Everyday Systems

ironchef

Haven't been very consistent lately - mostly ok, but small fails almost every day. I am finally shaking off my cough, so that will help. I keep on trying for those greens. I'm off tomorrow for a school holiday camping trip with my kids, so no electronics for 5 days. Will check in when I get back, ho...

ironchef

Merry wrote:
breeze94 wrote:does that make almond milk for baby almonds?

You guys crack me up. I read that wrong the first time and thought I needed to feel sad for the baby almonds...

ironchef

I got some great advice for my first No S vacation many years ago, here it is. My advice, for a long, multi-week vacation, would be to essentially stick to No S, but make allowances for things that are truly special and unique to that holiday. If I am visiting a particular part of the world that has...

ironchef

Amazing Winter Solstice dinner last night - quail, truffle, salmon, just epic. Will not weigh today, will wait for Monday :-) Brilliant news - the Dept of Housing has been able to offer our tenant a unit, similar to ours. She'll have a lower rent, access to aged care services on site and she will be...

ironchef

Totally random aside, whole milk has plenty of fat. But it also has protein, calcium, Vitamin D and A, B vitamins, potassium, etc. I used to drink a small glass of milk when I was up in the middle of the night with my kids, and wanted to avoid developing a midnight snack habit. Not really answering ...

ironchef

The first thing I would say is that No S is a way to get into the habit of eating moderately within a culture that does not support moderation. It does not address every point about good nutrition and healthy eating, and doesn't attempt to. To quote from Reinhard on the front page: The No S Diet is ...

ironchef

Green mostly this week, but red yesterday - a hazelnut wafer after dinner with the kids. I am still pretty ill and so are the kids, so no one is sleeping well - fun! No exercise at all, as I'm barely managing normal life with this hacking cough. Other news: I made contact with aged care mental healt...

ironchef

Well done on keeping green so far, especially when you are having a tough week. I'm also feeling discouraged politically. So much negativity is happening everyday. It's hard to stay optimistic. Yesterday we lost the special elections in Georgia to top it off. I was thinking of you yesterday when I r...

ironchef

Ended the week green, then a relatively large weekend, especially Sunday (scones with jam and cream afternoon tea at my parents' place). Anyway, back to green today (Monday).

I have caught a cold from my kids, so exercise not really happening at the moment while I try to recover.

ironchef

Welcome! As it is a rare occasion, and you're just getting started, if you want to take it as an S day I would go ahead. I would definitely not "trade" a weekend S day for it. Once you're in a "bargain / trade" mode, the simplicity of habit is gone. If it is my birthday on Wednesday, there is no req...

ironchef

My understanding with fruit was that if you leave the space on your plate that the banana or whatever occupies, it will thus replace other, less healthy foods that will otherwise go there - i.e. instead of snacking on fruit as well as eating lunch of sandwich and chips, you include the fruit with th...

ironchef

Hard work from people like you is so important to any democracy, and the world at large. I'm so amazed by your effort!

ironchef

Yes, we've been lucky, with a very mild and rain free start to the Winter. 24 and sunny, woohoo (except if you are a farmer). Wed today and still green so far this week. Happy to ride this wave as far as it will take me, and hopefully in future if.when things are tough this will be something to look...

ironchef

When it comes to overeating on special S days, like birthdays, or holidays, it can be really easy to feel overwhelmed and derailed. The important thing to remember is that one day, however wild, will not change your body fat. When these days happen, it is my response, my feelings of "what's the poin...

ironchef

Oh, yum, your party food sounds awesome!

Sounds like a good party strategy, I'll have to keep in mind for future reference.

ironchef

My lowest key weekend for a long time. Apart from a dessert after roast lunch with the family on Saturday, not really many S treats. And that's fine with me. Green so far today (Monday). I cycled in today along the river, just beautiful. So peaceful, ducks, swans and pelicans everywhere. Also very p...

ironchef

Wow, congratulations, what a great start!

