Everyday Systems

Hi, all. Welp. Last year, from March 2019 - August 2019, I gained 50 pounds. During that time, I had developed a nasty binge eating habit that has backfired in a HUGE way. I have been maintaining more or less since then, but am serious about trying to lose weight now in such a way that I can be sane during the process. I have bipolar disorder and the binge eating started to crop up last spring when I had back to back mixed episodes. (NOT FUN). The binge eating continued through a summer depressive episode followed by a hypomanic episode (I have rapid cycling Bipolar II disorder). Mental health + mental health medications can create a TERRIBLE mix for weight gain, let me tell ya, not to mention nonstop emotional and mental stress. I'm trying not to have negative self-talk about the weight gain. It happened. It is what it is. Time to do something about it! I tried Weight Watchers, but I hated the idea of having to count food EVERY DAY for the rest of my life (miserable). So, I have canceled WW and never plan to return. I am ready to give No S (which I discovered many many moons ago) an earnest, dedicated try.

What app or device do you use for tracking your compliance? Habitcal? Something else? I'm trying a spreadsheet for the first time, as I heard some folks on the Facebook group have done so.

Today's Check In:

S Day - Enjoyed some chocolate. My favorite. yummm
Exercise - Took a 1.5 hr walk with a friend on a sunny day

Hugs, Sammy. I have recently learned a lot more about the havoc that mental health medications can wreak on our metabolisms. That must be so frustrating for you.

Welcome back, and here's to a great week.

I just use my forum diary here to keep myself accountable.

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 1:01 am

Hugs, Sammy. I have recently learned a lot more about the havoc that mental health medications can wreak on our metabolisms. That must be so frustrating for you.

Welcome back, and here's to a great week.

I just use my forum diary here to keep myself accountable.

Thank you for the kind encouragement! I'm going to try hard to update my daily check in frequently, as you have done.

Today has gone really well so far. I still have dinner to eat, but so far 2 square meals with no snacking or sweets-ing. Dinner will be a social thing, so I know I'll be fine with that. Though, it is at a TexMex place and I'm afraid of those chips and salsa. I may save the salsa for my meal and not eat the chips since that would be really hard to eyeball and feels too much like a snack (might save my chips and salsa days for S days).

I am instituting the eating-your-S-treats-in-the-company-of-others thing. I think it will keep me from bingeing or going overboard. I am also treating diet soda as Ses because if I don't, I chain-drink them.

I'm rereading the No S book for the 3rd time. I just get SO much out of it every time I read it. So motivating for me.

Today's Check In

Vitals:
Weight: 190.2 lbs (65.2 lbs away from goal)
Sleep: 8 hrs 11 min
Resting HR: 68 bpm

Exercise: 33 min. walk around my neighborhood (as brisk as I could with my feet hurting)

Food:
B: Protein Shake (Atkins Advantage: Milk Chocolate)
L: Bowl of whole wheat spaghetti with marinara + 6 small veggie balls (rather than meat balls) + grated parmesan cheese
D: Pollo con crema with rice + beans + corn tortillas + salsa

Looking forward to going to my local YMCA today for a cardio drumming class. That will be a lot of fun, I hope. My plan is to try to go to the Y at least 3 days a week for group fitness classes. I also enjoy walking, though, and don't want to lose that (could do both, I suppose).

[EDIT] OMG. We had a major house-related disaster happen and I am SO stressed (As of noon or so today). I would normally turn to sweets to comfort myself, but I REFUSE. I will get through this stress and I will come out victorious.

Today's Check In

Vitals:
Weight: 189.8 lbs (64.8 lbs from goal)
Sleep: Not great. Woke up 3-something and couldn't get back to sleep very well
Resting HR: 65 bpm

Exercise: Went to a 45 min. cardio toning class. Was super fun. Will also be mopping / sweeping today.

Food Plan:
B: Protein Shake
L: Whole Wheat Spaghetti with marinara + veggie balls and grated parmesan cheese
D: Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich and 1/2 a large fries with ketchup.

We have had a major house disaster happen with our plumbing. I am extremely stressed, but I REFUSE to let that stress overwhelm me and incite me to abandon No S. I have GOT this. I'm feeling strong despite what's happened. All will be well in the end.

Today's Check In

Vitals:
Weight: 188.8 lbs (63.8 lbs from goal)
Sleep: A lot. Like 9+ hours.
Resting HR: 68 bpm

Exercise: Took a 20 minute walk around the neighborhood. Trying to clear my head a bit after the craziness of yesterday.

Food Plan:
B: Protein Shake
L: apple slices + red curry chips + chicken salad on bakery white bread
D: Scrambled eggs + corned beef hash + homefries + sourdough toast (2 slices) + grape / apple jelly + hot sauce (big meal, but fit on one plate and was super delicious)

So sorry to hear about the plumbing disaster.

I want to encourage you find some self-care activities during this stressful time. I know you are determined to avoid using food for comfort right now, but you DO need comfort. A pedicure, a massage, a movie, a new book, a new outfit, etc. something to meet the dopamine-seeking need that we all experience during stress.

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:14 pm

I want to encourage you find some self-care activities during this stressful time. I know you are determined to avoid using food for comfort right now, but you DO need comfort. A pedicure, a massage, a movie, a new book, a new outfit, etc. something to meet the dopamine-seeking need that we all experience during stress.

Thank you, Auto. I am trying to read a lot around my work schedule, which always relaxes me. But I may have to do something extra special that I enjoy. I might play a video game tonight.

