Everyday Systems

kccc

Some things you just gotta learn the hard way. Oh well. :) Perhaps I should have started with chicken, and not been so ambitious as to grab the turkey. (The next day was equally over-the-top with my discount turkey. It was BIG. Much bigger than I normally cook. Suffice it to say, I will NOT cook ano...

kccc

Lovely, Deb! You should post it on the "proud moments" thread. Br - oatmeal, trail mix, cafe au lait L - turkey and rice, tiny bit of broccoli, apricots D - salmon, peas and carrots, cous-cous, peaches Glass of wine Had one taste at the grocery store... I am not considering it a failure. A while bac...

kccc

Hey, Noel, my stock-making adventure would have made a good comic video, a la "I love Lucy" vintage. Am writing it up on my thread, but not sure I can capture it appropriately.

I'll try it again... but not soon.

kccc

About a year. Seriously.

And sometimes I still don't have three meals... even though I really do feel better when I do.

kccc

Sunday turned out to be a moderate S-day. A dessert after lunch and dinner, but that's it. Nice - and reassuring. Habits will take over time.

kccc

Saturday - an S-day - was mindless eating at its worst. I don't even want to report it. And I didn't exercise, either.

Today, I have already done 15 minutes of stretching. A better start to the day.

kccc

Exercise No-S Br - small roll and turkey, cafe au lait L - Salad, squash, turkey, dressing and gravy (I love leftovers!) D - bowl of turkey-rice soup, salad, roll 2 glasses of wine The rest of the group had fresh-baked apple pie, made by yours truly... and I wasn't even tempted. This is heavier foo...

kccc

Ginger, I think I'm with you on breakfast. For me, it's blood sugar issues - I come from a family with a LOT of diabetes! If I eat sugar for breakfast, I'm eating it all day. If I skip breakfast, I'm off-base all day. A light breakfast is okay. But it has to be something I acknowledge as breakfast. ...

kccc

Resting, I so agree about Thanksgiving! I enjoyed the food, enjoyed the family, and didn't feel a bit guilty. How refreshing!

You sound as if you are doing GREAT with your counting-mod - that it's serving its purpose of reminding you to ENJOY your snacks!

Cheers,

KCCC

kccc

I consider anything solid a snack. With that said... I "eased into" the habits, and one of the strategies I used was "limited choice" snacks in the afternoon. (For me, the afternoon snack was the HARDEST to break.) I eventually weaned off it entirely, but it was too much to expect of myself at first...

kccc

I felt the same this morning.

I had something very light, but sat down with it and told myself "THIS is breakfast. It is a MEAL."

By lunchtime I was ready to eat again.

kccc

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine! :) You know, it's nice to eat a lot on ONE day and not feel a bit guilty because the excess is contained to that day. I did overeat... so what? It was a feast day. I enjoyed it all, and I'm now enjoying a follow-up N-day. In prior years, I would...

kccc

Managed a proper No-S Wednesday - which was hard. In my mind, it "felt" like a Friday, and I normally start S-days on Friday at 6PM. But I managed. :) Thursday was a full blow-out S-day. I ate normally until The Meal (which was at noon at our house), then went into full perma-snacking mode the rest ...

kccc

Blue, I do insist on "healthy food first" and there are times when I'll say that he can't have dessert or that he can't have anything else if he doesn't eat what's been served for dinner. (I do try to give choices... there are 3 veggies on the table, pick any two.) But if he says he's full, he can l...

kccc

The 5-of-7 split is one that I've appropriated for any habit change, and really, really like. However, I hadn't thought to use it for LIMITS as well. And after working both days this weekend, I see why I should. (Unusual circumstances, but still... I am "feeling" the lack of respite.) Thanks, Noel, ...

kccc

Your first learning experience.

Hope the rest of the day and tomorrow are successful.

kccc

Round One of grading is done. Have more to do, but not today.

So I'm allowed to be here again.

kccc

I am resisting grading my graduate class papers. I love teaching, but I hate grading. Now that eating instead of working is not an option, I am spending too much time on the computer. Specifically, here. Even when there are no new posts. So I am logging out. You won't "see" me here until I report ba...

kccc

Yes, someone on here used to call No-S a "way of eating" because the useful term "diet" has had so much negative baggage attached to it that she didn't want to use it...

