Counting carbs/calories is a drag. Obsessive scale stepping is a recipe for despair. If you want to count something, "days on habit" is a much better metric. Checking off days on a calendar would do just fine, but if you do it here you get accountability and support. Here's how. Start a new topic in this forum called (say) "Your Name Daily Check In." Then every N day post a "reply" to that topic as to whether you stayed on habit. A simple "<font color="green">SUCCESS</font>" or "<font color="red">FAILURE</font>" (or your preferred euphemism if that's too harsh) is sufficient, but obviously you're welcome to write more if you want. On S-days just register that you're taking an S-day. You don't have to do this forever, just until you're confident you've built the habit. Feel free to check in weekly or monthly or sporadically instead of daily. Feel free also to track other habits besides No-s (I'm keeping this forum under No-s because that's what the vast majority are using it for). See also my <a href="/habitcal/">HabitCal</a> tool for another more formal (and perhaps complementary) way to track habits.
Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
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by Emmanuella » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:15 am
Hi guys. I just started NoSing this month 08-01-2019.
i feel very positive about this.
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:29 am
Tues Jan 8: N day- successful
Wes Jan 9: N day- successful
Thurs Jan 10: N day- successful
Fri Jan 11: (my S day at dinnertime) a bit of a binge on sweets
Sat Jan 12: N day- successful
Sun Jan 13: N day- successful
Mon Jan 14:N day- successful
And ive lost 1 kg
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Emmanuella
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by Emmanuella » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:30 am
Whosonfirst wrote:Congrats and welcome. Keep posting.
Thanks!
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Emmanuella
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by Emmanuella » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:33 am
Staff Assistant III wrote:Welcome! I just started on the 11th.
Laura
Thats great Laura. How are you feeling mentally about this new way of eating for life?
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Soprano
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by Soprano » Wed Jan 16, 2019 5:41 am
Emmanuella wrote:Hi guys. I just started NoSing this month 08-01-2019.
i feel very positive about this.
I missed this, welcome!
Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
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Staff Assistant III
- Posts: 70
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- Location: Pennsylvania USA
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by Staff Assistant III » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:05 am
Emmanuella wrote:Staff Assistant III wrote:Welcome! I just started on the 11th.
Laura
Thats great Laura. How are you feeling mentally about this new way of eating for life?
Pretty good, actually! Limiting snacks between lunch and dinner is my biggest challenge. I am journaling here to keep myself honest.
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manfa
- Posts: 24
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- Location: UK
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by manfa » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:00 pm
Hi Emmanuella and Staff. I started No S last week too. Hope you’re still staying strong!
Staff, my biggest challenge is also no snacks between lunch and dinner. I am having a hot drink mid way between to keep me going. Trying to keep busy and changing my routine a bit has helped too.
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Staff Assistant III
- Posts: 70
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- Location: Pennsylvania USA
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by Staff Assistant III » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:29 pm
Yes manfa I will try that too.I have a box of green tea bags at work. I posted in my check in that my office has too much free food lying around and I have roamed the halls like a shark. No more!
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Emmanuella
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by Emmanuella » Wed Jan 16, 2019 4:36 pm
Tues Jan 15: N day- successful
Had some cravings for sweets on and off during the evening and also couldn't fall asleep till probably 1am and ended up kind of hungry but reminded myself I had a delicious plate of food waiting for me in the morning when I wake up.
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Emmanuella
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by Emmanuella » Wed Jan 16, 2019 4:38 pm
Thnx soprano, and welcome to the club manfa!!
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automatedeating
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by automatedeating » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:12 pm
I also somehow missed your initial post, Emanuella!
Welcome to sane and reasonable moderation! NoS has helped me grow and mature in many areas of my life beyond eating.
I hope you enjoy this first step in your new journey.
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
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by Emmanuella » Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:07 pm
automatedeating wrote:I also somehow missed your initial post, Emanuella!
Welcome to sane and reasonable moderation! NoS has helped me grow and mature in many areas of my life beyond eating.
I hope you enjoy this first step in your new journey.
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Thank you automated
Wed Jan 16: N day-success
Scale is down by 0.1 kg YES! Sure it's slow but I will take it.
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:22 pm
Thurs Jan 17: N day- success
Also, I've exercised 4 x this week which Im very pleased with.
Today is my S ('Saturday/Sunday'') day (from suppertime till midnight). Yesterday i made a list of what I want to indulge in (3 different treats and I am allowing myself about 600-800 worth of calories guilt free of those foods).
Breakfast and lunch is same as on N days.
