Everyday Systems

buttercreampillow

GREEN day! Which means a good day, emotionally speaking. Even aside from the feeling of satisfaction because I was successful, it's such a pleasure for food to take its rightful place in my life. Not as the center of my world, but as just one nice part of my life. I'm hoping that by No S'ing for ma...

buttercreampillow

Hello, Noel! I envy you your knitting ability--it's something I've tried, but didn't devote enough time to become proficient. A group of crafty ladies at my church spent some time knitting caps for children with cancer who had lost their hair to chemo, and I did some of that and enjoyed it. It must ...

buttercreampillow

KCCC, happy belated birthday! Sorry I missed it. Sounds like you had a good S day.

I'm impressed with how you're dealing with portion sizes. It's so hard to tell in restaurants. Maybe I should just assume right off that it is too big before I even lay eyes on it.

buttercreampillow

buttercreampillow

Hi, Burn! I'll be watching you with interest to see what mods you make. Like you, I'm totally frustrated with the scale, but I don't feel up to doing any more than vanilla No-S and some light urban rangering. I am afraid of restricting myself and provoking binging. Good luck with your mods--in my bo...

buttercreampillow

Thank you, KCCC, you are so kind. Your advice is good, and I gave it some thought. One thing that nurtures me is to get out of the house and see people. Because I'm a student, I spend a lot of days holed up in my house studying, so it's a treat to go out for coffee or to shop a little bit (finances ...

buttercreampillow

Thank you, Debs. It's been a really stressful week. My DBF and I have been talking about getting engaged, and one of his teenaged daughters is REALLY resistant. Although he's been divorced for over five years, and we've been dating for two, his daughters (16 year old especially) want him to get back...

buttercreampillow

What a day! :( I was doing Ok, S day stuff, when I found out that my ex, who just got engaged last weekend, got married already. It was a big shock. I wasn't adjusted to his engagement yet, and I sure wasn't ready for his marriage. We've been divorced 2 and a 1/2 years. It threw me into sort of a ta...

buttercreampillow

I went to a smoothie place today for lunch. The smoothie was made with fruit and frozen yogurt, so in order to not have the sweet part I had them leave out the yogurt and just make it with the fruits and ice. They added a banana for creaminess. It wasn't too sweet and very peachy-mangoey. Yay, me! b...

buttercreampillow

Hi, Mimi and janie! Thanks for visiting! You're both right, of course; it's better not to weigh. After doing so well, the weighing just threw me right off course. In order not to weigh, I'd have to completely get rid of my scale--previous attempts to hide the scale or make it inaccessible haven't wo...

buttercreampillow

Being faithful to No S can be hard. It's so tempting to stray when you hear about some other diet that promises love and romance. The problem is, those other diets will love you and leave you, whereas No S will be with you for a lifetime. I'm having my own struggles with the scale this week. Hang in...

buttercreampillow

Burn, your progress on No S is fabulous! You've changed your habits and seem to be on top of things. You made a mod, and haven't let everything fall apart. Good job! I like how you rate your resolution and patience every day. And I agree--since I'm working on No S, I think I should be rewarded with ...

buttercreampillow

Hi, KCCC! Lamb chops sounds wonderful! I love lamb, but I didn't grow up with it, and have never cooked it. No, I take that back, I made lamb stew in the crock pot once. You just don't see a lot of it in the South.

buttercreampillow

Better day No S-wise, but I fell off the wagon with walking! :roll: However, I can't ignore the fact that I'm doing WAY better with the walking than I used to. Used to, any excuse (bad weather, walking partner absent, over-sleeping) would make me call it off. Now I'm walking most of the time. And I'...

buttercreampillow

I'm kidding. I will be the cook! (He will clean the bathrooms and vacuum!)

buttercreampillow

I don't even like tomatoes in my guac, never mind a bunch of chemicals. Guac has avocado, onions, lemon juice and salt. That's it for me. I am fortunate to have grown up with a mom who cooked from scratch, so that's how I think cooking is done. We never ate canned anything, or any frozen food that w...

buttercreampillow

Just a little pop-in to say "hi!" I've enjoyed hearing from you since you came back! Glad to hear that you and your husband have reconciled--that's good news.

