~ Reviving Renee ~

snapdragon · Post by **snapdragon** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:46 pm

Lol you are so funny

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:12 am

Love all your smilies!!!!

YOU GO GIRL!!!! Hip Hip HOOOORAY!!!!

mimi · Post by **mimi** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:48 am

~reneew wrote: I don't want to be the hare anymore ~ just a tutrle.

I'm working on two new jewelry pieces to add to my "NoS Collection" and they're turtle pieces! I put a little turtle charm on the inspiration bracelet I made a while back and now I am making earrings using the same little turtles and a necklace to match. I found a really unusual turtle locket that I'm using as a pendant. I'll have to post pictures when I'm finished.

BTW here's some neat little turtle rings you could think about getting yourself as a reward after losing a certain amount of weight...remember those emerald rings we were going to have Mark get us??!!

http://www.palmbeachjewelry.com/index.c ... tle%20ring

P.S. I have the one in the middle - love it!

Mimi

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:55 pm

Oh Mimi! A green turtle! How perfect! I still think I'm the rabbit, so that's hard for me to choke down yet. Of course I remember Mark and his green jewelery that he was going to buy for all of us. Ha! He stopped chatting with me probably because I'm taking to long with my ups and downs...

I am soooo full of inspiration this time around! I've had several things that brought me to my current state of mind, most of which is determination mixed with just plain mad at myself. I've felt from the beginning this time that this is it. I'm going to do it this time! I couldn't even do 3 days before... usually quit by 2pm. I have almost 21 days under my bulging belt this time. I'm going to do it!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:47 am

Only one more green day 'til I hit 21!!!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:20 pm

March
13 not even tempted. I feel strong.
14 tempted but strong!
15
16 very tough, but tomorrow is S!
17 b-day and WAY over the top. I feel sick.
18 not quite as drastic. Had an eye opener today. (see daily)
19 Mondays are as tough as Fridays, and I did it!!! I did it! Yea me!
20 whew close one! twice I had a snitch up to my lips.
21
22 very tempted! I kept repeating that it wasn't even an option. I really want to at least do one whole perfect week. Fridays are the worst! But I have a plan!
23 so far and I feel like going to bed at 7:45 just to avoid food. ug. I'm full right now but want to munch, just because I have time to watch a movie. Maybe I'll crochet!
24 not too bad!
25 fairly good! I'm treating them like regular N days with a bit of forgiveness, and it seemed to work.
26 The weekend went really well!!! I feel so pumped that I thought about fasting today. I always want to run ahead and be the hare... Patience It seems to be getting easier! Really!27 yea!
28 I've set the cruise control...
29
30
31
1
2 Day 21!!!
There is no way that I'd blow today!!! Thanks everyone for your great support. I honestly couldn't have done past day 2 without this!!! It seems to be "normal" now. I couldn't even get 2 days in a row before... now it seems normal. I reallllly need to keep up with this because I can definitely feel the struggle with the binge and continual snack mode slipping away. I have hope again. Why oh why did I let this sanity end???
Next time I try something else, please please remind me of this!!!!
By the way, I'm down 12 since the beginning of my 21 days!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:30 pm

From the NoS book "Nothing builds power like practice. When you resist these pangs (hunger), it isn't just a one-time act of virtue, it builds the muscle of resistance."
Each time you resist, the easier you'll make it for next time. Each time you give in, you're making it harder for next time.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:22 am

I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I I did it I did it I did it did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it II dI did it I did it I did it id it I did it I did it did it I did it I did it I did it II diI did it I did it I did it d it I did it I did it did it I did it I did it I did it!
I finally did 21 days straight vanilla NoS! Wooohooo!

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:03 am

Congratulations!!!!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 1:32 pm

My gut feels like it's shrinking a bit.

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:08 pm

Awesome news!!! Congrats again.....and congrats on the tummy feeling smaller..such a great feeling!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:51 pm

Yikes! Out of the blue comes an attack of the "weekend" mind-set. The kids (4) have 5 days off over the Easter weekend, so as soon as I realized that today was like a Friday... it hit! The URGE. I could have salted my shoe and ate it! Why? Habit? Yea, pretty much. I usually get through my Friday looking forward to a great pizza for supper. It's been hard to control that, but gosh, all we were having for supper was leftover beef sandwich, mixed veggies and an apple. NOTHING to look forward to. My son even made a desert. UG! It keeps getting worse and worse. I am fighting though, and I have to admit that that was the first apple that I have truly enjoyed in a very long time. The Veggies even tasted great! True hunger is the best spice. So, I made it through supper and I'm typing here while they eat desert.

