Melissa from MD checking in

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.

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MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Melissa from MD checking in

Post by MelissaK » Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:51 pm

My first day went well. I stayed on plan. Hardest time was between lunch and dinner.

I'm feeling strong. Motivated.

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Day 2

Post by MelissaK » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:13 am

I stuck to the plan. Took a bike ride with my boys. Walked for 14 min. on the treadmill.

Trying to get dh to join in on this with me. He's thinking about it.

I'm feeling good. Haven't been tempted, yet. My motivation is there. I read some more on the bulletin board today and I'm really feeling like this makes a lot of sense and could really work for me. I'm giving it a month. Then, I'll re-assess. Hey, it's gotta be better than what I've been doing.

I've reached the point where I'm just sick of being where I am - fat!

So, I'm plugging along toward day 3. Looking forward to a great week.

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Stayed true to plan

Post by MelissaK » Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:03 am

This is day 3 for me. I got some exercise in today. 15 min walk and some laps in the pool. Stuck to my 3 plates. I'm wondering if I'm eating too much to lose, but will just have to wait for my first week weigh-in to see. My meals are balanced. I'm trying to get more fruits and veggies. Also, more water. But, my plates are pretty full. I'm not feeling deprived. I haven't been tempted to snack. I don't feel hungry. Hardest part for me is not testing things for temperature or taste for my kids. I've had to stop myself with this a few times. Also, I'm really wondering about this whole idea of "clean your plate, food waste". How do you get around this mindset when it's been so well established???

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Day 4

Post by MelissaK » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:50 am

Another good day. Had a bit of a rough afternoon. About 2 o'clock I was feeling hungry. Instead of eating, I fixed a big glass of water. Sipped it off and on for the next half hour or so. I got busy doing something around the house to keep my mind occupied and eventually the feeling went away. I made it to dinner without snacking. :)

Went for a bike ride with my boys, swam in the pool for a while and worked up a sweat while cleaning. Not sure if I got enough exercise in, but I counted today as a successful exercise day anyway.

Hardest thing for me is going to be staying off of that scale. It's really talking to me.

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Day 5

Post by MelissaK » Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:16 am

Stuck to my 3 plates of food. Took the day off from exercise. A good day.

I was thinking about 2 things today.

First, this food plan is not controlling my life. Before when I would diet, the diet would take up all of my time - journaling my food, preparing special meals for just me, exercise for long periods of time, counting calories, weighing/measuring, chopping veggies, entering food choices into fitday, etc. It took all of my spare time. With this program, life goes on. I have time for other things.

Second, with this plan I can still enjoy cooking. I've prepared good meals this week. I'm enjoying cooking again. I made salsa this evening. I've never made this before. I'm looking forward to having some of it tomorrow after it cools.

Life is good, and the scale is moving. I cheated today and weighed myself. I'm a happy camper. This is working!!!

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Checking In

Post by MelissaK » Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:35 am

Stayed true to plan today. Took a walk with my kids. We ate out this evening and I was still able to stick to my plan. Very cool.

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gratefuldeb67
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Post by gratefuldeb67 » Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:16 am

Nice goin Melissa!! Keep it up :)
Peace and Love,
8) Debs
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Checking In

Post by MelissaK » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:01 am

Thanks so much for the encouragement, Deb. I appreciate it.

Had another good day. I've finished my first week and am very pleased with my progress.

l'm becoming more aware of the portion sizes that I need to get me through to the next meal. A few times this week I have left a few bites of food on my plate. That's progress for me.

I am thinking that I may need to make lunch a bit later to get through to dinner.

Today was an S day for me. My first one. My treat was a snack between lunch and dinner. That was it.

Scale is showing a good loss for the week. Staying off of that scale is sooooo hard for me, but I'm doing better. Progress not perfection.

I'm happier than I've been in months. While I still have a way to go, I'm encouraged because I have finally taken that first step in the right direction.

I've got one week on plan under my belt and that feels great!!! :lol:

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Post by MelissaK » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:18 pm

Day 8 on plan. I followed my 3-plate rule. Went to a ballgame in the evening, but didn't eat anything at the park.

I'm trying to get more fruits, veggies and water into my diet. Have been doing very well with this. Even had peas one day for lunch. :D

Need to work on getting more exercise and have got to *stay off that scale*. Staying off of the scale is really a problem for me. I'm doing better, but would still like to only weigh in once a week. I've been weighing in once a day for years. Lot of good it did me. I'm going to try to do better this week. Wish me luck!

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Post by MelissaK » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:54 pm

I'm down 6.5 pounds after the first week on No S. I'll take that! :lol:

Gonna keep plugging along. I'm off to a great start.

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Checking In

Post by MelissaK » Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:00 pm

I'm 2 weeks on plan and am doing well. I'm down 7.5 pounds. I've been walking a mile about 5x a week and doing extra yardwork/housework to burn calories. Feeling good. Staying positive. Had a few rough afternoons (wanted to snack), but I held strong and got my mind on something else to get through it. That worked. I'm hanging in there and am loving this plan.

Joelle
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:01 am
Location: California

Post by Joelle » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:07 pm

Great work! Congratulations on your success!

howfunisthat
Posts: 605
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Location: New York

Post by howfunisthat » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:18 am

Congrats on a great 2 weeks!

I'm on Day 44...still new...but very determined, as you are.

I have a hard time in the afternoons some days as I want to snack then too...I've pushed my breakfast to 10:00 and my lunch to 2:00 and that's helping enormously. Don't know if your day lets you do that or not (I'm at home all day), but it's just a thought.

You're doing great!

janie
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy...

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Post by MelissaK » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:53 pm

Thanks Joelle and Janie for the words of encouragment. I appreciate it.

Janie, I have thought about changing my meal times. This would be a possibility for me as well. If I have any bad days over it this week, I'll probably do just this.

I had a great day yesterday. Had a sweet treat, but stuck to the plan otherwise. Got an hour of extra movement in. Took a 20 min. walk with my boys around the neighborhood and then weeded the front flower beds for 40 min. I worked up a sweat, so that's good. It was a good day. Great start to the week.

MelissaK
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:00 am
Location: Maryland

Post by MelissaK » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:20 pm

I've completed 3 weeks and am down 8.2 pounds. Had a few rough days this week. Time between lunch and dinner was too long. I need to get more exercise in during the week and more water. Otherwise, I'm doing well. Staying strong. Pleased with my results so far.

Melissa
Maryland

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