Everyday Systems

ironchef

Good work on the N day, and the walking. This is the way!

ironchef

Hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready to press on into the second week of July. This is the point where I usually drop out of the monthly challenges, so I'm pushing myself to stick with it. Since those of you in the US have just celebrated the 4th, here is a quote from your 30th president: ...

ironchef

So: N days as usual for the next two weeks; walking (20+ minutes is my goal) on N Days. Excellent! I look forward to reading about your success. Ironchef, some "new" greaties include Harry Potter, Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, and the Mysterious Benedict Society. When you do happen upon a ...

ironchef

hey auto, don't panic! Just some thoughts on vacations, a while back I got some great advice about vacations on this thread . You could treat this 2 weeks as fun and not worry about it, but it sounds like you've had (and will have) lots of stuff during the Summer, so you can't make it all an excepti...

ironchef

Sounds like an interesting experience. I have travelled a lot for work in the past, mostly to relatively small towns in Europe. I have the opposite problem: the longer I'm without a kitchen and my usual staples, the more I tend to overeat. But things feel very even now and have for the past few days...

ironchef

Welcome! You've been on this about 4 weeks and lost just about a pound a week. You're right on track. Bingo. In fact, any more than a pound a week is not usually recommended. I can see how that first week 6 pound drop must have confused you and set up some unrealistic expectations, but this is a mar...

ironchef

auto, everyone has a different favourite. My friend Dana says 18 months, my mum says 3-5, my aunt says 8 - 10! I think part of it is that Ironbaby is a relatively easy toddler (although I have not much idea, with only one) - but he seems to have a mostly easy time communicating his needs and feeling...

ironchef

I'd also recommend the "Phases of No S" thread (it's a sticky thread at the top of this page) for some insight from folks who've been No Sing for many years more than I have. By "a lot of work" do you mean mental work to keep saying no to food? Because I found No S made a lot less work for me, prepa...

ironchef

Welcome! Love your handle (is it from Northern Lights?). I think 21 days is very optimistic, especially if you live, as I do, in a society that is constantly offering you snack opportunities. It's a good first goal, but don't be shocked if you get to the 22nd day and think "whoa, it is still hard to...

ironchef

I have trouble sticking to chore systems just for myself, I can't imagine how challenging it would be to organise one for other people as well. Sounds like you have a good, simple idea, hope it goes well :) Ursula Le Guin is the author of The Wizard of Earthsea (which you might have heard of) and th...

ironchef

Thanks guys! :D I thought that milky drinks, or any sweet drinks, were part of the sweet and therefore, not to be had. Coffee and tea, even if they have milk and sugar, are absolutely "vanilla" No S. So is a glass of full cream milk, which is what I used to have in the middle of the night when I wa...

ironchef

Wow, you are off to a great start :) I am having a tough time making s days any different than n days. If your national day is like our in Australia, the tradition is more about partying at the beach and drinking than it is about eating, so maybe it isn't a big s day for you. You don't HAVE to defin...

ironchef

Welcome home!
Your Summer plans sound good, I can't wait until my son is old enough to read him C.S. Lewis, A.A. Milne, Madeleine L'Engle, Kenneth Grahame, Ursula Le Guin, Tolkien...

ironchef

Thanks eschano, I know, it really is a delightful age. I know people talk about "the terrible 2s", but at 2yrs and 1mth he really is a lot of fun. Perhaps it is because this is often the age when a second baby arrives, thus making everything a lot busier? Yesterday in the kitchen: Me: Don't touch th...

ironchef

Not all of us are in the US, might explain why no S day.

catservant - good on you for reporting. Hang in there - you can do it!

ironchef

I love the DS3 too, although I got a nasty cold from the aircon at the office (who puts on an aircon in England? Tomorrow's the "hottest day of the year" at 26 Degrees Celsius -that's like autumn in Austria). I will try to stick to it anyways. I abhor Summer colds! Be wary exercising when you have ...

ironchef

Well done! What a great day.

naturally sweetened

Sugar is natural, and made from plants. For that matter, so is corn syrup. I found this article on the topic of syrups interesting.

ironchef

Thanks eschano, although 1 green week at the end of June isn't quite a month of success, but I'll take it! All green so far this week (Mon, Tues, Wed) for No-S. Green for 14 mins Mon, Tues (cycling). I chased my son around the indoor water play center today, so I figure I got good exercise, but I mi...

ironchef

Ouch, tough day. You poor thing. I know exactly that weird overeating feeling of "but I'm not satisfied, I need something else" without really knowing what it is, and knowing that you've already eaten past the point of feeling good. Just a few thoughts, firstly on the pudding. Everyone defines their...

ironchef

I like your new DS3 system - sounds like you're off to a great start!