I think I'll make it! I also think this might call for a glass of wine. Or two.

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:25 am

GO RENEEW!!!! I've been fighting hard this week as well. Wacked schedules are difficult. I had to laugh at this comment.

I could have salted my shoe and ate it!

Too funny!

Have a great GREEN Thursday!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:14 pm

I made it through Wed. eve... on to Thursday. I had better plan supper now with some great thing to look forward to or I might not make it!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:26 pm

Thursday was great, then came Friday. Good Friday I might add... my holiday...
I wasn't going to take an extra S day for Easter weekend, but I needed to fill Easter baskets today (Friday) because company is coming. So, instead of being beaten by peeps, I'm calling it an S event. If I colored the whole day red just because I had no defense against a few little marshmallow peeps, I would have thrown in the towel and blown the rest of the day. So, I'm calling it a little holiday S-event. That's it. I'm done. No more sweets. It's all evenly distributed in the baskets and I cannot touch them!!!!

Ann_48 · Post by **Ann_48** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:18 pm

I'm with you, Easter is a holiday, so it's a-ok to enjoy guilt free peeps!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 4:24 pm

O.K. I went a bit far with the peeps... and jelly beans... and oh, those reeses eggs! Good thing Walmart ran out! I checked. Those little eggs are way too good. I'm working hard to get back on track after loosing control all weekend. I did have the same weight this Monday as I did last Monday, which is good considering.

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:51 pm

Ahhh.... feeling guilty about S Days can lead to the infamous "what the h*ll" effect on N Days!
Kathleen

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:22 pm

I stayed green after a 5 day weekend! I only took the 2 S days and a tiny S event. Yea! Back on track!
The more "on-track" I stay, the more "default" it becomes!

I am going to try the suggestions of eating with your non-dominent hand while eating poporn and eating with chopsticks. Popcorn is so mindless. I'm thinking I might even try chopsticks with my left hand! See how much makes it in!

I keep hearing that naps are good for loosing weight and I tend to agree. I know that I seem to want to snack mid-afternoon when I'm tired but not hungry. I've heard that people subconsciously eat for more energy when they get tired. I for one have been totally sleep-deprived since I had my first child 19 years ago. Americans are gaining weight... and they say Americans are more and more sleep-deprived. Hmmm...

Wow! I forgot the icecream bars that I bought for the weekend... I guess I'll wait until next weekend! But before you start thinking that I behaved so well... I ate Easter candy all weekend.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:49 pm

This is a re-post from a while back. It was a total eye opener for me! It gave me a real boost.

Monday I issued a challenge to be green for the whole month of April. So yesterday, my last day of March, I thought I'd allow myself a couple innocent bites... Then last night when I stepped on the scale and saw that it actually went up a tad, I was mad! I thought that this diet isn't working even when I resist SO hard and have a 'good' day! Then after a while of slam-talking myself a voice inside said "well...you did snitch a bit!" So I decided to think hard and tally them up...then count the calories for my few bites. I was blown away!!! I thought I'd share. Keep in mind that I actually, honestly thought I had an N day!!!

280 cal. - 4 spoons of frosting while doing a cake for a potluck.
440 cal. - 3 distracted minutes of baked potato chips while packing lunch for my son.
560 cal. - 2 rhubarb oatmeal bars that weren't really that sweet - right?(I was on the run!)
125 cal. - snitched 1/2 C. chili to be sure the seasoning was right. (That would explain all of the spoons in the sink!)
180 cal. - snitched about a cup of coleslaw for the same reason(forks in the sink)
430 cal. - half seconds on supper (only halfs!!!!)
-----------
2015 total snitched calories yesterday! And I thougth it was an N day!!!

WOW! And I am not exagerating one bit! These are the best estimates that I could come up with because when I snitch I am only 1/4th aware that I'm doing it!!!

Well here goes April!!! No snitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After posting this someone told me that the average bite has 31 or so calories. Whew! I can't remember the number but I wish I could.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:40 pm

Boy, if you need an incentive, read the yearly testimonies. Starla's really got to me today! If only I'd have been strict all along. She only had a few reds during the year and she lost 65 pounds.

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:06 am

That is quite eye opening reneew! Those snitches add up quick!

If I were to eat with chopsticks I'd be thin quick...just sayin'!

Keep up the great work girl!