Video game! What a great idea! My husband used to play video games early in our marriage and I loved just hanging out reading while he adventured virtually.
I'm telling him he should get SkyRim on his new Surface Laptop (he just bought one today to make working from home easier).

OMG I have logged so many hours in Skyrim over the years. He should totally do it!!! I adore playing MMORPGs like Final Fantasy 14. It's so much fun.

I am so happy to have joined the YMCA in my town. I just activated my ActivTrax account (included in my membership) that creates a strength training workout for me 3 days a week. It is designed to grow with me, so weight/resistance will go up as I complete more and more workouts. I loved the trainer who assessed me. Made me feel very encouraged about strength training again. I love strength training and am happy to be getting back into it.

Plumbing disaster is still a disaster and we are now 2 days without water at my house. UGH. Glad I filled up both bathtubs and all our water bottles so we have drinking and "other" water. Hoping the leak specialist gets out here sometime today and can tell us what's wrong!!

Today's Check In

Vitals:
Weight: 188.8 lbs (63.8 lbs from goal)
Sleep: 8.5hrs
Resting HR: 67 bpm

Exercise: 15 minute treadmill walk at 3.0. 25 min. strength training assessment at the Y.

Food Plan:
B: Protein Shake
L: 3 battered dipped fish from Captain D's with steamed broccoli and green beans (Did NOT feel good after eating this. Lots of acid reflux happening. Will note for the future)
D: Peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat + apple slices + curry chips + cashews / Coffee with half n half

*I realize I am not eating the most nutritious food this week, but with all the stress from the plumbing issue, I am prioritizing days on habit.

Looks like you’re doing great. Love your enthusiasm! Sure hope the plumbing issue gets fixed in a timely manner.

lpearlmom wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 13, 2020 5:51 am

Looks like you’re doing great. Love your enthusiasm! Sure hope the plumbing issue gets fixed in a timely manner.

Thanks!! Thankfully a leak specialist is coming to look at it this morning.

Green

Today, we got bad news on our leak issue that's been happening. It's under our house in a location that had previously been worked on last fall. So yay. Had to move all the stuff out of our walk-in master closet, along with furniture in preparation for taking the floor up tomorrow. Joy of joys. Oi. However, I have had a fully green week and I am so ready for some tasty S day treats tomorrow! Planning to have a mini pie and some chips + dip at some point.

Today's Check In

Vitals:
Weight: 188.8 lbs (63.8 lbs from goal)
Sleep: 9+
Resting HR: 67 bpm

Exercise: 1.5 hours heavy lifting and toting (moving boxes out of a closet along with all of the clothing, along with moving 2 dressers and a giant hope chest)

Food Plan:
B: Protein Shake
L: Bowl of homemade potato soup (friend brought it to me) + 1 chickpea chip
D: 3 slices six cheese pizza (Food Lion refrigerated prepackaged pizza) + glass of riesling*

*My acid reflux exploded in intensity after dinner. I'm thinking due to the red sauce on the pizza combined with the white wine. UGH. I hate this stuff. Haven't dealt with it in a while. Wonder why it's flaring up now?

Doing this on mobile so I am not going to bother with the underlining and stuff. It's my first S day after a week of green! I'm almost 3 lbs down and feeling great for working hard on this habit.

I am considering only weighing once a month. How often do you guys weigh?

The plumbing disaster is still a disaster, but I'm hopeful it will be fixed in the next week or two. We'll see what the crew says on Monday when they come to look at it.

I am celebrating an S day with a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's. I love them and they're only out for a short amount of time each year. Super looking forward to it. I may have other treats today too (have already had two mini chocolate bars). I'm not binge eating though and for that I am very grateful and feeling confident.

I hope you all have a great Saturday!

Happy Saturday!

I weigh almost every morning first thing when I get up. My scale is connected to my phone and the app records the new weight each day (Renpho scale). It's sort of an automatic habit, generally nothing emotional attached to it. More recently I feel like my weight mirrored my emotional state, from distraught loss of appetite (lost 5 pounds) to stress eating (gained 7 pounds) to back to normal (weight steady again).

Ahh good to know! I have been experimenting with daily weighing using Happy Scale app on my iPad, and I like the trend line thing that it does. I may continue with the daily writing. It's taking a lot of that emotion out. My fear is, if I were to gain weight steadily throughout a week rather lose, I'm afraid I would be upset.

I went a little overboard on the Ses yesterday and Saturday. I'm actually glad to be returning to the normalcy of N days today. Hoping I didn't undo all my good work last week. Not sure when I'll weigh again.

Sometimes N Days are such a relief! Especially in the beginning I noticed that.

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:52 pm

Sometimes N Days are such a relief! Especially in the beginning I noticed that.

I'm definitely hungry (and it's only 3:24pm my time), but I will hopefully survive until dinner. Happy to be working the plan and building this habit!

We finally have water again at our house. They pipe specialists came and fixed the pipe (thank goodness), but now all the concrete has to go back in. So definitely another night away from home so we can sleep in a clean, non-concrete-dusty place.

Had to go to the store today and am definitely feeling bad for not staying home, but we needed a few more groceries.

Today's Check In:

Food:

B: Protein Shake
L: Curry chips, teeny bowl of potato soup, whole grain english muffin with peanut butter
D: Possible masaman curry, but unclear at this moment.

Crazy time isn’t it? Im doing my best to stay home too. Only going out for essentials in the meantime others are hanging out in crowded bars. I hope we get this under control soon.