Moderate eating and incidental exercise while you sort out your yard is a winning combination - very sustainable!

ironchef

This makes me laugh oolala, I am always using Australian English spellings (analyse, organise, neighbour, etc) and getting myself picked up by online spell checkers, which I think use US English or some form of international spelling. It seems at 38 I am able to change my eating habits, but my spell...

ironchef

Thanks ladies! Yes, I am disappointed at the waste of government time and money (Dept of Commerce investigation, Magistrates Court and she made a false report of police corruption that we had a call about from a senior Sergeant). I am always reading news about some poor person who had to wait hours ...

ironchef

Linda, you are not the only one that fantasises about your kids being out of the house so you can do a decluttering project! Oh the wild life we lead :) Hope you are enjoying the start of Summer, and that your reflux is improving. I keep forgetting to say thanks for putting me on to "A Slob Comes Cl...

ironchef

Yes, it is amazing to think just yesterday they were little Ironbaby and pudgy Squiggle! Definitely big kids now :) Had a macaron at work today with a colleague who was announcing a new pregnancy, so a small red today. Otherwise very good this week (Wed here at the moment). We had our court appearan...

ironchef

Yes, I remember reading some fascinating research on how our brains can rewrite / reframe memories to fit our current narrative, making it seem as if something negative (or positive) has always been that way. A beautiful long weekend here for Western Australia Day. Sunny, 25 deg C, you call this Win...

ironchef

I'm glad life is full, hope you enjoyed the birthday season. I'm sorry if I made you feel judged for commenting on your "normal eating" post, I really didn't intend it that way. I was more mulling over stuff in my own head. That's why I took it over to my own thread instead. I feel very badly over t...

ironchef

Hi auto, always nice to "see" you here. Hope you had a lovely long weekend. Something I've realized: I think it's almost an unequivocal truth that my weight issues are DIRECTLY related to my busy lifestyle. This is me. Oh, so me. Something that helps me is to reframe my thoughts like this: No S eati...

ironchef

Oh kaalii, I am so sorry to hear you are in such pain, and going through such a tough time with the ending of your relationship. I'm so impressed with your courage and mental attitude, especially your commitment to gratitude.

Sending many good thoughts to you for healing your body, and your heart.

ironchef

I'm on a real upswing at the moment. I had a low key, enjoyable weekend, with some yummy cake for Squiggle's birthday, just enough to feel celebratory without feeling sick! This week so far Mon and Tues green, and exercise each day. It is really amazing how stringing together a few moderate days in ...

ironchef

Wow, what an inspiring update! Well done

ironchef

Well done on dialing it back down - much improved sounds great!

I totally agree with the "old grooves" idea. It is why I have to be so much more mindful in order to eat moderately when I'm at my parents' house - the old grooves are there, and it's easy to fall into those familiar patterns.

ironchef

Welcome! I hope you find peace here :) Just a note on that "What The Hell" feeling after a small fail. Someone here (Reinhard, or a wise poster) compared it to getting in a car accident. If you mess up your parking and ding your wing mirror, that is really annoying. You might also decide you're not ...

ironchef

Thank oolala. I keep reminding myself of what I've read here over the years from other posters - that No S can be a little corner of peace and sanity in chaotic times. I'm trying to let my eating be calm, so I can feel like I have at least some of my ducks in a row, even as the other ducks are all o...

ironchef

Great week so far, exercise every day and just 1/2 cupcake yesterday for ironbaby's birthday. Yay! In annoying news, our tenant has not waited for the outcome of the department of commerce investigation (which is ongoing). She has been direct to magistrates court and filed a court order - we have to...

ironchef

Very busy few days with ironbaby's 5th birthday and Squiggle's birthday coming up next week. My back seems stable, so last night I restated some exercise.

Not much green with all the cake around, will do better today!

ironchef

Happy Mothers' Day! Well done on celebrating without going nuts - that's the spirit! Now, on to Mothers' Guilt: I know it's out of my control but I do feel so bad I didn't train them to eat more slowly. I don't think this is training necessarily. My husband eats like paint dries. His brother eats li...

ironchef

Over time I've also noticed that when I do tough it out in the evenings, whether from a vague "feel like a little something" snack urge, or actual "I'm hungry" feelings, it makes no difference to how hungry I am the next morning at breakfast. So clearly, I didn't really need that extra energy, if 10...

ironchef

Your meal sounds fine to me. More important than calories, or what we think, is how you feel, both after the meal, and in the hours afterwards until your lunch. I usually try to aim for a meal that will leave me peckish (but not ravenous) about an hour before the next meal is due. I rarely read on h...

ironchef

Still green for No S, but no exercise this week, apart from (gingerly) stretching my back.
This really is a wake up call for how much I need to strengthen my tummy muscles (and back as well).

ironchef

Pretty huge weekend with the family - baptism and party for my nephew, then Mothers' Day with the other side of the family. Pretty glad to be back to a normal N day today! Green so far, didn't cycle as I've wrenched my back over the weekend - probably from all the carrying of small children on Satur...

