oolala53

Counting carbs/calories is a drag. Obsessive scale stepping is a recipe for despair. If you want to count something, "days on habit" is a much better metric. Checking off days on a calendar would do just fine, but if you do it here you get accountability and support. Here's how. Start a new topic in this forum called (say) "Your Name Daily Check In." Then every N day post a "reply" to that topic as to whether you stayed on habit. A simple "<font color="green">SUCCESS</font>" or "<font color="red">FAILURE</font>" (or your preferred euphemism if that's too harsh) is sufficient, but obviously you're welcome to write more if you want. On S-days just register that you're taking an S-day. You don't have to do this forever, just until you're confident you've built the habit. Feel free to check in weekly or monthly or sporadically instead of daily. Feel free also to track other habits besides No-s (I'm keeping this forum under No-s because that's what the vast majority are using it for). See also my <a href="/habitcal/">HabitCal</a> tool for another more formal (and perhaps complementary) way to track habits.

Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Jan 12, 2019 3:15 pm

I just bought a $30 scale that supposedly has an app that records body fat for me. The reviews were good but the price seemed too good to be true. We'll see!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:51 am

It records it without telling you?

There wouldn't be much fluctuation on a daily basis on body fat. If your scale shows much, it's not accurate. A deficit of 100 calories would burn up only the space of one tablespoon of fat on the body. That couldn't account for much of a percent. But it is interesting to have it. Mine is off by about 8%. It's too high! But I know it so I don't freak. It's very hard to affect so I ended up just going by weight, even though fat loss is ideal.

I had decided to stop eating after an afternoon event left me very full around 4 p.m. Then i went to another one where they had snacks out. not especially good ones, but I found myself looking them over. I knew I'd be sorry if I had any, and now I'm not sorry. I'm NEVER sorry I didn't eat!

Going to an Indian cooking class tomorrow. I never actually make any of the recipes, but I enjoy the class and the food. I feel like it I would need to practice before I make any of the foods for other people and they are so much work, I can't see practicing! but I want to learn to make some surefire potluck dishes, not that I get invited to them often. I tend to hang out with vegetarians, many of whom don't eat much dairy, either. Maybe tomorrow will have candidate foods. I know one thing. I'll be full when I leave. I often don't have dinner after the class. The teacher has a friend who invented a machine that makes chapati and oh, are they good! Fresh and hot! But they aren't served with every dish. We'll see about tomorrow.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sun Jan 13, 2019 3:23 pm

I'm definitely looking for long-term trends on my body fat composition. I dearly wish I had bought this this a year ago. Oh, well. So you have one that does that? And it is off by 8% (too high)? How do you get your more accurate reading done? Is it by calipers or in a water tank or something? In college I did the water tank. That was fun.

Unfortunately, the scale does show the weight/pounds, although I suppose you could just not look down? Just stand there for 10 seconds and all the data is sent via bluetooth to my phone, so I don't see it. You would have to open the app on your phone to see your numbers. It collects all the trendlines for me. I just literally got it last night, so still learning.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:32 pm

I go to a service in San Diego that has a mobile unit that does DEXA scans. The past couple of years, they've come periodically and parked outside a gym that's about a 7-minute drive from my house. It's a little pricey but I have no progeny and no real desire lo leave a legacy! I go once a year. I try to time it about a week after my spring regeneration round of eating.

If had the scale and app you talk about, I guess at some point I'd have to look at the data or why have it?

Last year, I learned that surprisingly since I had done no consistent exercise that I had lost some percentage of body fat, mostly around my middle and gained some muscle. Go figure. I'm almost afraid to go this year because I have been even more of a slug. But it's not personal! Is my mantra. I'm not even sure why I do it, though it does include a bone density reading that was also good news. I say every year, wow, THIS year I'll get serious about exercise and see how that affects things and then I sit on the couch.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Post by sharon227 » Tue Jan 15, 2019 5:49 pm

I think if you make healthy eating choices - less refined carbs specifically - you may lower your overall body fat. So I've read. (Which would help explain why my body fat composition is very high even though I exercise almost daily and my BMI has never been above normal.)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:53 pm

You're right, Sharon, though I've been at this for nine years and probably eat a lot fewer refined carbs than most over the course of a year. (I'm going through a phase of eating more lately because of some other changes I'm making and I don't want to put too many clamps on my eating.) I'm actually not trying specifically to lower my body fat or even my weight, though I don't complain when it goes down! I know that sounds paradoxical since I do get the scans but it's mostly because I wanted to see how my muscle is doing as I age. Also paradoxical since I do so little about it consistently. Another of our inanities in life? I guess I think eventually the discrepancy will kick in and I'll do something different with regards to exercise. But it doesn't have to change my body composition for me to think it is successful, just as my eating can be successful for me even if I don't lose weight. I'm not willing to do much more than I am for any reason besides just finding a routine that fits my hunger/satisfaction/pleasure criteria. Vanilla worked for years but hasn't for awhile, so I experiment. I don't go into a lot of details here, or I go into fewer then there are because- well, just because. I'm actually trying to get less caught up in it all, though having retired in the last few weeks has sent me back here and to Spark. More fun than the stuff I should be doing! Or just part of the old obsession.

I don't recommend at all relying on eating completely for weight loss even though that's all I've done to get to where I am. I don't think I'd be a lot leaner, but I'd probably carry a few more pounds than I do and it gets more important as I age. Not to mention that I'd be stronger and probably have better balance, also an issue for aging.

I'm going to go make my decaf au lait and lift a few weights!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Post by sharon227 » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:33 am

Exercise is great for my general physical and mental health. I do it to feel good, physically and mentally, and don't think about whether it helps or doesn't help my weight loss/maintenance. Geez, I really ought to think about my eating the same way. I'm not obsessed about exercising the way I am about food. Definitely worth a mind re-set!

Finding a routine that fits your hunger/satisfaction/pleasure criteria sounds very wise. I guess I'm still working on something like that without realizing it. A very useful way to look at it, thank you!

Soprano
Posts: 1184
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Location: UK

Post by Soprano » Wed Jan 16, 2019 5:44 am

I'd recommend yoga as a good exercise it has physical and mental benefits.

Last year I followed my half hour video very sporadically, this year I'm trying to commit to twice a week as there are so many benefits.


Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:39 am

Yoga is a maybe. I actually taught yoga decades ago! I was never very limber but I knew the details of basic poses very well and they needed someone at a small center. It didn't actually do for me what I hoped, but it's still a good movement system. First priority is working up to 14 minutes of vigor similar to intensity of Shovelglove but without the hammer. I have too much equipment to buy anything! I'll aim at bodyweight exercises, weights, and rope jumping. Then walking. Will probably throw some yoga in, too, espec. for hips.

Felt too full in the afternoon even though I didn't take in that much food. Oh, well. I felt good most of the evening, though, and now good before bed.

I was going to say that I I might start tracking food just to see but I'm going to wait until February. January is just about having breakfast not earlier than 10.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:02 am

I was kind of wishing for something like that, but I'd actually be more likely to get rid of the scale at all before I'd buy a new one. Well, I do it only a few times a year, so I guess I need to just put up with it.

And I think I forgot this morning.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:24 pm

My weight is up about 3 lbs. from last year, which given the previous six months, is fine. I don't know if it will ever go back down. I think this is a pretty doable and natural range, though I sometimes wonder if it should be higher. I do have food thoughts a lot, but I still think that's because of deficits in other areas that remain unresolved.

And I had a weird fail last night in that I completely forgot that I had told myself no sweets this month. I got a wild hair that I really wanted ice cream which I rarely have and that it would be okay. I bought some, ate what I wanted, and washed the rest down the drain. Then I remembered today that I was aiming for no sweets this month because of my hip issue. Maybe it's was subconscious because that issue seems unaffected? Who knows. I just know it has actually saved me several times from being stupid about sweets to have the prohibition in place.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:54 pm

I've been eating breakfast later for nearly a month and it is not getting any easier. I wish wish wish I could sleep in. Today I woke up around 3:30 and never completely went back to sleep. Even if I wake up later, I want something right away even though I am never one bit hungry. I just want it. But I don't feel great when I have something, either. Sigh. First world problem.

I am considering tracking my food just to see if I can see anything that might affect this ongoing issue. It's possible I'm just not going to feel as good as I used to as often and I will have to deal with it, just as people with other chronic issues.

I actually have my whole house fan on to bring WARM air into the house. I've thought of moving to northern California but dealing with this cold (it's all relative!) has been a drag and has made the fantasy fizzle a little. However, I know it's mostly because of the space heaters. I would make sure I had a better system if I lived where it got colder more often. I remember at UC Santa Cruz they had heating in the floor and it was great. Not that would I get that installed. Just something more efficient. I won't say much more because I talk a lot and then don't take action...

I don't know if I'll keep it up, but here goes.

1st meal. About a cup of pad thai noodles, a carrot, two scrambled eggs, coffee with creamer, a cup of lettuce, a couple of tablespoons of walnuts, half a banana. I'm basically full but could go on eating. But I know I'll be sorry later.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sat Jan 26, 2019 10:18 pm

Grazed on a teaspoon of almond butter while I transferred part of it to a small container and put the rest in the freezer. Another few walnuts.

I just watched a Netflix movie about unrealistic 27-year old wanna be dancer in NYC, not recognizing that she is really not making progress in life. Her aimlessness hit rather close to home, but it isn't making me jump up and take action. An air of malaise. Maybe that wasn't the best choice, but it was on a list of good comedies on Netflix. What's their definition of comedy? I didn't laugh once.

I'm feeling kind of lost. The movie didn't help. A friend had suggested we get together for coffee, but he had to bow out. I thought we had a philosophy group meeting today, but I was wrong . Holes keep opening up and I can't land on anything to fill them.

I'm just reporting. No one has to fix this for me! I know what I could/should be doing. :oops:

Not hungry but longing to eat. Curses.

I will go over to the water or some place with a view to watch the sunset. I can see there are some clouds that will reflect color, of it happens. Not especially in the mood for any certain food, but I'll find something.

I have whittled down my freezer darn well. I've been taking stuff out every few days and putting it into a divided container so it's more obvious what's available. But there are still beans and rice and potatoes to be cooked before I buy any other grocery starches.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sun Jan 27, 2019 1:48 am

I hope the sunset soothes your restless soul, Oolala. hugs
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Jan 27, 2019 3:29 am

Thanks, Auto. It kind of did, temporarily. It wasn't as intense as I thought it might be, but I'm glad I went. I also went to an Italian restaurant that turned out to be okay, but only okay. That's fine. I was itching to go ahead and have dinner, so I didn't wait to come back to my neighborhood where there are two very good Italian food places. There would have been long waits by the time I got there, too. I've been trying to eat earlier in the day, but it started to feel like too much of a burden tonight.

I was barely hungry for dinner, but really wanted it.

Dinner: about a cup of pasta with marinara, a meatball (golfball size), the equivalent of about 3/4 slice of bread, a 1 x 2.5 " portion of lasagne. About 4 oz of a pear.

Am full but would still like to eat. Won't. It doesn't seem to help to eat anymore.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Sun Jan 27, 2019 11:05 am

Hi Oolala. You sound so down in your last couple of posts. I just wanted to send virtual hugs and well wishes across the internet to you. Hang on in there, I am sure this too will pass eventually.ðŸ’
"You'll know where the North Star is &#11088;&#65039;" - Oolala

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:06 pm

Thanks, Bluebell. I hope so, too. I don't know what is going to make the difference. From the outside, things are fine or should be, and that's adding to it. I have some guilt over not being able to feel more grateful for what I do have. It scares me to think it may take something a lot more catastrophic to jolt me in life.

Brunch: (split with friend) half order of banana pancakes (not as big as I thought they were going to be), half an order of chick pea fritters, and two (on my own) thirds of a bean and cheese burrito, small apple,

grazing: 4 bites leftover noodle dishes, tablespoon peanut butter, coffee with creamer

Gosh, how I would love to keep nibbling, but I am supposed to go out to dinner tonight and I'm already full. I kinda wish I hadn't gone out by myself twice in the last few days. It's too much eating out.