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buttercreampillow

Just popping in to say "Hi!" Hope you have a good workout at the Y.

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buttercreampillow

OK, I had a bad day, but I'm moving on. I just erased a big paragraph describing exactly how much I ate and how it was technically green, but was still a lot of food. I guess I should just stop obsessing about it and move on. I weighed again this morning, and the scale said 157.5. I guess Mother Nat...

buttercreampillow

Colleen and KCCC, thank you. I'm feeling a bit better now. I had to go to the doctor today (well woman), so I also weighed on their big scale. I weighed 161.5, a little worse than at home! :roll: Even though there was no loss, it's true that before No S, I was gaining. What's frustrating is that I'm...

buttercreampillow

Thank you, Noel. :) Actually, I'm about 30 pounds overweight. But after the previous post, I got a visit from Aunt Dot, so I guess that had something to do with my weight--at least I hope so! Your advice about doing this for a long time is well taken. This is the best way to eat, and by far the best...

buttercreampillow

OK, so the scale didn't say anything good, and I'm demoralized. :( According to the scale this morning, I haven't lost a single ounce. I haven't gained either, but I haven't lost anything. I was afraid this would happen. I haven't weighed in about 2 1/2 weeks, so I guess it could be said that I have...

buttercreampillow

Mimi and Vig, thank you for your kindness. I think your idea about making this a twice a week thing is probably a very good idea. I would hate it if I failed and gave the whole thing up. Equally bad would be if it started to seem like a burden that I dreaded. I want this to be a reminder to show lov...

buttercreampillow

Wow!! Those bento sound so interesting! I would love to make the onigiri. Tonight I just had time to wash an apple and stick some crackers and cheese in a ziploc, but I would really love to make something cute and tasty for dinner. I had already gone to the bento site and admired the cute boxes. I g...

buttercreampillow

I made it! 21 days as of yesterday, August 30! No reds, and I'm loving doing No S. I can tell a difference between how I felt about food 22 days ago and now. Eating snacks on S days now feels odd and not desirable.

buttercreampillow

I was too tired to post last night that I am now in the 21 DAY CLUB!! I have now No S'ed for 21 straight green days! Also, I think I'll add something new to Habitcal. I have never been very good at reaching out to people. At the current time, I have a friend who is very ill with cancer, and another ...

buttercreampillow

I'm so tired. Didn't get to sleep in once this whole weekend.

No S - GREEN
No Weighing - GREEN
Urban Ranger - Should have been exempt, but I just felt like walking, so it was GREEN

Zzzzzzzzz.......

buttercreampillow

I'm in, and I've been waiting for August to be over so I could join the next month's challenge! My goal is to continue to have all green days on No S and Urban Ranger. Sept 1 - GREEN . A little shaky, but technically GREEN . Sept 2 - No S Urban Ranger :( Sept 3 - No S Urban Ranger :mrgreen: Sept 4 -...

buttercreampillow

Day 20! Closing in....! No S - EXEMPT Urban Ranger - EXEMPT No Weighing - SUCCESS No major S'es today--just some figs. I did eat out for lunch and dinner, which was kind of an extravagance, but even then I stuck with one reasonably sized plate at both meals. For supper I had fried oysters at Cajun S...

buttercreampillow

GREEN day today, and day 19 of No S'ing. I could count this as day 21, but since my first two days of the diet were a Saturday and Sunday, I have chosen not to count them. 2 more days and I'll be in the 21 Day Club! My enthusiasm for No S is so high--I haven't had any red days yet--that I'm a littl...

buttercreampillow

Am I the only one who sees shades of the differences between men and women's methods of encouragement? Young men are encouraged by their coaches by shouts of "Come on, you pantywaists!" (and worse!) I can only speak for myself, but I would fold up like a lawnchair if someone yelled an ugly name at m...