Glad you enjoyed your S's and your N's!

kccc

Hey, Noel, The combination of the article you posted about stock and the approach of Thanksgiving - with all the family foibles that go with it - led to a light-bulb moment. In the article, it says..."Just as vitamins occupy the center of the stage in nutritional investigations today, so two hundred...

kccc

No S Meditation Still not sure about exercise - it will be "bedtime yoga" if I do it. I can take an exempt day if I want to, and in honesty am tired and run down. We'll see. Br - 1/2 bagel w/cream cheese, cafe au lait L - bagel with toasted cheese, big serving of marinated cucumber and tomato salad...

kccc

Random notes.... every now and then, I think I've done really well with teaching my son (age 8 ) about food. Mind you, he's a normal kid who loves treats, and would eat all the sugar I let him have. However, he also knows when he's full. At the church lunch, he wanted one of the HUGE cinnamon buns a...

kccc

Another good one I came across today is the term "S-friendly Environment." (thanks, KCCC) http://everydaysystems.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=50652#50652 Not so much "inspirational" as highlighting a useful concept. Reinhard Glad you like it. Though it should probably be a "No-S-friendly environment." :)

kccc

Resting, I think ENJOYING is really the key. Blue taught me that, and Reinhard's post on "S-days gone wild." I have found that PLANNED, PURPOSEFUL treats serve me much better than perma-snacking through the weekend. They're just satisfying on a much deeper level. Hope you enjoyed every snack you had...

kccc

I found that Mondays were a RELIEF for a long time! But that was okay... part of the process!

Just give yourself time and be gentle with yourself on the whole S-day thing.

kccc

Deb,

Hope you get well soon. Sounds like taking water to your room is a GREAT idea!

Good luck with No S, and with your English Blokey.

Cheers,

KCCC

kccc

Deb, thanks for cheering me on! :) Today was less restrained, but sort of evened out. I exercised first thing, knowing it would be a crazed day. 15 minutes of Pilates, enough to work up a real sweat. Go me! Br- oatmeal, trail mix, cafe au lait Lunch - Here's where it gets odd. We had a meal at churc...

kccc

oolala, it took me about a YEAR to get S-days to be reasonable. And sometimes they still aren't. Focus on the N-days. Honest. If you do want to work on S-days, start with positive choices, not restrictions. (For example, eat three real meals as a base, drink enough, PLAN a special treat proactively....

kccc

Blue, it is great to see you moving gracefully through every potential barrier. I do remember how concerned you were at 6 months... and now look!

You are an inspiration.

KCCC

kccc

Congrats, Kathleen! That's real progress!

(The 10% was a WW guideline, but I like it a lot.)

I like your diet names too.

Cheers,

KCCC

kccc

Hugs are good.

And add flowers to my list. And scented candles. Both trite, I know, but they make me smile.

kccc

Thanks, Deb! It's a good thing I "banked" that exercise, because today it just didn't happen. We were doing a kids' craft thing at church this morning, and I was one of the major helpers. However, the person in charge ended up in the emergency room (she's pregnant, and her water broke early, so she'...

kccc

*snerk* Possibly I oughta buy some index cards. Thing is, I own MS Outlook and a Palm pilot, so I suspect the problem is more about letting myself get overwhelmed and screwing around with stuff that isn't important than it is about needing an organizational tool. I'm a PalmPilot user too (though I'...

kccc

No S Exercise I start my S-days on Fridays at 6:00, and end on Sundays. So today was an S-day. It was a bit indulgent, but I'll report... B - oatmeal, nuts, cafe au lait L - Instant seven grains meal (Something I had bought to try and kept in my desk as emergency rations. Today I needed them. It wa...

kccc

This is a spin-off, sparked by my reflections on the "Supporting your Spouse" thread. One of the things I've noticed is that a good bit of my excess eating falls into one of two categories: 1) An (ineffective) attempt at self-nurture. (As in, eating for comfort when I've had a rough day) or 2) Looki...

kccc

Ah! Thank you, Noel. I don't think I would have EVER caught that. But it makes sense. I am finding in general that I'm not as afraid of fat as I used to be. It's just fine in moderation - a little butter or olive oil or some avocado "anchors" the meal a bit. The trick is keeping it moderate - but th...

kccc

Noel, that is a GREAT article - thank you VERY much.