Sorry about your hair, very annoying, especially when you paid good money

ironchef

Still keeping busy. A little tennis, a little swimming....a lot of organizing around the house. I don't know. Maybe I"m nuts, but I have a theory that if I get my surroundings in order, I'll be in a better place to get my insides in order. It can't hurt anyway. That doesn't sound nuts at all; I'm a...

ironchef

It's hard to explain the challenges our family faces being in the minority without getting into tricky religious/political territory but suffice it to say I'm surrounded by a good deal of ignorance combined with righteousness & it's a dangerous combo. I have to protect myself with reasonable bounda...

ironchef

I'll join this month. Last month I had 5 red days for eating and 6(!) for 14 minutes exercising. I think I have a handle on why that happened, illness and time management mostly. I ended June on a green week, so I'm hopeful that I can keep that momentum going. Goals for this month: fewer reds in bot...

ironchef

clarinetgal wrote:On Friday, I broke through a major weight plateau. I saw 149 on my scale, for the first time in over 3 years (my goal is 125-130).

Well done! Keep on putting one foot in front of the other, you can do this.

ironchef

Thanks Linda! Yeah, it was a great luncheon, and kind of hilarious. The group I volunteer with matches you up with a person with a disability who lives locally. The idea is to prevent people becoming isolated if they are disabled but live independently. So, we had a group of people with various phys...

ironchef

Sunday S day - went to the annual luncheon for my volunteering group. It was great fun to gather with all the volunteers and the people we volunteer with for a day out. A few of the ladies sitting near me wanted to share a seafood platter so I agreed. Whoa! So much food. I don't know if it was me ov...

ironchef

lpearlmom wrote:I love that post iron. Basically I think it's saying there's many ways to raise great kids & we should worry less about doing it perfectly and try to enjoy them more.

Thanks Linda! Exactly what I was trying to say, but much more concise. Once I get babbling...

ironchef

Ohhh, I am green with envy over here in Winter! What I would give for a lovely fresh, ripe, LOCALLY GROWN avocado or cherry. Sigh...

ironchef

Thanks CG! Green all week for No-S! Green all week for 14 minutes (cycling and "hard" house and garden work). I'm really pleased, this is my first green week for June. Saturday - had normal breakfast and lunch, and shared a sweet escargot pastry with my son and husband at a gorgeous French patisseri...

ironchef

I don't know if it is any comfort, but in my husband's family none of the kids had chores growing up, and they were babied in a lot of ways that I thought were amazing when I met him (and his brother and sister). My husband's mother still made brown-bagged lunches for him when he was 19! None of the...

ironchef

http://www.diethobby.com/blog.php?ax=v&nid=1042 Thought provoking as always Bright Angel. I take your point on the importance of "live and let live", especially on an area as varied and individual as eating, weight and appetite. In fact, I was just grumbling on another thread about how annoying I f...

ironchef

Ah, No-S, the only "diet" site where I can post dessert and cookie recipes without guilt :) My new eating schedule worked well Mon - Wed, with no crazy gaps between meals, so I am GREEN so far this week. Really pleased. 14 minutes - GREEN all week as well! Finally! I had a bit of a breakthrough on t...

ironchef

Sounds like an interesting read. The funny thing to me is that it now looks like going straight to vanilla No S is traveling at lightning speed compared to the small eating changes she and others in her book learned. I think Reinhard touched on this briefly in his discussion about taking "one S at a...

ironchef

Happy Anniversary!

Dandelion wrote:Also love the idea of a forest preserve. I hope it's as lovely as it sounds.