Ann_48 · Post by **Ann_48** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:43 am

Renee, I can't agree more about napping when we're tired. My worst binges have been when I'm feeling tired all over, so I've learned to just rest to try to get past it.

I also love your chop stick idea. I may have to buy some of those and try that with the popcorn. Thanks for the tip!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:38 pm

N days are becoming default! It was so nice getting back to N days of no struggle. I'm not nearly as tempted on N days as I am on S days.
NoS means NoStruggle for me!

BertinHouston · Post by **BertinHouston** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:51 pm

I can see how even a few small 'snitches' can add up quickly! Good luck on more no struggle no S days!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:31 pm

If anyone cares, I post my long-term weight loss on the first page here.
Beware, it's a very long, sad, learning, journey on a rollercoaster... but it's headed down now!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 2:21 pm

I failed! A single cookie ruined my 30 day streak!!! I was outside doing yard work and really getting a lot done, so when lunch time came, I ignored it thinking that I was being an extra-good girl! Ha! It backfired! When I finally got done around 4:00 I was ready to eat the table, so I made myself lunch. It started out with just a tiny bowl of soup to tide me over 'til supper... Then, I needed a banana because they are turning black anyway and need to be eated and fruit is ALWAYS good

... (should have started with a plate, duh!) then chips because I gave them up for lent and I still haven't eaten enough yet... (see the downward spiral happen) then a cookie! Oh the things I tell myself. So, I'm admitting a fail, but I did learn from it. Do not put off til supper what your tum needs for lunch. I went crazy. I do have to say that had I not been doing so well on NoS, I would have finished the bag of chips and had probably 7 cookies at least. My "virtual plating" wasn't so bad, it would have all fit on a plate, but then I went and had the blasted cookie.

So, I guess I'm going to try to finish out the month with just this one cookie of red.

lbb (Liz) · Post by **lbb (Liz)** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 2:49 pm

I"m sorry, reneew, but glad you learned to not wait too long. Sometimes I'm not even hungry, but realize "oh okay, I should eat.". It helps in a way to have set eating times. I'm usually at about 8am, 2pm, 7pm.
But of course life gets in the way most days!

Another thing (because I have such low willpower, esp at night) is to not having the tempting stuff even in the house! Cookies are my favorite, so I would go nuts if they were there.
Keep on keeping on!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:57 pm

I know... and I know what to avoid. I'm never hungry or tempted until 11 or so, then I eat brunch. I eat supper around 5:30. I have tried many times to eat a small breakfast but my tum starts to growl around 10 then and I end up eating all day long. Grr.. And I know I can't have tempting things around. Those cookies were in the freezer and I put them in my cookie jar to thaw thinking that I just wanted them out of the house. Duh.

BertinHouston · Post by **BertinHouston** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:02 pm

You don't eat breakfast? Wow - I could never last until 11A. I would be famished and eat everything in sight.

Ann_48 · Post by **Ann_48** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:20 pm

I'm glad you're not being too hard on yourself. Like you said, you still ate better than if you hadn't been doing NoS, so there is a huge plus! To have made it to 30 days is a great streak, I think!

NoSRocks · Post by **NoSRocks** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:23 pm

I agree, Ann48! You're doing fabulous, renee!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:46 am

You are doing great...reflect back on all the good days you had and not one that was off.

I think like in the real world one can do many good things and then do one thing bad/wrong..and guess what everyone remembers the bad thing..now that is just not right.

Keep your eyes on the good you have done so far!!

snapdragon · Post by **snapdragon** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:33 am

I ditto nosnacker!
You are doing well. One foot in front of the other.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:37 pm

Binge weekend sad MAD regretful determined ... yea, I know... stand up brush the crumbs off and go on, but I REALLY need to curb the weekends. I have stayed the same for 3 weeks and it's all because of the weekends. I need to come up with a plan that works for my S days... I've tried them all, but I will again because I need to. This weekend might be tough, out of town... ug. Maybe treat it like a normal N day with 2 S events each day?????

snapdragon · Post by **snapdragon** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:28 pm

Me too, I feel like I have a food hangover from this last weekend, drained, sluggish, dehydrated, yuk!!!!!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:14 pm

Yep, and then I feel either like eating whatever all day or fasting. It's like my mind goes to the extreme. I need to stay in the middle and sane with vanilla NoS.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:04 pm

So many things messing with my head today:

1. I'm frustrated that I'm not loosing
2. My mom gives me articles that she has found... I can choose to read or not. I read this one that basically was from a doctor saying that to loose weight we need to keep eating lowfat and healthy filling foods to not let ourselves get hungry because once you are, you loose control. Now I know that's not totally true, and to keep eating.. really?? But I did get thin once eating lowfat, and I stayed that way until I had more kids.
3. A friend of mine told me today that she used to weigh 212 and something like 7 years ago she lost 64 pounds counting calories. I had no idea! She's thin and doesn't appear to struggle at all! I asked her how she maintains it and she says that after doing it for a while, she didn't crave doughnuts, she actually craves fruit! She eats junk too, but puts all junk food into individual baggies if it didn't come that way, as soon as she brings it in the door. I would never have known! Portion control. So, then I think back to when I lost 50 pounds another time in college (gained 50 freshman year, lost 50 sophomore year) by countine calories. At the time I thought it was easy and the weight stayed off until I had kids.
4. I've tried all of these things this past year and couldn't DO it so why am I tempted again.
5. I believe that most "diet" plans will work if you do it. Actually do it, so if getting myself to just do it already is the problem... ug!

Hmmm... I hate this!

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:47 pm

First of all I'm sending you some big ole cyber ((((HUGS))))!! Sorry you're frustrated!! How long have you been back strictly doing NoS?? A month? In the grand scheme of things that is not very long really. Right? I agree that if you stick to most weight loss plans you WILL lose weight. The thing is how long will you be able to continue with the plan...counting calories, fat grams, carbs...measuring your food, weighing your food, etc. etc. I KNOW myself well enough to know that there is no way no how I will do that for the rest of my life. Soooooo, I need to find something reasonable...something doable for the LONG TERM. Something without a lot of bells and whistles. Some good ole fashioned common sense. The answer for me is NoS!! Like any other "diet" it WILL work if I continue to DO IT!!! For myself I have decided to JUST DO IT. Focus on the habit and not the weight. Get the focus OFF the food and onto my behavior. I hope you feel better soon!

mimi · Post by **mimi** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:16 am

Renee, remember those boxes of old "diet" books you boxed up and put out in your garage? Do you happen to have a copy of The Beck Diet Solution in one of them? If not, see if you can check it out of your local library. I bought it a few months ago, right after the holidays when I was feeling as frustrated as you are right now. I had been spinning my wheels, gaining weight, and couldn't manage to keep a green day for more than two days in a row...I was beside myself, and felt like I was just sinking. I remember reading how someone else here on the boards had used it successfully with NoS, so I ordered a used copy from Amazon. I'm so glad that I did. It takes time to work through it - 42 days, if you tackle one day every day. I didn't, so it took me longer. Some chapters really spoke to me, so I spent a little longer with them - and then some didn't, so I breezed through those. The bottom line is that now I have some strategies to use when the "urge" hits, or I get discouraged, and I can continue on without blowing all the good work I have accomplished following NoS - and I have started losing weight again, slowly, but that's okay. I still get out my list of reasons for why I want to lose weight and read them - that's one of the first things you'll do, and it's very helpful. I have since read here that some people used the workbook and liked it more than the book. I don't know about that, not having the workbook, but you could research it.
The Beck Diet Solution isn't a diet at all, but it allows you to follow any eating plan you like while you work on your thinking process. Anyway, Renee, I don't want to hijack your thread, I just want to try and help you since we go wa-a-y back!
The first thing you'll have to do is commit 100% to NoS, and then you can go from there. Don't give up - and don't resort to those other diet methods...been there, done that, and we know they don't work long term!

Your old friend,
Mimi

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:43 am

Oh, thank you so so much you guys. I am feeling very frustrated. I always want it to go away FAST! I have a hard time with patience. If I could take my own advice I'd be fine and hold out. My friend really got to me today. And to top it all off, my computer is having some serious issues and only even logs on once in a while, then bleeps off and crashes. Ug! I'm going to go pray about it... the plan that is, not this hunk of plastic.

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:10 am

Hi, I hear ya about the frustration as well and I agree with mimi, the Beck book is a good to have...I will dust mine off and apply to this program as well...it will only reinforce not binging.

What happens when we leave and try something else...we waste time that could be spent on following the No S way and for me, I gained 18lbs back from giving up to counting calories to giving up again, to come back here..why because I feel the sanest doing this.

Will we all have bad days trying to deal with the URGE and life, sure we will..but in the long run it will be so worth it...sanity first, weight second seems to be how things go around here...at least that is what I have been finding.

I have 30lbs to lose, but if it takes me 2 years so be it...better than fighting, gaining, losing, fighting, gaining, etc. etc.