buttercreampillow

Vigil, I love your blog--it's a little window into your head. And that feeling, of "Am I always going to be this way?", has been in my head for years. In fact, it's finally starting to fade, to my amazement. But that fear, that I will always battle myself over food, is real. Hang in there--you're fi...

buttercreampillow

GREEN day, all the way around. This is getting boring and predictable! :) I've thought that maybe I should post less, and read this site less in an effort to make this seem less like some kind of "program" that I'm on, and more like my natural way of eating. But I feel a bit nervous about that, so ...

buttercreampillow

I've been thinking about this today, and I've decided that normal eating, for me, would be to have a relationship with food that was devoid of painful emotions. Pleasure, yes, and interest, but no guilt, no resentment that I can't eat what I like every minute, no fear of not having enough to eat, no...

buttercreampillow

Thank you to everyone who replied! The basic idea seems to be to take the same things I would eat at home: leftovers, salads, fruit. This is all good--it pushes me out of the sandwich and chips mindset that I was in from packing all those children's lunches. I have class tonight, so will be trying a...

buttercreampillow

Yesterday was all GREEN! No S, Urban ranger, and no weighing. Yay!

I have class tonight and will be trying some kind of brown bag supper. I'm guessing figs (my current obsession) and maybe cheese and crackers? I know I don't want PB & J. I'll report on how it went tonight.

buttercreampillow

That's interesting about the 90 second wave. When you feel an upsetting emotion coming on, or at least when I do, I always think it will be with me forever. 90 seconds is so short. Hope you're doing well, Vigilant! Your blog is its usual interesting self. Congratulations on the pants episode!! :)

buttercreampillow

You're making a good start! We're rooting for you!

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I thought she meant OMG.

buttercreampillow

No S - GREEN!
Urban Ranger - GREEN!
No Weighing - GREEN!

I really want to weigh!!

buttercreampillow

I'm sorry about the kitty--that must have been heart-breaking.

((KCCC))

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Mice aren't supposed to eat meat, anyway.

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Laura, you are so funny!!

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Ari, I'm sorry for your personal event, which must have shaken you up quite a bit to make you binge (or mini-binge). You are working the No S with persistence, which is great. Hang in there!

buttercreampillow

I need some ideas for good brown bag suppers. I have to eat in the classroom, so can't take anything like tuna that has a strong odor. What's your favorite brown bag?

buttercreampillow

Thank you, Mimi and burn notice! Mimi, your point that I shouldn't go from 2 to 11 without a meal is well taken. And burn notice, I'm attracted to your idea about hot chocolate or steamed milk. If I combined the two ideas, I would have two meals before leaving for class and take some kind of brown b...

buttercreampillow

Blithe Morning, I love your metric for rating possible S days. Do you mind that I posted it to my check-in? I would like to keep track of it to use when I can't decide if a day is S-worthy. I'll take it down if you object.

buttercreampillow

GREEN today! I keep trying out ways of handling my class nights, and so far I've figured out the following: 1) I want to put something in my mouth when I get home from class, whether it's a meal or a glass of wine; 2) it's too long to go without food from lunch at about 2 p.m. until late supper aft...

buttercreampillow

Good luck to you, Kathleen.

I hope to see you around and hope you enjoy your time in the kitchen.

buttercreampillow

Check the site now--No S has 100% and there are lots of good comments on there!

buttercreampillow

Good luck! Like you, I like my coffee like I like it, and it's tripped me up with No S before. Hope you find this new way acceptable.

buttercreampillow

So glad you're back! Hope your decreased focus on the scale can help your determination to hang in there.

buttercreampillow

buttercreampillow

Hello girls! The wigwams were so cute, and so 50's. There were 15 of them arranged in a semi circle, all white with a red zigzag stripe. The room inside was circular; small, but clean. At night, some families sat around a bonfire out on the playground that was in the middle of the semi-circle. The o...

