Everyday Systems

LifeisaBlessing

Hi kaalii!

Welcome back!

And great job with your results even with all the treats--it sounds like you stayed basically within the NoS framework that you had planned, so well done!

Can't believe how fast the time this summer has flown by though!

LifeisaBlessing

Hi bunsofaluminum! :) I'm with you on eating slowly and chewing every bite thoroughly--it really adds to the enjoyment of meals, but it is so hard for me to do at times! It's easy for me to get distracted, start thinking ahead to the next thing I have to do, hurrying just because my meal was later t...

LifeisaBlessing

I guess the best thing is just looking with kind eyes at one another and realizing we all have our crosses to bear and joys to share. knitapeace--I know this is Linda's thread, but I just had to thank you for your wonderful comments and perspectives from your experiences as a SAHM and working-outsi...

LifeisaBlessing

So happy I was able to make you feel better, Linda! :) And know that these years with your daughters now are VERY intense--I found being a SAHM during this time especially challenging, and like you, had some "rage" moments myself. It happens. Because our one and only job is raising our kids, there i...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi and welcome back, moderatemeals!

Sounds like you have a solid plan. Best of luck as you get started again!

LifeisaBlessing

Hi LadyEngineer!

Just wanted to stop by and say hello--as a mom of both an older daughter and younger son, I can related to sooooooo many of your situations!

NoS is a wonderful board, and it's nice to have you here!

Best of luck with the college shopping!

LifeisaBlessing

jackn--thank you so much for such an interesting, philosophical topic! I have to confess that your post really made me think--so much so it took me three days to come up with a response. So thank you for a wonderful "mental" exercise, so to speak! :) I fall in both Merry and noni's camp: being a rel...

LifeisaBlessing

Linda--I'd like to give you a nice cyber-hug! Hang in there--your goals sound very doable and stable. Coming to a place of self-love and acceptance is very important, and it sounds like that's where you are focusing, so take it one day at a time. Looking at things too far into the future can be over...

LifeisaBlessing

Congratulations on your new milestone in weight loss! That is an awesome accomplishment--great job on staying the course!

LifeisaBlessing

Great to hear from you, Linda! And so glad you're finding something that is resonating with you. Good news all around! Looking forward to your next update.

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Nell12! :) I'll add my $0.02 to everyone's advice. I'm coming from the perspective of trying vanilla NoS in the past with limited success, to doing a modified version of NoS, finally reaching (and surpassing--yay!!) my goal. So right now, I'm maintaining and refining. 1. Like Shuggernaut said abo...

LifeisaBlessing

I'm so glad you like my visualization suggestion, bunsofaluminum! :) In fact, I had to use it myself this afternoon. At work, I was doing a particularly tedious section of a report, and started feeling "the empties," probably mostly due to stress over the report. Even though I'm at goal, I know that...

LifeisaBlessing

Aww Linda--out of the mouths of babes, right? What a sweetheart. :) And thank you for letting me know of your atheist standing--no worries here either. We're all in the journey together. :) And like Jen, I'm going to miss you also! :( You've been so welcoming to me and everyone on the forum. But I a...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Whosonfirst! And welcome! :) I'm a western Pennsylvanian here, and I hear you on this latest heat and humidity--blech! My favorite seasons are the transitional ones of fall and spring, so this is definitely not my favorite time of year lol. You have an impressive workout schedule--wow! While I've...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi bunsofaluminum! :) I totally agree with Linda--exercise should be something pleasurable. Otherwise, it'll be the first thing to go when the going gets rough. I've stuck to 10K steps consistently because I love walking (with the occasional jogging/jumping/running up stairs thrown in for variety), ...

LifeisaBlessing

Welcome back, Marianna! :) I'm fairly new to the NoS boards, but have been lurking here for years, finally deciding to join when I reached my goal in the hope that I can offer some help to others on what worked (and continues to work) for me to get and keep me at my goal. One of the things that help...

LifeisaBlessing

Oh, Linda--I know how you feel! :( Thoughts of going back in time and getting a redo are so common with pretty much everything. When I get sad or blue in general, I find myself heading down that path. What helps me is the faith that God has me right where I'm supposed to be. Everything that has happ...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Linda! Yes things have been going smoothly (for the most part lol!). :) I have been maintaining, and even lost a bit more, so I'm feeling great about how I'm doing NoS with my mods, and with the occasional deviation when times get crazy (like during our daughter's move the other day; had snacks i...