Glad you have water again though—yay!

lpearlmom wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:26 am

Crazy time isn’t it? Im doing my best to stay home too. Only going out for essentials in the meantime others are hanging out in crowded bars. I hope we get this under control soon.

Glad you have water again though—yay!

It is definitely a crazy time. There is ZERO chicken breast where we live (which is a staple in our house for dinners and lunches) so I'm going to have to get creative with meals during the time of people panic buying. There's always frozen pizza with a side salad and fruit, I suppose.

Enjoyed a shower AT HOME for the first time in like a week, so that was nice. (I showered elsewhere, just not at my house while the water was off, haha) About to take some salmon out of the freezer so it can thaw for a couple days in the fridge. Looking forward, honestly, to eating up some of the stuff that has been in our pantry for ages. Trying to do the whole social distancing thing as much as possible.

Today's Check In:

B: Protein Shake
L: Single serving bag Ruffles chips + 2 pieces cheese pizza
D: Apple + Korean Chicken Noodles

Been Green all week, but haven't been posting here (shame on me). Been having sensible meals for the most part. Eating in a lot means trying to use what we have on hand, which may not mean the healthiest thing, but we do what we can. Made a big dish of ziti last night that turned out pretty good. It's so freeing to be able to eat what I want during meal time. I am still trying to get fruits and veggies in, though.

I have been weighing mostly daily this week and unfortunately, my weight went up a bit from last week (though not at my highest, thankfully). It has remained the same the last three days. :S I want it to go DOWN dangit.

For funsies, I'll put down my meal plan for today.

FOOD'

B: Protein Shake
L: Hummus + Pretzel Thins + apple + cashews
D: Baked ziti with grated parmesan

Habits first! If your plates can't be ideal right now, it's a lot to ask for loss, too. IMHO. These are weird times, but nothing that can get in the way, for the most part, of a having a few one-plate meals.

In my experience, getting more veggies on the plate to take up room has been crucial. In due time.

WHAT a time to have plumbing problems and to have them pretty much resolved. Whew.

Glad you can CHOOSE to shelter in place. In CA, here.

I hope you can avoid letting your habit-brain use not having easy access to chicken a reason to load the plate with other stuff. In my first years, I had many a plate with 1/3-2/3 convenience, or even fast, food and freggies. I didn't get skinny, but I got enough pleasure and laid good foundations, I think.

Six months from now, if you really stick to it, you will either be very content or a lot more confident about adjustments you might decide to make because you will have had the experience of following through. It makes a difference.

Thanks for the encouragement! Yeah, I'm hoping to get lots more veggies on my plate once going to the store isn't such an ordeal. I'm sorry you guys are on forced lock down. This is such a scary time. Hang in there!!

Today's Check In

I went overboard on S treats again this weekend. Ugh. I'll get better, though. My weight is definitely not responding well to going overboard on S excess, so I need to tame that in order to experience success in my weight loss. I'm still down from my highest weight, but barely. My plan this week during N days is to go ahead and calorie count. I don't want to calorie count, but I want to lose weight more. I won't do it forever, probably, but maybe until I lose all my weight? I dunno. I feel a bit desperate about how much weight I gained last year and so terribly want to be thin again. I miss that fit-thin self I used to be.

I'm trying to balance making wise food choices + eating what we have in the house + eating up the items that are going bad, etc. At least we're not eating out like at all...

B: Protein Shake
L: Black bean soup + lay's chips
D: Baconator + 1/2 large fries (Wendy's) + hot sauce
Calories: 1953 (more of a maintenance day than a deficit day)
Exercise: 45 minutes of stepping and dancing to pop music in my living room

*Within our meal plan, this was a day we could actually work in "eating out". I have 2 weeks of meals planned beginning tomorrow with stuff we have on hand.

My calorie counting experiment isn't going well. I'm on-plan for No S, but not for calories and that is demoralizing. I'm really trying hard to establish the No S habit and so far, I'm doing really well. I'm on my 3rd week of only green and yellow and even though I haven't lost weight yet, I know I will at some point if I can get my nutrition under control with good portion sizes. I just want to lose weight, but counting things just does NOT work well with my psychology. I get very obsessive and think about food ALL DAY and that's not healthy. I only want to think about food when I'm meal planning and when I get hungry. Otherwise, I don't want it running my life. I have been doing so well with not bingeing (almost an entire month!) and I'm afraid if I go down the calorie counting rabbit hole again, that it will make me feel restricted and deprived and then I'll binge again.

Today's Check In

Weight: 190

B: Decaf Coffee with half n half / Protein Shake
L: Chicken Salad with whole wheat bread (2 slices) + small bag doritos + apple
D: 2 slices cheese pizza (finishing it up)

Hi Sammy,
I have been reading journals for inspiration.

I have never calorie counted, but I have tried low-carb, low-fat, intuitive eating, raw food, food combining, and a few more. They ALL left me the same: constant thoughts of food, cravings, hungry, bingeing, sad, ashamed. I know how you feel.

Just keep focusing on the 3 meals a day habit. It's very empowering, doable, and will build on your positive feelings about your eating.

You don't need to expend mental energy counting calories to lose weight

You are doing great establishing good habits.

Next step look at what is on your plate and think about how you might make it different next time to support your goal of weight loss. A little more protein, more veggies, less carbs?

It's a learning journey

Jx

Thanks for the support, you guys! I really appreciate it.