Okay, I'm officially a convert. Will let you know when I actually put it into practice.

(But I don't understand the "thousand eyes" reference.)

kccc

Blue, thank you SO MUCH. I so appreciate your support and wisdom! I came back on to say that I earned my exercise green today, so erase that yellow! Not a big one physically (15 minutes of yoga-like stretches), but it took some mental "oomph" to get it, so I'm proud of it. And I feel so much better ...

kccc

I assume you strain the bones out after you cook them? Do you skim the fat? And then, how do you store it (freezing?) and use it (as in, how much do you add to a soup)? I heard this wonderful story on NPR about the "fifth taste" (which had a Japanese name that my memory has lost). Basically, scienti...

kccc

I had people over for a committee meeting. I bribed them to meet here (so I didn't have to get a sitter - hubby was away) with homemade chocolate chip cookies and cider. No cookies for me, but I enjoyed the cider. Whoa! You rock!! :wink: Well, I "un-rock" today. No S Exercise Br - bagel, pb, cafe a...

kccc

NoelFigart wrote: KCCC, I see you're being converted to the Homemade Stock Conspiracy. BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! Minons!

ROFL! Maasssster.... I await your orders....instruct me....[/fake Igor accent]

Er... I mean... is there a recipe for stock or directions that I should follow?

kccc

Love the salad story! You are really moving along. Congrats!

kccc

Hi Funfuture, Sounds like you're dealing with a lot right now - good for you for taking on "Shrink Yourself" at the same time. I admit to being curious but scared at the same time. Life is a little too stressful right now to add ANYTHING. But I'm impressed that you're going there. :) Let me know wha...

kccc

No S Exercise Meditation?? Who knows. Busy, busy, busy day. I'm bushed. Br - 1/2 bagel with cream cheese, cafe au lait L - Panda Express - a FULL plate, but half was steamed veggies (in place of rice) D - homemade bean soup (thank goodness for the crock-pot and Noel's inspiration!), crackers Glass ...

kccc

Wow, the things I learn from this site! The soup was a MAJOR hit with the family. Basic 15-bean soup, with the ham bone thrown in. The recipe on the bag was very close to yours, but I don't think I would have thought of using the crock pot, and that really helped my day! Also, someone posted earlier...

kccc

I agree with making an "S-friendly environment" but not criticizing. The other thing I've found is that NOT snacking frees up an astounding amount of TIME, though in little bits. And it also opens the door to forms of self-nurture beyond food. So, look for nice ways that the two of you can spend sma...

kccc

Do what you can do for now. I had to phase in the rules - thought I would DIE without my 4PM snack. So first I cut out everything else, then I started with that. Now, it's not even a second thought. Technically, your chocolate is against "the rules." But if you feel that it's minimal and not interfe...

kccc

No S Exercise Meditation B - oatmeal with nuts and trail mix; cafe au lait L - turkey tetrazzini, apple, banana D - more turkey tetrazzini, peas and carrots, pineapple slice 2 cups of spiced cider (while I served cider and chocolate-chip cookies to my guests) Exercise was the kick-butt Pilates clas...

kccc

Noel, just wanted to tell you that you've inspired me to make 15-bean soup. I have a ham bone that's just begging to be made into some sort of soup, and that sounds perfect. I didn't used to be much of a soup-eater, and still am not. My childhood experience with soup was canned (yech!) or vegetable-...

kccc

Kathleen, I've been pondering your post (whilst recovering from my cold). I think you've hit on the real key element - choice. That's what my "ahead of time" is all about, I see now. When I consciously choose "yes, this is worth an S day and I have decided to take one," it's SO different from "I sho...

kccc

Back and feeling better. Amazing how much sleep helps! That, and hot tea - I've been drinking a lot of the medicinal herbal teas, and they do seem to alleviate symptoms. Some of them taste a bit nasty to me, so I've been allowing myself a spoonful of honey per large cup - which makes such a differen...

kccc

The one caveat I'd add is to watch out for Southern-style iced sweet tea. It easily rivals Coke in sugar content.

