Everyday Systems

OK so I have decided that the discipline of a daily check in will be good for me. I have lost the plot over Christmas and have found it a bit alarming to have fallen back into my old bad habits so quickly. I am drawing a line and aiming for 3 NoS days for the rest of the week.
I am also aiming to have good NoS habits in 2017, as often as possible.
This is working for me, better than anything else has ever done, and I need to remind myself of that.

Success. Thank goodness, feels so much better to be back in control.

Congrats on a good day!

daily check-in is a great thing to keep ourselves accountable...
i plan to keep doing it at least for the first 2 years to get the habit really going... and even then im not sure i will be ready to let it go... im grateful for this tool because im not sure habitcal would be enough for me...

Thanks Merry and kaali. I am definitely going to commit to this. This forum is such a supportive place

Thursday 29th - success
Something of a challenge today at my cousin's 40th birthday, very hungry at 6pm and lots of nibbles and birthday cake being handed round, I managed to resist and have a proper plate of food when I got home.

Friday 30th Success
A minor victory at lunchtime. My husband went off to fetch us all lunch from a cafe and came back with a main course each plus a piece of cake each. One of my favourite cakes too. 'I wasn't sure what to do' was his explanation bless him. So I calmly (on the outside with slightly more turmoil on the inside) cut mine into 3 and deposited it on the other three plates. Go me. I am so having some cake tomorrow!

Not really sure if I'm supposed to check in at the weekend!
Anyway today has been OK, normal breakfast, lovely lunch out with family where I enjoyed a dessert, a few snacky bits for supper but nothing outrageous, a glass of wine. I think I am still recovering from my over indulgence during the Christmas period and annoyingly I seem to have re triggered my sweet tooth, which had almost disappeared. However, I am sure that a few solid NoS weeks will help with that. Lets hope I can achieve them!

Following you through 2017!
Cynthia aka threewhales

sounds like a plan...keeping accountable is always smart.

Thanks everyone!
I overdid the snacks today. Not sure why even, just that 'eat it today while you can' mentality that I still struggle with.
Back on track tomorrow.

Mon 2nd Success! I did have a large plate of food for dinner, but it was a healthy plate and I enjoyed every mouthful!
Weighed in this morning, have put on a pound and a half over the Christmas period. I know that would have been a lot worse in previous years, so even though I felt out of control at times, I have this framework to return to.

Off to a great start, blue bell! Only gaining1.5 pounds through the holidays is definitely better than most people!

Thanks MaggieMae!
Tuesday 3rd Success. Back at work today, definitely helps to be back in routine again.

Hi Bluebell. Well done getting back on it before January started. 1.5 lb is great over Christmas. Amazing willpower with the cakes.

Thanks nettee. Its funny the way our brains work. When I read your post I was wondering what cakes you were referring to! Then I read back and remembered the cakes in the cafe last week! At the time I was convinced that cake was the most desirable yummy thing ever. Fast forward a few days and I couldn't actually remember them immediately. Crazy huh?!

Wednesday 4th Success. No problems at all today

Thursday 5th Success
Made a cake for my husband's birthday today, for the first time in a long time I didn't try any of the spare cake mixture or icing!
Undecided about his birthday tomorrow, I'd like to think I could enjoy dinner without dessert.

Friday 6th
Not sure how to mark it. Was my husband's birthday and we had family over for Chinese takeaway. I had thought I would stick to one plate of food and keep it as a regular NoS day but actually probably had 1 and a half plates, plus prawn crackers, plus birthday cake.
So that was either a fail (most likely) or a non weekend special day, but I should have planned it in.
I should most probably take it as a lesson to understand my own expectations better. When it comes to family gatherings and food I do struggle to control myself.

Yesterday (Saturday) was very picky. I snacked on stupid things for no reason. Going to aim for a bit more restraint today.

Today was better, I did enjoy some treats but in a more controlled manner.

Thanks oolala!

Monday 9th Success. I have lost the 1 1/2lb put on over Christmas so am happy with that. Something of a relief to be back on track again.