Hmm, I also forgot that I have a loose rule not to eat S's on S days unless I'm with other people. This mindless nibbling is left over from the months of being off my game.

Nothing to do but mark it here and move on.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Dalia negra
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:48 am
Location: Barcelona (Spain)

Post by Dalia negra » Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:23 am

I encourage Oolala !!!! It is not easy to deal with this problem ... I send you a virtual hug.

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:03 am

Hugs back, Dahlia.

Dinner: 2/3 of an order of Buffalo Cauliflower, a handful of French fries from shared order, spread out over an hour or more.

A few bites of pear when I came home.

Honestly, I could have skipped dinner from a hunger POV, but I wanted the pleasure of eating. Now I'm not stuffed, but I feel less comfortable than I usually would before bedtime. Ah, me. I miss my need for more food!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:52 pm

1st meal 10:30: about 3/4 cup leftover pad thai (the last of it) \; a bite of leftover spaghetti, half an 8-inch banana,23 grams of peanut butter. Optimized coffee. 3 bites of pear. Almost no hunger before. Not really full after.

Never did finish the cup of coffee though I had some sips partway through the morning.

2nd meal 4:30; hodgepodge of leftover spaghetti and lasagne, plus some rice. Green beans and orange pepper. lettuce and cuke salad with Annie's quasi Italian dressing. Finished the coffee. Yeah, I am no coffee snob. Little apple. No hunger beforehand nor none all day.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Jan 30, 2019 12:55 am

hmm, I just had a thought. Would you finally be motivated to do more exercise if it was guaranteed to make you hungry? I know you've often lamented not being motivated to exercise AND you lament not being truly hungry. I think exercise might help with that. Anyway, just a thought.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:38 am

Alas, I wish I thought that would be a remedy. I do have days where I walk miles and miles and it doesn't make a dent. I used to work out more consistently and it never helped sleep, either. I guess I'm an anomaly. Maybe if I did it for months and built some muscle, but I guess I'm not very good at having to wait very long for the payoff. That will just have to come as a surprise.

Omgosh, I went off the rails today. Had breakfast out with a friend then picked the rest of the day. Geesh. I was going to write it all down but it went on and on. Part of it was going to Costco. I must have had eight samples. They were my lunch. I had intended to end my eating at an early dinner time, but I didn't. Oh, well. I have guests for dinner tomorrow (today when anyone reads this) and will be cooking. I will keep thinking about how nice it will be to be relatively empty for dinner.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:40 pm

Oh, well. Just a thought, because I had heard exercise makes a lot of people hungry. I don't know that it does that much for myself, actually. I do notice that going SWIMMING for some reason makes me want to eat Doritos. :lol:
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

r.jean
Posts: 1653
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:47 pm
Location: Midwest

Post by r.jean » Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:19 am

Swimming makes me ravenous too.

I have been told that as we get older we have a decreased sense of smell and that lack of smell can affect the appetite. Oolala, I know you and I are close in age. My sense smell has decreased, but so far my appetite has not.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

jenji
Posts: 661
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:00 pm
Location: Cambridge

Post by jenji » Thu Jan 31, 2019 8:16 pm

Is there any kind of exercise that you enjoy, oolala? I can't remember but feel as though you might've mentioned dance before?
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:13 am

Dance does not please me as consistently as it used to. The classes don't occur at very opportune times either. I did go to a three-hour class a few weeks ago; it was a special birthday celebration for one of the drummers. But I didn't find myself wishing I went more often.

I didn't realize how much my compliance before also depended on very simple meals. I hardly even cooked anything from scratch. I cooked two things yesterday and picked a lot on the way. Boy, is it attractive to just be able to give in the to random desire. And so many ties I've been willing to put up with the consequences, which are often unpleasant. I wasn't hungry for going out to dinner yesterday but wanted that food! I did enjoy what I had, though it's true I probably would have enjoyed the experience more if I was hungry. But it wasn't a disaster. I brought my own container and put nearly all the food in it that was more than I would normally have on a plate, then ate away. A lot of picking from the bread plate and other people's pizza crusts. I love the edges!

Got some rain happening here. I'm loving the excuse just to stay inside, though it's so mild, I could go out. I am in awe of the temps in the East. Got friends in Minneapolis and Madison. Freeaaky! Wind chill of -51 in MNPLS yesterday. The SoCal mind boggles.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sat Feb 02, 2019 6:55 am

Well, tracking sure went out the window fast. I like to be able to just pick a mouthful of this or that these days and was that ever a drag. Plus I was overeating and pride got me. I don't see it going the other way at this point, i.e. pride regarding not wanting to post overages stopping the eating. In a way, I don't want to have it work that way.

I went to a monthly Sierra Club meeting where I often convince myself it's okay to fail since I don't get to eat with other people very often and there are snacks. But the food is often so-so and I don't think I've ever been happy afterwards. I took a bottle of mineral water in with me (and I WAS pretty full from an early dinner, though that hasn't stopped me before), and passed it all by. I even took a look at it just before I left. Now very glad.

I did fail Vanilla because I had two bites of leftover cake today. I had a dry-sweet month in January - I couldn't tell that it had any effect on what I wanted- nd remembered that it was the first today. But it stopped there and I don't plan to go back to sweets in the same way. I've liked the overall sense of not feeling at their behest. I'm not sure how I'll limit them now. It may or may not need to be systematic. But even after all these years, they are still magic for me. And not necessarily in a good way.

I was able to hold off today partly because I told myself that I can have dessert at an event tomorrow night. But now I'm not sure I will. I still feel slightly, I don't know what to call it, but almost too happy at the prospect of eating sweets. Like they are more of a compulsion than just a delight. I still always feel like I'd like to be able to eat a lot more of them at a time. I have stopped at just a little, but I don't actually enjoy that a lot. I usually eat more than a little but I always want more. It's annoying and even a little embarrassing that I'm actually not at peace over them. But in the grand scheme...

On another note, got some bad news about my house. The city found that I have a leak somewhere between their source and my house, which is my responsibility. Got a company coming out Wednesday after we've dried out some from the coming rain. It's $280 for the first two hours and $200 an hour if it takes longer! And that's not to fix the problem but just to locate the leak. My bill was about $30 higher than usual. At that rate, I could go 7 months doing nothing, except that it will probably get worse AND it could be happening at the edge of my property where the real effects would be on a city hillside. If that gets saturated and comes down- well, not good. Why does this happen right when I've retired? Oh, well. I purposely bought a place that was less than I could "afford" just so that I wouldn't feel I was at the edge of the budget. I think when I bought, I wasn't making that much more than I am in retirement. In any case, fingers crossed that it will be a relatively simple fix outside the residence. My floors are cement! But if it is inside, I hope it's on my side and not my tenant's.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

r.jean
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Post by r.jean » Sat Feb 02, 2019 11:38 am

Ugh. House issues are always stressful! Hoping for the best.

Tracking food never works for me other than tracking green vs red or yellow. Tracking exercise does work for me. I think it is a matter of tracking something that makes me feel positive rather than negative.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

automatedeating
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Post by automatedeating » Sat Feb 02, 2019 2:07 pm

So sorry about the unexpected house issue. That kind of gave me a knot in my stomach just reading about it.

Also sorry the tracking didn't work out. For some reason (as I'm sure you can tell) I love tracking most everything in my life. It's compulsive! LOL, but I'm sure you'd be the first to say that some compulsions are worse than others.

Ooh - and I'm happy for you about skipping the sweets at the Sierra Club meeting. I can't recall you ever doing that before at any event where food is offered for free. :-)

And lastly, I am sorry that the no-sugar didn't help your hip noticeably. :cry:
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:16 pm

automatedeating wrote: I can't recall you ever doing that before at any event where food is offered for free. :-)
I'm so busted! But it's not ALL about being free, honestly, because most of the events cost money or a donation. It's eating in the presence of others, partly for honesty and partly because I eat alone so much. And because I have a loose rule to eat sweets only in company. Which I broke awhile ago discovering some fudge caramels in my pocket that I meant to leave at the event last night, where people often bring munchies. I ate one and put the rest in the freezer. I'll take them tomorrow to my Shakespeare and Tea meeting. Not really very English but there they'll go. And if they have good shortbread-type cookies there, I might eat them. It will depend on dessert tonight and how I feel after having samosas at my cooking class.

Don't I sound all busy? It comes in waves. I spent countless hours surfing the net this week either in bed or on the couch. I call these events "punctuation" of the day.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

sharon227
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Re: oolala53

Post by sharon227 » Mon Feb 04, 2019 1:32 pm

I'm with r.jean on tracking. I know that keeping a "food diary" is supposed to be a good thing for weight control, but I find that tracking everything I eat in detail takes much of the joy out of enjoying my meals. I'd tell myself "I track my spending in my checkbook, I should also track my food since both money and available calories are limited". But for whatever reason, it doesn't work well for me in the long run. I just get resentful. Red/green to mark "healthy choices" or "complied with NoS" is about it for me as well.

Larkspur
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Re: oolala53

Post by Larkspur » Mon Feb 04, 2019 2:16 pm

Sorry to hear about the water-- I think you are wise to address it sooner than later.

Are you enjoying retirement? Are you like Lizzie Bennet, who more knew herself to be happy, than felt herself to be so? It probably takes a while to get used to.

automatedeating
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Mon Feb 04, 2019 5:57 pm

Larkspur wrote:
Mon Feb 04, 2019 2:16 pm
Are you like Lizzie Bennet, who more knew herself to be happy, than felt herself to be so? It probably takes a while to get used to.
This made me smile.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
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BrightAngel
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Re: oolala53

Post by BrightAngel » Fri Feb 08, 2019 4:48 pm

I just re-read the anti-snacking portions of the No S book again for what seems like the millionth time. Dropped by to check on a few people, and was happy to see you here. Snacking has always been a giant problem for me, and my plan for today is to limit my food to 3 small saucer meals. :D
BrightAngel - (Dr. Collins)
See: DietHobby. com

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Fri Feb 08, 2019 5:37 pm

Bright Angel! Yay to see you stopping by!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:21 pm

Wanted to document that I had a combo hot cereal made with tortilla flour and coconut flour, green beans, apple and doctored coffee for late breakfast and felt none of the uncomfortable fullness. This is why I sometimes think it would be good to keep track of what I eat. But maybe it would have been good to know what I had yesterday, too. Oh, I did a lot of failing with bites and sips. Complicated to record! I've been more likely these days to fail at recording rather than give up on the eating. And I've had that cereal other times and not felt so well later, I'm pretty sure. But how to know without documenting? Geesh.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Larkspur
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Location: Pennsylvania

Re: oolala53

Post by Larkspur » Thu Feb 28, 2019 1:13 am

Did you see this one?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 075616.htm

If you needed some inspiration :)

automatedeating
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:12 am

Oooh, great article!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

r.jean
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Re: oolala53

Post by r.jean » Thu Mar 07, 2019 1:29 pm

I would agree that dietary monitoring is effective. I used a nutrition app for maybe 6 months awhile back when I was getting off track. It taught me a lot but it took me more than 15 minutes a day. Of course, I tend to be a perfectionist about accuracy so there was a lot more weighing and measuring food.

Food tracking is really unsustainable for me. It is tedious and can have the negative effect of putting the focus on numbers rather than how I feel.

However, I realize it may be helpful for some.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

automatedeating
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Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Thu Mar 07, 2019 5:55 pm

I spend probably 30 minutes a day on this forum. But I enjoy it as a journaling process. I think I probably only spend 2 minutes on the food tracking? Not sure why it would take much longer than that since we don't snack, haha.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Mon Mar 11, 2019 5:00 am

Since I'm not talking about using tracking to lose weight, but to see if it would help with other unpleasantries, you'd think I'd be more motivated. You can see how successful I've been with it since I whined!


