Everyday Systems

Well the title says it all. I've known about and stuck to NoS since Dec 2006, but we are military, and it seems every move throws me off. Add to that I homeschool my two young kids, and they can be a handful, and the stress from that leads me to the kitchen. Literally, I can help them with a disagreement or they can get me nervous to the point that I automatically head to the kitchen and eat.

I eat gluten free, and try to eat paleo style, but I pretty much graze all day and every little stress sends me to snack to calm down. Snacks are never naughty to me lol

So this is supposed to be our final move (#12 in 17 years). And I'm determined to get it together. We are having to go thru the stress of getting used to a new house, town, the search for friends...

Anyway, trying to get through the changes, it's been hard on the kids and on me as well.

Any new ideas for S's or is it the standard vanilla NoS?

Hi Shamrock! I remember you well. I'm back also, after a stressful year for various unpleasant reasons. I just sort of lost my resistance to crappy meals and permasnacking, so I'm having to get back on the wagon.

IMO -- vanilla No S, especially to start. And it's the same old concept, no new bells and whistles. Not like Weight Watchers, which trots out a new program every year! That always made me think, what, you're now saying that the one I just paid you for last year was crap?

When you're stressed, don't go to the kitchen. Go a different direction -- outdoors, maybe!

I'm paraphrasing from French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon: Avoid emotional eating or eating when you're stressed. Food isn't a pacifier, a distraction, a bribe, a reward or substitute for anything else.

Just stick to vanilla No-S.

I binged my way up to my highest weight ever after I became a teacher in the public schools after age 40. I sometimes bought big bags of M & M's on the way to school and ate handfuls of them before, during, and after school, then followed it up with stops on the way home for more junk and more eating all evening. My job is still a big strain on me. I've never gotten used to the difficulties of dealing with resistant teens. But I rarely eat over it. Now, eating often still occurs to me right at the end of the school day, but it seems more like a remembering an annoying song! It doesn't matter to my eating, and I move on to other things to do. Sometimes I'll have a coffee or something, but I don't even have to do that, much of the time.

We are on your side!

Thanks for the welcome and encouragement! I remember you guys as well. Just plugging along today. Kept myself out of the kitchen mostly because my binge on ruffles has left me with a very bad stomach ache. Yikes.

I don't even feel like supper tonight.

See you all tomorrow!

Bienvenudos

Thank you all. I've read had reread your replies and it's keeping me on track!

FarmerHal wrote:formerly Shamrockmommy

Hi, I remember you too.
It's good to see you again.

Welcome back and good luck.

I also had a relapse and am back for round 2. I found it to be much easier the second time around. At this point we already know what to do, we just have to do it. It helps to just realize that No S is the best way to live.

I can imagine that having a constantly changing schedule will have a negative effect on your eating. Be committed to having 3 meals no matter what you are doing.

thank you all, good to see everyone again

My stomach and overall mood is SO much better back on NoS. And I'm making each meal 'count' trying to stuff in nutrition- thoughtfully, vs. mindless eating

I have also noticed that I think more about nutrition on No S. Because it's a definite three meals, I somehow have more trouble pretending I will fit my veggies in later.

Thank you for your inspiration.

Welcome back! Good to see you again.

Don't look back with regrets, but enjoy the journey going forward. I do!

Hi FarmerHal, nice to meet you. I feel for you. I was a military wife (ex-husband) and I got that permasnacking thing down pat -- well, even before he joined the Air Force. I give you credit for homeschooling your kids though!!! I've just started this No S thing last week, and so far so good. Good luck!

I understand your situation completely. I also homeschooled our children from kindergarten through high school graduation and we also moved every year or two. It's tough, I know. Hang in. Vanilla No-S is your best bet Along with friendly support from this board. Don't get discouraged! I'm fighting the Snack Monster, too!

Welcome back FarmerHal, This is my second time with No S as well. The first time was exciting, and you know what happens to exciting. This second time around is easier for me. I'm more relaxed and knowledgeable now and know what works and what doesn't.

Welcome Back!

I am also back after an extended away time!

(((((((((Hugs))))))))

(belated) welcome back! I'm sorry I somehow missed this thread till now. My excuse is one I think you might be able to related to: we had another child in September and I'm just now emerging from the haze of sleep deprivation and frantic overstretchedness on all fronts. I remember you very well and sympathize with your difficulties -- even I, after years of practice, brimming over with founders zeal and all, am tempted to stuff food in my mouth when I'm home alone with the kids for any length of time. I don't (on N-days) but I definitely feel where you're coming from.

The thing that saves me is 1) habit and 2) clarity around the rules.

If you don't think you can handle diving straight in to full-blown vanilla no-s, a good first step might be to firmly commit yourself to stretches of No-s less than a full day. Something like "I'm going to try to do vanilla no-s all day, but I'm 100% committed to no snacking between breakfast and lunch. If I can do that for a full week, then add between lunch and dinner, then finally dinner and bedtime." Just a thought. Might help to ease into it.

Reinhard

A friend of mine home schooled her two children for about a year. She said she used to go out on the back porch of her house and cry a few times a week.

Wow. Sorry for your friend! I have my days but not that often. If homeschool days are that bad, something needs to change to better fit the kids and the mom.

I'm doing ok. Lots of things changed since I originally posted this thread. Someday I'll catch up on it!
Thanks all!

reinhard wrote:even I, after years of practice, brimming over with founders zeal and all, am tempted to stuff food in my mouth when I'm home alone with the kids for any length of time.

Well, this is not good. I guess there really is no point where No S obliterates the cravings. I believed that this magic moment would eventually come, but the fact that it hasn't yet, combined with Reinhard's above affirmation, seals the deal that it's something I will always have to fight. Depressing.

oolala53 wrote:A friend of mine home schooled her two children for about a year. She said she used to go out on the back porch of her house and cry a few times a week.

Is it bad that I want to cry a few times a week because I can't have sweets and snacks?

Well folks since I first made this post, I developed a corn allergy and also just dxd with Lyme disease. So corn is in Everything!! I dropped 12 pounds in a hurry. Also doxycycline kills appetite so I'm good on the diet front for now. Sigh

FarmerHal wrote:Well folks since I first made this post, I developed a corn allergy and also just dxd with Lyme disease. So corn is in Everything!! I dropped 12 pounds in a hurry. Also doxycycline kills appetite so I'm good on the diet front for now. Sigh

Wow, sorry to learn that. In The Omnivore's Dilemma Michael Pollan wrote "if we are what we eat, we are corn." You're right, it's in everything and it's not only food. That's the bad news.

The good news is that you'll be eating a lot of fresh, unprocessed foods.

leafy, I think Reinhard was saying more about the difficulty of handling children than about a continued attachment to food.

I felt that I couldn't even consider mods on S days for over two years, even though I was also very unhappy with my overeating and the rotten aftermath. I felt as if there was a volcano inside of me that would have blown if I thought I was supposed to clamp down on my eating those days. I didn't even want to think about what that meant. I wouldn't let myself even consider tears. And I felt terrible that that seemed true. But I realized it has a lot to do with how I spend my time. But I got tired of the overeating before I solved those other problems.

Try not to dwell on R's statement made in passing. Think more about the fact that he has actually mostly moved on from food or controlling food. His life isn't about this anymore. He's got too much else to do.

What else in life besides food gives you pleasure? What else besides not eating gives you a sense of accomplishment? And even if those are not the issue, would it be the worst thing in the world to have to live with difficult urges to eat relatively chronically? Is ending the urges the only good reason to resist them?