But for ordinary tea, even with a spoonful of sugar... no problem.

kccc

The serenity prayer sounds like it might be a good thing to have in your toolbox considering what you have said here "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the firepower to make a difference." Right? *giggles madly and runs away*...

kccc

KCCC, It's not that I wouldn't have been able to face failure so much as I would not have told myself it is a failure. ... I agree with you, KCCC, that people are different. I'm very adept at justifying behavior and enough of a perfectionist that I think one failure would end the diet... Yes, that'...

kccc

Dear KCCC, So sorry you are feeling lousy. Hope you will have the space to take care of yourself. BTW Nibbled To Death By Ducks is the name of a mystery novel by Robert Campbell. Do you know HIM??? That would be very cool. Resting No, but I think I will have to look it up! I wonder if it's a saying...

kccc

You've identified two issues... one is "wasting food," and the other is the social aspect. On wasting food... we are a tremendously wasteful society, and there are a lot of places where we could/should cut down. HOWEVER, treating ourselves as "human garbage cans" is not a solution. Better it goes to...

kccc

I think it's amazing to call three cookies and three slices of pumpkin bread an all-out binge. But, no matter what you call it, congrats on moving on and responding later only to your hunger. Oolala, I don't think it's the amount that made it feel like a binge as much as the attitude with which it ...

kccc

Maybe we need a habit clock, or habit timesheet :-) Nope, would raise the "attention bar" too high. The Daily Check In covers the need for detail, at least for me. But you're right that reporting it here does help with containment. I'd so much rather report "I slipped, but caught myself" than "I've...

kccc

I am so appreciative of all the kind words and support. Right now, I need it. I am thoroughly sick. I'm barely functional, but so overwhelmed I have to keep moving. Not a good place to be. It's only a cold, but I feel as if I'm trying to think through a cloud - like driving in a heavy fog. I'm drink...

kccc

I totally rebelled against the "F word" for the first years, but that was because of all the unnecessary ego baggage attached to that word and because I felt it would actually psych me out. Yup, same here. I am slowly realizing - on an emotional as well as an intellectual level - that acknowledging...

kccc

If you want to see typical days, check the "Daily Check In" board. A lot of us post our meals there.

Cheers,

KCCC

kccc

No S Exercise Meditation I'll just copy what I wrote on the other board about No S. But I did okay with exercise, and I'm going to go meditate now. And then go to bed. I've been hit with a sudden cold. == Today is a red day for me. I totally blew it at lunchtime - as close to an all-out binge as I'...

kccc

Today is a red day for me. I totally blew it at lunchtime - as close to an all-out binge as I've had in a while. Standard triggers... multiple random small disappointments, plus having to sit next to food-I-couldn't have all morning (and even provide some of it - one of those social situations). At ...

kccc

Blue, I smile every time I see you back.

Loved your "Anxiety" post - really insightful, and really resonated. Best wishes to your loved one.

kccc

- Planning extra-nice meals, that I look forward to - Drinking enough - grabbing hot tea or something instead of a snack. - Attending to other health habits (I often use food as a substitute for sleep/exercise) - Limiting my focus. I can get back on track with No-S, but I can't do that and take up a...

kccc

Noel, I'm so glad to see you! I missed you when you left, and hoped you were doing well. (I always wonder when people suddenly stop posting, especially people I notice and like...) Welcome back. :) If the glass ceiling stuck through a difficult time, then you did well. That's a big one. :) Give your...

kccc

11-13 I'm letting myself by with a green for No-S, but there was a bit of virtual-plating there. B - oatmeal, raisins, nuts, cafe au lait L - turkey, salad, carrot, small bag of baked chips S - sushi (California roll w/brown rice), plus a handful of nuts, (That's the virtual plate, which if I do it ...

kccc

It depends... Have you had a lot of NWS (non-weekend S days) already this month, or expect a lot? If not, go for it. (About 2 a month works for most people, it seems.) If you eat the cheesecake, will it be a "gateway" or a one-time treat? If it will be a one-time treat, go for it. And the biggest qu...

