Everyday Systems

In line with a post I made in which I said we have to find other activities and topics to spend time on, I'm wondering if any long-timers have found other interests or subjects to think about that have replaced the attention to food and weight loss. Do you feel your life has expanded? Or is it a non-issue?

Since I haven't reached target weight (165#) or target waist (34"), and I still have slip ups every now and then (although I'm improving), food and weight loss has all my attention, but it's not an obsession.

Eventually I'll reach my targets and my habits will become automatic.

I feel a lesser amount of stress. Although I am currently gaining weight, I know that my way of eating moderately is right. Or soon will be.

For me thinking about weight loss is a non-issue. I do think about food frequently, but for me it's something pleasant to do.

One way or the other, I still think about food A LOT!! Some is healthy planning, some is obcessive. Not sure if that's ever gonna get better...

Not really! I've been doing NoS on and off (off for about 2 months... ) for well over a year now, but I still think a lot about food. I love cooking, experimenting with new foods and eating, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to not think about food! We'll see though, I'm not yet in a position where I've lost any substantial amount of weight on NoS, if that happens my outlook may well be different

My thinking about food has changed qualitatively. I now define "good" food as food that tastes good, is prepared at home and uses minimally processed ingredients, even "fattening" ones such as sour cream and butter.

There is also emotional space to enjoy life more. I have spent more time outdoors biking and kayaking. I have acquired new skills. I have been able to take on some professionally satisfying projects at work and a leadership position in a local produce co-op (food related but I am motivated more out of an environmental ethos than by weight concerns).

While a lot of things have happened to that have brought me to this place, I think No S is part of it since it has removed the self-absorption that comes with so much of diet and exercise advice.

Thanks, Blithe Morning. I think that's more what I was talking about.

I realize now what I meant was what have you replaced dwelling on food and weight loss as a PROBLEM with? Or maybe you never did, if you were lucky.

Even after 32 months, I find I'm caught between an identity as someone who isn't tormented by food anymore and someone who still puts herself in the middle of those who struggle, possibly as a way to avoid overeating. I guess I'm not sure what would happen if I didn't stay involved. I've tried to create more in certain areas of my life for years, and haven't been able to pull it off. I'm tired of it, yet I'm not sure what will take its place. I posted a testimonial last January and in so many ways am so much happier. I'm so glad I don't diet! My weekends are no longer what you'd call wild at all, but I find that I still eat more than I feel good with and I am still looking for what will release me from that. I guess it's a personal problem, one I keep imagining that those with mates, family, beloved jobs, etc., don't have. But even Beck says that living a life beyond the needs of maintaining a satisfactory weight makes maintaining more likely.

Don't mean to shut down discussion or be a downer. I'm happy to listen to all comers.

I think part of the problem with creating a satisfying, fulfilling life is that we make the mistake of comparing our lives - the interesting bits, the boring bits and the messed up bits - with the interesting snippets we get of other people's lives. Just like we should never compare ours bodies with those of fashion magazine models, we should never compare our lives with other people's.

First, we don't see beyond the superficial. And second, what good does it do?

You are awesome Ooo. Keep at it and things will come about. Like weight loss, I think it takes more time than we think it should. I will spare you the cheery advice on creating a meaningful life; I suspect you already know. Personally, I'm looking into the weekend Luddite.

Except for my Kindle Fire as long as I'm reading books.

This is what I am working on. Instead of focusing on diet and wheight loss,what to do besides boring housework. I have been wrangled into some school related volunteering positions I am not thrilled about except the art awareness.
Now that my baby is in preschool I am looking into going back to school to become a nurse. I have always wanted to be a nurse but for some reason my family always discouraged it. I think I really need to work outside the home in some way because being a SAHM is very lonely. My neighbors pretty much work and I have not really made any connections with the other moms. They are more friendly acquaintances.

I'm about a year and a half in and my life has changed massively. I am still losing weight although very slowly as I started at a fairly low weight.

It took lots of up's and downs in the start and I still have red days- but I don't care anymore! I just do my best and that's enough. My thoughts about food are very relaxed now. I was very extreme and rather food obsessed before.

I now think about other things (shock horror!!) I only tend to think about food before or during a meal- and I no longer feel that it has to be all or nothing in terms of healthiness of meals or if I slip up- I can eat one chocolate on a red day and leave it there- This has been huge for me. And has improved my life immeasurably
Nosnos