Cindy1969's daily check in

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:56 am

First day on No S. I am basically happy and have a great life. But, I'm just bored - and I eat when I'm bored, or upset about something. I also am finding that I love to sit! I want to change my patterns and be healthier for myself, and my family. Hoping that if I quit obsessing about food and my weight, I can find my passion - or at least what I should be doing with my life within the confines of my home and family/marriage.

anra · Post by **anra** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:17 pm

Welcome, congratulations on your decision to start this way of eating (LIVING!) and i hope all is going well!

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:50 pm

Three meals a day and life in between. Welcome!

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 6:19 pm

Thanks for your encouragement - just trying to break ingrained habits. I say just - but that's such a huge thing.

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:07 pm

Roy Baumeister said never assume that a person trying to change eating habits does not have willpower. It is one of the hardest changes to make, yet a clear vision of the benefits and then noticing them and magnifying them when they happen can make it a lot more likely. (He also said don't go on a "diet," and don't swear off any food. Make your changes situational, which is exactly what No S is.)

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:57 pm

I'm back for day 2 of this journey. So far so good. Wish I could find a recipe my family I would enjoy with the leftover Easter ham. Going to try using the ham bone for black bean soup tomorrow. My pantry holds a bunch of dried beans that my husband or I had good intentions to use - but none of them are black. A husband who loves cheese - and kids who don't.

Kittson · Post by **Kittson** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:32 pm

Welcome Cindy!

Leftovers can be tricky. I had fun and googled and came up with this link:

http://www.epicurious.com/archive/blogs ... r-ham.html

Those waffles look pretty delicious. Or cut up the ham and put it in cheesy potatoes?

*edit - sorry, didn't take into account that your children don't like cheese. Perhaps just dice the ham up and throw it in the soup.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:40 pm

Thank you Kittson - very sweet of you! Maybe I'll just try one of these - so much easier to toss in freezer and forget about them...

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 12:46 am

My family always used white beans with ham. I wouldn't think it would make a difference which bean got paired. Yum!

Guess you have to add the cheese at the end to the adults' bowls.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 12:05 pm

I actually made the soup (with black beans) and it turned out pretty well. Of course, the kids didn't eat it. I like the look and taste of the black beans best - but guess I really could have used up some of the other beans we've been hoarding!

I was a picky eater as a kid too and now, not so much - I like most things - which is a contributing factor to my weight I think. It was a total free for all over the weekend. Getting back to the No S today. Trying to be hopeful.

I'm off to seek adventure today. Too much time at home (lovely though it is), is not a good thing for me.

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 1:17 pm

A week or even several weeks is not actually enough time to work the program and know if it will really pay off. Please try to pretend at least that you can't try anything else for a year! Free for alls on weekends aren't proof that N days aren't working. Have faith!

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:06 pm

I'm back for day 4 of NS. Out for breakfast with a friend this morning. The company was great, but the food not as good as I wished it would have been. This of course is a bigger deal now that I'm not eating as often.

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:34 am

Yeah, I know that one. Dealing with less-than-pleasing meals is also part of the learning curve. Thankfully, there's always a possibly nice one a few hours away.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:13 am

Cindy1969 wrote:I actually made the soup (with black beans) and it turned out pretty well.

Do you have a recipe? I typically make navy bean soup, which I love but hubby doesn't. He likes black beans & I might try that next time I make soup!

New postPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:06 am Post subject: Reply with quote

Cindy1969 wrote:I'm back for day 4 of NS. Out for breakfast with a friend this morning. The company was great, but the food not as good as I wished it would have been. This of course is a bigger deal now that I'm not eating as often.

Isn't that the truth?!! I find I actually notice if the food isn't great now--I didn't as often in the past!

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:06 am

I must have dead tastebuds. I really can't taste that much difference between types of beans. Maybe I notice texture a little. Of course, garbanzos are different. Maybe I'm lucky, though, as I like them all.

Merry · Post by **Merry** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 5:24 am

oolala53 wrote:I must have dead tastebuds. I really can't taste that much difference between types of beans. Maybe I notice texture a little. Of course, garbanzos are different. Maybe I'm lucky, though, as I like them all.

I notice only slight differences--I think the navy ones cause him more issues with gas though (even with "beano" & trying all the secrets they say will reduce the gas). Anyway...worth trying. I miss bean soup!

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:30 pm

Hi - Day 4 was a success; onto Day 5.

I found the recipe at The Kitchn (no e!) website - for Cuban Black Bean Soup. It's really only beans, onion, and few other simple ingredients, with the leftover ham hock. (I skipped the green peppers.)