kccc

I think it's a very useful option, and can be used very wisely. The discussion that BA and I took to PM had the potential to become acrimonious, especially if others had jumped in on our half-formed thoughts and ideas. I've seen message boards explode in similar circumstances, with everyone taking s...

kccc

For 11/11 No S Exercise Meditation Real exercise - my kick-butt Pilates class. Meditation was "going to sleep" barely there. Ah well. Br - egg sandwich (ultimate comfort food), cafe au lait L - sausage, bread, carrot, apple, yogurt D - turkey, salad, potato Glass of wine For 11/12, I've already done...

kccc

Thanks, Resting! It's interesting to me that I feel that I'm continuing to grow so much LONG after I was officially an adult. I suppose most people do, but once we're through with formal schooling, it's so much less clear. For 11/10 No S Meditation Exercise I am still gearing back up. Got a lot done...

kccc

Blue,

I am so very glad to hear from you and see you here.

Cheers,

KCCC

PS - Understand about time. I'm working on that balance myself.

kccc

Hi, FunFuture - it's nice to know other people are reading this. Hope some of my meanderings are useful. Back on track this morning, and grateful to for an N-day. If nothing else, unsatisfactory S-days make the normal structure more welcome. And I did fit in my meditation and exercise yesterday. Rea...

kccc

The three-meals habit already suggested is excellent - really should make that your priority. Some questions... 1) How regular is your daily routine? 2) What facilities do you have for cooking? None, hot plate, kitchen down the hall, etc? Dorm fridge? 3) CAN you cook? Do you like/hate it? 4) What fo...

kccc

Yesterday was interesting. I exercised - walk AND yoga (felt good). I did "real" meditation. I felt mildly sick from eating all day long. And I didn't even create a to-do list (which I normally do every day), because I knew I didn't want to do any of it, and wouldn't be able to do most of it because...

kccc

One of the useful epiphanies I had this summer is about failure - that what is important about your failure is not just the failure itself, but also how you handle it. "It's all about how you handle it" became my mantra whenever I screwed up; rather than dwelling on the mistake, I focused on fixing...

kccc

No S Exercise Meditation - by the skin of my teeth Yesterday was not the best day in terms of habit. Ate out with friends (my old college roomie is in town) and ate late, and too much. Went to a place I'd been dying to go back to. They'd changed the menu since I was there before, and I didn't like ...

kccc

Funfuture and howfunisthat (both of you "fun" ladies - love it!) I do love being an older mom, though I do sometimes wish I'd started earlier, had more than one, etc. Then I stop and am just grateful. The miscarriages were hard. I had two, spaced out by years of "not getting pregnant." The second wa...

kccc

Blue, I'm so sorry that you were hurt by that interaction. No community is ever in 100% agreement, but I know I speak for more than myself when I say your presence is VERY welcomed here. Though I understand your feelings, I really hope you'll change your mind at some point and return. Either way, ve...

kccc

Howfunisthat, I do hope I'm not confusing you and funfuture on the age. I suddenly have a sinking feeling she's barely 29 and miffed that I mistook her for older! :) My little guy is an "only." After multiple miscarriages, we had actually given up, and ds was a "happy surprise. :) We try very hard n...

kccc

Howfunisthat and Resting...

Totally off-topic, but I just wanted to pop in and tell you how much I love the sig lines that both of you use!

Cheers,

KCCC

kccc

Congrats on the sabbatical. I totally understand the stress, though. I start a new position at another institution in January, and I'm excited, and tremendously stressed at the same time. (Just the thought of cleaning out my office at my current institution... yikes! And while I don't have to move, ...

kccc

You sound as if you are ready for the changes you outline, having first established good habits first. I think they're the hardest... and the most important. Just remember to be gentle with yourself, and make your changes gradually. (There's an old post I wrote about "5 degrees of change" that kind ...

kccc

Hi Blue,

Like Resting, I find the concept of "are you enjoying this?" REALLY helpful, especially on S-days. Thank you for all the helpful insights and support you always offer!