buttercreampillow

GREEN day! I was very hungry at about 4, so I drank a little milk and held out. It feels great to have five green days in a row. Plus, I walked. Plus, our high school won the first game of the season tonight! I'm worried about Kathleen. She hasn't posted in a few days, and that's not like her. We h...

buttercreampillow

I'm so new, I'm not sure I can be said to have a dietary default, but the lunch I'm often having is a hot dog (Nathan's) and fruit--grapes, cherries, figs, peaches, etc. The fruit is delicious and nutritious, and the hot dog, which I love, gives me the sense that I'm having what I like, not what I'm...

buttercreampillow

I posted, but can't tell if it was received.

I'm with Thalia--the lack of an eating plan is the best thing about it!

buttercreampillow

Yum! I was on a site once, and somebody else had picked every user name I tried, so I just crazily picked the most outlandish thing I could think of.

buttercreampillow

burn, I know what you mean about seeing yourself and being shocked. I am shocked when I sit around studying and suddenly notice that I have a roll over my jeans. Yuck. I tug at my shirt, hoping no one can tell, but I'm not aware all the time, so I know people must see. It's awful, but we're taking s...

buttercreampillow

Good for you, Arismum! Hang in there with the C25k. I got up to week 3 or 4 before quitting last summer, and now I so wish I had continued! Don't make that mistake!

I envy you--being in Spain sounds so wonderful!

buttercreampillow

Hi, Mimi! Let's see, no check in last night--too tired after class. The last half hour of class my mind really checks out and I can hardly concentrate on what the instructor is saying. My notes from then are really sparse. Yesterday was GREEN ! I had a rather big lunch (all on one plate, though) at ...

buttercreampillow

I have to add my homemade recipe for Balsamic Vinagrette. It only serves one.

2 t. EVOO
1 t. balsamic vinegar
1 t. yellow mustard
1 packet Splenda (can use sugar)
salt and pepper to taste

So easy, and delicious!

I have wondered why we don't have a recipe forum. We all obviously love food!

buttercreampillow

Hang in there, Colleen! You're making improvements even if you're not green every day yet. You'll get there!

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((Janie)) -- that's a hug!

buttercreampillow

They are fat because they are lazy, don't deal with emotional issues (once in a blue moon it's a legit medical condition) and eat way too much calorically thanks to their McDiet. I don't believe it is true to say that we have become fat because we are "lazy." Many of us here on this board have spen...

buttercreampillow

Where are you, Kathleen?

buttercreampillow

Day 10 - Success! I only had two meals today, though it wasn't intentional. I feel free to have another now, but what I want, a sweet, isn't on the menu, so I guess I'll just skip. I don't plan to make this a habit. After missing my walk in the morning, I made myself walk in the evening, like I did ...

buttercreampillow

Hi, Thalia! Thanks for the encouragement and for visiting! Yes, it IS wonderful!

buttercreampillow

One in particular (which I won't name) drives me up the wall so much that I haven't been on it for at least two weeks. One of my breaking points for that board was a post by someone who was calorie counting but just COULDN'T POSSIBLY eat all of her 1200 allotted daily calories. She was 165 lbs. Not...

buttercreampillow

Glad to have you here. One thing I have noticed is that so many people on this board, myself included, describe this diet (if it can be called that) as "wonderful." I've spent a lot of time on other weight loss boards, and that doesn't happen there. They describe their diet as "a lifestyle" or "a ne...

buttercreampillow

Thank you, Mimi and Vigilant! It's so nice to check my computer and find such encouraging messages. I love this board! Yes, I definitely think that the quality of my life directly affects my eating habits. When I was studying for finals last spring, I found myself downing bags of gummy bears as I sa...

buttercreampillow

Great blog, Vigilant! I had wondered what the significance of your avatar was. Good reminder!