ironchef

The mouse story is just an odd thing that happened to me 20ish years ago. My understanding of what happened to the mice is the same as the way you can use cola to shine a coin - essentially the carbonic and phosphoric acids, given enough time, can start to dissolve things. It's nothing to do with su...

ironchef

Green week, phew, haven't had a completely green week for a while. I've been realising something about "normal" eating in my culture / circles - No S will lead me to be moderate, but not normal. Normal in my community and workplace means cookies from the jar with every coffee, random morning tea tre...

ironchef

Maybe your mind and body are just taking a bit of a break after lots of activity? I have a hard time being compliant in April / May with Easter / birthdays for lots of us / anniversary - weird how all the best people are born around now :-) I kind of decided that what I'm doing with No S is trying t...

ironchef

Thursday, green so far, cycled to work. Win last night - had some wine with my DH after the kids were in bed. Usually this is a situation where I tend to break down and snack - he's snacking, we're "indulging ourselves" and a bit of alcohol lowers my inhibition level etc. But last night I decided I ...

ironchef

Welcome! And congrats on your great results so far :) There was definitely a post a while back about someone (not sure which poster) who introduced the S es one at a time. Definitely a good way to go if you feel that all at once may trigger a rebellion. However, you do have to expect slower weight r...

ironchef

Wow, what a great day! I love that you just told yourself "do these few dishes, and see what happens". From little things, big things grow

Well done you, here's to many more!

ironchef

Made it to Wed still green, and cycled to work today. Yay!

Yes, I loved the 90th, and I know Bobby did too. He's sharp as a tack, but getting a little frail, especially his breathing troubles him in the winters. Amazing to think that at 38 I may not even be half WAY - sort of great, sort of freaky!

ironchef

Every week or so I cook a batch of rice and beans with veggies and some spices / sauce and freeze in lunch sized portions. I do boil away rice, and while it's cooking I pan fry some chopped veg and rince some canned beans. It's super cheap and easy, makes mornings very quick, and because there isn't...

ironchef

Welcome!

The great thing about No S is that success is always at your fingertips - all you need to do is not snack until the next meal and you are back on track!

ironchef

I'm someone who has a brain that sometimes goes on stupid, non-constructive downward spirals. I call it "stewing". This is as distinct from pondering a negative issue in my life, planning a way forward and then proceeding. The later is productive, the former, well, it's just stewing. The problem is ...

ironchef

The testimonials page is always a good place to read other peoples' successes. Particularly those who have racked up big losses over multiple years of annual check ins I find very inspiring (oolala, vmsurbat to name some off the top of my head).

ironchef

I should have added the caveat to my response that compared to some I am comically strict on N days (eg don't eat jam or honey on toast) and others draw those lines very differently. I think it is partly that my habit brain is particularly dumb, so things that are fine for others are a slippery slop...

ironchef

Happy Birthday!

ironchef

Wow, kaalii, what an amazing first year. Well done.
I always look forward to reading your insights.

ironchef

Not to freak anyone out, but I worked in a mine store room where we dropped a pallet of regular cola and the next day found dissolved mice. It doesn't have to be diet.

ironchef

Did some body weight exercises on Saturday night - oof, I am out of practice!! A good Sunday, without totally overdoing it, but plenty of lovely desserts at the 90th birthday :) Still, felt pretty good this morning. Monday 8th - Green so far. Skipped my cycle as very late to work, but did do a fair ...

ironchef

1. The key for me is to plan and SEE my entire meal before I start. Part of the psychology of No S for me I that visual moment "here I sit down to my meal - whoa nelly, that's a lot of food!". If I don't plate it up, or at least lay it all out next to each other, it's easy to forget or underestimate...

ironchef

Thanks oolala, that's a truly motivating reframing!! Ended the week green, and unless chasing my kids counts, didn't do the exercise I hoped. But, feel much better just from returning to the letter of the law :-) Today (Saturday) have had one Anzac cookie so far, which I baked with my son. Hope to k...

ironchef

Thanks ginger! Wed 3rd green. Cycled as well. A good win for me yesterday - I met some very old friends for a drink, including some who've been working overseas, so very special to see them. Everyone else shared beignets and rum balls, but I just had a glass of wine and said "oh, I just ate a full p...

ironchef

Beautiful idea kaalii!

ironchef

So sorry to hear about your flooding damage - I hope your contractor could sort it all out for you. What a nasty "surprise".

Nothing but sympathy on the work front. My husband is only 8 years in to his public highschool teaching career, but oof, sometimes the system just bites.

ironchef

Ouch, it is easy to overdo it on garden work without realising - until you wake up the next day! Hope you recover soon.