I don't care what the research says, when you are a person who can have 10 different things at a meal, when I include the different ingredients, because I sometime actually assemble everything right then, it is tedious. I guess for those it's more successful for, they don't find it annoying while they are doing it and aren't stressing over it.

And when I'm failing, it's even less likely to happen.

This morning I ate some leftover rice, part of it fried rice from a restaurant and part plain rice I made, plus about half a cup of cafe au lait with walnut milk. I had it kind of spread out, I wasn't hungry, just wanted it.

I went to my Indian cooking class midday and had a shrimp dish but made with tofu for me. It was one of the better meals we've made. A ton of ginger and garlic. Rice there, too. Unfortunately the teacher was no better at using the Instantpot to make rice than I've been. It was a goopy mess. I really like the teacher and the class, but i was disappointed that she couldn't teach us how to make the PERFECT rice served in Indian restaurants. (And Middlle Eastern ones, too.)

Then I went food shopping. Ate half an apple. Also visited Costco and ate some samples, though not as many as usual. Not eating meat or sweets/baked goods for now. Later finished the apple. Did not eat any dinner.

Never was hungry and felt really full until about a half hour ago. Still had to tell myself NOT to eat anything else after about 4:30, though I think I had a swig of coffee near 6 p.m. Finally felt the sense of comfort and contentment that I used to feel most hours of the day on No S. It took eating likely less than 800 calories of food and about 5 hours of not eating. I don't like thinking how much less I would have to eat to feel this more often.

But ti does feel good. WAiTING to feel this does NOT feel good.

I'm kind of kicking myself right now because I've painted myself into a corner over getting another car and had to rent one for a trip I'm taking next weekend. I don't want to rush myself. When i bought the one I have, I did a ton of research and visited several dealers. Even then, I feel I rushed a bit at the end because then I was driving something that was a little dangerous, too. I have a possibility for a car from my mechanic, but it's being looked at by dealer to see if it qualifies for a new engine, so I haven't been alternative shopping, but I wish I had been now. My car has been great; I so wish I could find the magic again but there are no guarantees. I haven't seen anything in my research that made me feel as good about buying as I did for the one I own now. But it needs work and at 173,000+, I don't want to put any more money into it.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Staff Assistant III
Posts: 70
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Location: Pennsylvania USA

Re: oolala53

Post by Staff Assistant III » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:33 pm

I love my Instant Pot for rice...in fact Ii bought the 3 quart not long ago after owning the 6 quart for a couple of years just so I could do rice as a side dish.

I put one cup of rice and 1 1/2 cups water in, maybe a dash of olive oil. 3 minutes on manual, than let it sit for ten minutes (or more). I always get great rice.
No S start date 1/11/19

BMI Jan 19 22.7, FEb 19 22.9

automatedeating
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Mon Mar 18, 2019 4:01 am

I'm saving up to $10,000 and I will hopefully buy a 3-year old Toyota Corolla with 40K miles or less on it. Not sure what your budget is, but I feel pretty good about my plan.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:22 pm

I went on a small trip over the weekend and got a little sick, so I've been kind of out of it. Also really missing that I don't get any email alerts about new posts on threads I use/follow. Thanks, ladies!

SA, I suspected that much shorter cooking times for rice were key. I'm on a starch-to-cook buying moratorium right now (until I eat up a lot of servings of beans, potatoes, winter squashes, and a few more), but will try that method when the time comes. I allow myself to buy rice at restaurants for now. Got some at a Greek place yesterday. Salty, oily decadence and absolutely perfect separate grains! I'll make it plainer myself, but it was fun to bring to a little composite dinner at a friend's last night. It was tempered by plainer food and hit the spot.

Today in trying to get cooked starches I have so I can eat them and start buying again, I cooked 4 cups of beans that had been soaked and expanded to much more than 4, a HUGE whole sweet potato, a whole kabocha squash, and a whole butternut squash in the 6 qt. IP for 12 minutes at high pressure and I think 15 minutes rest before a release and I could have set the time for 10 or even less. Beans were almost mushy and I like them whole. The other stuff could have been firmer and still good, too. Dang, it cooks fast! But the heating up and cooling down take so long that I'm reluctant to try a lot shorter times. I'm glad YOU found the one that worked on rice before I gummed up another batch! Because I am too cheap to throw bad batches away.

Right now for the car, my mechanic has said he would give me $2,000 for my car and take $6,000 to sell me a 2012 Honda Insight with 80,000 miles. It's being tested to see if it is eligible for a new motor because of a call back by Honda. But it's taking a long time. (I might have said this, but today the No S site is not allowing me to see more than a few previous posts while I write.) I looked up the same make and model in my area and that is a darn good price.

And dang if I didn't scrape the side of my car myself a few days ago. So now I'll have to take less for the car. I did something similar not long before I sold another car about 25 years ago. Banged up the door and had to halve the price. It was already pretty sorry. A friend bought it and christened it with my name! He was a cab driver at the time and didn't need much to get around in. It's hard to admit that I am as uncareful a driver as my record seems to show. This makes three accidents in about two years. I''m praying that completes the cycle. I won't claim it. It wasn't on the road but backing out a side of my property I rarely park on where one protective pole sits out farther than the others. No other cars involved. It scares me because I feel so often I am trying to be extra careful and one little slip... I know it's often noted that almost everyone has the experience of spacing out while they drive and being amazed the car just kept going, though that is usually on the open road. Not the place that's ever been my problem.

But I also might go shopping for a Hyundai Elantra 2016 hatchback, highly rated. I'd be willing to pay more, say up to $14,000. I say that and still just sit in my house and play on the computer. It's so nerve-wracking to shell out thousands! It's been so hard for me to make them and so easy to spend. I know for so many people who buy much more expensive cars that sounds crazy, but I still remember when I was making under $16,000 a year and dreaded car and teeth problems.

If you can find a Toyota with 40k or fewer miles for that much, my hat is off to you! Nothing under $12k for that year in my neck of the woods. Even ones with 80k miles+.

Going to eat an early dinner though not particularly hungry, but am going to a dance class and want to feel light beforehand. It will seem too late after the class. I don't get that hungry after exercise anyway.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:50 pm

It turns out that dance class didn’t happen, but I went last Friday. Not an ecstatic experience like it used to be, but good enough.

I got my yearly body fat test done. It was a bit sobering. Last year, my body fat was the lowest it had been in 20 years. This year it’s back up to the highest, and I can’t really account for it. I don’t really exercise that consistently, but I didn’t the year before when I had looked like I lost a fair amount around my middle. The fat distribution still remains more on the extremities, which by our media standards, is a problem, but for health standards, it’s not. Just like I had a goal weight in the back of my mind, though I did not purposely aim for it. I have had a goal body fat percent in the back of the my mind, but it is looking more and more distant. I can’t really see myself eating a lot less than I already do, and with the kind of exercise regime I can imagine myself participating in, it would not make that kind of change. Oh my gosh, I wish I knew nothing about such things. What’s ironic is the other day an ex-colleague was with a group of us for lunch . She’s always been naturally thin but does carry fat around the middle. She had open heart surgery years ago and now her doctor wants her to lose 15 pounds. She’s 5 foot seven and weighs 145. That’s less per inch then I weigh. She asked me if I do anything special to stay so thin. (!) I told her I do monitor my eating, but not so much for thinness as for just general comfort. I would actually like to eat more than I do, but I know that I won’t feel as good if I do. I feel for her, actually, because she has never had to control her eating impulses. She’s also someone who can forget to eat, but then sit down and eat two steaks, fully intending to eat less. I think I’d be a little more scared if I were her. I had a client to years ago who had open heart surgery. He said he knew at the time that the effects last about 10 years. He said he had changed his diet, but when he told me the kinds of things he was eating, it sounded a little iffy to me. And guess what? He died 10 years later. I think it wasn’t even 70 years old.

When is this going to motivate me to stay consistent with exercise? I really don’t know. By the way, my body fat is a little over 30%. Are you seeing this, Linda? I would gladly put on weight to be under 22% body fat. But that would mean being able to add an ungodly amount of muscle, and I just don’t see it happening. What I would really love is to be able to just let go of the standards imposed from the outside. I wonder if a hypnotist could help with that?

I went to a showing of a filmed broadcast of an opera at the Met. What a world-class institution that is! It was one of Wagner‘s and the whole thing with singing, behind the scenes interviews, and intermissions was five hours and 20 minutes. It was my friend’s birthday and she decided to get popcorn. I ate some and it led to what the hell. R, me. The beat goes on. It was still a compelling afternoon. There’s one more broadcast in May, and then the season starts up again in the fall. I think I might go to one or two a year. It’s an expensive movie ticket, but a cheap opera ticket.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:25 pm

I realized I had not reported on my March experiment not eating wheat or sugar. I did it because I still feel so drawn by those foods, drawn into overdoing them. I don’t necessarily eat more than a moderate amount at a time, but I always WANT more. I still fantasize about overdoing them. I was going on the idea I had read that so many people claimed that after a few weeks, they didn’t miss them. I did allow myself Stevia, mostly in coffee. I really would have to do without coffee totally if I were going to give up Stevia, and that just sounded like too much at one time. Maybe that stevia or allowing myself some masa porridge or coconut flour ruined it, but I never stopped missing pasta and bread or pizza crust. I still dream about eating a mountain-sized plate of noodles, Italian or Asian. Now I know what it’s like to be a person who goes on a diet but is always thinking about how she can’t wait to go off the diet. Except I can wait because I'm pretty sure that if I have them, I'm going to want them even more. I could be wrong, but I'm not planning to plunge back in yet. If I’m honest, I have to say I actually have some fear of these foods. I’m not completely at peace even without them, and I’m reluctant to get back in the ring with them. I went out to lunch with friends on Tuesday and did order a veggie burger. The bread actually was not very good, and I ended up not eating all of it, though I did finish the burger. But that was all the bread I’m willing to mess with for now. I’m almost glad it wasn’t very good.

Unfortunately, it seems two foods have moved in to take the place of these others. They are peanut butter and popcorn. If there's anything I overdo eating on, it's them. I’m not sure what I’m gonna do about them. I don’t like the idea that I’m a person who can’t eat all sorts of things. But some things I’ve chosen to reduce a lot . Some for ethical reasons, and others because they remain problems. So my eating life has shrunk. I've weighed the pros and cons, and I am sticking with the restrictions for now.

And they’re probably problems as much because they are diversions from even more troubles. Such as having plenty of time, and still not handling organization in my life. I somehow lost my tenant’s March rent check, and I’m having a hard time facing it because I just don’t want to have to pay that fee for having her stop payment on the check. Yet am I willing to gamble and tell her I’ll cover the check if somebody else cashes it? The odds are actually so against it, but I sure can’t ask her to take the gamble. The worst part of it for me is that I was almost sure that I put it in the bank pretty quickly after I got it, and I was so proud of myself. But she told me a couple of days ago that it hadn’t been cashed and I could not find it in either of the checking account I use. I have been through hundreds of papers- they are strewn over my living room floor- and even found other envelopes that she had put a rent check in, but not that check. At this point, I have no idea where else to look for it. Rather than paying for the stop payment, and then actually finding it, I’d like to think that I put it in its envelope in recycling, thinking I’d already deposited it. I wish I could see the humor in this. I know she is waiting for me to tell her what to do. I was also planning to raise her rent and I don't want her thinking this is somehow related. She's been here for about five years without any increase. But I waffle on that and a ton of other things, too. Waterproofing my storage space. Decluttering out there and in the garage. Having the garage frame repaired. Getting the bathroom sink faucet repaired or replaced, getting the tub finish repaired (again!), getting some kitchen counter tile repaired, getting my gate and part of my fence repaired, and about five other things. What is going to make me do these things? An ex would call this unproductive suffering. But I guess somehow I think that this suffering is preferable to the suffering of making the wrong decision. I have had so many problems with repair people, though when I'm honest, not nearly what others have had. I somehow feel my financial future depends on my making NO mistakes now, and I've made some innocent-but-costly ones, so I fret. As George Costanza's father would shout at stressful times, Serenity now!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Mon Apr 08, 2019 11:36 pm

Calorie discussion alert!

