Mom2TwoVikings' first 30 days

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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Mom2TwoVikings
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Mom2TwoVikings' first 30 days

Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:24 pm

Day One was Monday...I had NO clue how much food I unknowingly plopped in my mouth! What a realization! Tasting stuff while I'm cooking, leftovers when the kids are done eating, and the SNACKING - good grief! While I was successful in exercising, I marked Monday as a "fail" day diet-wise since I baked some sweet potato bread, then unexpectedly my in-laws stopped by to visit. I pulled out the bread to provide them a snack w/coffee and realized halfway through a slice that I'd already had dinner! *sigh* I had NO IDEA I was so mindless about my eating. Blogged about the first day here: http://twolittlevikings.blogspot.com/20 ... wagon.html

Day Two was a success plus exercise. But the sweets cravings rear their ugly head in a STRONG way. Being an emotional eater, I now have to find another way to deal with it. And, another day of showing me what a mindless eater I was.

Today was Day Three. Worked on balancing my plates out more with healthier choices instead of piling on the "starchies" to keep me full til the next meal. Didn't get to the YMCA this morning - but that was due more my ADD/distraction issues than being lazy. DID go to family swim this afternoon with my 5 and 3 yr olds and treaded A LOT of water catching them off the diving board so I guess that could count! LOL Had a late lunch (2pm) due to grocery shopping so when DaHubby and the kids were ready for dinner at 5pm, a big shocker! I wasn't hungry yet! LOL So, I'll be eating solo in a bit for dinner. Assuming I can keep my hands off the pudding I'm making for the kids for dessert, today will be a success as well! *fingers crossed*
Last edited by Mom2TwoVikings on Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

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gratefuldeb67
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Post by gratefuldeb67 » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:33 pm

Welcome and good luck Viking Mom!
Wow I'd love to hear your recipe for sweet potato bread!! Never heard of that.
Great realisations so far!
I'd suggest saving the puddings for the whole family till the weekend.
Unless your kids are gonna make it for themselves and eat it out of view of you.
I'd say it's much easier to try and do NoS with your whole family.
That's not too much of an inconvenience and then they are also reaping the benefits of gaining good habits, and you can be each others pep squads..

I wish my mom would try doing NoS for even one day.
She is always moaning about gaining weight.
And then she tries to defend herself within the same breath by saying "But I watch what I eat...I'm very careful.." Which is a lot of baloney, cos she's *ALWAYS* stuffing handfuls of nuts and soy crackers or whatever snack she has in the cupboard, into her mouth as she comes in the kitchen.. I've tried a bunch of times to have her try it for one month, but within moments, she's headed in the other direction.. Only to re emerge a few days later with the same complaint about how she's gaining weight. :?
Good for you, for taking a realistic look at your habits.
You *can* change them, and actually, snacking is supposedly the easiest of the three habits to change, according to most newbies..


8) Debs
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

Mom2TwoVikings
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thanks!

Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:54 pm

thanks for the welcome Debs!

Pudding already made and I did fine. LOL Did have kid leftovers for dinner (PB&J from lunch, macaroni salad, a Gala apple, strawberries) But, I'm *definitely* counting the hours 'til Saturday...ummmmm, a COKE, 3 chocolate chip cookies waiting for me on top of the fridge, and maybe an ice cream sandwich! LOL

Beth

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Day Four

Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:18 pm

Day Four

So far a success but struggling... Must. Not. Emotionally. Eat!

Stressed out, busy day w/kids who are now whipped & cranky on top of an absent hubby due to working 45-hour weeks along with full-time college classes w/finals next week.

Want to eat SUGAR - cookies on fridge-top calling my name, want a candy bar, ice cream, SOMETHING! *sigh* :P

Trying to remember that in just 48 hrs I could be enjoying a treat, that delaying gratification NOW means it'll just taste better later.

Only 2 hours 'til Vikings bedtime, four 'til mine...I only have to make it four more hours! LOL

(later...)

It's now 9:20pm. Just got kids to bed after attending Town Hall For Hope w/Dave Ramsey. Avoided the sweets at home AND the free cookies at the venue! LOL

I think I can...I think I can... I think...

guadopt1997
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Post by guadopt1997 » Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:09 pm

Try having some peppermint tea or sugarless gum when you really really want something!

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:57 pm

Day 5: failure

"Spontaneous fun picnic" turned into 3 hrs out in heat with nothing to drink and a well-meaning mother-in-law with only soda to drink. *sigh* Not too bad on the scale of things but a bummer to have failed on such a silly thing.

Having a major revelation about the anticipation of S-days though. Failing today took all the fun out of being able to treat myself tomorrow and relax. :P

The strict-mom part of me wants to skip one or both of my S-days in some sort of self-retaliation but will chill regardless tomorrow since it's a birthday celebration and will deal with Sunday when it comes. With no sweets or soda in the house anyway, I may walk through Sunday without them anyway.