Actually I'm picturing a jam of forest berries, but that's just me...

ironchef

Pavlova is basically meringue, however you add cornflour to get a meringue that is crispy on the outside but squishy in the middle. Top with cream and fruit (most traditional would be a soft fruit like strawberry, kiwifruit or banana with passionfruit). I don't fancy it because I'm not a meringue pe...

ironchef

Ah pavlova, the quintessential Australian dessert. Well, actually there is some dispute over whether it was created in New Zealand or Australia. Either way (ahem, actually it was probably New Zealand) it was created for the great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova during an Australasian tour. But we cla...

ironchef

Ugh, people are not machines. I can't stand the tendency for people to give "one size fits all" advice on things as varied as eating and appetite. My husband is a "naturally" lean and health eating person, and he never has breakfast first thing. If he forces himself to eat then, he generally gets qu...

ironchef

Oh, I hear you on the eating due to exhaustion. I made this connection most strongly when I was working offshore, doing a 14 hr day then being woken at 2am to answer questions for the night shift. You couldn't drag me away from the cookies. I think it is 2 things: 1. I know that sugar/carbs will giv...

ironchef

I can relate to the "comfort" eating, I've been guilty of doing this a bit in the last week while I was sick. Just something about coming home tired on a cold, rainy night and feeling snotty and horrid, has me reaching for the fruit toast with a side of self-justification. I really believe that find...

ironchef

I carried little salted crackers where ever I went! Like you, I was very averse to sweets and actually threw up when someone talked me into an Easter egg. Meat or eggs were so disgusting that I couldn't cook with them, let alone eat them. My sick feeling was all day (not isolated to mornings), but i...

ironchef

automatedeating wrote:Man, oh man, my 8-yr old has developed an elaborate set of arguing skills that I am doing my best to dismantle (without screaming at him).

The downside of having a smart and well spoken kid?

ironchef

Thanks all! So far, so good - there were no "starving" moments yesterday, so good green day. New schedule seems to be working. It helps that my cough and cold are improving, so I didn't feel quite so bleurgh and in need of comfort. Yeah, Solstice is my big meal of the year really. I started it 5 yea...

ironchef

she realized she wasn't any happier & that she actually had to give up a lot of what made her happy to achieve it. Boy, ain't that the truth? I know that the small and brief joy I would get by successfully achieving svelte body would require me to be someone that I don't want to be--someone that sp...

ironchef

Welcome back Deb! I remember your posts from a while back, great to see you here and best of luck.

ironchef

Great weekend - we held our 5th annual Winter Solstice dinner and it was awesome! I did the mains, which was a roasted venison haunch with sides of Brussel sprouts and red cabbage with apple and shallots. I used a recipe from the River Cottage guy, where you wrap the haunch in herbs and then in pork...

ironchef

Part of me wants to hate myself for being so strict with my kids the last couple of days; and part of me hates myself for not having been strict enough in recent months--allowing them to become so slow to obey and so quick to argue. One thing that was told to me by a parenting help line when I was ...

ironchef

These entries this week have been hard for me. Failures, compromises, lowering of standards, and some just plain ole' gluttony. Honesty isn't comfortable, but it's real. And I need to be real in my fall-apart-ness. If I pass through this wave, I will come out on the other side and have better compa...

ironchef

Thanks

It's just a cold (not 'flu thankfully), so I just need to hang in there and I'm sure it will sort itself out.

PS It's winter here

ironchef

Thanks eschano - still sick today, now with extra snot - ewwww! At work today, so cycled in (slooowly). Feel really shoddy, but actually easier at work than at home. Red fail for No-S today - my work colleague made the most amazing chocolate cake, complete with maltezer and white and dark chocolate ...

ironchef

I dream of becoming one of those people. I absolutely know what you're talking about, I live with one of those people (my husband). He'll happily come home and eat a meat pie, on another day he'll have tuna and rice cakes, another day nothing at all. And he doesn't stress about it, or choose one or...

ironchef

That's a beautiful meditation, thanks for that link.

