Everyday Systems

jw

I'm feeling a little bit of that rebellion, too, Linda -- sometimes the self-imposed restriction feels arbitrary and you just want to break the rules to show yourself who's boss! I think the solution is probably not to clamp down harder, but just to keep going . . . Yesterday was my first truly easy...

jw

I love how many people have been on or are getting on the No-$ bandwagon, auto! There is nothing so freeing as eliminating debt!

jw

I've been wondering, too -- beautiful name!

jw

Not at all, auto -- my wording was very unclear, when I said "working on" lentil soup for a few days! I taught myself to cook over many years, mostly because I like to eat so much, but also because I wanted to learn the mechanics of it -- it's very lab-like in many ways and once you learn a basic pr...

jw

I can't for the life of me figure out from that post what my point was -- but going for simplicity and getting away from all the hairsplitting was the gist of it! So Abravanel was pretty well known in his day! I was a T, too. The body type stuff was interesting -- all the Type books (blood type, bod...

jw

I've been thinking along these lines, too, finallyfull -- the S day/N day pattern just seemed to go on and on, and now it's really cold and I am hungry , part physical, part that nagging hunger that gets into your mind. I am not snacking or eating sweets, but I am having some strange S occasions/red...

jw

I am older than you are, oolala! It is a terrible sentence, though, isn't it. I am not even a techie!

jw

It occurs to me also -- you will get the cred by doing, just as you have here. If you start your support group now, you won't need to make an income at it, and you will build the cred to write the book. Then when you do need to make an income, you will have laid the groundwork. You can't decide whet...

jw

Oh, Linda -- after such a long stretch, that must be unnerving! But -- it's one minor lapse against well over 100 perfect days. And now, you have it behind you -- you know that it's OK to slip and not have your success jeopardized by that one little slip. You know what to do -- MIAMO!

jw

You have tons of cred here, oolala -- get testimonials from some of us when you're ready to take the next step! I love automated's idea of generating your own materials, too.

The Happiness Trap sounds interesting. I will look for it.

jw

I am, automated! And it takes several days to eat it, not to cook it, LOL-- a pound of lentils makes a lot of soup!

jw

I hope you feel better soon, eschano. Taking antibiotics always disrupts my digestion for a while. Automated has a great list for you there to bring things back to normal!

jw

Best wishes, klmom! glad you are posting!

jw

New soup -- chosen because it will take a long time to simmer on the stove top, and will keep the house warm while the heat keeps going off here! CHANA DAL (Bengal Gram) SOUP 1 carrot 1 onion 2 small sweet potatoes/yams a few mushrooms, cut up 2 cups chana dal* (a small indian chickpea, also called ...

jw

"I am seeing how joy can be a backdrop in my life even when I feel absolutely crappy in any present moment." That is an amazing achievement, oolala! If you can pass on that secret, the people in your support group will be lucky indeed! Re: shame -- I am leaning toward automated's idea, that when Rei...

jw

"Joy is a much better long term motivator than shame IMO" Yes! Well-said, Linda! We can defer pleasure -- that's part of being a grown up -- but we can't leave it out of the equation permanently, or what kind of life are we giving ourselves? Telling ourselves we are "bad" for doing something that fe...

jw

It's gone up to -6 F now (wind chill -26 F), car won't start, office is closed, lots of downtown businesses closed, too -- lots of time to catch up with my No-S friends today! Linda, the offer of sunshine is certainly tempting! :) And automated -- I've got plenty of other baggage, too, of course -- ...

jw

201! Joasia, when I was low carbing and weighing daily, there was a kind of pattern -- I'd hit a new low and feel triumph, then the next day it would be two or three pounds up (despair), then maybe a week or two of up-and-down for no discernible reason (frustration), then suddenly the low would be t...

jw

Thanks for your kind words on my thread, chani -- yes, sick days are S days! as you said, we do what we need to do! Your menus look delicious, and I am sure you could have found room for those nuts on the plate -- so no worries at all.

jw

Emergency S day last night -- we lost power in my neighborhood from midnight until about 5 a.m. No heat, and the temps were the coldest in 20 years: -15 F, winds up to 30 mph, with wind chills of -55F. I put on several layers of clothes and piled myself and the dogs together on the couch, then drank...

jw

It's all in where we're taught to find our self-esteem, isn't it? I feel lucky that I wasn't raised with guilt or expectations around eating or weight -- by the time I finally got fat in my 50's, I had a cast-iron ego! I just bought plus size fashion magazines and carried on! I still don't feel guil...

jw

LOL, my thoughts exactly, automated! It was -15 here overnight (wind chill -55) and we had a power failure from midnight to 4 am. I had two dogs, some candles and a gas stove to keep me warm!