I've got a somewhat sick 3rd grader home from school today. I need to get him healthy for school pictures tomorrow. Hope you have a great day everyone!

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 1:09 pm

I had a pretty good day yesterday - only broke down by having some sugar in hot tea around 4 PM - it was a long stretch between lunch and dinner at 6:45; and all the kids snacking after school.

Again, I am hopeful for a good day today.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 11:38 am

Pretty good Thursday - now onto Friday. I don't want to get too confident and slip back into old habits. I also don't want to obsess and plan for a weekend binge. I want to continue to enjoy this new moderation in my eating habits, and really own that I feel so much better when I'm not overstuffed. Why is this such a hard connection to make/live out? Does one really need a vice to get thru the day?

oolala53 · Post by **oolala53** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 6:27 pm

Humans are primed to be able to eat when there is opportunity. There are individual exceptions, but they are just that: exceptions. Reinhard pointed out that only scarcity or culture has ever successfully kept the majority from NOT overdoing it. Not sure what you meant by the vice. You are just paying the price of living in a culture that does not support moderation AND has food available in excess, the dream-come-true of most of humanity in history. But good luck finding a modern one that does support moderation. The WHO backed up Reinhard's claim relatively recently by reporting that only famine or war has led to maintaining lower weights on average in the last few decades. Just about EVERY culture is going to have to face this eventually, and most of them will likely go through all the mistakes we make until the wave of realistic moderation grows. If they knew what they were getting into, they might outlaw the proliferation of the ten most addictive foods (Men's Health) and modern fast food establishments in general for a start. But that's more unlikely than YOU being able to get this down over the next few years! Isn't that good news?

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Mon Apr 11, 2016 9:08 pm

Good news for me, not so much for those who are craving their very own McDonald's in their country.

But - it continues to amaze me how food is pushed at us here in the U.S. - even at the gas pump, they try to get us to go into the gas station and buy junk food; in addition to the check out at Lowe's home improvement; and just about every store or business really, there's always an opportunity to buy junk food, or take free junk food.

Regardless - it was an okay weekend. Was happy to get back to No S today. Lunch out with a friend was great today - but for the poor choice in getting a chopped Asian salad - very unsatisfying. Was not even interested enough to finish it all. I've got to learn to make better (tastier!) food choices at restaurants. Looking forward to spaghetti for supper at home. Realizing how much I've added/substituted quick and easy junk food in the past when meals were not satisfying.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 1:00 pm

Monday was okay - I needed a snack bc my eating times were off; but I chose wisely and didn't use it as an excuse to eat junk.

Very glad the homemade raisin filled cookies are out of the house. They are delicious, and they also hold great memories of the past. Beginning to realize the different reasons that I like to eat certain food.

Trying to remember how much better I feel when I eat less. Here's to having a good Tuesday.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 11:53 am

I'm feeling so much better by eating fewer times during the day. Remember this! I'm trying to focus on that, instead of trying to make sure all/most of the food is healthy. That will be my next step after I feel more secure in only 3 meals a day.

So, Tuesday was mostly a success. I have grapes sitting out and ate a few of them here and there - could be a lot worse. I ate my take out supper in two parts - grilled chicken burrito without any creamy sauces - again, could have been worse. It was a rushed evening with kid activities, which added to the somewhat chaotic eating. This would not have bothered me before - starting to realize some things like this that never occurred to me before.

Here's to a good and disciplined Wednesday.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:01 pm

I knew it was probably going to happen but I was hopeful it wouldn't. I had a tripped up kind of Wednesday. Living with others can cause some extra challenges that I don't always handle well.

There was no need for me to eat the Entenmann's doughnuts that my husband brought home form his breakfast meeting - but I've never been good at resisting such high calorie crap. I packed some of the leftovers in the kids' lunches - and put the doughnut box in the laundry room out of my direct line of vision. Hopefully they will be here when the kids get home from school and they can finish them off.

Now that that bump in the road is over - on to new and better things.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:47 pm

Well Thursday wasn't exactly a NoS kind of day either. I've been sitting at the kitchen table writing reports for my husband's office the past couple of days. I'm done for now. Stressed at the thought of bombing on them. But I'm pretty confident - couldn't have given them more thought if I had tried.

I think I do a lot better when I'm more active - although my brain did get a good work out.

Out and about today - would really love a soda. I will use all my might to put that off until tomorrow. I've go to want "healthy," or it's not going to work.

Very hopeful - thankful the sun is shining.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:26 pm

It's Monday - here we go again.

The weekend wasn't a total bust as my Wed, Thurs, Fri weren't so hot.

It will be a great day if I make it happen and don't stand in my own way!