Tuesday 10th - Success
Delicious (if I say so myself) homemade beef casserole with dumplings, new potatoes and green veg. I am so so so glad I can eat a plateful of this without feeling guilty about the carbs, calories, blah blah blah.
Feel lovely and full and satisfied

Weds 11th - Success

Hump day done.

Bluebell wrote:Friday 6th
Not sure how to mark it. Was my husband's birthday and we had family over for Chinese takeaway. I had thought I would stick to one plate of food and keep it as a regular NoS day but actually probably had 1 and a half plates, plus prawn crackers, plus birthday cake.
So that was either a fail (most likely) or a non weekend special day, but I should have planned it in.
I should most probably take it as a lesson to understand my own expectations better. When it comes to family gatherings and food I do struggle to control myself.

So this day would be an S Day, for special day. These built in special days are no guilt, or ruin a family gathering day.

Bluebell wrote:Tuesday 10th - Success
Delicious (if I say so myself) homemade beef casserole with dumplings, new potatoes and green veg. I am so so so glad I can eat a plateful of this without feeling guilty about the carbs, calories, blah blah blah.
Feel lovely and full and satisfied

I need that recipe.

Over43, yes I should have marked it as an S day in advance but didn't, because I (stupidly) thought I could stick to one plate of food at a family gathering. Turns out I can't! Then I thought it would be cheating to mark it as S with hindsight! So in the end just put it as a fail. I dunno if that was right or not but got fed up thinking about it!!
The casserole is dead easy, I am not a fancy cook. Just soften some onions and root veg in a little olive oil then brown the meat. Add black pepper, herbs and some stock. Stick a lid on and shove in the oven for a couple of hours on low. Or longer if you like your beef falling apart. About 20 mins before you want to eat it, pop the dumplings in. I cheat and make mine from a packet. It is indeed delicious!

Thursday 12th - Success

Friday 13th - Success

Phew a green week!

Last night I went out for dinner with my two close friends and overindulged. Three courses and too much alcohol. I am sure the scales will reflect this tomorrow morning, plus the fact that it is my time of the month when I always gain a couple of pounds. I do feel a bit, post Christmas, that I am hovering around the same weight and not really making much progress.
Still. I shall keep plodding on because I know this way is better than any other way.

It's been only a few weeks after the holiday.

Are you hovering around the same overeating pattern? If your N days can ease toward more moderation and you S days the same, not necessarily both at the same time, then all is well. March is a better time to take stock, IMHO (though you didn't ask...) And May. (Wansink found it took most people until May to recover from holidays, but they didn't make a concerted effort to make non-weekend eating more reasonable.)

Thanks oolala. The voice of reason and much needed! I was having a panic, but actually last week was green so I am doing Ok. March sounds good, May even better!
To answer your question, yes I am usually pretty good in the week but still tending towards out of control at the weekends.
Today was a success. Had a bit of a stressful/emotional day today but managed to stick to plan.

Tuesday 17th - success

Wednesday 18th - success

Thursday 19th - success
Went to a friend's son's birthday party and managed to avoid all of the nibbles, then went home and cooked a healthy dinner.

Friday 20th - success

Well I think the weekend went OK. I had a planned treat/snack on Saturday which was a cheese scone at a cafe. It was enormous and yummy and I couldn't eat my lunch later on! Most unlike me. And two treats/snacks today. Plus a few chocolates which I can't seem to leave alone even though I don't really want them. But only 2 or 3 rather than a whole load which would have been my previous habit.
So could have been better but could have been a lot lot worse.

That sounds very good to me! Well done!

Thanks RawCookie!
Monday 23rd - success.
Today I have officially lost a stone since my heaviest at the end of August last year. 10 pounds of that have been with NoS, which I started at the beginning of October. Slow but steady weight loss, I am very pleased

Tuesday 24th - success

What percentage of your weight is a stone? curious...

Er that would require me to do maths oolala

OK my starting weight was 13 stone 8lb which is 190lb
My current weight is 12 stone 8lb which is 176lb
So 14lb loss which is around 7% I think? Please feel free to do the maths for me if I am wrong!!