Saturday I went to an common event where there are snacky foods I like to have while socializing. I brought some corn chips that I had tasted at Trader Joe's. First time I ever bought anything I sampled there. I was forgoing all the sweet flour-y stuff, so I also went in for cashews and dried unsweetened banana chips. I kind of went to town. Later the women I carpooled with, who hadn't gone crazy, wanted dinner. I was way too full to eat. I felt like I was back on intuitive eating, never being in sync with others, but I didn't beat myself up much because they had not mentioned dinner out. I was fuuuullll. I ordered nothing because I knew I would not be happy if I picked at anything.

Okay, so for the heck of it, later I did some research on what I ate during that snack time- had to guess at the amounts- and it added up to what I can often eat in a DAY. In less than 45 minutes. It was sobering and I think it will help, as I often keep going back for more at that event, long past really needing the food for any kind of real pleasure. I don't want to fear calories, but I also don't want to be silly about them. Knowing that the soft ice cream dessert sold at Costco that I used to get on a whim is 440 calories (which isn't that bad for the amount you get) cured me of feeling it was an option every time I was there on an S day. That's as much as in many of my lunch/dinners. I think I've had two since I found that out and rarely think about them. I've struggled with feeling I eat too much at the event snack time. Maybe now I can fix my little plate and be done with it.

Doing my spring eating routine. Yesterday, I had a bigger dinner than usual, and later than usual, too, and wouldn't you know if I wasn't hungrier than usual this morning. Geesh. I was almost ready to can it from the start, but I can't get what I want if I don't just stick to my plan. A friend is having a celebration potluck (she sold her house I think before it ever even got listed). I plan to make an Indian dish I learned to cook at my last class. Not sure if it will be red lentils or aloo gobi, but I will look forward to them! And what others bring.
Last edited by oolala53 on Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:10 am

Um, I had one of those Costco soft-serve things last weekend. And I adored it, although I did glance up and see the 440 cal. :roll:
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:26 am

When I have had one, I savored it. LOOOVE that creaminess. It's what used to get me eating nearly half a gallon of slighlty melting ice cream at a time. I find I still want the nearly half a gallon...
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Wed Apr 10, 2019 5:27 am

Doing my quarterly "tuneup," I'll call it. Takes 5 days. Usually, it's relatively easy until day 4. It actually started a little hard! I had had a big dinner the night before, and paradoxically got hungry way earlier than normal. Today, it was so hard midday that I wondered if I was going to be able to do it this time. I decided to take the possibility of quitting off the table because I have only a few more years before it isn't recommended that I do this (up until age 70). And it's only 20 days total a year. Thankfully, I have felt terrific since about 4 p.m. Three days to go. I've got tomorrow planned. I'm pretty sure I've said before that it can actually be kind of fun to look at my plan and follow it, esp. when I've got everything on hand and nothing is very complicated. It's kind of fun to see how bony my feet look already, but not worth living like this permanently!

I went walking with a group this morning and then forgot I had gone. Shot out to get to a golf course near my house for a great view of the sunset near 7 p.m. Boy was I surprised to look at my step counter and see I had put in 6.6 miles today. Huh? Just walking to another meeting and grocery shopping? Then I remembered. Ok, I'm NOT crazy. Just old age. I think this is the normal kind of memory issue, not a precursor to the really tough kind. (I could not remember George Clooney's last name, either, as a crossword answer, until several letters got filled in. It's annoying, but I know the research shows that older people just take longer to remember some things. Not the same as having lost the memory completely.

Speaking of which, a mutual friend Kate visited a woman Peg I know who moved into a senior living center last spring. Peg had moved of her own free will, though with some encouragement from her sister and brother-in-law. However, in a phone conversation previous to the visit, Peg told Kate, with no sign of distress or upset, that she is there as an Alzheimer's patient. I did remember that she would get confused when we were making plans, and did repeat some stories, but otherwise seemed fine, and at that time, didn't seem to even consider that she had any serious problem. She seemed to resent her sister's "bossiness," but I started to understand. Kate said Peg is her old self in many ways; "She still knows us and loves us, and yet the history of our friendship has largely disappeared from her memory." More than ten years of friendship. Her husband noted that Peg initiated almost no conversation herself and asked no questions. Not like her. She and I have been playing phone tag for a day and a half. She won't use email or text. I hope to see her sometime this week or next. (Kate said Peg was delighted to see them but had forgotten that they had actually made a plan to meet, thinking they had just dropped by. Hoo, boy.) Lordy, lordy, lordy. I would count calories and eliminate foods if someone could prove to me that I could prevent the dreaded A by doing it.

Okay, I'd better go to bed as I'm feeling the beginnings of rumbling in my stummy.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Thu Apr 11, 2019 3:31 am

eeek.

My sister (who is a nurse and lives in the same town as my mom) has been saying for years that she thinks my mom has memory issues. I have remained in denial, but your post has got me thinking more realistically about it.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Thu May 02, 2019 6:03 pm

I probably posted this before, an excerpt from a post of Simmstone's thread about food addiction behaviors, but I'm repeating it because in all honesty, I've been "using" food egregiously recently, and I need to remind myself.

- Gorging on more food than one can physically tolerate
- Eating to the point of feeling ill
- Going out of your way to obtain certain foods
- Continuing to eat certain foods even if no longer hungry
- Eating in secret, isolation :!: :!: :!:
- Avoiding social interactions, relationships, or functions to spend time eating certain foods.
- Spending significant amount of money on buying certain foods for bingeing purposes

I was going to add, being obsessed with food opportunities at social events, but that's not really a behavior that can be controlled in the same way the others are. I can't completely control what thoughts pop into my head. I can just try to divert when they do, and not act on them.

I was able to hold to some limits in March (and maybe my recent overages were part of a pendulum swing?) but I believe I've learned some things and am ready to apply some discipline in adapting new habits. I was able to stick to limits before by continually telling myself that I can't find out whether it's worth it to live with the new limits (and experience the benefits) unless I actually do it! Unfortunately, some benefits just have to come from self-satisfaction, as they can't really be experienced in the moment. E.g., most people can't tell their bodies are on the verge of a heart attack until it happens. So there has to be a little faith. And that's all it is. There is so much out there on what's right and it's all an experiment for any one individual. I just know certain influences bring together a greater number of important criteria for me.

Ironcially, one of the limits was one I never found pleasant, but which I believe has enough value that I'm adding it in a milder form this month. It was already challenging this morning, but I'm glad I held out. And now it's time to eat!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Fri May 03, 2019 1:28 am

Here's to biohacking and our n of 1. I think these experiments can actually count as a "hobby" for some of us. And I'm not sure how you feel about that, but I think it's great. :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Tue May 07, 2019 4:58 am

TX! Better to think of it as a hobby (like Brightangel) than a part time job, which is how I used to feel about dieting. It actually didn't have to be, but I made it that way.

Came down with a cold. My eyeballs felt like they were boiling in my head last night, but the fever broke overnight and today it's just been low energy and the usual symptoms. Not much appetite and wish I hadn't eaten dinner. Not stuffed but not feeling a light before sleep as I like.

Got to be well enough to go to my film acting class tomorrow night because I"m in a scene with two other people I don't want to let down. If I still feel like this late tomorrow afternoon, I'll ask the teacher if we can present our scene first so that I can leave right after.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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lpearlmom
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Re: oolala53

Post by lpearlmom » Tue May 07, 2019 5:00 am

Ick... hope you feel better soon! 💜
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

automatedeating
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Wed May 08, 2019 1:55 am

How exciting that you are in an acting class! I do hope you are feeling better soon, so you can enjoy your acting.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri May 10, 2019 4:26 am

The acting is a mix of things: fun, challenging, tedious, annoying, etc. VERY easy to get caught up in ego stuff. It's a little disappointing to see how easy it is for me to get waylaid. I thought it might be a new and engrossing activity to fill more of my time with, but it takes effort, even though I want to do it. I was hoping it would tamp all this food stuff down more, but here I am.

Dealing decently with my mods this month, but I think I'm going to adjust one already. I'm usually so un-ready for dinner. But trying to eat little enough earlier so that I'm ready for it continues to be challenging.

I think I could get good at estimating the macro ratio I've been experimenting with by the end of the month. (I've been weighing/measuring and tracking.) It's a matter of getting used to what the building blocks of the meal are. It did mean I skipped a pear at dinner that I would have liked to have had, but I didn't want to skimp on the corn on the cob, which was fantastic. It's not the season but there it was in the market. Big fat sweet kernels! It reminded me that I went to a potluck a few weeks ago and a salad someone had made with some corn in it was one of my favorites. It's a way to have me think I"m having something outrageous.

I'm volunteering at a Zydeco festival tomorrow and Sunday. I wasn't expecting to have had a cold so recently and the weather is not nearly as sunny and warm as it has been other years, so I might be cutting things shorter than I had planned. After we serve our hours, we get free entry into the festiveal. I'm done at 3:30 and the music goes on into the night. I'll play that by ear.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Thu May 16, 2019 12:49 am

The obsession continues. I"ve been listening to the book Bright Line Eating. I looked at the program on a special disc provided. It's basically a prescribed calorie diet with limited foods at three meals. Very regimented. I felt sad looking at it! Would I achieve the happiness and sense of freedom promised? Maybe, but I suspect it has less to do with the chemical changes, though I imagine there would be some, and more to do with the moral pleasure of feeling the person is adhering to a virtuous plan, being a good girl.

Anyway, I am unlikely to find out, since I don't see much difference between the distress I experience now and the prospect of weighing,. measuring, and sticking to the guidelines forever in order to feel okay about myself.

Or is it stevia that's the culprit? Not desperate enough to find out.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Sun Jun 16, 2019 3:40 pm

Hi Oolala. It's been so quiet on the boards and I miss your wise presence.
I think you know I've quit drinking (day 47) and I feel like all the food - overdoing it wisdom I have learned from you and others on this board are what are getting me through. And these past few weeks I've struggled more with crap-eating than I have in many many many years (possibly in my whole life)? It's becoming clear to me that I used alcohol for my dopamine hit, and without it, I'm seeking sugar for the dopamine hit. Damnit I do NOT want to trade my alcohol addiction for sugar addiction.

There are some books that try to reframe the relationship of alcohol, and I wonder if that approach could also be useful for people that overeat compulsively - This Naked Mind is a good example of this approach.

Anyway, hope you are doing well.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Tue Jul 09, 2019 3:38 pm

Hi again Oolala. I've decided I very much need you to check in so I know you are A-OK! :-) Pretty please?
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Sun Jul 14, 2019 4:49 pm

That is so touching!

I've said other places that it has derailed me that we don't get email updates about new thread posts on No S since the format change. But I've also not been posting because I've been off the rails and was sick of the whole thing. I have stayed marginally involved on Sparkpeople because I'm a team leader there, but I've been pretty bad at that, too, especially for the local team. In a city of nearly 1.5 million people, there are only a few of us active on it, and I"m not inspired or compliant enough these days to try to drum up more enthusiasm.

It is hard to face that my eating is as "bad" as it is these days. For awhile, my weight was remaining steady, but recently, it all caught up and I've put on about 8 lbs. I know, not that much, really, but enough to take the edge off my looks, so to speak. And it means I've been doing quite a bit of compulsive eating, though some of it is probably water. Though not all, this time. It's not fun to face that this affects my thoughts about myself. I really hate that aspect of our culture and have resisted it all my life, but it's so ingrained! And I don't actually believe that just returning to consistent reasonable eating will take that weight back off. It takes some form of repeated under eating to get the body to burn fat, and I just don't know if that will happen for me. I just can't seem to find a satisfying pattern. I want food when I don't need it and I'm tired of it, but that doesn't make it go away. I find myself pretty much trying to be content if I get through a day without eating a family-sized bag of popcorn, or a ton of cookie dough, both of which I've had in the last week. I didn't do stuff like that for years! Is it because my weight was too low, even though I was still not at the low end of my BMI and was at 28% body fat? Oh, I"m tired of the dilemma, but apparently, not tired enough! I can't find anything else quite as compelling.