Sounds like you're doing great--I'm rooting for you! And I'll think of you next time I go to the Indian buffet--I hope I can do as well.

buttercreampillow

Green day! Yay! Tonight after supper, when we were making lunches for tomorrow, the boys were trying to get me to try some new potato chips. I have always found it difficult to resist snacking on chips and cookies while I pack lunches. "Just try a little one," Twin A said, while waving a chip benea...

buttercreampillow

Let me add something to this sweet tea thread. I was raised in Alabama and I love sweet tea, especially with lemon. Here, in the South, when you order "tea," they bring you iced sweet tea or they ask you, "Sweet or Unsweet?" Since I have been a dieter for so long, I have found that the best sweetene...

buttercreampillow

Janie and Mimi, thank you so much for your kind words! I like Habitcal, but I'm finding my daily check-in to be so motivating, due in large part to the encouragement I get here. Ok, it wasn't a ladle, just a spoon with a coating of pesto on it. When I licked the spoon, I thought, "well, that would f...

buttercreampillow

Kathleen, please hang in there. I know you are frustrated, and I know you spend hours analyzing this diet, your eating, etc. You have stayed the course, albeit with some mental wavering, for a year, and your weight has gone down. You can do this for longer and your weight will continue to go down. A...

buttercreampillow

Summer tomatoes make all the heat and sweating of August worthwhile! My favorite thing is Paula Deen's tomato pie--YUM!

BLT is wonderful, too, or even just sliced tomatoes on white bread with mayo and salt and pepper. OMGosh, I can't wait til morning!!

buttercreampillow

Day 8 - Success, but I'm wishing I could be eating now. I studied all day, frantic that I wouldn't be prepared for class. Then the classes were so confusing that I feel hopelessly lost and defeated. Foodwise, I ate three squares and had my supper in the hour before class at 6:30. I licked the spoon ...

buttercreampillow

Janie, NYC is probably wonderful, but your little town sounds pretty great. I don't know what I would do with all that snow--probably become barricaded inside my house and starve to death. Oh, well, at least I'd die skinny!

buttercreampillow

It IS wonderful!

This is as close to normal eating as I'll probably ever come, and it's pretty darn close!

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Oh, dear! I can't complete the circle--I've never been to New York, although I'm dying to go!

buttercreampillow

Thanks, Mimi. I have three charts now on Habitcal: No S, urban ranger and weigh in. That's all for now.

I vacationed in Virginia this summer. We went to Roanoke and Abingdon. Lovely country and a great time!

buttercreampillow

Day 7 - Another S day. I won't even post what I ate, so that I don't freak out, but will just say by way of memorandum that we ate at Macaroni Grill after church, and DBF had us over for corned beef and cabbage for supper. Also, I had some wonderful figs in the evening.

buttercreampillow

Well, you're certainly taking the right tack. If you don't feel ready to tackle it, it would definitely be the right move to just plan for an S day, and let it go, just like I've had to let it go about the coffee. Have fun, and try not to cry at the dorm! :) In two years, I'll be where you are, exce...

buttercreampillow

Parmesan encrusted sole in lemon butter sauce with spinach orzo at Macaroni Grill. Delicious! I've never been a big fan of Macaroni Grill before, but I could be now. Anyway, before No S I would have either 1) eaten the sole, but been racked by guilt and castigated myself all the way home for having ...

buttercreampillow

How do you make colors? colors? Like this? this? How do you make quotes? what is this a. a question? b. an answer? is this so I can post a link.com www.facebook.com So, how do you make big colored words? My words are either colored or big but not both. :( Big colored words Ah ha! Got it!

buttercreampillow

Ok, here's a report on my first S day: No breakfast (woke up late). Lunch: quiche, pasta salad, roll (all on one plate). Coffee milk in the afternoon. Supper: cheese and crackers before supper, then tuscan chicken, tomato pie, and green beans. Fruity popsicle for dessert. A handful of nuts. I wouldn...