Wednesday 25th
Success. I had a heavy carb laden dinner, chicken lattice with oven chips and veg. Just felt extremely hungry this afternoon, I don't really know why, and needed to feel full. It did all fit on one plate and I had plenty of veg.

Thursday 26th - success
Better meal choices today.

Friday 27th - success
Another green week, yay!

Treats today:
Chocolate pudding
Bite of husband's cake in the cafe
Two squares of milk chocolate
Four chocolate mints

I didn't enjoy them. But I can't quite switch off the wanting of them. However I am not shovelling them down in vast quantities as I have done before NoS, so maybe there is some progress. I just wish I could make the connection that I am not deprived if I don't eat it....
I wonder how long it will take...four months in now.

Bluebell wrote:Treats today:
Chocolate pudding
Bite of husband's cake in the cafe
Two squares of milk chocolate
Four chocolate mints

I didn't enjoy them. But I can't quite switch off the wanting of them. However I am not shovelling them down in vast quantities as I have done before NoS, so maybe there is some progress. I just wish I could make the connection that I am not deprived if I don't eat it....
I wonder how long it will take...four months in now.

I think it's something that slowly gets better but it's not exactly a continuum--sometimes I relapse into just the wanting and then I remember--oh yeah, I really don't enjoy some of these things that much that I think I want!

But I have noticed as time goes on that the overall desire diminishes, even if there's a flare now and then.

The good thing is that you are paying attention and eating them mindfully--you are realizing what you really do like and what you really don't--and that will eventually help you on the front end to realize you don't want certain things.

I was at a party on Wednesday, and as I briefly thought, "hmm, treats, want some," I then also realized, "nothing really extraordinary here. Good, I'm sure, but not really worth breaking up a green day over." In the past, I would have just thought, "see food, eat food" and not given any thought at all to how much enjoyment I might get from it. (It's kind of funny--I've been a picky eater for many things throughout my life but not for sugar--and why not? That's where I should be especially picky!)

I find as I exercise these muscles on green days, it eventually starts leaking into S days too, and I start thinking about what I'll enjoy most as a treat, instead of just eating what's there. I'll also take a bite but not more if I just want to try it and then find it's not really awesome. Unusual behavior for me over the scope of my life!

Thanks for your encouraging words Merry
What you describe is exactly what I need to work on. Stopping before I put it in my mouth, to ask myself do I really want it...is it actually a treat? That's my next target and it feels like a big one. I am usually fine in the week because I know I am not allowed any treats at all. Its the decision making I struggle with at the weekends.

Bluebell wrote:Treats today:
Chocolate pudding
Bite of husband's cake in the cafe
Two squares of milk chocolate
Four chocolate mints

I didn't enjoy them. But I can't quite switch off the wanting of them. However I am not shovelling them down in vast quantities as I have done before NoS, so maybe there is some progress. I just wish I could make the connection that I am not deprived if I don't eat it....
I wonder how long it will take...four months in now.

love this! The very fact that you are aware that these sugary things aren't really all that amazing...awareness is a marvelous thing! You're doing terrific!

As for how long it takes. hahahahaha! I've been going strong for 8 1/2 months. Have lost 3 lbs of the five lbs I gained...argh!...
BUT the things I'm learning about myself are priceless. I trust that the weight will come off, but I KNOW my relationship with food is improving and becoming more sane by the day.

Thank you so much bunsofaluminium I really appreciate the support. I have a tendency to be quite hard on myself and it is very lovely when people like you come and point out that I am making progress!
You are so right when you talk about your relationship with food improving, this is definitely the case for me, I need to think back to my old bad habits and compare them to now. I have never had this much sanity around food. Ever. Onwards!

So today went OK I think. Two slices of granary toast for breakfast. Main treat today was apple pie and cream after Sunday roast, I felt really really full after that! A small plate of crackers and cheese and a cereal bar for supper. One shortbread biscuit and one stupid chocolate mint the rest of which I need to throw in the bin, if fact I am going to do that first thing in the morning. I am the only one eating up the mints and I don't even want them.
Will weigh in the morning and see how its going.