I will say a couple of fun things because I'm determined to put some focus on the fact that there a good events. (One of the findings in happiness practices is that it's not as effective to be grateful for overall stuff, but to look for small details that make the good stuff good in particular moments. So not that "I have a loving family"< but "I had a great visit with my sister today. "

And it is good when you can find pleasure in common daily things, but these are more sporadic. I way overpaid on the day of concert for a seat almost out of the stadium to see Paul McCartney. Then not long before it started, a woman who had come up to the top tier, way far away from where her seat was, spotted me sitting in a row of empty seats and was motioning to me. By this time the preconcert music was blaring, there were still people walking around but we knew the concert would start soon, and there was general excitement. I thought she was trying to say that the row of seats were hers (I wasn't sitting in my right seat yet) but she asked if I was on my own because she had a legitimate extra wrist band for the ground floor seating area that she would give me! So even though I paid way more for the crappy seat I had, I actually paid about 1/3 the cost of the seat I got! She could not actually give me a seat, but I found a row- only 19 rows back- that was pretty empty and stationed myself there. Never had anyone say, hey, that's my seat, though I would have just moved. Most people were standing up most of the time anyway. I actually would have had a great view from my old seat, but of the serendipity of the event made the concert even more special. And Paul McCartney is an inspiration for recent senior citizens. He's 77, still slim, still moves spryly. still a great voice. For two hours and 20 minutes straight.

Then this week I was at a free outdoor concert with a small group of people dancing on the sideline. I kept noticing an older woman dressed in white but with a delightful sheer flower-and-butterfly poncho over the basic outfit. I went up and told her how lovely I thought she looked and she promptly took off the poncho and gave it to me! I said no at first, but she said she had gotten it in China for three bucks and could easily order another one. I have been in situations where I could give someone three dollars and make their life easier, and it has made me feel good to do it, so I took it. Got compliments when I wore the poncho yesterday, but I kept it. :)

One food I give myself a lot of leeway to overeat is cherries because they are in season for such a short time. I wait for them to be on sale, too. Today is one of those days! Off to Smart and Final where they are 99c a pound.

But no popcorn, cookie dough, or frosting will go in my basket.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

cedar
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Location: Australia

Re: oolala53

Post by cedar » Mon Jul 15, 2019 10:53 am

I have no great words of advice for you, I've been there many times. I think a lot of us have. I think sometimes we have to just go through the motions wait it out and be as kind to ourselves as we can.
Enjoy the lovely cherries Oolala 🍒.

Candace
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Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:27 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by Candace » Mon Jul 15, 2019 2:14 pm

Hi oolala53,

Wow, what a journal entry. So wonderful about the Paul McCartney concert and the surprise gift at the other concert.

I feel ya on the "we have to under-eat to lose weight" lament. Before I heard of No-S, I had pretty much given up ever being able to lose weight. It just seems like past a certain age, there's no way to do it without relative starvation. From what's in your signature though, it sounds like you've enjoyed some success with No-S? I'm new on the block so please forgive me if I don't go back and read your entire thread. I decided to try this because I like the idea that No-S is all about eating closer to the way people ate before obesity took over so much of our population.

Cherries *are* so yummy this time of year. We have a large container of them sitting in the fridge. I know I'm eating less of them this year on No-S though, because the container that would go in a couple of days in years past is now lasting a lot longer.
53 year old female. Height 5' 5.5". Goal: 145 lb. Stretch goal: 140 lb.
Weight 6/14/2019: 155 lb.
8/3/2019: 151 lb.
8/24/2019: 149 lb.

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lpearlmom
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Re: oolala53

Post by lpearlmom » Tue Jul 16, 2019 5:20 am

Sorry you’re struggling but appreciate your honesty. This eating stuff is no joke. Ive gained back every single pound I lost from fasting yet I cannot seem to accept myself at this higher weight so back up the mountain I go. It seems a little crazy to me but I dont know what else to do.

I hope you find your way back soon and glad you checked in.

Linda
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

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lpearlmom
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Re: oolala53

Post by lpearlmom » Sat Jul 20, 2019 2:00 pm

Btw, is the tune up that you do fasting?
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Mon Aug 12, 2019 9:24 pm

I've had a couple of days of better-enough eating that I feel pretty good today. Did already have a small fail, but still like the improvement.


For anyone very triggered by health talk, better pass this rest of this post up!

Linda, the tuneup is called a Fast MIMICKING Diet; it's not really fasting, but basically a diet for the reasons "diets" I (make that a really big I) are intended: health improvement, NOT weight loss. Health diets often do have simultaneous weight loss, but I think focusing on that is usually a mistake.

On this, some loss of abdominal fat has been found to be maintained after bouts of it. It doesn't include long periods without food, but specific reduced calories (based on weight) and VERY specific nutrient ratios, and it's only for five days. It's been found to induce very similar reactions in the body that water-fasting does but without forgoing food, which only a very small percentage of people will undergo, even ones whose lives it might save. (Longo has been involved with cancer patients for years.) I'm interested mainly for its benefit to possibly delay dementia, my big old age concern! And just generally wanting to stay as degenerative disease-free as is reasonable- meaning I am not willing now to go very purist-, since it looks like I'm going to live awhile more. :)

Longo would not condone my amateur use of it, but I don't have any of the health problems it's good for at present, so I take the risk. But I'm not in a big hurry to get to another round of it these dayst because in rereading the book, I'm seeing that for my age and health status, I could do it once less per year than I had been. And I've been so disordered with eating that I want to get back to order before I rock the boat with anything drastic. I do lean towards trying to incorporate his general daily dietary recommendations, though by our society's standards, they are brutal! The diet section of the book has most days at 12% protein; the only animal sources of that would be fish and VERY small amounts of cheese, the rest from nuts, beans, and the bits in veggies. This dovetails with the reports from the Blue Zone info, which I am kind of biased in favor of, though I don't like their marketing of it. But it's only a vision in the future for me. I'm not motivated enough right now to adopt it. I might never be, in its pure form. Once again, I'm willing to take SOME chances, but I'd like to think I can move towards taking fewer of them.

So, for my own recording, I'm including what I've condensed from his two weeks of an eating plan. I have a neato torpedo chart in Word, but it would not transfer.

No S worked for a long time when I had meals made of building blocks, which some might call intelligent dietary defaults without specific foods. Still looking for something like that now. The old plan just didn't satisfy anymore. Have written about this ad nauseum so will not take the time to repeat.

From The Longevity Diet Valter Longo (Just for reference: not my present plan and not for weight loss except as a side effect)
DAILY DIET--NOT THE FMD CITED ABOVE

(claimed this was for a woman of average height and weight, but then said she would have a BMI of 21.5! Which country is he talking about? Ha ha. Having lost weight and likely with a lowered metabolism, I think this plan would be too many calories for me on a daily basis. The two days I calculated were 1700+ and 1900+.)

Breakfast
Whole grain bread and jam (2t) OR
cereal/oats
no sugar jam (sometimes nuts, scant dark chocolate)
nondairy milk
black coffee or tea

Lunch
Cooked Vegetables (usually two or more, including flavoring ones like onion)
Nuts
Olive oil (1 tbs)
Grain starch or potato
SOMETIMES feta/parmesan ( 5 grams)
Can make soup with above ingredients

Snack
Nondairy milk
Dark chocolate bar, no dairy and less than 8 grm sugar OR
Something with cocoa (My add)- I'm not going to start adding anything that resembles chocolate candy after my history!)

Dinner
(I calculated calories for two days' dinner was over 700 on one day and 900 on another! I think this was a concession to the cultural preference for a big dinner at the most commonly shared meal. A fair amount of the calories came from fat.)
Beans OR fish (3x wk)
grain starch or potato
one veggie
olive oil (usually TWO tbs.)
Maybe cheese (5 GRAMS only!)

Daily Greens + raw veggies salad with some olive oil and lemon dressing at either lunch or dinner.

Fruit and nut (about 20-25 grams) desserts

For people over 65, the protein intake should increase, but I'd bet he thinks it shouldn't go above 20% . Obvioulsy from the approved sources.

The fat content varies, but certainly isn't below 30% most days.(He doesn't include the breakdown; I used a calorie counter for two days of it and boy was that tedious! Unfortunately, I think having to use the calculator to implement the FMD was a little of the perfect storm that has assailed my No S success over the last couple of years. But not enough that I will not work to find a way around that for the short periods entailed.)

He loves olive oil. I think he might be biased, coming from two of the areas associated with longevity in Italy. But he isn't the only proponent.

As another example of the "brutality" of the diet, all cooking instructions come down to boiling. Not even water sauteeing! Te olive oil is always added after cooking. Very few herbs, almost no spice. Warnings to be light on salt. I wonder if he lives on it, given that he spends his time in the Los Angeles area and Italy. It would mean passing up a LOT of the available food. But he sure looks youthful.

BTW, the only "fasting" he would be an advocate of, besides water fasting for sick individuals in very monitored situations, is an overnight fast of 12-13 hours. I've read that he himself also skips lunch but I can't remember any admonition for that in the book. He also recommended no lunch but with small snack but his two week diet plan includes 3 meals and a snack every day.

He says at another place in the book that he's favors some coconut oil every day but it's not anywhere on the diet plan. Not the only discrepancy that bugs me, and I did not want to be bugged by this book! I have been looking at his stuff on the internet for a few years and was looking forward to the book. But I read anything with the knowledge that nearly all authors have their own subjective biases, plus often have pressure on them from publishers to tweak their message to claim ease and success. I guess it all boils (no pun intended) down to whose story you like the best. I don't like the low carb story; a symptom of my addiction? But the longevity cultures are on my side.

Thankfully, I have only the library book and it has a hold on it, so I can't get too obsessed with it for long, which is an advantage for me. In fact, I was going to write some more, but think I'd better call it a day, though I'll look at some threads. Bye for now.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

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lpearlmom
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Re: oolala53

Post by lpearlmom » Fri Aug 16, 2019 12:13 am

Oh yeah I’m familiar with Longo. I’ve heard some interviews with him on some of the IF podcasts I listen to. I can’t take nutrition advice too seriously one way or another anymore because, like you said, everyone’s got an agenda. I think the most unbiased dietician I’ve come across is Ellyn Satter. I’ve been a long time fan of hers though. She’s just so well grounded IMO.

Anyway, seems like you really enjoy researching all this and trying to apply it to your life so that’s all that matters.
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Fri Aug 16, 2019 4:07 pm

I can’t take nutrition advice too seriously one way or another anymore because, like you said, everyone’s got an agenda.
So true. Nutrition is right up there with religion and politics agenda-wise!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri Sep 20, 2019 3:40 pm

Funny I said that about the agenda, because I am taking Longo as seriously, or close to it, with exceptions for social situations, as anyone in a long time, or at least that's the aspiration. Agenda or not, his stuff fits the overall picture of what I think holds water nutritionally. I feel I have to do more these days-only so much time left to balance that past overages of junk! I wish I could have been convinced of that nearly 10 years ago when I started, but I was in too deep with the food. Yes, there are always detractors on the complete other side, but they don't have the longevity history behind them. Anyway, that's the story I like, which is what it always boils down to. I'm not trying to live to 100 or even 90, but just like the idea of doing my part to delay using the medical system for more than I already do for various reasons. Sure, my parents lived a decently long time, but both of them on meds for years and a big heart surgery on my dad which netted only a few years that ended in a lot of pain. Can I get away with avoiding that stuff? I think I can increase my odds, and I'm willing to try. There are factors other than food involved, but it's the one I have the most control over.