I'm a big believer in the power of the words we speak to ourselves and the ideas and images we focus on. The mind is an amazing thing.

ironchef

oolala has some great advice. The only think I would add is to do things that are incompatible with eating. E.g. if you graze when you're home near the kitchen, plan to be out as much as possible. If you grab lots of snacks on the go, don't carry any money unless you need it, or change your route so...

ironchef

Linda, that's a great idea, thanks for the link. You're both right - must record before we forget! I was just saying to mr. chef last night that we should write some of these down

ironchef

I guess that's part of why I'm not on FB. If I was, and then wouldn't link up with my sister (or someone similarly close), I think I'd find that very hard to explain without hurting someone's feelings. Also, I think having an indifferent high school experience negates a lot of the "oh, I'd love to s...

ironchef

Still a bit sick I'm afraid - now just a sore throat and cough. Green Monday and Tues for 14 minutes (cycling) Green Mon for No S. Red Tues - I ended up with 9.5 hrs (and the cycle home) between an early lunch and a late dinner, and I broke down and had a cracker with avocado and a teaspoon of yoghu...

ironchef

Firstly, hugs to you. That was such a brave post, thank you for sharing it. Seeking revenge just keeps the pain alive. And while I can't erase the past I can learn to let go. Then the healing can begin. This is such an important realisation, but it is something that can't be rushed. Oh honey, your l...

ironchef

It's really great to hear from you Kathleen! The work thing -- so what? So I look stupid in front of people I won't see again in a few months. I doubt you will look stupid to anyone. You'd be amazed by how little people will notice whether or not someone else eats breakfast. I need to assure myself ...

ironchef

What a delightful post to read - so happy for you, and Mr. Berry.

ironchef

Great work on the dog walking. I love your new "This is Awesome" category! We all need one of them

ironchef

An ok weekend, but I'm still sick and have mostly lost my voice. Bedtime stories were a bit bizarre last night, with Beatrix Potter delivered with extra croak. Squirrel Nutkin never sounded so husky before. Still cycled (slowly) to work today, so green there. We've already established that my son lo...

ironchef

Oh, oolala, this is one of those times that I'm frustrated I live on the other side of the world - I would come garage diving in a heartbeat! Decluttering with a friend (my stuff, their stuff, other people's stuff, doesn't matter) is one of my favourite things.

ironchef

I'm sick this week and have now completely lost my voice. I'm giving myself an S night tonight so I can drink lots of lemon and honey drink. Bleurgh. Funny stuff today: Me: Have you done a poo? Ironbaby [running away]: Yes, it fell out from your doodle! Not Mummy cleaning it up. Running Away!!! Oh m...

ironchef

Welcome! Sounds like you are incredibly busy - phew - 6pm lunch, 10pm dinner? I often "plate" for a visual effect and then disassemble to eat (who wants their dish of yoghurt getting warm next to their burrito, right?). I think as long as you take a moment to eyeball the whole lot on the plate at on...

ironchef

I'm going to ridiculous lengths to at least appear halfway acceptable. I know you were being flippant (and I'm a big fan of pampering now and then), but just wanted to affirm that you are 100% acceptable, beautiful, worthy and loved, just as you are. And if your sister or our society or media don't...

ironchef

hey alice, I'm really sorry you've been through such a hard time. I've been doing this for 2 years. I had a long stretch off the wagon (3 months ish) over 2013/14 Christmas and New Year, mostly due to a bunch of positive stressors (go figure!). And then I got back on board. Then I fell off again in ...

ironchef

The article you link to is by a self-described "fit, athletic" man who is over 6 foot. His story is very interesting, but I wouldn't be too disappointed if your journey is different, you know what I mean? I agree with finallyfull - see if you can experiment and calmly observe whether things are bett...

ironchef

yay, vacation coming! It is really getting wintery here, so I'm enjoying living vicariously through those of you who are heading into mid-Summer. Thanks for the YNAB link. I've always been a pretty good budgeter, but have gotten slack lately while a lot of other things have been busy. I'm tidying up...

ironchef

Wow, eschano, what a roller coaster of a week! And hey, you're not corruptible, you're pragmatic and flexible. It's totally ok to change your mind - only you know all the nitty gritty here. Caveat: All opinions below merely my opinions and experience, so take with heavy salting! I think your idea of...

ironchef

Good luck and safe travels. I hope you are pleasantly surprised

ironchef

I would just mark it red. Certainly sounds fail-worthy - yum! That's just me. Red's don't bother me that much emotionally and I like to mark them "for the record". Then if I get to the end of a few months and I'm not losing or maintaining, I can look back and see whether my HabitCal shows a lot of r...