Today I am feeling very positive. I went for my initial consultation to have Invisalign braces fitted. I have wanted to get my teeth sorted for ages and finally have the finances available. My lovely supportive husband has said go for it so I am.
How does this fit with NO S? Perfectly! I will only be able to remove the braces to eat meals, definitely no snacking allowed! Thank goodness I am in the swing of not snacking during the week at least, otherwise I think it could have been very difficult at first.
I can see it helping with my weekends too as I will have to have sweets and seconds at meal times only, still no snacking allowed.
It feels like for the first time in a long time I am putting me first and sorting out issues that I have lived with for years.
Monday 30th - success

Editing to add, my weekly weigh in puts me at 1 1/2lb down!

Tuesday 31st - success

Oops forgot to check in yesterday- success. Had an old friends of my husband's for dinner and had made lasagne in advance, stuck to my one plate with some salad, and avoided dessert.

Thursday 2nd - success.
Super bad sugar cravings this afternoon, no idea why other than feeling a bit tired. Managed to stay strong and resist.

Friday 3rd - success

I think we can't usually know why we get cravings. Our minds like to ascribe reasons, but they are often wrong. Best thing about No S is that it doesn't matter! The remedy is pretty much the same. Do something pleasurable or productive until it's time to eat!

Congrats on a green Friday after a tough day.

Thanks oolala wise words
This weekend I have enjoyed my food, today we went out for lunch and it was delicious, but I still feel completely full at 6pm and won't be having any supper. This would have been unheard of a few months ago, going without supper??! What are you talking about I need supper! So nice to be able to say you know what, I am actually full and don't need anything else. Just shows how my appetite has changed.

I suspect some of it is changed appetite and some is just recognizing that there is no real hunger. (Not being hungry doesn't always take away my desire to eat. Like right now. Tea and posting IS my meal for now.)

Yes that's so true. I now seem to have a little voice saying 'hang on, tummy is full, you don't need to put anything else in there right now!' Which is an amazing turnaround for me. Rather than feeling deprived because I am missing a meal (supper), I feel saitisfied because the previous meal (lunch) was so filling and delicious. And also shows that I am making progress with my S days, not necessarily feeling the need to eat the whole day long!

Monday 6th Feb - success

Tuesday 7th - success

Weds 8th - success

Hi, just wanted to stop by your thread and say HI ! and wish you well. See some of my "old" (in terms of longevity, not age of course) friends on here giving you wonderful support and advice.

I have been here for close to a decade (had to reregister once when I got a new computer but think I joined around 2008), no longer actually practice No S as I have found that fasting of some sort - IF, 5:2, 4:3 whatever I feel like that week - works better for me.

I do wish you the very best and will follow your progress.

This is easily the most compassionate group of people I have ever posted with, anywhere.

Berry

Hi Strawberry Roan thanks for your message of support. I really do believe this is a way of eating I can follow for life. Having been on and off the diet wagon for most of my adult life it is such a relief to have found a way of eating that teaches me good habits and is sustainable. And yes I have to agree that everyone here is so supportive and seems to understand my struggles!
I have just found the courage to share with a few work colleagues that I am following NoS and how it is helping me, they have been very positive in their reactions and interested in the diet. So maybe I can do my bit and share the word here in the UK!

Thursday 9th - success. Had a takeaway curry for dinner and did fit rather a lot on my plate! But, didn't go back for seconds and felt comfortably full, not overly stuffed. This is a real change for me with takeaways.

Friday 10th - success
Yay a green week!

OK honesty is the best policy....today has been an eating day. My treats have been a few chocolate eggs (too sweet!) some homemade banana loaf (mmm) and apple pie with cream. Large platefuls for lunch and dinner. I feel full. But I just wanted that feeling today. Maybe its the cold weather, or maybe its just because, but I have enjoyed eating and have not felt guilty. Not sure if this a good thing or not! But there it is.