It made for a bit of difficulty visiting my older sister and her husband. They have both had health problems, some of them serious- he's on insulin, has had a stint put in, had a small stroke-, yet they seem to eat the same foods they always have. Hamburgers AND French fries and onion rings at dinners out. I had forgotten to send an email to her saying I wasn't going to be eating meat. I thought she would make meals similar to our growing up ones with separate meat/starch, veggie, but she mixed the starch and meat so I made my own meals, though we ate out twice. It wasn't completely comfortable but I am not willing to compromise as much anymore. My sister was small her whole life until she retired and now she is in the obese range, but she watched me assemble meals as if I was nuts. She said her doctor wants her to see a nutritionist, but I honestly doubt that will do a lot of good because her attitude isn't about really wanting to get healthy or relieve discomfort. It sounds like she thinks she would be giving up so much. She said at one point that I was very disciplined, but I said it was more that I don't think I can get something I really want if I don't. We had words over some other stuff, so I wasn't going to go in a lot of detail, but I may in an email. I'm pretty sure she thinks I do it for appearance, which has its benefits, but it's not what goes through my mind most of the time. It's interesting because she keeps a beautiful house and is very willing to expend consistent effort on that, though they don't let it get far. I realized that the visual payoff is so fast on the housekeeping that it probably doesn't feel like much discipline, but it's huge for me. There are dishes in my sink right now from yesterday. I feel so burdened doing them! It's not logical, I'm very aware. But I think they pay a higher price eating freely in a stupendously orderly house than the other way around. Although there's probably some new research showing that messy housekeepers die younger than tidy ones. Then I'm totally busted.

And it's not just about mortality, but about healthy longevity. Some research shows that heavy people don't die younger but they are sick a long time before they go. And you can't convince me that there isn't a negative effect of poor food intake even when people are thin. In any case, as I said, it's an area I'm willing to expend effort in, even though it's a gamble.

Well, though I do try to keep health front and center, there is a little part of me that thought that if I got things back in place, the 8 lbs. I put on in a couple of months would drift away, but my body seems to really like this weight. I haven't been perfect, but not terribly off, and it just seesaws. For years I didn't weigh often, but somehow I got back into it. It's not really helping, as the research keeps saying it does. I didn't do it while I was back to semi-binging every day, but I doubt it would have stopped me. I think I have to use consistent compliance as my criterion for getting on the scale. How can I tell if the new iteration is actually affecting my weight if I don't actually eat that way most days of the week? But even that won't change what I do, meaning if I don't lose, I'm not going to go looking for something else. Besides, Longo says it's better for seniors to be at the higher end of the normal BMI range. Since I found out I have actually lost another inch of height, I'm pretty much there.

Ok, got to do my yoga. I committed to 90 days and have missed only one since the middle of August. I'm not doing it for thinness, either. I have vague expectations, but it's the same as with the food routine. I can't know what effects it might have unless I do it. I'm going more for quieting my brain, but am reserving judgment for now. I have a history of things not working for me as they do for others, so I'm trying not to watch the pot.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri Sep 20, 2019 5:35 pm

What is really ironic is that the yoga series never takes less than 45 minutes; before this, I couldn't get myself to do even 14 minutes 5x a week! Weird. Like people who don't stick to any diet and then suddenly plunge in calories and count them judiciously. Let's hope something sticks better for me than the fate of most of those dieters.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Whosonfirst
Posts: 538
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Re: oolala53

Post by Whosonfirst » Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:21 pm

Congrats on sticking to the yoga series, or giving it a good try. I'd like to add that to my routine at some point, mostly for improving my flexibility. I think yoga along with walking may be the ideal, low-impact movement system for anyone over 40-60. My opinion only.
https://twitter.com/SipeEngineering
Current weight(9/2020)-212 lbs.
Goal Weight- 205 lbs.
NoS Goal: >= 80% Success days

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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:28 am

Oolala - you may like the Nutritious Movement series I've been doing. Not as elegant-looking as yoga, but I prefer the focus on one or two joints at a time. I get overwhelmed with yoga and trying to have perfect alignment in like 5 joint planes at once.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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Re: oolala53

Post by jenji » Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:50 pm

Congratulations on the yoga. I love yoga, and whenever I do it regularly, I see the benefits in my balance, strength, flexibility, and general mood.
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022

Soprano
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Re: oolala53

Post by Soprano » Tue Sep 24, 2019 6:58 pm

+1 for yoga :)
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

minimizer
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Re: oolala53

Post by minimizer » Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:50 pm

oops, I sent a message to you when I meant to send to Auto, it was about Nutritious Movement

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:35 am

No worries. At least it wasn't about me!



Last spring when I started going to a clutterers meeting on Tuesday afternoons, I got in the habit afterwards of dropping into one, sometimes two, nearby grocery stores that sell sesame sticks, a beloved food for me. (Leftover permissiveness from the "fasting window" school of free eating I had dabbled in over the last few years.) Of course not ideal, but not sweets, either. Oh, listen to the justification! I returned yesterday after a week away on vacation, got my snack, when in the morning I had fully intended NOT to, and proceeded to permasnack the rest of the day- inside my "window "and beyond. That's what used to happen all the time. I can have all the intention I want not to do it again next week, but who can tell?

Anyway, today went decently well. Technically, I failed with some nibbling much earlier than would have been a reasonable snack time, but then cut things off until later and ate dinner about an hour early. Lo and behold, I actually felt some hunger, cherished hunger! I also had a tentative meal in mind, something I used to have and thus look forward to, something that I let go of because I would so often wish I could have a longer fasting window

I almost weighed today, but caught myself. I am not doing this for weight loss, I am not doing this for weight loss, I am not doing this for weight loss. And if I'm honest, I admit that if I stick to the guidelines for a month and I don't lose, I will be a tiny bit disappointed, since it was fun to be even the few pounds smaller that I was. But I will remember that Longo recommends against such thinness in senior citizens (unless they are just naturally that thin, I'd guess) and keep doing my exercise. I may have to replace a few pairs of pants. So be it. I'll keep the smaller ones until I do my spring wardrobe purge.

I pretty much sat all day after the morning yoga. Will I go for a walk? No telling.

I replaced my desktop about a month ago and bought an external DVD player that I haven't even set up yet. Got no TV to speak of these days and tons of workout videos. I have enough time regularly to add in some short workouts to fun music. Let's see how long it takes to get that going. Sure, I could just use free stuff available on the net, but I liked those workouts. In the meantime, I started a tap dance class and have even done some basic lessons on the internet in between classes. But I'm not good enough at it yet to have it qualify as the type of workout I'm capable of. Use it 'til you lose it!

Oh I'm going to a comedy show in my 'hood. THAT's how I'll get my walk in. Bye!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Thu Sep 26, 2019 2:53 am

How fun! A comedy show! I'd like to do that for my birthday (coming up in October). Plus, you got your walk in - excellent!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Mon Sep 30, 2019 3:19 pm

Tx!

I took Costco tuxedo mousse cakes to a Saturday philosophy group meeting and chowed down on some good hunks. Before going, I had asked my carpool mate if she would put any leftovers in her freezer. I just couldn’t stand the thought of throwing it out and knew nobody there would take it. I also know she does very little cooking or keeping much food around because she’s older and uses a food delivery meal service. On the way up, she said fine, that she had a lot of room in her freezer. Then, when I tried to give her the package, she bought, and said she wasn’t comfortable with it. Oh, I guess I have to be a big girl! There were about four pieces left Over the next 24 hours I did eat one of them, but wrap the others up and I’m feeling pretty good even though they are stuffed in with tons of other food in my freezer. I’ve promised myself that if they start feeling like the temptation, I will go work them into the compost pile.

I’m not sure how to keep easy track of how well I’m doing with my present plan because it’s not as hard and fast as vanilla and I can’t seem to commit to any systematic mod, but I know that most days I am feeling pretty good about it.

Oh, my friend texted me yesterday saying she was feeling bad about saying no to the cake because she has tons of room! No biggie now.

Now to fasted yoga!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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lpearlmom
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Re: oolala53

Post by lpearlmom » Tue Oct 01, 2019 5:24 am

Good luck with the cake! I dont even like cake but ice cream can tempt me!

So are fasting? Still doing the Longo thing? Missed your current plan i think or maybe you’re not wanting to share.

Anyway, hope yoga was nice. I wish i could get into it.
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

oolala53
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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:24 am

Hi, Linda. It's pretty loose to call fasting, though I attempt to keep to a 10-12 hour eating window- just went over it a few minutes ago having cooked up some rye berries, which I hadn't had in a long time. A fair amount of my food these days is fitting Longo's recommendations for daily eating, which makes my intake a lot more different from the status quo- and my early plates on NO S- than it used to be, including less eating out, but I just don't want to risk as much, at least for now. Yet I also make exceptions because I like a greater variety of grains. I convince myself that they are a lot less risky than making exceptions for crunchy Cheetos or popcorn since those often lead to whole big bags or multiple small ones. I've come full circle so many times on the processed foods thing, and right now, they get on very few plates because I've lied to myself so many times about them.

Been rereading Guyenet,too. It's really rather appalling to see just how far from the recommendations the average fare offered at restaurants is. The research shows that just about every group tested eats more when out, about 44% more on average. Even the skinny people, though they tend to unconsciously balance things out over a few days' time. But heavy people tend to overeat more of palatable food, and at every eating event during the day. I don't think Longo and Guyenet know each other, but they both value simple food, which is a nice way of saying bland, for different reasons. I'm not willing to go quite as commando as they recommend all the time. Who knows what I'll say about that in a year?

In any case, I've been mostly pleased with my eating over the last few weeks and feel the trend is on a good trajectory.

I don't want to make myself completely crazy, but I will be looking at a book on delaying/preventing Alzheimer's/dementia in a bit. It's got a lot of holds on it at the library. I do know the author's suggestion for the two most important foods are beans and greens, and those are on the plan just about every day already.

I really meant to talk about some stuff other than this confoundit obsession, but I've run out of steam.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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Re: oolala53

Post by gingerpie » Wed Oct 09, 2019 12:27 am

I really meant to talk about some stuff other than this confoundit obsession, but I've run out of steam.
As obsessions go, this is not such a bad one and more beans and greens - bland or otherwise can not possibly hurt anyone.

Hope you're doing well and find the new reading material useful. Personally, I've been trying to go back to not thinking about food at all and just enjoying what comes my way. Unfortunately, my new relaxed attitude has been accompanied by an distinct increase in belly flab so I fear I'll have to go back to worrying about diet and exercise. Sigh. . . Life is indeed a challenge.

Kind regards,

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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Wed Oct 09, 2019 2:19 pm

Ha! Just like gingerpie, I was thinking - bland yes - bland works for me. My meals are extremely simple and repetitive. I don't do legumes much, although I'm getting a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) soon and I'd like to see if I tolerate legumes better than grains. Most likely the higher protein will help, but we'll see.

In my teaching, I basically simplify for my students that avoiding processed foods is the simplest rule by which to get healthier and avoid the chronic diseases of the west. It's a non-controversial way of handling the food topic in A&P - I don't want to get into the politics of nutrition in my classes (it sucks my soul). But we can all agree that removing cheetos, as you put it, is a good step. :-)

I mostly like Guyenet but find him pretentious. LOL, I find most of the diet guys/gals like that, even though I enjoy reading much of their work.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri Oct 18, 2019 7:30 pm

I'm doing my quarterly eating plan and boy, is it showing me how I had gotten into the habit of feeling like food was an option in many hours or situations that weren't for a long time. I'm not convinced that is keeping any weight on me, and am confronted with questioning whether it is a terrible problem. Heresy! This plan is rigid and not meant to last so it is relatively easy to tough it out, though it's not really awfully tough, surprisingly. But it's also because I chose a time frame where I would not likely have many challenges to it, namely I would be eating my meals on my own. There will be food at the theater where I am in a 10-minute scene over the next few days, but I've been excited/nervous enough about that not to be willing to eat when I'm not hungry. My scene is first and I might not even stick around tonight when I know there will be snacks available. I will have had dinner beforehand. Theoretically, it shouldn't make a difference, but why rock the plan boat?