PS -- sunshine and fruit couldn't happen to a nicer person, Linda -- I'm just envious right now!

jw

Congrats, No Snacker, and stay warm!

jw

http://everydaysystems.com/bb/viewtopic ... 750e12fee2

Connwishington offers a hot link to personal money network embedded in the word obesity in a logical text. Not a bot, but still spam.

jw

"I starved myself of approval in that area. I'm pretty sure that among women at least, I was not alone." It is heartbreaking, how hard we are on ourselves, isn't it? Somebody talked recently about how matter-of-fact Reinhard is -- no shame or guilt, no approval or judgment, just data and behavior. M...

jw

"And then I just want to slap that voice out of my head"

Slap it! Enjoy where you are, automated -- chaos will come, no need to invite it in the back door! But with these new routines, it won't come as often. Love the way your kids seem to be adjusting to the new rules!

jw

I do feel lucky, oolala -- vanilla No S was the answer for me, plain and simple. I had developed some bad habits and No S helped me to get a handle on them in a very natural way. It sounds like you have put yourself through the wringer of a lot more diets than I have and over a longer period of time...

jw

Yes! I stopped snacking cold turkey on June 29 of last year, last time I checked I had lost 20 pounds, about a pound a week. I will probably lose another 20-30 over time. I don't really think about food any more except in the context of mealtimes -- that is the great thing, it's just not constantly ...

jw

Bennedicta, that was me! Constantly snacking on healthy food, then eating my meals from a little, tiny bowl that I filled up two or three times . . . Welcome to sanity! Your Grandma was right!

jw

Glad things are going well, Linda -- feeling good every day of the week is a worthy goal for sure! And you have set several other goals, like automated -- I will be interested to see them develop. I think No S is applicable to many situations, but I am going to continue concentrating just on eating ...

jw

LOL! No S's but unlimited mealtimes! When I lived in Germany, the kids in the school where I worked had second breakfast at around 10:15 -- and the teachers all had 4:00 pm cake and coffee. How did we all stay so thin?

jw

Oh dear, Linda, I feel I have to chime in with automated! I haven't been on the boards as much through the holidays -- I know my initial reaction to your mod was, wow, you've done so well, why suddenly change it up? I didn't mean to do a hit and run with my questions -- and certainly not to look dow...

jw

Thanks, Linda! I know we say a lot about hunger not being an emergency -- but that hunger really sneaked up on me! I've had a very mild S weekend, though -- I don't think the extra meal will become a habit!

jw

I thought El Fug made so much sense, mackinac! Thinking more about this -- it seems to me that how we measure success (and what is success to us?) is the key. People who quantify success in pounds are probably going to want to do some accounting to track and to speed the process along -- whether tha...

jw

Friday was back to normal N -- that's a relief! That sudden ravenous appetite is not something I would want to battle every day! It reminded me of a year or so ago when I was on prednisone for a couple of months -- I was gaining 10 pounds a month and always starving . . . anyway, it's all good now.

jw

No, I don't -- one of the things I like most about No S is you don't have to spend the whole time thinking about food and eating. I am not worried about the contents of my meals -- they are fresh, healthful foods most of the time, I already thought about them once when I cooked them and again when I...

jw

I noticed your absence, but thought you might be hibernating, wosnes! I really love your basic soup schematic -- that's how I think of soups, too, but I eyeball everything according to the pot I am using! 1/4 pot of veg plus protein, plus seasonings, fill it up with liquid and cook until it tastes w...