Also, on Sunday I have a dinner celebration which will include alcohol and surely cake so it will be a S (special) day as well but only at dinner time, breakfast and lunch will be as on N days. In order not to derail myself too much I have decide on these non negotiable directions:
- 1 drink
- 1 small portion of cake
- and of course no nibbling on food befoe or after dinner
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Sat Jan 19, 2019 6:29 pm
A bit disappointing..had 2nds then 3rds etc of sweets
I think i will do away with my weekly friday S day and only keep s special days.
My teeth hurted from the sugar too.
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Sun Jan 20, 2019 7:54 pm
Guys! Yesterday (Sat jan 19) was a mess. Big red fail.
Today i am peckiish/ hungry/moody. A bit disappointed with myself for yeaterday.
ive done breakfast and lunch today but ive just got the munchies so badly. Ugh.
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Sun Jan 20, 2019 8:12 pm
Not sure of how many of our sayings you've heard yet - but one of my favorites is: Mark it and Move On. We don't do ourselves one lick of good by beating ourselves up over the mistakes.
However, remembering the icky feeling of over-doing it can help prevent failure the next time you are faced with the choices.
Be gentle with yourself. Just calmly observe your tendencies and try to figure out what is triggering those tough moments. You can build from there. Consider this weekend information gathering on your journey.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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jenji
- Posts: 661
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- Location: Cambridge
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by jenji » Sun Jan 20, 2019 11:25 pm
Welcome to the forum!
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022
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Soprano
- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
- Location: UK
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by Soprano » Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:16 am
automatedeating wrote:Not sure of how many of our sayings you've heard yet - but one of my favorites is: Mark it and Move On. We don't do ourselves one lick of good by beating ourselves up over the mistakes.
However, remembering the icky feeling of over-doing it can help prevent failure the next time you are faced with the choices.
Be gentle with yourself. Just calmly observe your tendencies and try to figure out what is triggering those tough moments. You can build from there. Consider this weekend information gathering on your journey.
I agree with this wholeheartedly, notice it and learn from it. You'll have set backs, what makes the difference is accepting them and moving on instead of thinking it's a total fail and not working and giving up.
Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
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jenji
- Posts: 661
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- Location: Cambridge
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by jenji » Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:17 pm
Hang in there! You will make mistakes as you get used to this way of eating.
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Mon Apr 08, 2019 11:35 pm
I've got to do better. I completely "fell" off the wagon. Theres no structure to my eating atm, it makes me feel out of control and I dont like that at all.
I need to post morw often to keep myself motivated and on track.
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:07 am
We're always here, and we are glad to see your post!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:08 pm
Thanks auto.
Feels like 2 steps forward 1 step back
Anyway, moving forward...
Breakfast: cereal w/ banana and coffee (milk&sweetner).
10ish am break: coffee (milk and sweetner)
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Wed Apr 10, 2019 9:14 pm
Tues Apr 9, 2019 FAIL
Wed Apr 10,2019 already FAIL (but weight went down a bit)
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Thu Apr 11, 2019 12:33 pm
So far so good...
breakfast: instant oatmeal x2 packets and apple sauce and a coffee
...
Thurs Apr 11: it was a roaring success!!!! ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Sat Apr 13, 2019 1:32 pm
Wow! A "roaring" success? Now that's a cool N Day.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Sun Apr 14, 2019 1:48 pm
Lol
Sat Apr 13 2019: another successful day and just 0.5kg away from my pre-bloat weight!!!!!!!!
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Tue Apr 16, 2019 3:38 pm
Sun Apr 14, 2019 s day
Mon Apr 15, 2019 successful N day
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Tue Apr 16, 2019 3:39 pm
Thank you!! I feel very motivated by the upcoming summer season
I feel much calmer about food again and any cravings that I get.
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Wed Apr 17, 2019 1:37 pm
tues apr 16 a bit of a fail (snacked after dinner)
![Evil or Very Mad :evil:](./images/smilies/icon_evil.gif)
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Thu Apr 18, 2019 3:24 am
Tomorrow is a new N Day!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:31 pm
Its been fail after fail after fail since my last update.
Grrrtt
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
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liveitup
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:17 am
- Location: California
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by liveitup » Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:02 am
Don't dwell on failures! Pick yourself back up and do the things you set out to do! You can do it!
By the way, I don't actually think you're dwelling on it. I just always have to remind myself of this when I post about a failure. There is no shame in posting failure after failure. Eventually you will post a success. I feel very un-judged here, and I always get motivation from other posters, and that's what keeps me going!
Last edited by
liveitup on Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
BMI March 2021: 28
Using NoS to eliminate emotional eating.
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Tue Apr 23, 2019 6:43 pm
Sometimes I have a whole month of fails in my alcohol moderation category.
and this forum kindly does not shame me about it.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Soprano
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- Location: UK
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by Soprano » Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:22 am
There is no shame in failure at anything. Admitting it is useful and sometimes an opportunity to draw a line and start again.