I have lost the sense that I, at least, can easily partake in what comes along (gingerpie). If what was coming along was mostly reasonable food, it might work, but what is available publicly... well, I have less faith in a lot of it, even the so-called healthy stuff. And gingerpie has noticed a consequence. I don't know how those naturally thin people do it, but I'm just not one. And it's not necessary to be thin.Just trying to increase my odds of healthy aging. (In fact, many of them could probably extend healthy aging as well with different food, though there isn't much cultural support for that.) That's all it is ever anyway-about increasing odds. There is a chance I could have a tough constitution and have few problems moderately eating just about anything, but I'd still have to contend with that feeling that comes with eating too much that is so easy to get with so much modern/industrial food. Oy vey.

Off to tap class.
Last edited by oolala53 on Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
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Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Sat Oct 19, 2019 2:01 pm

I hope tap class was so fun/rewarding!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:59 am

It turned out tap class had been cancelled because of a festival in the area. Another student and I showed up; I vaguely remembered something about an announcement about it. He and I had a nice talk and off I went. You'd think I'd have come home and done some tapping, but I didn't.

Just finished the three days of a 10-minute performance I was in at a tiny theater in the next neighborhood north of me. In talking to some of the other actors (there were six plays staged, plus six different ones last weekend and six more next weekend- an October festival), I get the idea that there might actually be some opportunities to get small parts in local plays. My partner and I had what was supposed to be a serious film noir scene. There were a couple of times people giggled because the plot had some turns that could easily have been satire as well, but mostly we pulled it off, it seemed. I personally saw through it by page three of the script. At one point, I have a glass of wine that has secret poison in it, and I keep playing with it in such a way that people thought I was going to take a drink, but I never did because I actually know it is poisoned. I felt that I was being completely obvious in fingering and fiddling with the glass-the playwright had written only to keep picking the glass up and putting it down, but I embellished-, but several actors said they were fooled by it. Got a little boost from that.


Diet and bubble-bursting alert! Please don't read any farther if you get easily discouraged and give up on moderation.

I'm just finishing one of my 5-day stints, and boy, am I glad it's over. The first four days aren't bad. I'm always surprised that I can get hungry and then feel so full from a small meal. Day 5 is usually tough. I made the mistake in the morning of kind of picking at food rather than making up a plate in an orderly way, and started feeling peckish. But after my first equivalent of a meal, I was liking how my skirt fit, but the loss is temporary, as most of it is water. I found myself wishing I could go commando enough to get and stay lower, but I suspect it would take even more focus than I already give it and I'm trying to give it less! The books on appetite and such have been unsupportive of purposeful calorie reduction and aiming at low weights. Author Traci Mann says we should aim at the leanest livable weight and that sounds a lot like Reinhard's idea of ideal habits lead to ideal weights. But Ideal may be asking a lot. She certainly doesn't believe that many overweight or obese people will end up much lighter than they are without a lot of discipline, and she has a fair amount of data to back it up. I have to admit that in a certain way, I have not lost weight on No S. Well, I have but it was weight I had put on my egregious habits over a few decades. I am the same weight now as I was before I started dieting nearly 50 years ago. I wasn't a terrible overeater then, though I, as almost everyone, did eat a fair amount of candy and did some sneak eating. But I doubt I would have weighed a lot less even if I had stuck to Vanilla back then.

She doesn't say to do nothing, though, and many of her strategies tend to dovetail No S, though I can tell she is a snacker, and wouldn't push not snacking on anyone. She really insists that most heavy people have no real control over the difficulties of loss and maintenance, but can she really believe that our population is meant to be so much heavier than it used to be? I just think a person should think, if I lived in a moderate eating culture, would I weight what I weigh? And for a great many people now, the answer would be no, even though they might not be thin, either.

But weight loss or no, there are very good reasons besides thinness in my mind to keep mostly to discrete meals of high quality food and as little modern junk, including sugar, as can be tolerated with a modicum of "pain". That's beyond Vanilla in scope, but I believe I'm ready.

Enough!

I will be making a vegetarian chickpea curry for a meal at a homeless teen shelter tomorrow. It's a bit of a risk, but I'm going to try it with my Instantpot and hope it's not too exotic for their tastes. There will be competition from sausage casserole and beef and bean burritos, so I know it might not be a huge hit, but I am being a little bit of a crusader here. The organizer said they appreciate it when there are some leftovers.I just hope if there are, they don't end up just throwing them out. I would LOVE to have some in my freezer! But I'd rather have the kids like something that isn't their regular fare.

Then again, I may break down and make something a little more recognizable, something with tomato and some pasta, but also eggplant. I claimed I was making something that had gotten good reviews at potlucks, but even my eggplant/tomato/pasta dish was admired mostly by the host. But people didn't eat much of anything at that one. Yeah, I was surprised, too.

I've got to stop writing and thinking about all this!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

gingerpie
Posts: 1031
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Location: Pennsylvania, US

Re: oolala53

Post by gingerpie » Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:27 pm

Author Traci Mann says we should aim at the leanest livable weight and that sounds a lot like Reinhard's idea of ideal habits lead to ideal weights. But Ideal may be asking a lot.
Mostly, I'd like to know why I so consistently make choices that are clearly not in my long term best interest. If I had adhered to the tenants of No-s from day one, I may or may not weigh less but I certainly would think about food/diet/exercise a lot less and honestly that, along with with the comfort of knowing that I'm not setting myself up for future health issues, is all I want. Well, it wouldn't hurt to look better as well :wink: Whatever that means.

I like that you are finding interesting groups in the community. I could use a little more community interaction myself.

oolala53
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Sun Dec 01, 2019 12:48 am

HI, gingerpie! Boy, I sure miss the feature that gave us email alerts on threads we were following. I just don't keep up.

I have answers for why you don't do what's in your best interest, but it's not original or my own. Because things that are not in long term best interest are often harder than ones that aren't. Because we are notoriously bad at estimating our future selves. Because the modern food environment encourages practices that take advantage of biological desire for food and the fact that the body has fewer mechanisms for halting weight gain than for halting/slowing loss. But Mann claims that our fears of being fat, even for health reasons, are unfounded, as found in a meta study published in 2013.But I still don't want to consistently overeat. And the connection between sugar eventual mental decline has me thinking, though the body will still ask for those sources sometimes. It doesn't know from dementia!

I have been so off No S for so long that I have shied away from much interaction here. But I cling to the concept of systematic moderation and some kind of meal structure, even if very small meals. I just don't know how to do it at the level my body seems to say is moderate now. I had had some bouts of old sugar bingeing on my worst offenders, but for now, that has dissipated and I had a good Txgiving. I was doing more permasnacking this morning that I had aspired to, so I clamped down and posted on my other site a commitment to wait until after 4 today to eat again. It's 4:35,and I think I can now go an hour or more. That was something I noticed before No S. Going longer than three hours actually made it less likely I would need to eat soon or binge.

Sometimes I wish I had not dropped to a lower weight for those few years, as it makes it very hard not to have the thought in the back of my mind that I could get back there. That was not on Vanilla and I can't see myself living that way again. But I sometimes think if I had the exact perfect life, with less food available, a cooperative culture, the exact right social group, compelling activities, blah blah blah, that I would go there naturally. And it might be true, but what's the use of that, constantly needing ideal conditions?

Weight is holding steady, but some pants are a bit tight. Not the best trend for appearance, but possibly not a problem otherwise. Longevity researcher Longo seemed to be more concerned about frailty in senior citizens than overweight.

I'm going on a trip to Mexico from 12/3-12/11. I have no idea what the food situation will be, but I anticipate that I will have at least one meal out each day and will likely have leftovers- staying in a casita with a little fridge and even a way to cook, which will just be reheating, in my case- that will tide me over the rest of the time, if I can measure by my regular appetite. It won't be food I'm used to, but it's only 8 days! I often do better on vacations, as I can fill my hours with either "delicious" activities or company. Yes, food is sometimes still love.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri Dec 13, 2019 6:57 pm

The eating situation was difficult for me. I ended up eating a lot less for various reasons, not really fun ones, and even though I did some grazing. My pants got looser in the week, but I have been eating more since back and weigh about the same as before I left. I'm pretty much okay with that, though as I've said, that little dream of losing back to where I was for a few years pops into my mind at times. I do not dwell on it, though. I'm not even that miserable over my eating, though I don't recommend my habits right now. I do think my years of No S have helped me keep from going back to long term overeating. It seems to be balancing out at this weight with the paltry consistency of exercise I have.

But I still believe the No S strategy to curb eating is the best bet for at least 80% of the population and am so grateful it has been part of my life. Ten year anniversary coming up Dec. 26.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 15, 2019 2:05 pm

10 years!!!! You are an amazing resource and support for so many of us. Just wonderful - a decade!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Fri Dec 27, 2019 5:22 pm

Tx, auto! I just added my update to the testimonial section. I wish I could be more glowing, but it is what it is, and it is not in my opinion inviting sedition! I certainly have found nothing better.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Wed Jan 08, 2020 5:34 am

Did my winter 5-day stint. Feeling good about some of the restrictions I'm aiming at. Sound funny? Well, I felt good ten years ago about restricting my snacks, sweets, and seconds. Now refining for new purposes. It's all about being really convinced of the value of the reward and the fairness of the mod.

Shut your ears, anyone triggered by calorie talk, but I'm experimenting with a different macro ratio and have been tracking to see that I get it. I also-HORRORS- looked at calorie need calculators for the heck of it. The meals came in slightly under what my supposed total is, but it was too much trouble to add anything and keep the ratios. But they are probably slightly off because awhile after dinner, I talked myself into an extra tangerine and some cowpeas. I wasn't going to track but did for the heck of it and those brought me to just about maintenance. And I feel done. But I really could have been done before the extras. I will hold out on subsequent nights so that I have a bit of a cushion for S days. Really pleased with content today. I'm lucky that I have what I think is delicious homemade Indian food leftovers so meal making goes really fast. Indian food just tastes better and better as it sits in the fridge!

I think once I get the look and feel of the meals down, I won't have to keep tracking, though it is a pretty precise ratio. (I have my reasons.) I had done 40/30/30 for awhile a few years before No S. and used similar meals for years on No S. I would check calories once in awhile. Pretty consistent, as most starches, fats and the proteins I was choosing had similar calories.

I did not realize how my really really inconsistent exercising- as opposed to just my inconsistent exercising, g set me back last month. Just can't get away with it at age 66! Still fine on any flats, but had to go up a few hills and boy, did I feel it fast! I purposely made my self go climb 14 floors at a parking structure that is on the way home from an event I went to yesterday, but not today. Going to plan to work in more stairs or hills or squats at home.

Won't go into all the mess but will say that I used to live in Tehran and I am SO bummed by goings on. It's one thing to have a million or more people show up to a funeral in a city of 13,000,000 (Tehran- it was only 4 mil when I was there) and quite another to have them in a city of 500,000. (Kerman) Interesting that I have seen no mention of the fact that it always looks like a sea of MEN in the funeral pics.

Well, there is nothing I can do about it and the truth is that it will likely not directly affect me or even anyone in my family except by our thinking and talking about it. I used to think I had to be so aware and concerned and bummed by these things but now I just don't believe that anymore. It's okay to be in a good mood even when things are dire. A new skill to learn for the new decade.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Strawberry Roan
Posts: 1208
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:51 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by Strawberry Roan » Mon Jan 13, 2020 10:26 pm

Hello oolala, as always I have greatly enjoyed reading your thread. I, too, wish you could experience the joy of exercising - I truly get anxious and excited when it is time to hit the home gym or head outside - I guess the endorphins they talk about. Have you tried biking (my preferred choice, be it indoors or out) ? I sometimes watch my tablet and catch up on shows while biking indoors but often just close my eyes and picture that I am biking to the sailing lake up the road and "see" the various animals, trees, flowers, farms, cows, horses - lots to "look" at. Walking the same road is a joy as well but probably not too much true exercise, except of the heart, as I often stop to visit with neighbors along the way.