LifeisaBlessing

Not annoying at all, Linda. Again, it's about finding what works for you and applying it to your own situation. If it helps someone else in his or her journey, that's a bonus! :) Heart wrenching is a perfect parenting description! I've had a similar "so-so" dessert situation, and I did the same thin...

LifeisaBlessing

Yeah, I mean you could have 3 plates of: B: Donuts L: Bag of croutons D: Peanuts, potato chips, and, and ice cream Lol sounds like a great day to me! :D Seriously, though, there's nothing wrong with doing that on occasion. Meals aren't meant to always be perfect studies in balanced nutrition--where...

LifeisaBlessing

Lots of great advice here, Theresa! Don't be afraid to play around with the amount of food during your meals to see if that would help with your weight loss. Also, I weigh myself every day to keep things on track (I'm at goal). The scale is a tool, so don't be afraid of it. Waiting too long to weigh...

LifeisaBlessing

You're doing great with tracking your internal hunger cues, Linda--keep it up! And it's always nice to hear some positive feedback while you're at it, so I'm glad your friend noticed and said something. :) A side note about your "internal struggle" about being a SAHM. I was a SAHM to my two (now gro...

LifeisaBlessing

Absolutely! :) NoS can be used for both weight maintenance and weight loss. I started a modified version of NoS at a "normal" weight for my height (122-125 lbs., 5'5"), and got down to 115 lbs. I'm now using my modified version to maintain my weight loss. I also could've used NoS to maintain my high...

LifeisaBlessing

No worries, Linda! I've said this before in other posts, but you know your body and your individual physiology/situation best. Work with where you are at the moment, and above all, be comfortable and at peace with the process. :) And definitely keep tracking--it's all about sharing and learning from...

LifeisaBlessing

IF is one of a multitude of ways to achieve long-term caloric restriction. And NoS is another! :) And while IF definitely has some benefits (which have already been mentioned in the thread), it also has some drawbacks--especially for women. Some women may or may not experience the down sides to IF, ...

LifeisaBlessing

Love reading about your trip updates kaali! Hope all is going well!

LifeisaBlessing

A big congratulations to you on your pregnancy! What a wonderful blessing!

Prayers for a healthy mom and baby--and get plenty of rest.

LifeisaBlessing

Oh, Linda--the infamous "swimsuit shopping"! There's nothing quite like trying on clothing in those lovely dressing rooms with their mirrors everywhere and unflattering lighting. It has caused many a mall-flee for me (mall flee=quickly exiting the store, fleeing to my car, and heading home!). This y...

LifeisaBlessing

Very interesting article! I liked how the author discussed religious practices and customs, and their effects on food attitudes. Unfortunately, I started reading some of the comments to the article......

LifeisaBlessing

Hi clarinetgal! :) I'm fairly new here, but I know exactly which diet/exercise program you're talking about. And I don't blame you for wanting out of the group. I've been on various programs by them, and the groups tend to be rather "intense" in their promotion of the recommended diets and exercise....

LifeisaBlessing

You're not crazy! We love the Pokemon Go game! My two grown kids are really into it--I think it reminds them of playing Pokemon when they were little lol. It's super-popular here, and from what I hear, has turned into an overnight phenomenon. It's kind of addictive and cool at the same time!

LifeisaBlessing

Great job on staying in control at the family dinner, e-lyn.

And as always, your meals sound delicious!

LifeisaBlessing

I agree with Rawcookie: Keep your three meals satisfying and large enough to get you through to the next meal. Maybe temporarily do a mod where you can eat anything for those three meals? That way you won't have to worry about too many S days.

LifeisaBlessing

You're welcome, knitapeace. :) And oh my gosh--you just described my mindset exactly from a few years ago! :O This is a true story: I remember overindulging in a bunch of those giant store bought chocolate chip cookies (they come by the dozen in the hard plastic see-through sealed box). Realizing ho...

LifeisaBlessing

Habit is so important I've found. Once you can establish it, it will get easier to keep up. And like bunsofaluminum, I distinctly remember the, "Don't spoil your dinner!" comment whenever I was asking for a snack as a child. Getting back to that "basic" advice was very helpful for reaching and maint...

LifeisaBlessing

Keep up the great work, jackn--wonderful job with your consistent tracking!

LifeisaBlessing

Interesting discovery about your S days! Keep up the great work!

LifeisaBlessing

Just wishing you a wonderful vacation, kaali. Hope you enjoy it to the fullest!

LifeisaBlessing

Here's hoping for a speedy process of returning to normal--I'm one of those people who can't stand when things are out of whack, so I feel for you with all the painting!