Ugh. My Ses were EXCESSES this weekend and I'm so sad about it. I have been SUPER bummed about my weight loss journey lately. I'm just making ZERO progress (now higher than I was when I started No S 3 weeks ago, despite having full green weeks). I am going to stick with it, but it's clear it's not working on its own. That bums me out. I already feel like I work really hard to be healthy and knowing I'm going to have to work even harder has me over here in a pity party. Oh well. Nothing for it but to soldier on. I just hate that I have to.

Hang in there. I only lost like 5 lbs the first YEAR of NoS then the 2nd year once my habits were firmly in place, I lost weight pretty quickly. I lost 40 lbs in about 5 months and have maintained that plus another 5 lb loss. many years later.

Do you feel ready to add more structure to your S days? I wasn’t ready to do that for that first year but once I did, it helped a lot.

You will get this. Just keep going!

Okay. I had a full month of No S (only greens and weekend yellows the entire month). And now that April has started, I've had 3 red days. UGH.

But anyway. In that month of total adherence I lost NO WEIGHT. I was actually up by a few tenths of a pound. At least I didn't gain right?

But I'm DONE having no progress. I'm still 100% committed to No S. I think it just makes sense. But now, I'm also going to combine it with (in order of importance to me):

Intermittent Fasting (16:8 to start, with the hope of moving to 18:6 eventually)
Calorie Counting/Food Logging

I have GOT to get this weight off. I feel so discouraged by my appearance and the effect it's having on my health.

BUT. It's not all negative attitude over here. I do have a NSV to report.

I have officially gone OVER A MONTH without binge-eating. This is huge. Yes, I've overeaten at times. Yes, I've grazed on S days at times. BUT I haven't all-out binged and for that I am SO thankful and proud of myself.

I will get the hang of this. I got discouraged and demoralized (hence the 3 red days over the least week), but I know that feeling sorry for myself won't get results.

I CAN DO THIS.

Hi there!

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling discouraged with No s. I have been doing IF 16/8 for a long time and just recently was able to move up to 19/5(it was a slow process) and it has been really helpful to pair it with the No S guidelines. Weight loss is slow but it is happening. And, No S is way easier for me with a fasting protocol. I don't get as hungry before or between meals. It's weird.


Good luck! I hope it works well for you!

pinkhippie wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:17 pm

Hi there!

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling discouraged with No s. I have been doing IF 16/8 for a long time and just recently was able to move up to 19/5(it was a slow process) and it has been really helpful to pair it with the No S guidelines. Weight loss is slow but it is happening. And, No S is way easier for me with a fasting protocol. I don't get as hungry before or between meals. It's weird.


Good luck! I hope it works well for you!

Congratulations on moving up to 19/5! That's great! I'm glad, too, that it's been working for you.

At this point, I don't care if weight loss is slow. I just want there to be weight loss PERIOD.

Hey Sammy! Good luck with your adjusted goals this upcoming week!

Another intermittent fasting fan here. You got this!

Decided against the Intermittent Fasting for now. I can't in good conscious try that when I know in my heart, I'm not sticking to No S faithfully. I've had SIX red days in April so far and I know I have been losing my mind on S Days (NOT THE POINT OF THE PROGRAM). I think, rather than trying intermittent fasting, or calorie counting, or another fad diet, I'm going to focus on sticking to No S faithfully and only allowing 1 S treat (in a single-serving portion) on S Days. I know it will be hard, but if I tell myself that it's the rules, maybe I'll stick to it.

B: Protein shake
L: 2 slices leftover cheese pizza
D: salmon filet + tater tots + veggies

Sounds like you have figured out a good sane plan for yourself. My eventual goal is to get back to 3 meals a day but for me its harder to do breakfast lunch and dinner than just lunch and dinner. I'm hoping once I get used to being hungry between meals I can go back to eating breakfast.

Good luck!

I know it will be hard, but if I tell myself that it's the rules, maybe I'll stick to it.

LOL, you don't sound very confident. Seriously though I know it's frustrating when you DON't trust yourself to stick to the plan. I wonder what the easiest simple rule is that you could apply faithfully and confidently for 1 month? no sweets on S Days? no snacks on S days? Or not seconds? If you had to pick one that you feel most confident about being successful with, which is it? And then maybe just do that one for 21 days and then add the second, etc.

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 15, 2020 3:00 pm

I know it will be hard, but if I tell myself that it's the rules, maybe I'll stick to it.

LOL, you don't sound very confident. Seriously though I know it's frustrating when you DON't trust yourself to stick to the plan. I wonder what the easiest simple rule is that you could apply faithfully and confidently for 1 month? no sweets on S Days? no snacks on S days? Or not seconds? If you had to pick one that you feel most confident about being successful with, which is it? And then maybe just do that one for 21 days and then add the second, etc.

I think part of the hardest thing for me is drilling into my thick skull that this is a LONG GAME. Like, YEARS long. I keep thinking, oh, I'll get this weight off in three months--which is crazy. I have like 70 pounds to lose, so yeah, won't be coming off in a short period of time. Especially with No S. I think in truth I'm just very discouraged and having a big pity party. I know I need to man up and be tough and just stick to the plan. I'm just really struggling with self loathing honestly.

Not doing too well. Went to the doctor yesterday for a check up and weighed 200.4. That is the first time in my entire life that I have seen a 2 at the beginning of my weight number. I am disgusted with myself. I am so mad, disappointed, and devastated that I let myself get to this place. I don't know why I can't just get my ass in gear and get it together. I am really struggling with horrible self-hatred and loathing right now. I know those things won't help me in the long run, but it is so hard to be kind to myself when it's my own damn fault I'm in this mess to begin with.