buttercreampillow

Mimi, I checked your post under August Challenge, and you're right--you do have several really good things to report. I'm guessing "diet head" is that voice that tells you that you should go on another diet, right? Or is it that voice that tells you not to eat what you want? Either way, getting rid ...

buttercreampillow

Mimi, I'm so sorry for what you went through with that dog. Our fears are so hard to control, and you have that bad experience to get over. Thank goodness the judge recognized that the animal is dangerous. I hope the knowledge that that dog is off the street will be some comfort to you. Hope you hav...

buttercreampillow

Bushranger, you're right--it's not the coffee, it's the frills! Mimi, yes, 2 pounds a month IS very slow. That may take some getting used to. I can't decide if I want to weigh on the first of the month and just struggle to stay away from the scale at other times, or if I just want to give away my sc...

buttercreampillow

Road trip! Sounds like fun!

One thing that keeps me from permasnacking when I drive (before No S) is that I hate that feeling of never being hungry and arriving feeling kind of sick from all the junk food. Hope you're able to impress yourself with your steadfast adherence to No S!

buttercreampillow

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Hi, Janie!

Reading your check-in reminds me that I will have occassions when No S is hard. I've had such an easy week that it's easy to lose sight of that fact. But you're doing great! You're being strong and winning!

Buttercreampillow

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You're absolutely right there! There's something unnatural about trying not to eat when you're hungry--it's like trying not to breathe! People who diet show unbelievable willpower, but the body's desire to live makes it practically inevitable that they will fail.

buttercreampillow

Thank you, Mimi! I'm so glad to hear that you are drinking your coffee and losing, too! As I'm doing No S now, with coffee, it's the perfect diet. It almost seems like too much to hope for that it could also help me lose weight. Don't tell the weight loss fairy, but I could practically be happy just...

buttercreampillow

I think otherwise--I think the defining characteristic of overweight people is desperation, which makes us willing to place our faith in anything that seems like hope. Maybe that makes us gullible, but we're not stupid. We would just try anything to save ourselves.

Have a good day, Kathleen!

buttercreampillow

Thursday, Day 4--Good day. No late supper after I got home from class, just a glass of raspberry wine, then off to bed. Can't believe that tomorrow is an S day. Now that I'm keeping my coffee, I haven't really felt deprived at all, just odd moments like when I had to remind myself not to have a samp...

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Hello again, Janie! I love what you had to say about the coffee--and I ordered the book. I am so not a morning person, and I hate to say how dependent I am on the coffee to get me going. Maybe it's something I can work on later, but either way, thanks for your helpful and understanding words! One th...

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Hi Janie, thanks for stopping by! I haven't bought the book yet, but I will. I am a little afraid that there will be something in it that I won't want to know, like "No caffeine" or "No artificial sweetner" (which I suspect is out there somewhere already). When I tried this before, I got so tied up ...

buttercreampillow

Good day. 1/2 PB and J for breakfast. A homegrown tomato, cottage cheese and pasta with sauce for lunch. Sushi for supper. Coffee with creamer. I don't find myself pining for the coming weekend. I'm choosing what I want to eat at meals, and don't really miss the snacking. I'm enjoying having some st...

buttercreampillow

Kathleen, I have spent a large portion of the day reading through your journal. It's fascinating, and reveals so much about you--how intelligent you are and how you struggle against not only your own body, but also against years of diets and dieting information. Like you, I have retained snippets of...

buttercreampillow

Good day yesterday--success. I ate my second meal at 3:30, and just wasn't hungry for another before bed. I seriously debated having my third meal at bedtime, just because I could, and because I'm so used to snacking at night that it was hard to stay out of the kitchen. However, I really wasn't hung...

buttercreampillow

Pam, you must be a teacher, to be starting back to work in August. Good luck with your year. One thing I have noticed is that people who are naturally thin have a very casual attitude about being offered food they don't want. They just say, "No, thanks, I'm not hungry." They don't feel a need to exp...

Everyday Systems

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What do you brown bag?

I just had the yummiest lunch!

Just fooling around...