Best,

KCCC

kccc

For Wednesday 10/5/08 No S Exercise Meditation Exercise was minimal - 15 minutes of Pilates in the morning. But that actually was hard to fit in, so I'm proud of it. Mediation was "real," in the afternoon when I "slump" anyway. It helped. No S B - oatmeal w/ banana & nuts, cafe au lait L - BARLEY (b...

kccc

Maybe I should design a habitcal version just for keeping track of WKN days: white knuckle days, so that I could have something that seemed to reward me separately. I think that's a really good idea. And just thinking about "what is a (non-food) reward to me?" is a good exercise, one that puts you ...

kccc

Just a quick thank-you to all of you for being here. It really helped with Monday and Tuesday at home.

Back at work now, so the pattern of the day is easier.

You are a great group, and I really appreciate you all!

kccc

Keeping in mind that I am not a doctor and don't play one on the internet... I had one child, in my 40's, after several miscarriages (you have my DEEPEST sympathy for yours). I actually did well with weight gain during my pregnancy, but not only couldn't lose the reasonable amount I'd gained but con...

kccc

Tuesday, Nov. 4 No S Exercise Meditation Busy day, and I'm pleased I was able to stick to No-S. Exercise wasn't do-able, and meditation (a new habit) was a guided relaxation as I was falling asleep. Minimal, but I'm counting it. B - egg, toast, cafe au lait L - Subway ham sandwich, a few chips D - B...

kccc

oolala53, did you plan your lunch in advance? Was it "one plate"? Did you eat MORE because you were spreading it out as best as you could? If you haven't eaten more than you would have otherwise, and the answers are yes, yes, no, then call it "virtual plating" and let it go. (I will warn you that vi...

kccc

Catching up... My "few more later" turned into wa-ay too many Halloween candies, and the insanity continued over the weekend. We were camping out with the Boy Scouts, and it was COLD, and everyone brought junk.... ah well. Mark it and move on. They were S days. Today was N-day@home, which I've ALWAY...

kccc

KCCC -- Have you ever tried hulled barley (vs. pearl barley)? (Oddly, "hulled" sounds like it would be a lesser version, but in this case it means that only the tough outer layers are removed, and the bran layer remains intact. The pearl version has the outer bran layer removed). ... I adore barley...

kccc

LA_Loser has my number, alright! :) Yes, "mark it and move on." You WILL have failures - part of being human. What matters is where you go from there. You haven't REALLY failed until you quit trying. I have had LOTS of idiot-ish S-days. They still sneak up and get me, though when I write things down...

kccc

Barley! I LOVE barley, and rarely have it because it takes so long to cook. Thanks for mentioning it - I've got some cooking now, along with a butternut squash roasting in the oven. Yum! :) I've realized today that it's not so much the Halloween candy - most of that is really nasty anyway - as the "...

kccc

Best wishes to all of you!

kccc

Today is an "N-day at home" for me, which I have always found a bit hard. And I'm coming off a fairly idiotish series of S-days. Halloween, birthday, Cub Scout camping trip with tons of junk around. (Most of it was not worth bothering with... but the home-made cookies sent by a mom were a major exce...

kccc

Redheadlg, what a great story.

I think you were wise to identify what you weren't ready to do yet, but still do what you could. And it's so interesting that over time, "what I can do (easily)" shifts of its own accord!

kccc

No S Exercise I am so glad tomorrow starts a new HabitCal. B- we went out for my son's birthday. I ordered what would have been a HUGE meal, if I hadn't had less than half because I split it with my 8-year-old who is in a growth spurt. As it was, I had about one egg, a small portion of grits, 1/2 b...

kccc

Mavilu, you will LOVE a massage!

Hope your back heals fast - and I think that your doctor's reaction was pretty cool!

kccc

Bumping this thread since there was some recent discussion on another about calorie-counting or not. There are some great discussions in this thread. I particularly love the ending conclusion that different things work for different people, and that's okay. So true, and so hard to remember when we w...

Everyday Systems

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Resisting tasks... (somewhat but not entirely off topic)

Besides eating...

Re: one man's ceiling

The difference between red and yellow...

Re: still here

Re: re Barley

Back on the plan...