On not being an idiot
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:32 pm
I have taken a page from LA Loser, and set up a HabitCal for "non-idiotic S-days" to track whether they are reasonable or over the top. I only make an entry on S-days, and make a judgment call as to whether they were idiotic or not. There are still a lot that are idiotic - particularly now, when life is stressful - but more greens are showing up on weekends overall.
This process has led me to think about what I consider a non-idiotic S-day. I'm resistant to counting "S's," as some do, because I think that will backfire on me given my own diet history and temperament. The minute I feel closed in by a count, I'm in trouble. But I find I have no trouble deciding whether a day was idiotic or not.
My criteria don't concern amount as much they do purposefulness and effect. What I mean by purposefulness is that each treat is a conscious decision, something I truly want, not just a handful of something as I pass by where it's stored. What I mean by effect is simply that I don't feel ill from eating. I may be a little more full than normal, but I don't get to the "gosh, I wish I hadn't eaten that" stage. Even if I consume a lot of calories, if I meet those criteria, I feel that I've had a non-idiotic day.
So, yesterday I had three (yes, THREE) pieces of home-made pumpkin pie, and I consider it a very non-idiotic day. I totally love pumpkin pie, so chose to make it in the morning. I had a piece after lunch, one after dinner, and another later in the evening... and I enjoyed EVERY bite. After the last, I was QUITE done. Later today, I'll probably have another (I made 2 pies, so even with company last night, there's some left) and then I'll be ready for N-days.
I probably had seconds as well - in fact, I know I did, on my home-made bread at dinner - but as long as I don't hit the groaning-stuffed point, I consider it good.
So that's my personal non-idiot criteria, for now at least. I expect to see a good bit of variation on what each of us considers non-idiotic, depending on where people are in their No-S journeys, how much freedom they need (or can tolerate), how much they're used to eating prior to No-S, etc. I've just found it useful to identify "what non-idiotic means to me."
This process has led me to think about what I consider a non-idiotic S-day. I'm resistant to counting "S's," as some do, because I think that will backfire on me given my own diet history and temperament. The minute I feel closed in by a count, I'm in trouble. But I find I have no trouble deciding whether a day was idiotic or not.
My criteria don't concern amount as much they do purposefulness and effect. What I mean by purposefulness is that each treat is a conscious decision, something I truly want, not just a handful of something as I pass by where it's stored. What I mean by effect is simply that I don't feel ill from eating. I may be a little more full than normal, but I don't get to the "gosh, I wish I hadn't eaten that" stage. Even if I consume a lot of calories, if I meet those criteria, I feel that I've had a non-idiotic day.
So, yesterday I had three (yes, THREE) pieces of home-made pumpkin pie, and I consider it a very non-idiotic day. I totally love pumpkin pie, so chose to make it in the morning. I had a piece after lunch, one after dinner, and another later in the evening... and I enjoyed EVERY bite. After the last, I was QUITE done. Later today, I'll probably have another (I made 2 pies, so even with company last night, there's some left) and then I'll be ready for N-days.
I probably had seconds as well - in fact, I know I did, on my home-made bread at dinner - but as long as I don't hit the groaning-stuffed point, I consider it good.
So that's my personal non-idiot criteria, for now at least. I expect to see a good bit of variation on what each of us considers non-idiotic, depending on where people are in their No-S journeys, how much freedom they need (or can tolerate), how much they're used to eating prior to No-S, etc. I've just found it useful to identify "what non-idiotic means to me."