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Psalm139! Glad to see you here, and great job on all the revelations you've been discovering following NoS! It truly is a sane and doable plan. I agree with everyone that establishing the habit is most important, then you can focus on the weight loss. It does come--I did vanilla NoS before, and i...

LifeisaBlessing

Great job on all the "discoveries"! It's very freeing and enlightening when following NoS gives you such valuable feedback and insights into your individual relationship with food. I've found it so empowering! And way to go with the 15,000 steps!

LifeisaBlessing

Congratulations on your weight loss!!

And great news on your improved relationship with food and handling hunger!

LifeisaBlessing

knitapeace--I know how you feel! :( In the beginning especially, it's tough to push through the "down days" as I like to call them. But you're doing great--I think having nuts and concentrating on protein are all good things. Even with my mods, I do find that it's important to get that protein in fo...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Linda--Sorry that this is late in coming, but fantastic news on your endoscopy results!!! :) And glad that the therapy session went well. If you're like me at all, I think part of the battle with food/diet/eating can also be tied up in other issues, and we may not even realize it. :( So it's good...

LifeisaBlessing

Thanks, oolala!

I did check out the intelligent dietary defaults, and you're right--lots of great information there. There was so much I'm still going through it lol.

LifeisaBlessing

Good luck with the endoscopy Linda--let us know how everything goes.

LifeisaBlessing

All great ideas! It's always good to have a collection of supportive visuals/ideas/thoughts/sayings as back up when times get challenging.

LifeisaBlessing

Hi noni! :) - Since I modify NoS to allow for snacks and sweets during every meal, I don't have S days. I just continue eating three meals on the weekends and for holidays or special days. But, of course, the temptation is always there to eat more at any meal--thus going "off plan." Thinking about t...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Everyone! :) Over the holiday weekend, I found myself really enjoying the food and time with family. It was great and freeing to stay on plan and not be worrying over food. I discovered that I never really remember a time in my life that I looked back on a holiday and said, "Gee, I wish I would'v...

LifeisaBlessing

Thanks for stopping by, Linda! :) Hopefully I'm helping others (one of my main reasons for joining). Just a side note--still following all my mods, and it worked beautifully over the 4th holiday! It was great being able to enjoy all the picnic foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, beans, hot dogs...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Linda! Ugh--I absolutely hate that back-from-vacation chaos in the laundry and mess piles department. Just keep gradually plugging away at it, and it will get done eventually. I think eating less if it's comfortable for you and not stressing you out too much is a great approach. Enjoy the train r...

LifeisaBlessing

Great job adjusting and making the plan work for you--that's what it's all about!

LifeisaBlessing

Reinhard--Thanks for the post and article link! I was happy to see sushi's high nutrition ranking. That is definitely a family favorite!

LifeisaBlessing

Quick Bites--the blog post was a very interesting read! Thanks for posting.

LifeisaBlessing

Great to have you back, Linda!

And super news on all the body results-- it's amazing how changing up routine will nudge things along in a positive way. And glad to hear that no bear deterrent was necessary lol!

LifeisaBlessing

Merry--just wanted to say congratulations on your weight loss!!!! Fantastic progress!

LifeisaBlessing

Hi lizzie! I wholeheartedly agree with Merry--NoS is a wonderful way to eat, and it's so doable. The board here is super-supportive, so you've come to the right place. Welcome!

LifeisaBlessing

You can lose weight by doing 20 squats before using the toilet? Have fun and don't hurt yourself. I almost hurt myself while laughing at this! It's great to see you back around here, Herman! Fun fact: That "secret" to dieting is from the last diet-book i ever "enjoyed". Can anyone guess which one t...

LifeisaBlessing

I hear you on the heat, e-lyn! Cant stand heating up the house even further when it's so hot and humid outside.

Your menus look absolutely scrumptious!

And it's so great to be able to eat the same foods as the rest of the family!

LifeisaBlessing

What keeps me on-habit/on-plan and not going back is results!

Old habits = old results = not happy with my body condition.

New habits = new and positive results = happy with my body condition.

I like the new me, and I intend to keep it (and improve on it) for as long as I can!

LifeisaBlessing

I think it's important to have both, really. If you're miserable on the road to "sustainable joy," how long will you stay on that road before exiting? One of the reasons I employed my NoS mods was to ensure that reduced amounts of food remained as pleasurable as possible. So while I can't indulge in...

