green day, two red days...

Going for green again today!

Pre-plan:
B: o. oats
L: leftover mushroom/spinach/chickpea pilaf, cucumber
D: veg lasagna, salad
S: small serving of dessert my son made and is bringing over

Ex: strength training + walking

Amy3010

First green day of the week yesterday

Pre-plan for today:
B: o. oats
L: salad plate w beans, veggies, hummus, mango
S: Nakd bar
D: tofu, quinoa, green beans, salad

Ex: strength training, biking

Amy3010

Am logging yesterday as a non weekend S day... I went beyond what I had planned :oops: Back to normal programming today. Pre-plan for today: B: blueberries w soy yogurt, ground flax L: salad plate w beans, hummus, avocado, veg, kraut... S: Nakd bar D: tofu, broccoli, potatoes, salad Ex: yoga & walking

Amy3010

Horrified, LOL :lol: And to think there are so many things so much more extreme than No-S... :wink: It feels so good to have a fully green week on my HabitCal, I'm going for another :mrgreen: Pre-plan: B: o. oats L: Seitan cutlet, broccoli, salad D: Amazon bowl (veg, black beans, quinoa, avocado, ma...

Amy3010

Thanks, Ellis

I also love to read how other people make No-S work for them with mods. In the end it is about figuring out how to eat moderately and sanely for the rest of our lives, and this is going to be different for everyone.

Amy3010

I'm glad to hear that despite the problem with your blood sugar overnight, that you were able to have a good day afterwards, and enjoy your reasonable pizza dinner - that is a win!

Amy3010

You know, I used to struggle so hard between about 3:30 and 5:30 pm, when I would start making dinner. It often led to me to snacking anyway, on unhealthy crap, or eating way too much at dinner or overeating in the evenings... So at a certain point, I decided to include a healthy, planned snack as p...

Amy3010

Don't be too hard on yourself, Sammy, you've been doing great, this is just a small blip. Keep up the great work and fueling your body with all the nutrients in those healthy smoothies!

Amy3010

I'm glad things are going so well, Ellis! Good luck with the pizza challenge tonight - you can do this!!!

Amy3010

Hi Ellis! I always plan a healthy snack, usually fruit and nuts, sometimes a Nakd bar (if I am out or at work in the afternoon). It's my one big mod :mrgreen: I have a streak of green going this week, and I do not want to blow it today. Pre-plan: B: o. oats L: leftover tofu curry, basmati rice S: Na...

Amy3010

Well done on sticking to your three meals, Sammy! The smoothies sound great!

Amy3010

Yes, Sammy, it will definitely be both - and we will miss the luxury of having them close by. But we are thrilled for him, it's a big opportunity. Yesterday: green! :mrgreen: Pre-plan for today: B: Overnight oats L: hummus/kraut/cucumber sandwich S: figs/nuts D: tofu curry w roast veggies Ex: biking...

Amy3010

Hi Ellis! Given the challenges of your diabetes, it makes sense to adapt your eating pattern to work for you and help you keep your blood sugars under control. I am sure that you will figure this out!

Amy3010

Ten days out sick, that is a bummer - glad you're feeling better and that things at work have calmed down for you, but it sounds like chemistry will keep you on your toes :wink: - good for you for giving it a go! And it sounds like on the weight/diet front you are in a good place, and listening to y...

Amy3010

Hi Pink, thank you! :D Yes, lack of sleep is a huge factor in hunger and willpower... I have always struggled with ruminating keeping me awake at night, ugh. Yesterday just on the edge of green - my planned snack turned out to be different...my son just got offered a job in Paris (about four hours b...

Amy3010

Mon Sept 1:

Pre-plan for today:
B: o. oats
L: salad w/ avocado, kraut, black beans, tomato, cucumber, hummus
S: figs/nuts
D: tofu "ricotta" stuffed shells w tomato sauce, salad

Ex: walk (6 km)

Amy3010

Thanks, Ellis! Rabbit rabbit rabbit...first day of a new month on a Monday, and then it being September...can't get any more shiny and brand new than that :D Going for lots of green this month! :mrgreen: Pre-plan for food today: B: overnight oats L: spinach salad w tofu, tomato, avocado, cucumber, p...

Amy3010

Awesome, Auto, to hear you're on such a good roll, despite the trip (sleeping on the floor in the airport, ugh!) and needing to support your husband with his new job (which I can imagine is overwhelming) and then all your own stuff you have going on. I bet you're right, not having alcohol probably d...

Amy3010

Welcome back, Zeejane!

Amy3010

Thanks, Auto! I am gritting my teeth to get through this week at work as team leader. The biggest thing is the way it affects my sleep - I wake up and start ruminating about all the things that will need to be taken care of, or about things that happened the previous day. Feeling like I didn't get e...

Amy3010

I hear you on the wine! I have pretty much eliminated it - I will occasionally have a glass on a Friday night, or a bit more frequently when we are on vacation, but otherwise it is just not worth it to me anymore. Like you, I find it makes my resolve to not snack crumble, and fuels anxiety the follo...

Amy3010

Hi Ellis - I hear your frustration and I understand feeling down and depressed about having tried everything and nothing seems to work. When I am in this place, I ask myself what the alternatives are. Just give up trying and eat whatever I want? Further restrictions? Continue on this path of moderat...