I know that feeling of 'just wanting that feeling'............ it's Saturday - relax. xxx

Rawcookie - thank you

S days might be eating days for a long time. You'll either get over it with no effort or you'll get sick of it and use a mod. Still win win, IMHO.

Oolala thank you also!
Do you know one of the most amazing things that NoS is helping me with? Being kinder to myself. Celebrating the victories, no matter how small. Accepting the times I don't quite get it right. Accepting, as well, that the things I worry about around food, or tell myself off for, aren't that big a deal really.
This forum is full of supportive and level headed people, who are truly helping me learn to accept myself. That's quite a big deal for someone who first started to hate their body aged 12. I have been a self fulfilling prophecy for the last 30 years and I genuinely feel that is coming to an end at last.
I feel quite emotional typing that and its all come from your comments Rawcookie and Oolala. So thank you for taking the time to help me. And for everyone else who has shown me support.

That is so sweet of your to say so! I can think of few other rewards greater.

This is a very supportive and uplifting place, not to mention sane

Dandelion I agree! Sanity around food is still relatively new to me but I'm certainly enjoying the feeling!
Monday 13th - success

When you get really grounded in this, you might start thinking that the crazies are running the food asylum.

Ha ha Oolala I'll give it a bit longer and get back to you! I imagine that would be entirely possible
Today I am marking as a special day, although I didn't snack or have any sweets, I did cook a special fish stew served with ciabatta bread for myself and husband for a Valentines meal. I definitely dipped back into that pot for seconds and thirds! It was delicious if I say so myself and also reasonably healthy, but I ate more than one plate. Also had a couple of glasses of white wine.
Poor husband didn't even get the choice of a dessert, to be honest it didn't actually register that we maybe should have had one until it was too late! He didn't complain as he can see the difference in my confidence and my attitude towards food. I do feel I've come a long way realising that.

Wednesday 15th - success

Thursday 16th - success

Friday 17th - success

Great week! Well done!

Thanks Rawcookie!
I have had a good weekend, I think my eating has been OK, I had a snack mid morning yesterday and then a lovely meal out at a sushi restaurant with my husband, we very rarely get to go out just the two of us so that was really nice. Today I didn't eat between breakfast and lunch, and had one chocolate biscuit and one square of dark chocolate in the afternoon. I also had homemade apple crumble and cream for dessert after a roast dinner, which I enjoyed.
I feel I am gradually finding a middle ground at the weekends, although I still find myself snacking and wondering why I feel the need, when I happily go without in the week. Once my Invisalign braces are fitted (waiting for a date from Orthodontist) I really won't have the option to snack at all so I am kind of waiting for that to cure me of weekend snacking once and for all!

Monday 20th - success
Half term this week so I have been at home wity my boys, had a lovely chilled out day but I found it quite tricky between meals today, just because I haven't been in my usual busy work routine. But I managed to stay on track so that's one day down, four to go!

Getting non-work days down can be tricky, but once again, it's all habit! You're so smart sticking it out.

Thanks oolala. When I'm struggling I find it really helps to try and think about the alternatives. No way do I want to return to the misery of yoyo dieting and the fruitless search for the next magic fix. NoS is my best option, never before have I managed to stick so steadily to a diet without feeling deprived or like some kind of martyr! And never before have I managed to achieve such moderation in my eating.

The misery of the alternatives- consistent overeating or "following a diet"- kept me on the No S path for, well, up until now!

Even though I wasn't in it for the weight loss, I sometimes suspected that I could lose more. (I still could.) But I would look at what I was eating and what I might be willing to give up, and it would turn out that I thought I was eating reasonably and that I couldn't really see anything I would be willing to give up, so what was the point of trying to get more weight off? Now, if the changes brought about other benefits that I truly aspire to AND weight loss happened, I'd entertain that. But just to be thinner? I'm not bad now and it is so clear now that it is a limited area of life in terms of satisfaction. I'd trade it for a couple of other things, but those are even harder to materialize. (And it's not money.)