May I ask what is a kodiak cake? Is it like a pancake? I am a big fan of pancakes (and waffles), so interested if this is another incarnation?

ironchef

Thank you ladies - I'm always amazed by the sense and support on this board! Thanks Larkspur - good tip! I have found an organisation in my state called COTA WA (Council of the Ageing Western Australia), which includes housing and advocacy, so I will contact them and see if they have any services or...

ironchef

hi gingerpie, sorry to hear that you've been discouraged, but good on you for picking yourself up and dusting yourself off. And also nice to "see" you here on the message boards. As someone who has been through several long patches of "shaky" compliance, I can attest that it will not take long at al...

ironchef

I mean, that's life, right? We can't wait for it to be seamless. If our eating depends on that, we're sunk. This is so wise oolala. It took me so long to realise that I can work on stuff imperfectly NOW, not wait until I have "all my ducks in a row". There will always be something that comes up! Go...

ironchef

Thanks everyone, truly appreciate the support and yes, hopefully the dept of commerce is reasonable. For anyone considering renting out a property - it really isn't that bad. We've self managed for 8 years and only the past 6months has been tricky. Green yesterday and cycled to work and home again! ...

ironchef

Linda, you do have a job, it's just not one that our society currently rewards with money. You're allowed to say no if you have something that you need to do!

Sorry to hear you've got problems with those "friends", I definitely feel for you on landlord issues!

ironchef

Thanks everyone! It was a lovely day, and didn't rain as forecast. And especially belated happy birthday to 3squaremeals! I've had a really up and down week. Normal green Monday, then had Tuesday public holiday and a really nice day with family. Then Wed everything went downhill - our tenant put in ...

ironchef

Thanks Linda, yep, the time difference is a bit funny. Today I brought ginger cake for my birthday at work, so I had about 1/3 slice and I'm cool with that. Sunday will be my actual birthday, and I'm having a morning tea party. Not a lot of time for exercise this weekend, lots of baking though! Hope...

ironchef

Yep, made it green Tues and Wed, and so far today (Thurs). Re-started cycling to work today - yay!

Very happy to be back on track again.

ironchef

Wow, Linda, you have been busy! I go for a few weeks hiatus and it seems like you've moved mountains! Really relate to the overwhelm with some of these discussions. My husband is on FB (I'm not) and started a discussion about an issue around our election. Some of the comments were interesting and al...

ironchef

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Everything went well, post-surgery tests confirm nothing missed and no chance of recurrence / spread. I am healing ok, and have just started the first of about 6 - 8 weeks of scar treatment with silicon type dressings - kinda looks like colourless jelly. Since ev...

ironchef

Wow, thanks everyone! This is such a lovely community. All good so far - they say they've got everything, so that's a relief. It's a pretty large slice, much longer than the actual cancer location, just because they needed to do a "no tension" suture, and due to the location (near my right collar bo...

ironchef

After pretty much any social interaction, I nit pick it apart a bit (or a lot) in my head. No matter how much fun I had at the time, afterwards my brain starts in: Did I talk too much and dominate the conversation? Did I talk too little and bore people? Was she annoyed I didn't ask any follow up que...

ironchef

Hope you had a more peaceful week this week and got some rest! Don't worry too much what the scales say.

ironchef

Thanks Linda. I don't think we're any smarter, but I think people have the benefit of hindsight - we've seen the Brexit vote and the US election, and although at first there was a lot of excitement about "sticking it" to whomever or whatever, it has seems like a big protest vote doesn't necessarily ...

ironchef

Tuesday, ran to work, couch to 5k week 4 day 1. This will be my final week before my skin cancer procedure next Monday, so I'm trying to stay focused.

ironchef

Monday - cycled and tried out Shovelglove! How can I have been No Sing so long and never tried it??

I used my adjustable dumbbell, with the plates off one end. Not as long as a sledge hammer, but not bad

ironchef

Friday, red - no exercise, spent the evening with my husband though and it was really nice. Saturday / Sunday - a bit lazy actually. Looking forward to cycling to work today. Been completely distracted by politics this weekend. We had our election here in Western Australia on Saturday. Heaps of peop...

ironchef

Oh Linda, I'm so sorry about your dogs, that's just heartbreaking. Hugs to you, and extra snuggles to your little Tessa. Absolutely the right call, but that doesn't make it easy. A lot of social events I organise I regret organising at some stage in the beforehand planning, and the larger and more c...

ironchef

Thurs ran to work- couch to 5k week 3 day 2
Friday - nothing yet, hope to do some strength work once kids re in bed!

ironchef

Tuesday - pilates video, swimming with kids
Wednesday - cycle to work

ironchef

Love it! Every so often we get duck curry from our local Thai place - duck, coconut milk, veg and lychees - yum!! I love that this is vanilla No S, but like you I recognise that I couldn't eat it for dinner every night and maintain. I really like that No S gives the boundaries, and within that the c...

ironchef

Your weekend sounds lovely Linda!