ironchef

I'm not in the right category, but just looking through the top 1/2 page of the Testimonials these posters: Too solid flesh Nicest of the Damned vmsurbat Have all reported dropping and maintaining significant amounts of weight (50+ pounds). Very inspiring. I love reading the testimonials page if I g...

ironchef

Seconding Blithe Morning that a few weeks is not that long - definitely take a minute to take a deep breath and relax. After 18 months on track, I fell off the No-S wagon for over 3 months relatively recently, during Christmas and New Year 2013/14. My sister's wedding and the surrounding events, mov...

ironchef

Thanks ladies, he is pretty cute at the moment. He turned 2 about 2 weeks ago (end May). Just a couple more funny conversations from last week: Ironbaby: "I love the Zoo" Me: "What about Mummy?" Ironbaby: "Yeah! And Mummy! And the vacuuming cleaner!" Ironbaby [While playing the ukulele]: "Bubba play...

ironchef

My sisters and brother and I were NOT close growing up. There was lots of physical fighting, bullying, manipulation, jockeying for approval from parents, etc. And now? We all love and appreciate each other. Sounds like me! My sister and I got on terribly - yelling, fighting excluding from games wit...

ironchef

A much better all green week this week. I have an S event tonight (drinks and canapes) as my work is having an event to celebrate a recent big win. I've cycled or run every day except Wed. On Wed my son and I did a LOT of dancing (he insists we dance "togezzer", which means I have to hold him the wh...

ironchef

Wow Linda, 3 days - that is an impressive race! And a good cause too. Yeah, a wine here or there is fine. It's just that lately, since it is winter here, we settle into our home a little earlier on the darker, colder evenings and often open a nice-ish bottle of red. Once I've had a glass while cooki...

ironchef

As I write this, I'm kind of dumbfounded by why I feel obligated to spend time with her. She always makes it about my mom though whom I adore. We're going there to celebrate her 75th bday. Oh well it's just three days. It'll be fine. I'm sure you'll be fine Linda, and it's lovely that you'll be the...

ironchef

Too many reds for May. Yesterday was a public holiday here, with a last minute afternoon tea with family, so I've started June with a red too. Need to get back in the swing. I think one of my problems is when I have a drink during the week - alcohol being something that lowers my inhibitions, so the...

ironchef

Aww, thanks everyone :) I'm really blessed in that I absolutely love my job. I work with a great group of guys, some of whom have been my friends for over a decade, and I get to think about something interesting almost every day. Plus they pay me well enough that I can afford to work three days a we...

ironchef

Oh dear, that wasn't the kind of library support I meant, but good on you :) Interesting that the electronics needed to go back to an easy "habitual" system, instead of a complex one with high cost in the way of attention. I really do think Reinhard is onto something key with the way his everyday sy...

ironchef

I'm a big fan of lightly sparkling mineral water with ice and something for flavour, eg:
- A slice of fresh lime (or lemon) from our tree.
- Sprigs of mint
- A spiral of apple peel

The flavour combinations are up to you!

ironchef

DH has taken over the kitchen the last couple of days w his fish tank project. The one thing that keeps me calm is having a clean house & not being able to have the house how I like it is causing me a ridiculous amount of anxiety. I don't think it is ridiculous, my kitchen is the one place in the h...

ironchef

Hey auto, I'm a subsea oil and gas engineer, but I got my Cert III and IV in Fitness a few years ago so that I could be a PT part time at my local gym. I stopped training clients about 6 months ago when I went back to 3 days a week engineering - life just was too crazy otherwise. I hope to eventuall...

ironchef

Thanks gals, I know it is ok to rest when sore and I'd absolutely give that advice to clients. I think perhaps what I need to go for is 5 days out of 7, but not stick with the same S and N days as for eating. I often have more time to exercise on weekends, when my husband is available for toddler wr...

ironchef

Yup, I got that they were picking up packages and reading the labels and stuff, but I still think that's pretty far over the line. If anyone touches your actual food on your plate, I'm pretty sure the rules say you're allowed to throw it at them. Although I spend a lot of time with an almost 2 year ...

ironchef

I was a chronically dreamy and disorganised child and teen. I mean, really hopeless, left a $700 clarinet on a bus (twice!) , walked home at lunch because I thought it was the end of school bell kind of dreamy. I lived until I was about 20 with a kind of constant low level anxiety, sure that I was f...

ironchef

Strawberry Roan wrote:Did get in my vigorous hour walk, beautiful breeze was blowing and the town is filled with lovely flowers in bloom.