Today is a new day one. Again. No calorie counting, because apparently that just makes my overeating impulses worse. On S days, I will keep them like N days with only 1 treat. That means only 1 candy bar or 1 truffle or 1 cookie. The law of ONE. I am cutting out diet soda completely on ALL days. Whenever I have them, I want to eat junk food. No idea why, but it's true and I always do on days I have them, so they must GO (even on S days, I will not have them going forward).

Today's Check In

Weight: 194

B: Protein Shake / Decaf espresso w/ halfnhalf + splenda
L: Leftover roast + mashed potatoes
D: Salmon + 5-cheese tortellini w/ pesto alfredo sauce

Hugs, Sammy. It might be a fun imaginary manifesting to daydream about how svelte you'd be if you had grown up in some imaginary land where there is no processed food. Just real food. It really is natural that many of us end up overweight and metabolically damaged due to eating never-seen-in-nature refined carbs and vegetable oils. So you shouldn't be disgusted at yourself - you've just been eating what is naturally available in our environments. Lots of people eat just like you and don't end up overweight. Or maybe instead of being overweight they get other health problems - autoimmune, cancer, diabetes, skin issues, PCOS, anxiety, depression, arthritis. At least being overweight we know for sure it's the food!

This may (or may not) encourage you - not only are you right about the long-game (to lose weight) but it's the long game for eating for the rest of your life! So yeah, we have to find something we like!

Thanks, Auto.

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed at 18 with PCOS after showing symptoms my entire life. I know that PCOS contributes to weight gain and difficulty with weight loss, but it's also a vicious cycle. However. I'm done with feeling sorry for myself. Nothing for it but to soldier on. Thank you for your encouragement.

So sorry about your frustrations. I have been there. Actually my highest was 210 and I’m an inch shorter than you. It definitely can get better although I don’t know what’s it like to struggle with PCOS. As if weight loss isn’t hard enough without that added on top. :/

I won’t give you a bunch of unsolicited advice but if you need help, feel free to reach out.

*hugs*

lpearlmom wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:15 pm

So sorry about your frustrations. I have been there. Actually my highest was 210 and I’m an inch shorter than you. It definitely can get better although I don’t know what’s it like to struggle with PCOS. As if weight loss isn’t hard enough without that added on top. :/

I won’t give you a bunch of unsolicited advice but if you need help, feel free to reach out.

*hugs*

Thank you so much, Linda! I appreciate the encouragement and support. It's been a rough few months with this weight struggle. I'm not giving up, but my goal moving forward is to not think about it and rage against it quite so much. I'm tired of fighting it. I just want to be healthy.

Yesterday, thankfully, was GREEN.

I have decided that the daily weighing is driving me crazy. I'm tired of it. For a bit, I am only going to weigh on the 1st of the month. I know Reinhard says to weigh over 3 days and take the average, but I may not bother with that. We'll see. I just need to focus less on this weight loss journey. It has consumed me body, mind, and soul for so so long and the constant stress and crisis-feeling I have about it just has to end. I am so tired of striving and not making progress. I think it will be helpful for me to focus less on numbers and to focus more on sticking to the No S habit and bringing overall sanity to my plates at the same time as I also try and incorporate gentle nutrition. May 1st is too close for me to really feel a difference with this approach, but by June 1st, we'll see if I'm up or down based on less stressing over it all.

Today's Check In

B: Protein Shake
L: PB&J sandwich + small bag chips + apple
D: 2 Tacos w/ meat + shredded cheese + quac + plain yogurt + cutie

The daily weighing is also driving me crazy. I think focusing on the habits and trusting the process is a great plan. For the first year of NoS that’s pretty much what I did. I had a lot of piled plates and just did whatever it took to stick to 3 plates. Anyway, you got this!

lpearlmom wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:43 pm

The daily weighing is also driving me crazy. I think focusing on the habits and trusting the process is a great plan. For the first year of NoS that’s pretty much what I did. I had a lot of piled plates and just did whatever it took to stick to 3 plates. Anyway, you got this!

Thank you! Yeah, I'm already feeling saner not having weighed this morning. I'm just super tired of NUMBERS in relation to my food and health.

Glad you're feeling better about your goals and your focus on health, not numbers.

Hi Sammy

How's it going?

Rooting for you

Jx

Soprano wrote: ↑

Sat May 30, 2020 2:17 pm

Hi Sammy

How's it going?

Rooting for you

Jx

OH gosh, I am so sorry I missed this!! Honestly, it was a really rough summer and I feel hard off the wagon. I'm getting back on the No S train now though.

Today is a new day. I am going to focus on No S and a whole foods diet as much as possible. I will not count calories. I will not weigh daily. I will weigh 1x per month and do a waist measurement at that time as well. I want to focus in building better habits.

Today's Check In

B: Protein shake
L: Greek salad
D: Reuben + Buffalo Tater Tots with homemade ranch

Good day of tracking!

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:41 pm

Good day of tracking!

Thank you! Trying to get back into the swing of things with No S.

Yesterday was GREEN but I definitely over ate at dinner (worried I would go hungry after, haha) and I was very stuffed and uncomfortable. I know it will take me a minute to get back into the No S groove.