jw

Well said, mackinac! I've followed other diets and lurked on other diet forums, but this is the only one where I post and feel sure that reason and courtesy will prevail! (There are, of course, some reasonable and courteous people everywhere -- but they do seem to be in the majority here!) Reinhard,...

jw

Glad you are allowing yourself the coffees, CMT -- why set yourself up? Happy New Year!

jw

Well, not an auspicious start to the new year -- I ended up eating a whole extra meal yesterday! Woke really, really early and had breakfast at about 5:00 am, then left work to come home early because of the terrible weather and ended up having lunch at about 11:00 am. Was starving for dinner by 4:0...

jw

That study is great reinforcement, Eileen -- all the more reason to include soup as part of our repertoire. I will be working on that lentil soup for days to come, but can't wait to try some of the other recipes here!

jw

Welcome to the world, little mini-Sinnie! So glad all went well -- big changes for your household ahead, but they are such joyful ones . . . Congratulations!!!

jw

Welcome, Jill -- glad you decided to start posting. Best wishes for 2014!

jw

Happy New Year to you, too, eschano. I feel I am also up a few pounds since the holidays, but I won't officially weigh in until next week sometime. It's all good! We know what to do!

jw

Welcome back and Happy New Year, clarebear!

jw

These both sound great! Soon we'll have our own little soup library here at No S . . . thanks for joining in, No Snacker and Over43!

jw

^ Hear, hear! No need to complicate things. (I quote El Fug in my signature -- he only posted a few times, to point out to us that we were losing the beautiful simplicity of this system -- I took his words to heart and have been glad I did!)

jw

I think I see a new low -- Happy New Year, joasia! Hope 2014 is all you could wish!

jw

Just wandered over to wish you a Happy New Year, oolala -- I hope 2014 is a great year for you! Thanks for all your amazing insights and support here on the boards.

jw

What a beautiful screen name! Best wishes for the New Year!

jw

The decorations are down, the sweets and treats are gone, and the first soup of 2014 is on! What a relief -- like that N-day relief on Monday mornings, but moreso! Happy New Year, everybody!

jw

Just looking in to wish you a fantastic 2014, automated! You've invented a few new everyday systems -- can't wait to see where you go with all this! Happy New Year!

jw

Just dropped by to say Happy New Year, Linda -- I hope 2014 shapes up in the friendship department. I guess I have found that the social structures we live in don't really encourage adult friendships. There are lots of "mutual use" relationships, but a good friend -- same wave length, similar intere...

jw

Several people have said, let's do a soup thread, so I'll start us off. Soup with a hunk of bread makes a great lunch -- an excellent bread recipe is here: http://www.simplysogood.com/2013/03/artisan-no-knead-bread.html. Hopefully we'll all provide the soup recipes to go with it! My approach to soup...

jw

I just looked up vital wheat gluten -- it sounds like it would be an interesting addition to the dough once you start to make the bread. Whole wheat with no white flour incorporated can be pretty heavy and have trouble rising -- the vital wheat gluten could help. And, of course, it would up the prot...

jw

Whole wheat flour already contains gluten. (So does white flour -- you shouldn't need to add any.) You do have a big boy! I have two dogs myself, one a shepherd-terrier cross, one a lab-border collie mix. If you don't go away much and bake pretty regularly, sourdough starter is easy to maintain -- b...

jw

Let the S days roll, chani8 -- I know it feels counterintuitive when you're being disciplined all week, but trying to tweak them and limit them too soon in the process can undermine your N days. I do like your strategy of trying to have some favorite foods during the week -- as long as they are not ...

jw

Yes, you can mix whole wheat and white flour -- no problem! If you are looking into starches that don't raise your blood sugar much, check out chana dal -- it's a small chickpea from India that is lower on the glycemic index than many veggies. You can get it at any Indian market or online. It has a ...

jw

Glad you're enjoying it, Over43! I picked up the link from OKbyXmas on these boards a few months ago: http://www.simplysogood.com/2013/03/artisan-no-knead-bread.html if anyone else would like to try. I love sourdough but am not sure I want to get into keeping the starter going -- it's like having a ...

jw

SOUP (cont) -- I don't want to hijack 4island's thread so I am moving over here. Here's a foolproof starter recipe that uses a lot of stuff you might already have in the cupboard: jar of salsa, 1/2 an onion, can of red beans, some cut up sausage or beef -- put in crock pot, fill up with water, cook ...