LifeisaBlessing

All good suggestions! I think ultimately I'm going to try to keep protein sources on hand that I like (eggs, cottage cheese, etc.) so I always have a back up in case another meal fail happens in the future.

LifeisaBlessing

With NoS's emphasis on eating three satisfying meals, what strategies do you all employ whenever you find that your meal is just not what you wanted or expected? Case in point: I made a dinner about two nights ago that turned out pretty blah. It wasn't inedible, but pretty close to it lol! Since the...

LifeisaBlessing

So many wise things said in this thread! Two quotes really stood out for me: It's also hard to face that life in between our meals may not be as compelling as we'd like. Brad Pilon says no one is hungry or wants to eat when she is jumping out of an airplane, meaning that a lot of our eating is just ...

LifeisaBlessing

Lol kaalii, you're sweet!

LifeisaBlessing

Hi kaali--just wanted to say great job on your mod and adjusting the plan to suit your goals--one of the many things I love about NoS!

And ugh--what is it about pms and the emotions? Fine one minute, down the next. That's where I'm at now too, so I hear you on your struggles!

LifeisaBlessing

Great job, cedar! Keeping the three meals as stress-free as possible is a very smart approach.

LifeisaBlessing

Your meals all sound soooo delicious. And no worries on the "fail" day--getting back on track is as quick as the next meal!

LifeisaBlessing

Great job, Emmama!

That is a perfect example of making NoS work for you.

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Ruthie71, and welcome back! :) Both kaalii and germanherman have many words of wisdom in their posts, and I don't have too much more to add to them. I will share what works for me to battle the hunger feeling: Anytime I feel it, I mentally tell myself that my body has plenty of fuel (read: fat we...

LifeisaBlessing

I completely concur with knitapeace about the pizza!

I think pizza's bad rap starts coming into play when too many slices are consumed. One or two slices aren't bad at all, and you can't beat it for tastiness.

LifeisaBlessing

Hi knitapeace/Cindy!

Your meals look delicious! And I really like your almond mod, too.

Coffee also helps me fight off the stomach growls and keeps me on plan.

What did you decide on for dinner?

LifeisaBlessing

Hectic days are VERY rough! Wouldn't it be nice if all days were calm, planned, and pleasant? I guess then we wouldn't appreciate them as much without the hecticness to balance it out, right? In any case, chalk it up and keep going--you're doing great!

LifeisaBlessing

I hope the new orthopedist is able to help you with the walking pain--that's got to be frustrating! :( Good for you that you didn't go way off track this weekend! Honestly, emotional issues are my top problems with controlling my eating. It's so easy to try to make the "hollow gut" feeling go away b...

LifeisaBlessing

Great job, MaggieMae, on the victory this past weekend!

And your plan for this coming week sounds perfect.

LifeisaBlessing

Jen, this is SUCH a difficult question to answer. Short answer to your question is, you can only control what is available in your house. My son (now 19) was like yours in that he "chubbed up" at the pre-teen/young teen age. It took some growing taller and adjusting what he ate and drank--something ...

LifeisaBlessing

You're doing fantastically!

Way to go keeping on plan, and actually losing -- it's a great feeling keeping the sanity around food, even when celebrating. So relax and enjoy the fruits of all your effort!

LifeisaBlessing

Welcome back, Haleybeaa! :) I'm new here, but have also tried NoS in the past; did other diets (you know the drill), and finally recommitted to NoS a few months ago utilizing a mod that enabled me to stay on plan and reach my weight loss goals. You can do this--it's truly the sanest way of eating ou...

LifeisaBlessing

Welcome, greengal!

And I think not eating breakfast, if it is a natural part of your routine, is absolutely fine. I've found success with a modified form of NoS, so I'm a big believer in making it work for you. Fit the plan to your life, and you'll do great!

LifeisaBlessing

Taking a sanity break can be a great thing, cedar, so no worries!

It's all about making things work for you. Hope to hear back from you whenever you're ready.

LifeisaBlessing

So happy with all your success, Sinnie--keep it up! And I soooo hear you on the covering up of feelings with snacking. Had a bit of a challenging Father's Day yesterday, and the ol' "hollow gut" feeling came about from some emotional incidents. In the past, I'd either have handfuls of snacks to cove...

LifeisaBlessing

Sinnie--good for you!!! :D And lol on my creating a stir. I've actually been hanging around the NoS board for years, but didn't want to join until I actually found a way to make it work for me. A few months ago, things just clicked into place, and I met my weight loss goal, even surpassing it! Now, ...