I have to go to the doctor today about my awful GERD issues, obesity issues, PCOS issues, other digestive issues, hypoglycemia issues, and thyroid issues. Siiigh. Having multiple chronic illnesses can be so draining. Not to mention my Bipolar and Anxiety stuff.

But, nothing to do but soldier on.

Check In
B: Protein Shake
L: Leftover Angel Hair Dalvina + side salad
D: Arby's: Roast Beef Slider / Chicken Slider / Small Fries, 3 Mozarella sticks, Horsey Sauce, Arby's Sauce

P. S. - In September, my husband and I adopted a newborn baby girl! She is our pride and joy. After 7 years of trying to become parents, it's finally happened!

Hope you doc visit went well, Sammy!

And that's AMAZING!!!!! about your new baby! Congrats congrats congrats congrats!

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 29, 2020 2:43 pm

Hope you doc visit went well, Sammy!

And that's AMAZING!!!!! about your new baby! Congrats congrats congrats congrats!

Thank you so much! She is such a sweetheart and a gift of joy everyday.

Congratulations on your daughter.

A good reason to get healthy, the right diet can support your health.

Good luck

Jx

Soprano wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 29, 2020 3:59 pm

Congratulations on your daughter.

A good reason to get healthy, the right diet can support your health.

Good luck

Jx

Thank you so much! YES, I am motivated now, more than ever, to lose weight, get healthy, and project a good body image so I can be a good role model for Sophia.

Welp, due to the tropical storm, my doctor's office had no power, so now my appointment has been pushed back to November 10th. :S Which means I have to suffer more heartburn daily for two weeks. T_T

Congratulations on your baby!

Im sorry your appointment was pushed back though, that is a bummer.

Huge congratulations on the arrival of your lovely baby girl! What wonderful news.

Thank you Octavia and Pink Hippy! We are so excited. She has been such a joy to have with us.

Wow... So... I never did update you guys about where all my health stuff ended up. Long story short, I've been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (or EOE for short). It basically means I am now on a ten month elimination diet to discover my trigger foods (think of it like a really weird and unfun food allergy set).

For over a month now, I've been avoiding:

Common Reflux Triggers:
-carbonation
-caffeine
-tomatoes
-garlic
-onions

My Known Food Allergies
-chicken
-corn
-legumes

EOE Elimination Diet Food
-soy
-wheat
-dairy
-fish/shellfish
-nuts/seeds
-eggs

I have to keep this up through the middle of March. Then I can test 1 of the EOE potential triggers per month to see what my reactions are.

I would have thought with such a limited diet that I would have lost weight, but I've barely lost any.

Back to No S as of tomorrow.

W: 187

Today was: RED

Check In:
I am determined to make No S work for me. I love this idea so much and whenever I allow myself to snack, eat sweets, seconds, etc, I know I am doing my body a disservice. I know I need to lose weight and I am actually on track, it's just slow going. I'm trying so hard to break the 185 mark (it's my next milestone) but I've been sitting at 185.6 for days!

I ended up feeling really bad stomach wise and ate poorly.

Food Log
B: 2 rice cakes, small leftover bowl of soup, apple sauce, 3 hot dogs, sauerkraut (big breakfast, but I have barely eaten in the last week. Finally got my appetite back)
L: Irish Stew + Naked juice + Chocolate chips
D: small spoon of compliant ice cream + Rice Chex and Oat Milk

Oh dear sorry about your diagnosis but I guess it’s a relief to at least know what’s going on and now you can try to figure out how to manage it. I had really bad reflux for over a year but have finally learned how to manage it. I had to cut out caffeine 100% although I can have chocolate. I also had to give up carbonation and I sleep in a wedge pillow as well as making sure I stop eating a few hours before bed. It sounds like a lot but I don’t really think about it much anymore and it’s so worth not having to deal with reflux.

Anyway I hope you can find a similar solution to your issue as well. And let’s hope we both break through our plateaus soon!

Wow, that sounds like a tough time to have to eliminate so many different foods. I am glad you have a diagnosis and can work toward finding a health solution though! No S seems like a great way to eat during this time especially because if it were me, eating any other way would really make me feel deprived on top of an elimination diet. I hope you figure out your triggers.

Thanks, y'all! I did poorly today No S wise, but I know it might take me a second to get back in the swing of things.

Today was:

I woke up at 6:20am and felt like a total zombie despite Going to bed at 9:45.

B:
L:
D:

Oooh, I love elimination diets! You are becoming a master experimenter!

It sure seems like it would be simplest for you to just cut out all plant foods for the 3 months. Go carnviore sans eggs. I practically eat that way but I am a Dairy Queen. I have read so many stories about how eliminating plant foods fixes autoimmune issues for some people. It's a strict way to live, but for those that it fixes, they aren't really tempted to dabble too much because the relief they get is amazing.

Anyway, have fun with your experiments and I'm sure you will let us know your results as they come.

That sounds really hard to eliminate so much!! Has it helped with the symptoms to make it worth it at least? Knowing me I would also struggle to lose weight if I had to eliminate a lot. It seems like it would take a lot of willpower to avoid stuff & I’d end up with no more left to eat sensibly

Aww thanks for hte support, y'all. Yeah, not gonna lie. It's been really hard being so limited. I have been eating way too much allergy-friendly chocolate, red meat, potatoes, sauerkraut, and that's about it. I feel like I literally eat the same 2 meals every single day. I haven't lost ANY weight despite being so limited.

Next week, I REALLY want to get back on track with No S. I miss the discipline in this area. I have been SUPER disciplined in avoiding the foods I'm not supposed to have, but I have been snacking and eating sugar like crazy.