I have taken up hand weights (5, 10, and 20 lbs) and resistance bands and they add variety to my routine. We have a Total Gym, Stairstepper, Ab Coaster and Elliptical as well but I think the biking is my favorite way to relax.

Weight has been consistent at goal for years, do the IF (eat at 6 p.m. and then not until about noon the next day) and log on My Fitness Pal so that keeps me on track. I am almost 71 and happy as a lark about it. Still working as a legal assistant drafting family law documents and still crazy in love with a blue eyed cowboy.

Continue to wish you well, my friend. :)
Berry

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Sat Jan 18, 2020 4:30 pm

How delightful to hear from you! And that things are going well. Oh, besides wishing I couldn't wait to exercise, I kinda wish there was some work I want to do. But not seriously looking to solve that minor problem. I like freedom, too. Yesterday I met with ex-colleagues, went to a tap dance class, and then proceeded to take a few hours going home stopping here and there to shop for socks, sundries, and food, all pretty much on a whim, though I did need things, too. Being bothered by not having big plans for Friday night (or Saturday, for that matter) is on the back burner, so I actually looked forward to having the evening open for possible activities, though I just did stuff on the net. I think about looking back on my life and am a little horrified that this is what I do with my time, but when I'm doing it, a lot of it hums along. It has to be enough for now.

I, too, am using a tracker for now. I swear, I'll get it down by the end of February, so I will just be able to make the meals by feel. It's going to somehow shake out so that it takes about this much X and that much Y, plus a bunch of Z (freggies) for me to meet my targets over the course of three meals. I've cut some things so far down or out that it does take some thinking. I am getting hungry for my meals again, which I wanted, but there is some tweaking to do. It's certainly a lot more complicated than the ethos of No S, but I still think it fits because I feel like I am learning to live in some traditional culture that eats this way, and I am having meals. I'm a bit torn about the length of the overnight fast; two of the longevity gurus I like, though they wrote a paper on some topic together, practice differently. Funny, the more quoted of the two is the least proscriptive about it. Neither are medical doctors, though both work very closely with the medical community.

Still waiting for life to get compelling enough that I just do this without thinking or writing about it so much, but I guess I am doing as much as I can or really want to, given any conscious or unconscious perceived discomfort of either acting or not acting. It's just like with eating: when it starts to seem that the discomfort of the overeating that goes with ad libitum is even greater than the discomfort of saying no at certain times until it becomes easier, then the great ship can be turned.

If anyone is interested in my limits, I'm happy to PM you. It's too close to a diet to say a lot about here, at least for now. But it's for the reasons I think diets were meant for; particular health effects, not just weight loss. Off the soapbox now.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

Strawberry Roan
Posts: 1208
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:51 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by Strawberry Roan » Sat Jan 18, 2020 6:10 pm

Hi again and thanks so much for saying hi ! I love reading your thoughts and always learn something along the way. I think that NO S works quite well with My Fitness Pal or whatever system one would choose because one becomes conscious that if they have to log in a snack or a sweet or a second, perhaps they might take a moment and reflect on their choices.

As far as work, should you ever have the desire again (you have certainly earned your retirement) perhaps something part time or from home. I worked for a law firm in town for a decade and then was given the option to work from home. They set me up with a complete office with all the furniture, technology and they naturally pay for all my supplies. I don't work set hours, I work by projects. and bill my time accordingly. If I am available a certain day and time, I log on to the office system IM and they "see" me, say hello and let me know if they have a divorce, adoption, paternity, guardianship, etc. for me to handle. I love the work and love, love, love the people I work for (the attorneys are husband and wife and longtime friends of ours). I had to laugh at the bank when I was cashing my Christmas bonus check and my boss had written on it - Happy Holidays, we love you! I feel the work keeps my brain active as it is always something new each day yet I still have the freedom to take part in my volunteer work and my weekly shopping/eating trips with my friends (which a group of us have done for twenty years). Plus the bonus of having more time with my husband (with the option to head to the office should I need some "me" time as I have my office filled with plants, books, magazines and my everloving talk radio)... :lol:

Enjoy your time and if an opportunity that appeals to you presents itself, you can always give it a try.

Take care....
Berry

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:54 pm

Not sure what I could do even from home that I know enough about and that I would actually like doing. If only someone would pay to me to post here, on Spark, on the no s Facebook page... :twisted:

CALORIE and FOOD LIMITATION TALK ALERT! NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT LOSS! WAY MORE PRESCRIPTIVE THAN VANILLA!

I have been tracking food because I am trying out what it's like to keep my protein intake to around 50 grams a day per recommendation of Longo. I am also keeping added sugar to about 10 grams a day, and avoiding dry wheat flour items. (Ironic since I resisted Bright Line Eating for so long, but these limits I've chosen just cut down so much on making decisions. For awhile, every time I went out- yeah, just about every day, a part of me was negotiating to get a meal out of so many foods I just did not feel good about. Is this bread good enough? Shall I get pizza for lunchI How many wedges of pita can I eat at the Greek place, since a LOT of it can fit on a plate.) Too much dickering! But these limits! So not No S, except that it is because it's up to us what's on our plates and I am not doing it to lose weight. Longo also recommends protein be about 10% of intake, fats 30%, carbs 60%, but he also says seniors over 65 should have slightly higher protein intake. So the difference has to come from somewhere and depending on the day, it might be carb or fat for me. You would be amazed how many foods can tip the protein balance over. Or I meet the protein but then have way low carb and what I consider to be too low of calories. Given the recommendation of the macronutrients, it has been working out to be about 1500 calories a day. I am 5' 5", 142 lbs, and at last check 30% fat. (That last one is a bit of an ouch, but what am I gonna do? I just can't see being much more strict than I am, in eating or moving. My doctor LOVES my numbers. I already did my winter weighing- part of how I determined the 50 gm of protein a day-, so I'm not sure how this is affecting weight, but it's not the point. I have used a few sites for calorie needs calculators and they say I should be consistently eating another few hundred calories a day, but those are always calculated on your not having lost weight, and losing weight depresses the calorie need. I took off 40 lbs. I am getting hungry again at times, which I like, though I am intrigued at times by the "no hunger" claims of either keto or what I consider rather extreme IF- with all the experimentation I've done on that, and I've left a lot out in respect to No S, anything more than a 13-hour overnight fast sounds hard. II don't doubt that ketones and more protein are appetite suppressants, but I just like my carbs and a longer eating window too much so far to press for that result. Plus higher protein long term is controversial. I have my suspicions about the claims of ease from so many fronts. I don't doubt that there are some that it is authentically easy for long term, just like it is for our founder, but I suspect that they still have to negotiate at least some of the time, but they are so good at it and so fast that it hardly registers.

But I also was looking back at some anti-diet/eating disorder recovery stuff, and it sometimes gives me chills because I am awfully caught up in this these days, enough so that I would probably qualify. (IF it keeps me from getting dementia, I'll take the eating disorder, thank you.) I've been complaining about this for years and hate to hear myself say it again, that it continues to be hard to find anything as engrossing as what it takes to handle food adequately in this culture. One book I looked at reported about a huge study that showed that being fat is not really the death sentence it's purported to be (though that was never my focus; even now, it's not death that's the problem, but mental decline or long severe impairment before death, but this author said the evidence doesn't even say fat leads to more of that. She doesn't draw this conclusion, but mine is well, if it isn't the fat, it must be that both fat and thin people are eating the same disease-inciting food, and that makes sense. Even in the fifties, when Americans were at their slimmest, cardiovascular disease was high. So, I say FOR ME, at 66, I am willing to fight the plate-content fight, for awhile at least. It does worry me a bit because I already spend a lot of time alone, and it does tend to separate you from people. It's not as if you can't go with them out to eat, but it really cuts down on the enjoyment of all the talk glorifying foods that I now just think of as big mistakes for me. I am well aware that there are health advocates in the exact opposite camp. I am just betting on this one.

Yesterday, I had my first day of the new year feeling rebellious and super drawn to more food, which completely fits with what I have read of Stephan Guyenet's work on the brain, appetite, hormones, metabolism. ETc. It's not good news for most people but I think he is telling the truth; it is very unlikely that anything is going to make it mindless for anyone who has lost weight to have an exact match of desire and intake. I say unlikely because as stated above, there are always exceptions who can get as much press if not more, that others will WANT to be true and thus tote out as examples as if they prove that their experience is just as likely when the stats show pretty easily that is not true. I went ahead and chose to fail and eat more. I will try to be better about timing that for S days.

I am also well aware that some different ratios of macronutrients could indeed be the magic formula that would make me completely at peace and blase about food; problem is I totally don't have faith that that formula doesn't also lead to degenerative disease down the line. See above where scientist found that thin people get seriously sick and die, too.

Okay, enough! time to do the dishes, and believe me, the way I'm making meals these days, there are dishes. But for the most part, it's fun. Maybe it's the honeymoon again, maybe it's self-righteousness, but I'm just going with it. I haven't binged in 2020 and after the last six months of 2019, that is such a relief.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Re: oolala53

Post by automatedeating » Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:00 am

I love that you are feeling a bit more invigorated about your experimenting right now. :-)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: oolala53

Post by Soprano » Thu Jan 23, 2020 5:38 am

Thanks for sharing Oolala, always good to follow each others journeys.

Good health is now more important to me than weight loss. Though weight loss can be a part of good health on its own it isn't enough.

Diet plays such an important part in our health. We can only experiment and monitor our results.

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: oolala53

Post by oolala53 » Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:11 am

Thanks, auto and Soprano. Most of the time, it's feeling pretty good. I had one obvious rebellious hour but there was no way I was going to rebel with the old standbys. I had none of that sense of,"Well, I just don't care." So grateful not to be haunted by that these days.

Just went to a real estate investment presentation for an upcoming seminar. Part of me would dearly love to be able to make one or two more deals and let them ride, but oh, the anticipation of what I would need to do! I left at the break. I wish I felt better about leaving since I was thinking, oh, I've done some of these things, and I don't wanna again! Yet I also know for the time involved, it has actually been a very good thing that I bought what I did. Oh, how I WISH I had someone to do it with me. Maybe I suspect that it wouldn't make the kind of difference I would really like in my life.

Also, the presenter was so darn happy with what he was selling, and I"m very sure it can work quite well, but it just seemed obvious to me that he was extremely well-suited to do what is needed before he ever got into it. And having a grandfather who went broke after age 90 and is still living at 102, limping along financially, might have made me do things differently earlier on, too. Ok, enough.

Got to start thinking about some stuff for my acting class, which I have been procrastinating about. Ugh, is there anything I don't need a ton of prodding to do that is actually productive?
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

RAWCOOKIE
Posts: 1360
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:01 am
Location: Cornwall, UK

Re: oolala53

Post by RAWCOOKIE » Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:37 pm

:)
Hi! Just letting you know I passed by! I might try posting more often on here as well as on Spark
I love Everyday Systems :3

13.6.15 124.25lbs
11.11.21 101.00lbs

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lpearlmom
Posts: 4812
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:59 am
Location: Arizona

Re: oolala53

Post by lpearlmom » Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:24 am

So great to hear the binging has subsided for you. I know how scary that can be. I find all the anti-diet stuff fascinating but know it doesn’t work for me. So confusing on the best way to eat. I tend to Think it’s important to take a relaxed approach to nutrition but then again I mostly eat nutritious food because thats what I like.

Were you looking to sell properties or invest? We have one rental and doc would like to get more but it makes me nervous.

Anyway, best of luck with it all. 💜
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

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