Amy3010

Thanks, Ellis! Last week was all over the place (lots of red) but it made me realize how much better I feel when things are more reasonable. Being all over the place does not feel good, even though in the moment whatever it is (snack, wine) seems like a good idea. :wink: The coming week will be stre...

Amy3010

An accidental green day on an S-day - this is the kind of progress that is easy to ignore, but in my opinion, this shows the habits are starting to be really ingrained. Nothing wrong with that!

Amy3010

I am so sorry to hear that you regularly have to deal with suicidal thoughts, but I admire the way you have learned to manage them. And brilliant that you are going to use the same approach to dismiss binge thoughts! How are things going?

Amy3010

It was good, Ellis, thanks for asking :D - we were busy with the girls and then we enjoyed our little weekend away, came back and started right back at work again. It always takes me a few days after being away to get back into my normal eating/sleeping/exercising routines, but I'm in the swing of t...

Amy3010

It sounds like a good sign to me! :D If you feel like you can do this for the rest of your life, it works with your diabetes, and you are maintaining, then it sounds like this is a great foundation for you. Once you feel really solid in these basic habits, you can gently look at other small changes ...

Amy3010

I hope you feel better, Pink! It sounds like a crazy busy time for you!

Amy3010

I totally understand how frustrating this is for you! If you feel good on Vanilla No-S, and given that snacking is problematic for you, maybe like Soprano suggests, try tweaking the composition of your plates? Filling half your plate with salad and veggies, for example... Although I would be careful...

Amy3010

Sammy, I hear how you are struggling - hang in there! Kathryn Hansen wrote a book based on Jack Trimpey's work, specifically for bingeing, which I found very helpful in the past. She also has a podcast; both are called "Brain over Binge": https://brainoverbinge.com/ Hang in there - every step, no ma...

Amy3010

Great to hear!

Amy3010

Like you and Auto, cutting way back on alcohol has been a big focus for me these past few years - it has such an impact on my sleep and mood. But like you, I always feel like there is something about summer and the sunny weather that calls for a glass of wine... I like your idea of aiming for a perc...

Amy3010

Ellis, that is great news that your doctor is getting you on the waiting list for therapy - just following you here and hearing how much your Type I weighs on you, I can certainly imagine there is a lot to unpack with a therapist. Hopefully it doesn't take too long! Yes, to Mr. Ellis and his encoura...

Amy3010

It was fun (they are super enthusiastic young ladies) but yes, definitely exhausting! So far, our staycation has been busy. We went to a music festival here in our city yesterday, today we'll spend the day with the in-laws. My SIL found a fort from WW1 we are going to visit. This will include a picn...

Amy3010

Sounds like a perfectly lovely day!

Amy3010

Thanks, Soprano and Ellis, we are! Bowling, shopping and dinner out again yesterday - but a solid green day! We were so busy all day, no time to even think about extra nibbles sneaking in. And there were just two portions of the leftover homemade dessert, so I didn't have to disappoint them by not p...

Amy3010

Holidays are always a tricky time...well done on no gain!

Feeling yucky from the food while away makes it good to get back home to normal programming.

Wishing you success with being more mindful about carbs on your upcoming trip - and enjoy yourself!

Amy3010

I think having that space each week where it feels like a relief to be rule-free is crucial in making it possible to stick to moderate habits long term. Hang in there! And congrats on the loss!

Amy3010

Yes to this: being able to break the mindless eating sequence even for a moment is a big deal...it really is!

Amy3010

That's great news about the new job! And well done on handling the craziness - yes, I've noticed that too, that good things can trigger unhealthy habits

Amy3010

Second day with the girls visiting: 3 one plate meals (for dinner we did a "make your own wrap" buffet at home, so virtual plating), a serving of dessert the girls made, and one small cookie with a coffee out and a praline with our tea, so not green, but happy that it was quite reasonable for having...

Amy3010

Ugh that heat!

Good for you for getting out for a walk regardless!

Amy3010

Nice! Always good to celebrate small wins like this - well done!

Amy3010

Happy Birthday, Ellis! My thoughts on your question align with Soprano's...S-days are a rule-free time where you learn to eat moderately in a way that works best for you, while still enjoying the occasional treat. In the beginning, it is common to go overboard and have wild S-days, but as time goes ...

Amy3010

Thank you! We had a good first day with the girls - we started a huge puzzle and I am teaching them embroidery... I also took a non-weekend S day, because we went to a very special bakery here and let the girls pick out dessert (my oldest son and his wife were coming over and it is the bakery they u...

Amy3010

It sounds like you have a solid plan and lots of support from your dietician and husband, which is great!

And focusing on the habit is an excellent strategy, just hang in there with it - you got this!

Amy3010

Anna Lembke, right? I have heard her on podcasts as well, and read Dopamine Nation, such an eye-opening book. I know what you mean about her being a warm, expressive person. What is the workbook like? We lived in Alabama (Florence and Mobile) when I was a little girl and I do remember the heat...han...

Amy3010

Thanks, Soprano and Auto...

Green on my HabitCal, at last...

The girls arrive later this morning. I may or may not have time to pop in here the next few days, but I wish everyone good green days in the meantime!

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