I can understand snacking and eating sugar if you feel so limited and restricted. I would be doing the same thing! Like you have to get your food pleasure and indulgence somewhere! Sorry, you have to go through this, it sounds very tough.

Hope you have a really good week, Sammy, and that you start to find a happy rhythm with your meals despite the sameness of them.

Howdy all. Popping back in to say I am still in elimination diet HELL and I had some sort of major allergic reaction in my skin which caused a massive rash on my upper body that required a steroid shot AND oral steroids. UGGGGGH. Next week I have to go and get a new allergy skin test so we can see if we can get to the bottom of this madness.

I'm trying to get back on track with No S, as I STILL believe in this way of eating. I already messed up today because I ate 2 bowls of junk for breakfast essentially. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Right now, I'm tracking No S, morning / evening meditation, and exericse.

Hoping for a better No S day tomorrow.

Hope you are all doing well!

Hi Sammybunny711,
I am also here after losing/regaining weight. You're right; it is what it is -- so don't feel bad, just move on and fix it! That's what I'm doing.

You asked how others are tracking their No-S Diet. I use a paper planner. I printed out all of the months for 2021 and 2022 at print-a-calendar.com and put them in my binder. I use a green check for days I stick to No-S. I write "S-Day" for the S-Days, and when I go off No-S, I'll use a red X; I haven't done that yet because I'm not even one week in yet. But, I bet it'll happen at some point. Red pen is on standby.

Each Monday morning, I weigh myself, record the weight, and graph it on a piece of graph paper in the same binder.

Oooo I love the idea of keeping a binder like that! I must admit, I am both a journaler AND a spreadsheet lover. I actually use a spreadsheet for No S stuff, Exercise, Meditation, and anything else I want to track. I also use a habit tracking app to keep up with my daughter's stats for when we got to the doctor. I use a habit app for myself, too but I have to admit, apps aren't nearly as satisfying as making a grid and filling in the squares each day.

Good luck with your journey! We can do this! I love your signature, too!!

Hello fellow paper lover! At least for journaling!

I created a habit tracker as well. No-S isn't on it because I wasn't doing No-S when I made it.

Physically checking something off on a piece of paper with a pen provides visceral satisfaction; selecting a checkbox in an app does not.

BackToThin wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:38 pm

Hello fellow paper lover! At least for journaling!

I created a habit tracker as well. No-S isn't on it because I wasn't doing No-S when I made it.

Physically checking something off on a piece of paper with a pen provides visceral satisfaction; selecting a checkbox in an app does not.

Agreed!!

I use a spreadsheet for No S, & the number of steps I do. But to keep track of the exercises I do to keep my body functioning I have a sheet of paper which sits on my kitchen bench.

Nice!!

I am GOING to do this this month (and all the months beyond, dammit).

I will begin daily check ins tomorrow.

Good morning, all! Today is a new day! I'm so happy May began with 2 S days, haha, so I had a bit of a buffer to getting back on track.
I am planning to read the No S Book for the FOURTH time as soon as I am finished reading The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonical, Ph.D. It has been a fascinating and VERY helpful read.

Someone on the No S FB group said something very wise that stuck with me: "Don't count calories. Trust the process." Someone else said, "You need to start a diet you can live with for life. If you don't plan on counting calories for life, don't start now. Find something that works forever."

I believe in both of these sentiments. As well, I have decided to go Reinhardt's 3-day Monthly Weigh-In (the Average of the 3) rather than daily or weekly weighing.

MAY 3-DAY AVERAGE WEIGH-IN:
184.9

N DAY

Check In

Eating

B: 2 golden potatoes airfried with oive oil, chili powder, black pepper, and salt + sour cream + hot sauce
L: Sourdough slices (2) + corned beef + sauerkraut + butter + swiss cheese slice sandwich
D: Wendy's large fry + double burger with cheese (no mayo or ketchup due to allergies)

Not the healthiest of days, but I was EXHAUSTED today and focused on NOT snacking or going out for sweets. Ended the day with a complete, proper N Day. I'll take that as a win!

Moving

- 35 min dance stepping

Don't count calories. Trust the process

That was me, good to see you back

Jx

Soprano wrote: ↑

Mon May 03, 2021 3:11 pm

Don't count calories. Trust the process

That was me, good to see you back

Jx

Aww! That stuck with me. Thank you so much for your encouragement.

Today is going to be a really busy day. I have a doctor appt, lots of work to do (remotely), and housework I need to catch up on - - all while taking care of my little lady who is on the move now that she can crawl wherever she likes. I'm still not quite finished with The Willpower Instinct, but I'm close! I have gotten SO much out of this book.

I have no idea what I will eat today. I will update this log as I go.

F DAY

Check In

Unfortunately, I blew it today. I was feeling really down and I felt the urge to binge. I tried to do the 10 minute postponement rule, but I didn't make it ten minutes. I hate that I am still obese, but someone very wise from the FB group mentioned how important it is to work out these binge eating and relationship-with-food issues by being faithful to No S FIRST before we can focus on the weight loss portion. Even if it takes a long time.

I am also struggling to do well with weighing. I wanted to weigh myself this morning, but I've already done my 3 day average for early May. I did get weighed at the doctor during my yearly physical and the fact that it was up 3 pounds from my home scale made me crazy (even though I was wearing shoes and clothes.)