I have always enjoyed reading your insights. I now realize that I cannot be thin without thinking and planning and obsessing over food and food records. I have done it for years and I guess my vanity kept me going. But I know for a fact that I cannot eat an average of 1200 calories a day and lose any weight. This is my maintenance allotment to be in my correct BMI. I have years of documentation to prove that.

But this doesn't have to be either/or. I don't like to be out of control and eat compulsively and foolishly. So NoS is the sane plan for me. When my dad was in assisted living he had 3 really good meals a day including dessert. Thankfully, the cooks were not required to have these 90+ year olds on a "heart healthy" diet. Of course, he wasn't active enough to burn any extra calories, but he still lost weight and got to a nice trim figure where he should be. And lo and behold, it was basically NoS except for the nightly dessert. He just didn't have access to any other food!

I would prefer to call it NoS rather than the "assisted living" diet.

oops...I thought I was responding to oolala, but Bluebell I enjoy reading your posts too.

TexArk - Oolala has been a voice of sanity and reason many a time for me on this forum and I truly appreciate all of her input (and other posters of course!)😊
Oolala I guess I could also lose more or lose it faster if I adjusted my plate size or the content of my meals. But I enjoy my food too much and I know I'd end up rebelling. This is becoming more about acceptance and less about losing weight- another surprise brought to me courtesy of NoS!!😁

Well done on your good start to half term - it is hard when your routines are different. Some great thoughts on sticking with it everyone.

Thank you nettee 😊
I have had success today. Lovely lunch at my aunt's, she cooked a big roast but I managed to stick to one plateful. And refused dessert, which was homemade and looked rather yummy! Luckily she wasn't offended and I explained about NoS, she is a diabetic (type 2) so understands about cutting out sweet foods.

Another lunch out today, I took my boys to a movie followed by lunch in a favourite diner. I was able to put what I wanted from the separate portions they presented me with onto one plate and leave the rest. I was also quite happy to let the boys have dessert and order myself a coffee. Actually thinking about it, that's huge progress for me. Leave food??? No dessert??? Unthinkable only a few months ago, now it just seems normal

On another note, my eldest son is being particularly difficult right now. He's almost 13 and my goodness the hormones are making him moody. My husband is away all week so I'm doing my best. I do find it hard to stay calm at times. But I'm not turning to food as emotional support so that's also progress. It never made me feel any better anyway

That's awesome that leaving dessert is starting to feel normal! That's got to be freeing.

Thanks heliz it really is! Success today, that's day 4 of the half term done. I am looking forward to the weekend when we are having the in laws over for a Chinese for father in law's birthday. That thought is keeping me going this week!

Aaagh. Posting now (4.20pm UK time) in the hopes that I will pull myself together. Had a little time travel episode this morning back to pre NoS. I was doing some baking, a birthday cake and some flapjack. Cut the wonky edges off the cake and ate some. Did exactly the same with the flapjack. I knew what I was doing. It was like a mini rebellion in my brain. So disappointed with myself, have managed really well this week with half term at home with the kids, lunches out etc. Absolutely no need to do what I did but I did it anyway.
My brain is now telling me I need more sugar, some snacks, eat eat eat. I am not going to do it because it would be ridiculous. But a part of me wants to.
Anyway enough of the pity party, fully intend to mark it and move on. Will report back this evening!

Good luck with your evening - baking is so tempting

Same thing happened me with baking I did last Friday - and I was similarly disappointed with myself. Never mind - keep going!

Thank you for your encouraging words
I actually think coming and posting on here helped me to stop and think about it. I kind of wanted to go crazy (I think its known as WTH on this forum, not sure if that stands for What The Heck??) but thankfully I managed not to. So in fact it was a few bites of cake and flapjack, not great but not a total car crash.
So today - fail in a smallish way! Annoyed to mess up my lovely green ticks on my calendar though

I wish I could tell you how many times I've read of baking sweets erodes people's will. I rarely bake ANY sweets now, I've "burned" myself so many times. I still actually love the idea of eating cake batter or cookie dough.

If I were going to, I would save the baking for the actual day I would serve the dessert.

But good that you see not to crash the car after denting the fender.