Beautiful! I envy you, as we're heading into winter here.

ironchef

Epiphany Post #100? on NoS! :) NoS has taught me (yet another life lesson)-- who am I to judge what or when or how much people eat? I have been the recipient of an untold number of unsolicited comments on my food this year at school. Pre-NoS, I'd pick up McDonald's after work (well, even pre-Strate...

ironchef

Thanks Strawberry :) Green for No-S so far this week. Had another red yesterday for 14 minutes: It was a very active morning and I took my son swimming, but being sore from running and biking, plus a bunch of chores that needed to be done during naptime, meant that I didn't get my 14 minutes of stre...

ironchef

My son will be 2 soon. He eats breakfast (7am), early lunch/morning meal (11am), a small afternoon snack of fruit and/or yoghurt after napping (3ish) and dinner (6pm). The only time I offer a snack is after swimming lessons (mid morning on Tuesdays). He's been on this as a typical routine since he w...

ironchef

Thanks eschano, clarinetgal

Green Monday and Tuesday for No-S and exercise, but oof, man, I am feeling it after the past four days running and cycling every day. My leggies are sore!

I think I'll give myself 14 minutes of stretching and yoga moves tomorrow!

ironchef

A green week with a late Friday fail (another Fri night dessert with my husband). I'm not sure if I need to change our routine somehow to cover this, twice in a row doesn't make a pattern, so I'll see how the next few weeks go. I had two reds for 14 minutes during the week, but on the weekend I went...

ironchef

hey auto, I go through phases of sociability, and also at the moment I'm very busy at home and at work so just don't have time to keep up as much as I'd like. Luckily there are enough people and positive energy here that someone will chime in if others aren't. Discussions I often avoid on the board:...

ironchef

I'm finding myself wondering which categories is it important to have items "roll over" to the next month (for example, $200/month saved for vacations for two months = $400 available to use). I see the logic in that, but I don't think I want to be doing that in the "dining out" category or the "ent...

ironchef

Had another minor fail late Friday - my husband had some dessert after dinner so I joined him. Two reds this week, but I'm ok with both of them and neither was huge. Had a really great weekend (we celebrated mothers day on Sunday in Australia). There was a lot of eating, but it was all in the contex...

ironchef

Congratulations on your anniversary catservant! Just wanted to support you on the idea of an anniversary as an N day - if you want (certainly anniversaries can be an S if you like). There are lots of ways to make a day or a meal special without needing to have an S. Sure, there are events that are l...

ironchef

Happy birthday Linda, sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the day. You are absolutely right about letting people know what you'd like / expect, even if it might not be as fun as being surprised. Everyone has different strengths, and remembering / planning special events isn't something everyone is great ...

ironchef

Thanks eschano. He's still in hospital as they're having trouble stabilising his blood pressure, but we're hopeful that the worst is over. Fail-worthy red today. My boss's wife sent in a homemade tea cake. Cherries, apple, vanilla beans, cinnamon. I had a small slice with morning coffee and it was t...

ironchef

I think there's a lot to be said for the old "after school snack" for growing kids. Really, it's just a small "4th" meal. I think I am going to become more intentional about planning that snack for the boys, with the same kind of rhthym and planning I use for breakfast, lunch and dinner for them. V...

ironchef

Hey auto, I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet. So, caveat would be that whatever posters respond with here, you should discuss your concerns with whichever health professional is managing your condition. I can't find it right now (will keep digging), but I read an interesting piece f...

Everyday Systems

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Re: Judy's check in

Re: * JULY 2014 CHALLENGE *

Search found 1630 matches

Re: Judy's check in

Re: *** JULY 2014 CHALLENGE ***

Re: * JULY 2014 CHALLENGE *