New Episode -- enjoy!
Episode 96: Greenishness
Posted by Reinhard on 2025-06-16
Brokenhearted about breaking your streak? Let Greenishness Be Thy Motivation.
https://everydaysystems.com/podcast/episode/96/
Podcast #96: Greenishness
Re: Podcast #96: Greenishness
Dear Reinhard!
Thank you very much for this new episode! I mostly agree with the idea of "thinking in terms of habit" and avoiding the YES/NO streak philosophy. It just sounds a little bit like the smart way out with "Greenishness"!
BUT: I recently discovered that my weights starts climbing again. 3 kilos (6 pounds up over the last 1-2 years). One might say that is not a problem as long as I feel good. But I don't. More fat around the belly and stuff. Not a big deal. But a tendency I definitely want to stop and reverse. Now here is the thing: I haven't changed my routine. No S is still going strong. Lot's of beautiful green one could say
Also my exercise program is very stable. I do 14 Minutes every N-Day and I rarely miss a day a month. Again: green it is.
So in the case of weight I have the feeling that thinking habit-oriented is not enough (any more?). I still have a "goal mindset". Or need a goal mindset. Or a combination. Maybe old-age finally gets me? I am turning 47 this year. Or maybe I just need another habit, an additional habit to get the same results (goal) as I got with the No S Diet and 14' Training when I started 10 years ago. Have you observed similar changes over time? I even think from a medical point of view given hormone levels and all that it makes sense that you need to invest more over time to get the same results.
Next question: Any ideas what might help? Any habits being tested in your lab or ideas not tested yet? I could be your guinea pig to test it on
I think about Surgical Flogging (maybe some S-Day-Logging if the weight is above xy on Saturday morning...) - I have not yet tried Surgical Flogging. But is that enough?
Thanks for yours ideas and the work you are putting in!
All the best
Stefan
Thank you very much for this new episode! I mostly agree with the idea of "thinking in terms of habit" and avoiding the YES/NO streak philosophy. It just sounds a little bit like the smart way out with "Greenishness"!
BUT: I recently discovered that my weights starts climbing again. 3 kilos (6 pounds up over the last 1-2 years). One might say that is not a problem as long as I feel good. But I don't. More fat around the belly and stuff. Not a big deal. But a tendency I definitely want to stop and reverse. Now here is the thing: I haven't changed my routine. No S is still going strong. Lot's of beautiful green one could say
Also my exercise program is very stable. I do 14 Minutes every N-Day and I rarely miss a day a month. Again: green it is. So in the case of weight I have the feeling that thinking habit-oriented is not enough (any more?). I still have a "goal mindset". Or need a goal mindset. Or a combination. Maybe old-age finally gets me? I am turning 47 this year. Or maybe I just need another habit, an additional habit to get the same results (goal) as I got with the No S Diet and 14' Training when I started 10 years ago. Have you observed similar changes over time? I even think from a medical point of view given hormone levels and all that it makes sense that you need to invest more over time to get the same results.
Next question: Any ideas what might help? Any habits being tested in your lab or ideas not tested yet? I could be your guinea pig to test it on
I think about Surgical Flogging (maybe some S-Day-Logging if the weight is above xy on Saturday morning...) - I have not yet tried Surgical Flogging. But is that enough?
Thanks for yours ideas and the work you are putting in!
All the best
Stefan
Re: Podcast #96: Greenishness
Hi Stefan,
Glad it resonated!
You are absolutely right about it getting tougher as we get older. Our habits may be better, more firmly in place -- but the same effort often doesn't yield the same results. Metabolism and all that.
I think for me the process has been mostly so slow and smooth that I haven't had to make big, decisive changes, at least in terms of diet and pounds piling on. (the bigger age related change I've been experiencing is greater frequency of exercise impacting injuries of all kids). That being said, my lunches have definitely gotten smaller and sometimes don't happen at all. I spin this to myself as taking "meal-ism" to the next level: I think "meals should be social!" and then I deemphasize or pass on meals that aren't (breakfast and dinner I almost always eat with family, lunch is often solo). But it's not a hard rule.