Other times it is an opportunity to look at why and it might take a few more fails to sort the issue out.
Better all round to accept fails just don't actually give up trying
Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Mon May 06, 2019 12:23 am
Its not so much shame as itis frustration with myself, like girl wtf are you doing?? Ya know?
Anyway, last week i had 3 successful days.
The week before, just 1 so i guess its some kind of a progress.
Today as a fail. The whole weekend was really.i feel sooo bloated. I hate this feeling and i cant understand why i do this to myself.
Sigh. Tomorrow is a new day/ new start.
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Mon May 06, 2019 2:07 am
Here's to fresh start Mondays!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Soprano
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- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
- Location: UK
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by Soprano » Mon May 06, 2019 4:01 am
Don't beat yourself up about fails, which incidentally you can't actually do on a weekend
Just quietly notice how you feel. Try to lose the diet mentality of success and fail and work on building habits
Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
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by automatedeating » Mon May 06, 2019 2:17 pm
Well, put Soprano! "Calm curiosity" - it's all data collection!
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Mon May 06, 2019 5:00 pm
"Try to lose the diet mentality... and work on building habit"
Yesyesyes!!!
![Idea :idea:](./images/smilies/icon_idea.gif)
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
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by Emmanuella » Tue May 07, 2019 12:47 pm
Guys!!! Yesterday went well. I had some cravings and true hunger but I had a few slices of pickles aftrt dinner and so im still counting it as a successful day.
Thnak you for ur encouragement and support ❤
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oolala53
- Posts: 10069
- Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
- Location: San Diego, CA USA
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by oolala53 » Tue May 07, 2019 6:53 pm
Hello! I've missed this whole year with you, I think. Belated welcome.
Why do we do it (overeat to the point of discomfort) to ourselves? The explanation I have liked the most is something called the "cram factor." Humans in the past were rewarded with survival for cramming food when available. Even hunter gatherers cram food when they can. Modern foods exacerbate the tendency because they innately have low satiety, so we will often keep eating them until we feel sick. And then still want more! But it's a misinterpretation of the situation.
Just knowing this doesn't remove the attraction, though, at least in my experience. But believing that it is not a sign of something dastardly helps me.
Here's an irony about guilt/shame. Per willpower/habit expert Kelly McGonigal, actually using it against ourselves is unproductive (which I think you know), but wanting to avoid feeling it IS productive! Does that make sense? In other words, doing what we can to avoid having to face such feelings in the future pays off.
I've been at this for over nine years and I can tell you in my first months, my S days were pretty much egregious cramming, but I totally let myself off the hook partly because I honestly couldn't stand the idea of trying to me moderate about my S's. I'm not saying that it's as healthy to do that, but I it didn't matter to me then. It actually took long enough that I don't even want to tell in case it scares you before I finally decided to institute weekend mods, because the urges and habit never went away on their own. I still have my struggles with it-that I think has to do with other issues in my life that No S cannot solve-, but life was so much better with N days that I just kept going. (This included plenty of failures, and lots of plateauing, but weight loss was not my major focus.) And I know that a traditional diet would have likely led to even more failure and even weight gain, if the stats can be believed. But I went from BMI low obese range to high normal range on mostly Vanilla and a couple of weekend mods.
Give yourself credit for every good decision you make and strive to eat the way you will be happy to look back on when your head hits the pillow at night. (One way to help that happen is to actually let yourself experience the pleasure of a success day right before you sleep. Really let it sink in how glad you are you stuck to your guns. I'm saying this for myself as well. )
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23
There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
Post
by automatedeating » Wed May 08, 2019 1:59 am
Pickles! I've started having them every day!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
Post
by Emmanuella » Fri May 10, 2019 2:52 pm
Ive had 2 or 3 days of successful habit forming days
Bloating went down a bit. Very happy and proud of self.
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Soprano
- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
- Location: UK
Post
by Soprano » Fri May 10, 2019 5:22 pm
Well done
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
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automatedeating
- Posts: 5305
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm
Post
by automatedeating » Sat May 11, 2019 3:12 pm
Happy weekend!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
Post
by Emmanuella » Wed Oct 16, 2019 12:54 pm
Hello. Sheepishly returning after a looong while...
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
Post
by Emmanuella » Thu Oct 17, 2019 4:54 pm
16.10.2019
success
17.10.2019
success
18.10.2019
small fail
19.10.2019
success
20.10.2019 S day
- 0.7 kg
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Emmanuella
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:10 am
Post
by Emmanuella » Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:00 pm
21.10.2019 not a huge failure but had some hard candy that I didn't really need so calling it a
fail
22.10.2019 utter failure
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
23.10.2019
fail
24.10.2019
success!