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:28 am

Telling myself: Enough is enough. Losing sleep and obsessing about how bad your eating habits are is crazy. Just do what you know will make you feel better. Yesterday was an epic fail, but today doesn't have to be. Make it a good one!

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Wed Apr 20, 2016 11:54 am

Yet again - still searching for success.

JJJPK · Post by **JJJPK** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:19 pm

Welcome Cindy1969! We're in this together! I know the pain of failing and then the guilt. But, as a wise man once told me, "It's not about how many time you fall, it's about how many time you get back up!" Also being new to the diet, I too, struggle with obsessing over food (or lack there of!) But, I think planning other things you really enjoy is a great way to distract yourself. Make your day so chalk full of useful/fun activities that food can't be the top thought in your brain all the time. Also, I try to remember that three meals a day is how most people were living for thousands of years up till this point. Take the pioneers for example. Think of how much more manual labor they did than us, and they were running on a LOT less food. What they had, they grew. When I look at that, I feel like such a wimp. So with that in mind, I try to get busy and forget about food! Good luck. You'll get the hang of it. Enjoy life and try (though I know it's NEARLY impossible at times!) to forget the fact that you're on a diet. Stick with it. You'll figure out what works for you. I know it feels really hard at the beginning. I'm not gonna lie, even here on day 14 it still sucks pretty bad and I'm telling this to myself more than to you, but, we'll make it, we're in this together! Eat to live, don't live to eat.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:46 pm

Thank for the encouraging words JJJPK!

Onward and upward! I'm not giving up - just need to stop giving in. I've thought all of the things you've shared at different times. Not sure why I keep giving in - just the nature of an addiction I think.

Here's to a good day - one busy enough to keep food low on my list of interests.

jackn · Post by **jackn** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 6:02 pm

Hey Cindy.

Doesn't sound like a bed of roses.

Good luck, and we're together.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:48 pm

Thanks for your support! The weekend could have been a lot worse. Keeping it to the basics today - and keeping busy. I will break old routines - and get off automatic behavior that wasn't doing me any favors. Best wishes to all of us.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:33 am

I watched the movie "That Sugar Movie" today - really makes you want to stop eating sugar altogether.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:58 am

Still thinking about the movie - I feel a successful day coming on.

jackn · Post by **jackn** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:17 pm

Could you please share some of the more striking moments in the movie, Cindy, and your impressions?

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 11:59 am

This is a simple overview of "That Sugar Movie" - some numbers or facts may be off, but it's basically like this:

This guy hasn't eaten sugar in 3 years - has eaten very healthy (Clean, maybe even gluten free from what his website looks like) bc of his healthy girlfriend's influence. He decides to experiment and eat just "healthy" low fat food - like low fat yogurt - with sugar; juices; smoothies - from Jamba Juice; dries fruit snacks - anything we have been marketed to think of as healthy. He eats up to 40 tsps of sugar every day I think - which they say is what a typical person eats.

The thing that got me is that he ate about the same or a bit fewer calories than before, and gained 20 pounds in 3 months. It was a real example that all calories are not created equal. He was always dragging, and felt like he was in a fog - always searching for his next hit of sugar. He was eating more often than before. He returns to basically Clean eating after the experiment and goes thru withdrawal - and after a month or so, he feels normal and awake and energized again. Of course, his health was monitored by doctors throughout.

I'd love to have that non-foggy feeling. I think the No S diet is a great step in the right direction to get away from having to have that sweet taste all the time. I'm working on moving in the direction towards less processed foods, less processed "healthy" foods bc of this movie, and towards more simple God given healthy food.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:01 pm

Oh - and he also equated many of the sugar industries practices with that of the tobacco industry - before they were called out.

jackn · Post by **jackn** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:01 pm

Why, Cindy, this is delicious.
Sounds like it's worth a watch.

Thank you kindly.

Cindy1969 · Post by **Cindy1969** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 3:51 pm

I'd recommend - I found it on Amazon Prime. But keep in mind - I was so heavily influenced by other such movie - an Joe the juicing Australian guy - that I bought a juicer that I only used a half dozen times. Movies like this evidently have a strong affect on me.

Also happy to report that I seriously contemplated buying the Trim Healthy Momma diet book yesterday - and did not! If I can't stick with No S, I don't think anything will work!!

jackn · Post by **jackn** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 5:33 pm

Cindy1969 wrote: Also happy to report that I seriously contemplated buying the Trim Healthy Momma diet book yesterday - and did not!

Yes, diet-hopping.
Boy, the diets I've been through. Let me count the ways.

Good for you, and thanx for sharing.