Have a great week

ironchef

Happy birthday!

I'm sure we'll love our 40's (I'm 38 in April). My mother (now in her 60's) said she loved her 40's and had some of the best times of her life: confident, stable, purposeful and fulfilling.

ironchef

Thanks kaalii! Yes, my dog loves it and I'm sure yours will too. The variation in my activities is mostly out of necessity - can't always get a baby sitter, or a space, to do things :) Weekend - a bit of a write off, but did lots of walking and swimming with the kids. Monday - Couch to 5K, Week 3, D...

ironchef

I'm not someone who "binges" per se, but I've had plenty of red days where I've just eaten my way through the whole day, putting away enough food for three women. And the best advice I've ever had from posters here was "mark it and move on". Put the red on your habitcal, an then focus on green the n...

ironchef

Friday - did my couch to 5k week 2 day 3. Definitely getting easier!

ironchef

Great work Merry!

And as well as the weight milestones, that's a great number of workout days for a 28 day month!

ironchef

Go Linda - you're ending the week strong!

Hope you have a lovely weekend away, how lovely to get some one on one time with your man

ironchef

Thurs 2nd March, cycled to work. Proud of this, as had nasty headache last night from walking in hot humid weather, and didn't sleep well due to thunderstorm and kids getting up. Had a specialist appointment yesterday, and found that I'll have to have a procedure in a few weeks to cut out a skin can...

ironchef

I realized something yesterday. Habit is where it's at. I realised this last year, when I tried to tinker with S days and S events and went a bit off the rails. As I said at the time - habit is a dumb beast, don't confuse the poor thing :) So yeah, even years in to this journey, still realising stu...

ironchef

Tuesday - 14 minute arm and upper body weights work out.
Wednesday - ran to work, C25K Week 2, Day 2.

ironchef

This is not as simple as I hoped it would be. No S is simple, but not always easy. That's why there is a whole discussion board here where we support each other - so welcome! I often feel a little "empty" before bed, as I eat early with my kids. I'm relatively used to it now and similar to Merry I ...

ironchef

Had to look up grits - sounds like what we'd call polenta. Definitely stick to the ribs!

ironchef

Thanks Linda!

Sunday - no time for full DVD, but did 14 minutes

Monday - cycling to work this morning. I'm due to do my week 2 day 1 run today, but might have to be tonight.

Edited to add: yes, did my run tonight. Took the dog out after kids in bed, so a bit dark but still did it!

ironchef

Everyone has had such good things to say on the emotional side. On a purely practical note, when I've had some reds / a crazy long weekend, it usually takes quite a few normal green N days to see any change in the scale. Concentrate on your behaviour and the scale will catch up eventually. The scale...

ironchef

Friday - walked to and from play group instead of driving
Sat - couch to 5k day 3
Sun - not sure yet, hope to do my Pilates dvd

ironchef

Thurs 23rd - ran to work (couch to 5k day 2). Work is suddenly very busy, so I am flat out trying to get everything done in only 3 days a week. This morning was very tempting to just go on the bus and be a bit earlier, but I pushed myself to do the run. There will always be lots of busy in all areas...

ironchef

Reinhard's definition of "sweets" has always been "something whose principal source of calories is sugar". If a teaspoon of sugar in a coffee is fine, then a teaspoon of honey on your porridge is fine. It's not "made entirely from sugar" if the honey is on top of a bowl of oats. If you're eating the...

ironchef

Thanks Merry

Tuesday 21st - 14 minute leg and back stretching routine from Bender fitness

Wed 22nd - cycled to and from work.

ironchef

Mon 20th cycled to and from work and did first day if couch to 5k. Finally time to return to running!

ironchef

Every so often I look at my naturally slim husband and think "Stuff it, it's not fair". And for a little while even the simple, humane rules of No S seem too harsh. So I really feel you on wanting just no rules at all sometimes. Usually I follow up with some red days or a crazy weekend, then feel cr...

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