LifeisaBlessing

You're doing great, moderatemeals! :) And I know what you mean about struggling after dinner! Good on you for cleaning the kitchen--I need your motivation in my own kitchen lol. Usually, I'll either read, watch TV, or web surf to keep occupied. Feel free to ask me any questions on the mod--it's trul...

LifeisaBlessing

Great job, Imogen!

I'll be attending a graduation party later today. That will officially be my "dinner" meal, with a plate's worth selection of yummy foods. I'm looking forward to it!

LifeisaBlessing

moderatemeals - Thanks for the kind words! :) And I'll definitely stop by your check in thread. Feel free to ask questions either here or there. :) Imogen - I'll take a look in your check in thread, but no worries on thread hijacking here. I'll be happy to answer questions no matter where you post ...

LifeisaBlessing

Welcome, Emmama/Marisa!

You are in the right place--it's a great group of people with lots of experiences to draw upon.

LifeisaBlessing

Thanks, Over43! :) And lol, Honey, at that typo!!! And I didn't even catch it the first time. :D It's funny, before finding success with my NoS mods, I've often thought (over my many years of dieting) that one of the most effective ways to get thin would be if you could invisibly follow thin people ...

LifeisaBlessing

Sinnie and Imogen - As a rule, I usually have my snacks and desserts with the actual meal. Sometimes, though, if a situation arises--like knowing ahead of time that we'll be going out for ice cream after dinner--I will "leave room" for the treat on my plate at dinner, eating it later than the actual...

LifeisaBlessing

Sinnie - You're very welcome!

Imogen and Sinnie - I responded to your questions over in my check in thread, so just wanted to give you a heads up!

LifeisaBlessing

Hi Imogen and Sinnie! :) I'm pretty new here, but couldn't help noticing your similar struggles with my past attempts to implement NoS "as is." I remember feeling like I had to cram everything in during the weekend also, knowing that the weekly restriction time was coming up. A few months ago, a cam...

LifeisaBlessing

... some of your 31 pounds of fat is as necessary as your lung tissue, your bone tissue and your tendons and ligaments and fasciia. In other words, you need that stuff, so don't count it. Hi Honey! :) And I'm fine with "Life" too lol. I should have clarified a bit further when I was discussing the ...

LifeisaBlessing

MaggieMae--So glad to hear your son had a better day at camp! Honestly, some of my most challenging times staying on plan occur when dealing with life's tough times, so you're definitely not alone. Glad to hear you had a green day too--keep it up!

LifeisaBlessing

cedar, don't worry about TMI about "that" time of the month lol. I always feel like my three meals that time of the month could consist of all sweets without my blinking an eye! :o And wow on all your activities, including your real-life shovelgloving! There's nothing quite like that activity for a ...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi and thank you, moderatemeals! :) I tried NoS before also, but found that the weekends were a bit out of control for me. This time around, I came up with the sweet and/or snack mod within the meal, and honestly, that has been the ticket! To answer your first question, my challenging times were als...

LifeisaBlessing

Oolala--No harm done!

I'm glad to finally cyber-meet you--and seriously, you were one of the reasons I joined. I enjoyed reading the many experiences and perspectives you've provided over the years here. Feel free to ask me any questions.

LifeisaBlessing

Thanks, HoneyBeeNYC!

LifeisaBlessing

I definitely consider myself an IF survivor! Like noni, I was doing the 2x24-hour fast approach. It did work great (at first), but honestly, after awhile, the fatigue just got to me! That, and it wasn't very doable with unexpected situations. When I could plan out my two fasts ahead of time during t...

LifeisaBlessing

MaggieMae wrote:My family is big on "letting our food settle" and then eating dessert later.

Oh, MaggieMae, I was grinnning ear-to-ear when I read this!

I thought my family was the only one to use this term--haha!!! Glad to hear we're fellow "food settlers" lol!

LifeisaBlessing

MaggieMae--there is nothing wrong with you! I know I'm guilty of slipping into "diet head" every now and then; I think it's very natural after years of thinking certain ways. My diet head has been firmly around ever since the family member's comment way back when I was 13. :( Don't panic, and be eas...

LifeisaBlessing

Hi HoneyBeeNYC! Welcome to NoS from another newbie! :) I'm definitely with you on the IF! I gave it a try for awhile, but got tired of always feeling run down after being on it. There is some research out there saying that it is counterproductive for females; once I read that, it was all the convinc...

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Helpful hints to stay on plan--what are yours?

Handling disappointing meals