I think surgical flogging has also helped, I really do recommend that -- it's especially helpful when you are NOT flogging and want to avoid the trigger that will require you to again. It layers on top of No S very elegantly and doesn't distort it at all. It's a form of tracking, but with our aversion to tracking being a key motivational element. I started surgical flogging before I noticed any big weight gain, so I can't say for certain that it prevented that. But given the facts of aging, that people typically put on pounds in middle age, I think it's likely playing a protective role.
Greenishness has definitely helped too. Weight is one of the elements I track like this, and those trends show up very clearly if they are there. And I'm highly motivated to arrest them early. Lack of greenishness puts me on higher alert and sometimes that is enough to notice and nip in the bud whatever is going on, makes me think twice before going for seconds of sweets on an S-day just because I can, adds a little helpful friction.
Greenishness has helped with urban ranger and shovelglove too -- seeing those step counts stay green is obviously a big motivator. And because walking is such a gentle activity it's something I've been able to do through most injuries. Shovelglove I had to start quantifying a little differently in my lifelog after my first bout of "uppy arm" (golfer's elbow) to take advantage of "greenishness." For each set, I multiply the number of reps I do with the weight of the hammer, then add the numbers from each set and that's my "score" for the day. Seeing slow, mostly steady progress here has helped me stay patient as I creep back up from injuries, stick with it, and avoid re-injuries.
Reinhard
Glad it resonated!
You are absolutely right about it getting tougher as we get older. Our habits may be better, more firmly in place -- but the same effort often doesn't yield the same results. Metabolism and all that.
I think for me the process has been mostly so slow and smooth that I haven't had to make big, decisive changes, at least in terms of diet and pounds piling on. (the bigger age related change I've been experiencing is greater frequency of exercise impacting injuries of all kids). That being said, my lunches have definitely gotten smaller and sometimes don't happen at all. I spin this to myself as taking "meal-ism" to the next level: I think "meals should be social!" and then I deemphasize or pass on meals that aren't (breakfast and dinner I almost always eat with family, lunch is often solo). But it's not a hard rule.
I think surgical flogging has also helped, I really do recommend that -- it's especially helpful when you are NOT flogging and want to avoid the trigger that will require you to again. It layers on top of No S very elegantly and doesn't distort it at all. It's a form of tracking, but with our aversion to tracking being a key motivational element. I started surgical flogging before I noticed any big weight gain, so I can't say for certain that it prevented that. But given the facts of aging, that people typically put on pounds in middle age, I think it's likely playing a protective role.
Greenishness has definitely helped too. Weight is one of the elements I track like this, and those trends show up very clearly if they are there. And I'm highly motivated to arrest them early. Lack of greenishness puts me on higher alert and sometimes that is enough to notice and nip in the bud whatever is going on, makes me think twice before going for seconds of sweets on an S-day just because I can, adds a little helpful friction.
Greenishness has helped with urban ranger and shovelglove too -- seeing those step counts stay green is obviously a big motivator. And because walking is such a gentle activity it's something I've been able to do through most injuries. Shovelglove I had to start quantifying a little differently in my lifelog after my first bout of "uppy arm" (golfer's elbow) to take advantage of "greenishness." For each set, I multiply the number of reps I do with the weight of the hammer, then add the numbers from each set and that's my "score" for the day. Seeing slow, mostly steady progress here has helped me stay patient as I creep back up from injuries, stick with it, and avoid re-injuries.
Reinhard
Re: Podcast #96: Greenishness
Hi Reinhard!
Thanks for answering! Tracking the weight with "greenishness" of course makes sense - had not thought about it that way. Being a programmer: have you ever thought of doing a "Everyday Systems App"?
I'll try the Surgical Flogging and see where it takes me. In case you come up with other "mods" I'd be thankful if you shared them. I still think the No S Diet is the sane thing to do. Playing a bit with portion sizes surely could work - but I fear is too unsystematic for me at the moment...
All the best
Stefan
Thanks for answering! Tracking the weight with "greenishness" of course makes sense - had not thought about it that way. Being a programmer: have you ever thought of doing a "Everyday Systems App"?
I'll try the Surgical Flogging and see where it takes me. In case you come up with other "mods" I'd be thankful if you shared them. I still think the No S Diet is the sane thing to do. Playing a bit with portion sizes surely could work - but I fear is too unsystematic for me at the moment...
All the best
Stefan