jw

automated, I don't really have a soup thread -- soup is sort of play it by ear! I just put a bunch of whatever veggies I have on hand in a crock pot overnight, with some meat or some beans or both. Next day I fish out the meat and cut it up, add a handful of rice or pasta and let it cook for another...

jw

Yay, Jo! Eating well when you are cash-strapped is very possible on No S -- and once you've learned that, you'll never feel poor again (at least in the food realm). I am baking artisan bread that would cost $5 a loaf in the stores for about $0.50 and teaming it up with homemade soup -- a week's wort...

jw

I love the no spending experiment, automated! I tried a no money challenge years ago -- you go about your daily life but you don't carry any money, checks, or cards with you. It really cleans up the impulse spending -- if you have to go home and get your bank card or cash or wait until a designated ...

jw

My "happy weight" - shaped by weekday simplicity and moderation, and highly pleasurable weekend indulgence, not misery and compulsion

I love this! This is liveable! And your meals are sounding particularly nice the last few days, too, Imogen. Enjoy your travels!

jw

That's really well-thought out, Linda -- in the end we all personalize what we are doing to make it work for us. Yes, Imogen has done several s-events per week off and on -- and she has been at her goal weight for quite a while. Go for it -- if it works for you, then you'll have found what you need!

jw

good point, automated -- we are all judged by our weight and appearance. I thought it was interesting that the self-employed Parisian gallery owner found it freeing to be fat. Almost like tyrannical convention = slim, so unconventional free spirits get to be fat! If I am not careful, I could warm to...

jw

Very interesting, Too Solid Flesh -- so it's not just a moderate traditional way of eating but also a rigidly weight-conscious culture that leads to the slim French silhouette, according to this! I like the moderate traditional way of eating, which No S replicates -- not sure I like the other bit so...

jw

Welcome, Emma -- No S gives us a great structure in which to enjoy food moderately. It sounds like you are starting with all the right reasons! Good luck to you!

jw

Wow, Linda, that is a shift! You are clearly a very disciplined person, so maybe you can make it work -- but personally, I would worry about the effects on habit-building. You and automated have written some very insightful posts recently on hitting a No S wall: the honeymoon is over, no need to pos...

jw

I will follow this with interest, automated. Last year at Christmas time, I went unplugged for a week and it was very refreshing! It is so easy to get sucked into electronics -- I got rid of my tv back in the 90's because it was eating too much of my time; but computers have that dual work/entertain...

jw

Thanks for the messages, automated and Linda! and thanks for drawing me out of hibernation here! I am thinking I will post a testimonial when I hit 10% of my starting weight lost -- that would be 23 lbs. January 1st will be my 6 month anniversary -- but I am not weighing in during these food-fraught...

jw

What a fantastic list of attributes! So nice to meet this version of you, joasia!

jw

Bot? http://everydaysystems.com/bb/profile.p ... ile&u=8673

one all purpose post, with a suspect signature line

jw

Here's the link, in case you want to share it with someone (like maybe your Mom!):

http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/12/when-you-c ... to-change/

jw

Just read a blog this morning and thought of you, joasia -- the gist of it was that when people focus on their hopes and dreams, they become open to good changes, but when they focus on fixing their flaws, they close down and no good changes can occur. It came from the Harvard Business Review -- hop...

jw

Chiming in, but just a little -- it's always hard when someone moves from a different culture to the US but then expects the children to adhere to the expectations of the parents' culture. The children end up torn, with a foot in each world. Your mother thinks she is motivating you to do the right t...

jw

Absolutely, oolala! Live and learn and then learn some more!

jw

"she's from the old world and she isn't going to change"

I wondered about this, joasia. I also wondered if she wasn't pinning a lot of other expectations to your weight loss. Anyway, it's her choice and her loss not to enjoy the company of her lovely only daughter as she is!

jw

You're almost there, Sinnie! I remember when you announced on the boards that you were expecting -- just wanted to add my best wishes!