I have so far to go. I think it may be good for me NOT to have S days for a while, but I also want to work this system the way it is supposed to work. (I.e. Ses only on days that begin with S and only "sometimes". It's not a rule I must eat a sweet every S day.

Ugh. I'm just having a bad day. I have been having nonstop health problems for nearly a year and got more bad news with some bloodwork I had to have done last week. I choke every time I eat and I chug water to push the food down. The choking is being caused by a special type of cell called eosinophils. My eosinophils are elevated and for months we've been testing to see what is causing it. Today, I just felt tired with it all.

Eating

B: Chicfila chicken biscuit, hash browns, diet lemonade 

L: lite & fit yogurt, Goldfish packet, apple sauce, 2 slices Sourdough + grape jelly + butter

Binge: Taco Bell: beefy potato-rito, steak quesadilla, 2 stuffed cinnamon balls, Subway: 2 chocolate chip cookies

D: Nothing. Too bloated to eat.

Moving

Nothing

F DAY

UPDATE: I still ended up having a sweet last night. I am really struggling to get back on track...

I am really proud of myself. I ran my errands and DIDN'T get binge food or sweets. I ended up at two different stores where I COULD have gotten S food, but I chose not to. A trick I learned from The Willpower Instinct is to ask yourself, "How proud of yourself would you be if you chose NOT to give into your urges to eat S treats or binge?" Rather than, think of how disappointed you would be... Asking about one's pride is more positive and focuses on achievement and success rather than failure.

Eating:

B: Cheerios with minimal honey + oat milk
L: Publix sub + salt & vinegar chips
D: Buffalo wings + curly fries + ranch
S: White Russian cocktail

Moving:
None. I need to get back into exercise...

F DAY

CHECK IN

Ugh. I can't get back into the groove.

EATING

B: Small snack pack of goldfish crackers, 1 small thing no sugar added apple sauce, a sourdough English Muffin with Polaner All fruit Jelly with plain cream cheese
L: 2 russet potatoes, olive oil, spices, sourcream, hot sauce
S: 3 donuts.... :*(
D: Indian Chicken Curry with Basmati rice and naan bread.

MOVING

- Housework: Cleaning the master bathroom (spraying, cleaning, mopping, sweeping, dusting, etc.)
- 30min Walk around our Neighborhood with the stroller (I pushed it on the way back, hubby on the way out)

N DAY

CHECK IN

I am having some throat problems today. I have been testing fish as part of the elimination diet my GI doctor has me on (we are still testing for Eosinophilic Esophagitis). And, Bruh,...I had an immediate heartburn, swollen throat feeling, etc. UGH. I hate that I'm obviously reacting to fish. I LOVE fish. T_T

EATING

B: Sourdough English Muffin + Grape Jelly + Plain Cream Cheese Spread
L: 3 fish filet, 2 hushpuppies, few bites green beans, few bites fried okra, tartar sauce (Captain Ds)
D: 2 steak soft tacos with cheese, hot sauce, salsa, sourcream + raisins

MOVING

- Housework (lots of laundry folding, etc.)

I am tired of calorie counting. I'm seeing a massive pattern happening. I get the feeling No S is proceeding with TOO slow of weight loss, so I quit and move onto something extreme like calorie counting or intermittent fasting, or whatever, then I burn out and get disappointed in myself for not tracking or not fasting, or not dieting enough and I get discouraged that I'll never lose the weight.

When will I ever learn that No S is the key to food freedom, peace, and also slow sustainable weight loss?

ARG.

So, I'm starting fresh today with an F Day, as I've already had chocolate this morning and at lunch. Sigh. But I'm not going to let that ruin the whole day. I'm going to start right now and have a sensible dinner. Then tomorrow, we'll shoot for Green.

EDIT:
- I ended up having a snack and chocolate. In all seriousness. The sanity begins tomorrow.

I am just here to say keep going! You are amazing! From watching family members struggle to take care of their mental health, I know what a Herculean effort it takes to lose weight on some medications.

Carolyn1006 wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:12 pm

I am just here to say keep going! You are amazing! From watching family members struggle to take care of their mental health, I know what a Herculean effort it takes to lose weight on some medications.

Absolutely. I'm on several medications that make weight gain easy and weight loss very difficult.

Welcome back, Sammy! I think a lot of us on these boards can relate to the pull of doing something that promises faster weight loss than No-S and then coming back to it after discovering that that other thing didn't work for us. Hang in there! It looks like you are halfway to your first goal - how great is that going to feel when you hit it?

Amy3010 wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 05, 2021 6:22 am

Welcome back, Sammy! I think a lot of us on these boards can relate to the pull of doing something that promises faster weight loss than No-S and then coming back to it after discovering that that other thing didn't work for us. Hang in there! It looks like you are halfway to your first goal - how great is that going to feel when you hit it?

Aww thanks, Amy! I'm happy to be back. I'm fighting a lot of mental, "You should go eat a snack"s right now, but I know they will fade with time. I've got this! I can't wait to hit my first goal and stick there. I've actually hit it back in July when I weighed 179.6, but I gained it back, so still trying to get back down.

Welcome back Sammy and all the best with the hour by hour patience that is necessary for us slow losers.

ladybird30 wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 05, 2021 8:51 pm

Welcome back Sammy and all the best with the hour by hour patience that is necessary for us slow losers.

OMG yes. I'm SUCH a slow loser, but since 2019, I've lost 15 pounds, so at least I'm SLOWLY going in the right direction, haha. Hopefully I can lose more than 15 pounds a year from now.