Beth

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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:39 am

Day 6: S day
Day 7: S-day

Day 8: failure

7:40am weighed in: down 1 lb. Back on the wagon this morning and focusing on smaller portions instead of "panic" portions to get me through to the next plate. LOL

10:30pm Talk about mindless eating! *sigh* Made it through a really tough afternoon with no snacks then mindlessly ate seconds at dinner. Didn't realize it until about an hour later.

Tomorrow's another day.

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:19 pm

Day 9: failure

More mindless not paying attention. Realized halfway through eating out that I had ordered a diet pop and had drank half of it. At least I ordered diet LOL I guess the habits took a long time to build and will take more "de-programming" than I thought.

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:08 pm

Day 10: success

5pm It's been a hard day since my in-laws took the kids while I went grocery shopping..and I usually have a treat when this happens since (for once) I don't have to share! LOL But, so far so good. And, why exactly am I driving around with a 1/2 box of candy from my mother-in-law that she gave the kids in my minivan? *sigh*

9pm Just have to make it 'til bedtime but I'm thinking...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:20 pm

Day 11: success

2:15pm God, help me! Possible bedbugs. Found 100's of ants coming from ceiling light fixture. Looking for spray and found kitchen sink pipe leaking. Pouring rain. Kids stuck in house for 3 days. And, I want ICE CREAM, CHOCOLATE, ANYTHING!! Grr.

6:13pm Made it through the Great Ant Battle of 2009 but still have to re-assemble my daughter bedrm (it was her ceiling fixture). Made it her gymnastic class on time. Now making dinner...less than 3 hrs til kiddo bedtime.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Last edited by Mom2TwoVikings on Fri May 01, 2009 11:01 am, edited 2 times in total.

Thalia
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Post by Thalia » Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:28 pm

OMG, what a horrible day! I mean, you had me at the possible bedbugs ... ugh.

Can you take the kids to an indoor playground or something to get out of the house?

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Sat May 02, 2009 1:09 pm

Day 12: success

Had lunch out w/family and remembered to get lemonade this time! LOL

Was up late visiting with friends and contemplated staying up 15 more minutes so it would be after midnight so I could have a piece of straggling Easter candy (LOL) but went to bed instead.

nlb
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Post by nlb » Sat May 02, 2009 9:10 pm

Why was the diet pop a failure? I didn't get from book that diet pop is a sweet. What am I missing?

Nancy

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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Sun May 03, 2009 2:05 am

nlb - You didn't read the book wrong. This is my decision - I counted it a fail since I drink soda in such excess that I am now counting it as a "sweet" for me. Trying to "encourage" myself into more water, tea, and juices rather than always heading to the soda out of habit.

Beth/Mom2TwoVikings

nlb
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Post by nlb » Sun May 03, 2009 11:23 am

Beth - oh, I see. Thanks for explaining. I have a Diet coke maybe 3X a week and didn't think I was bending the rules. Can see what you mean if you drink to excess. Good luck to you!

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Mon May 04, 2009 7:25 pm

day 13: s-day
day 14: s-day

day 15: failure

Kid-less so low stress but kid-less so I want a treat I don't have to cut up in tiny pieces or share!! LOL So far so good...

Couldn't stay away from the last scoop of ice cream while snuggled up reading in the last of my silence before the kids come home. :(

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Tue May 05, 2009 11:37 pm

Day 16: success! But, still eating too large of portions and still making too many starch-y food choices.

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Wed May 06, 2009 10:11 pm

Day 17: success but still too much starch. Went grocery shopping. Hoping for more veggie/fruit balanced meals. And, still dealing w/stress and emotional eating WAY more than I realized.

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Fri May 08, 2009 12:46 pm

Day 18: failure

Had a wonderful day exploring with my kids and as a family this evening. But, stress of keeping hydrated and splurging on treats for the kids and then winging our schedule meant lunch at 2pm and dinner at 7pm so snacks were hard to avoid.

Mom2TwoVikings
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Post by Mom2TwoVikings » Mon May 11, 2009 11:18 am

Friday day 19 fail
Sat day 20 S day
Sun day 21 S day

Monday day 22 TBD

Feeling frustrated fell off wagon big time end of last week. Schedule changes through me off kilter so when I took a "mommy day off" TH and F and just spent it hanging out with my preschoolers, my diet derailed. Schedule chagnes means less time at YMCA as well. Finally, DaHubby was off school for a week betw winter and spring/summer semesters. And, I gained back what little came off already. *sigh* Blah, blah, blah...

So back on the wagon for this week...

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~reneew
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Post by ~reneew » Thu May 21, 2009 4:23 pm

Don't give up! You're learning good habits! :wink:
I guess this doesn't work unless you actually do it.
Please pray for me

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