jw

I agree with automated, joasia -- you deserve better. You have made heroic progress in weight loss. Maybe your mother will talk to you again and maybe she won't -- whatever she does is a reflection of her issues, though, not yours.

jw

I'm arriving late to the welcome back party, moderatemeals! People who try other approaches do seem to gravitate back to home base -- more evidence to me that No S is a viable plan. You are right not to skimp in the initial stages -- fill your plate until you no longer want to! Best of luck!

jw

No S -- the only "diet" where a chimichanga, chips and guacamole are "allowed"! One of my favorite meals! Gotta love it!

jw

Hi cdfraun -- we all visit one another's daily pages, it can be really enlightening! And I agree with automated, this is one of the most civilized corners of the internet you'll find (apart from occasional spammers ^). Glad you have decided to start a check-in!

jw

http://everydaysystems.com/bb/profile.p ... ile&u=8667

non sequitur, signature that looks like it might later turn into a live link.

jw

I can't eat the way I used to! Crazy weekend -- big reception Saturday cancelled due to snowstorm and the food went home with anyone who would take it. I was selective: pecan pie and chocolate covered gingerbread! and Camembert and wine. And it was an S weekend and a snow day and the holidays, so I ...

jw

http://everydaysystems.com/bb/profile.p ... 5081292e71 -- eleanoral. Joke plus spam links.

jw

I've had that experience in Buffalo, NoSnacker! I went on a bus trip to a museum there for a 2-hour presentation. When we went in, the sky was blue and the pavements were bare, when we came out, there was a blinding blizzard and the whole world was white! Gotta love that lake effect! And it makes yo...

jw

Just keep going, KCCC. I was very proud of no red days for months -- but once I started slipping occasionally, I learned more. Like how to recover without negative impact! Since falling is inevitable, it's good to learn how to fall --

jw

I just think of N as normal, S as special -- anything else makes me feel a little rebellious, especially the "NO -" aspect, as Diligence mentions. I also find it helpful to reinforce what is for me a new normal by reminding myself that moderate eating three times a day really is how normal people in...

jw

Oh, automated, I read about your triumph over the hill at work yesterday, but didn't have time to respond -- and now the hill has won again. :-( Maybe some things will always be up and down (get it? get it?)! Seriously, that is one of my big challenges -- mustering the energy of mind to walk. You ju...

jw

Thanks, Linda, automated, and idontknow!

I am back down at 20 lbs lost, as wise friends predicted -- funny, it's so easy to tell other people not to worry about the scale, but when mine took an upward turn for a week or so, I was totally bent out of shape!

jw

Now that's a club I am proud to join, KCCC! I will wear my clown shoes to the first meeting!

jw

Success story -- sort of. Today is really cold, subzero windchills, so I put on my silk long johns under my knit dress pants this morning. While I was walking around the house, feeding the dogs, etc., I noticed a strange feeling -- and before I knew what was happening, my pants fell down! :lol: Glad...

jw

"Yes, I seek the chaos, but I don't want it once I'm done." Nobody wants anything excessive or dangerous once they're done. The trick is not to want it before you start! I am serious -- I think if you still want it on weekends, then keep doing it -- so that you won't do it on N days. (I also think y...

jw

What a great post, automated! I think your down to earth approach to No S and body image makes you a real star! Love that you thanked your mom -- I am sure she laid the groundwork for your good attitude.

jw

Thanks for looking in on my thread, NoSnacker! Sounds like you are doing great!

jw

Bon voyage, clarebear! Enjoy the beaches and don't worry about a thing! In Oz, all days are green!

jw

Good topic! With jobs, I'm good for 8-10 years. With diets: I stuck with strict low carb for about two years, then another couple of years of teasing myself with just enough carbs to keep me frustrated. I'll reach the 6 month mark on No S on New Year's Eve! I like my routine, but I have become a lot...

jw

Keep an eye on Paul Walker at http://everydaysystems.com/bb/viewtopic ... 7e8f94b38f

jw

Another post from jacfeed, this one under shovelglove, seems to be pushing cellphones in French. I preferred the one in Spanish that offered us tips on clothes to disguise how fat we are . . .
http://everydaysystems.com/bb/viewtopic ... 229#141229

Everyday Systems

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