Keep up the good fight...

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:01 pm

I have 80. I feel that I need to loose some quick just for motivation. It's hard to accept yourself enough to want to try.

I counted yesterday and I'm very happy about it. I might try doing a couple "boost" calorie counting days a week and see what happens. I have stayed the same for almost 3 weeks, and feel I need a jump. If it messes with my mind too much I'll come back to vanilla.

KareBear · Post by **KareBear** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:32 pm

Just wanted to let you know that I have been trying NO S for a long time and I have left and come back, left and come back, well you know the drill.

I wanted to tell you that every time I get on this board (which is so supportive) your threads always encourage me. It is good to know that we all struggle with the same thing. That we are not alone in this and we just need to keep our head up and accept ourselves. You are doing GREAT and the fact that you encourage so many is a wonderful thing. Have a great day. I know you can do it. I know we can ALL do it.

mimi · Post by **mimi** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:08 pm

Several months ago I used myfitnesspal.com and counted calories for two or three weeks. I put in my weight at the time and that I wanted to lose one pound each week. It gave me a calorie allotment for each day. Then I used that information and continued to follow NoS and exercise several days a week. I was able to see what my three plates of food needed to look like in order to lose weight. My portion detector had gotten really out of whack of late and I needed some centering and reeducation in terms of portion sizes. When I saw that I was able to lose an average of a pound each week, I stopped counting. By then I knew what my serving sizes needed to be. Of course, it goes without saying, that eating treats on S-days can interfere, but I found that if I included one or two servings of sweets as desserts and don't go overboard (and make them really good choices)on Saturday and Sunday I was satisfied. I am still keeping to that and still losing...slowly, though - not a quick fix. Hope this helps...

Mimi

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:16 pm

oh, you guys are so sweet! I love this place. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I am listening to all of it and boiling it all over in my head.

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:24 am

Stopping by to say hi and hope all is going well.

I decided to try and visit all of our 21 day challenge participants, at least the ones still active and some of those who aren't.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:47 pm

So, yesterday was vanilla again and I ate very high calorie foods that DID fit on my plate. For lunch I had an entire Godfather's mini pizza and a banana. Supper was a heaping pile of spaghetti with way way too many meatballs and some grapes. I went to bed feeling so full and mad at myself. I felt yucky full. This morning I felt normal again and weighed in at the same as yesterday which surprised me.

Then I started thinking that the pizza had tons of salt and I drank a ton after that and maybe I was just retaining extra, so maybe I should try counting the calories in what I ate to see how bad it really was. Well, it wasn't so bad! It was probably a fairly loaded day for a No S day, but hey we have ups and downs, so even when I think I'm going way overboard, maybe I should just get a smaller plate and enjoy it! Before doing the calculations I thought I'd try a calorie counting day to make up for my big plates yesterday. I was so frustrated looking up all of the ingredients for a simple sandwich, that here I am. I'm telling you... my mind gets messed up when I don't trust fully in this plan!!! I'm going to put that un-calculated sandwich on that (a bit smaller) plate and love my freedom found for today!

Then I may just start doing some exercise again.

In January I decided to exercise every day for 30 minutes. I did most days for almost 2 months and there was absolutely no difference. I wasn't doing much NoS at the time (duh). I have hypothyroidism and I think that exercising has no effect on my metabolism since mine is run by a little pill that I take everyday. After years of off and on exercising and it making NO difference I have come to that conclusion. I am however aware of how much better I feel: sleep better, stronger, more awake, more energy etc. So, I'm going to try to do both vanilla NoS and exercise at the same time.

WOW, what an idea, huh?

We'll see how this goes... starting right after I go eat that sandwich.

I'm telling myself that I'm not really ignoring my thin Doctor's-assistant-smart-friend who trained for physical fitness. I'm just going to put her ideas on the back burner for now because NoS is my plan and I'm giving it a fully convicted shot first.

Why do I do this? Maybe I need to tell "help"ful people to leave me alone! I know they just want to help, but honestly! I'm too wishy-washy.

Edit: Came back to say that I exercised today.
I think I'll add back my heart and soul exercises.

I've been slacking for sure.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:57 pm

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo if you need incentive to exercise!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:17 pm

I hear ya about exercise...mostly I do it for health benefits..at this age I just don't lose weight like I used to...but exercise is very very good for the heart and prevents strokes..I read/heard somewhere that 30 minutes a day is better than losing weight or eating healthy in preventing strokes..also like you said you feel so much better..

I decided not to use it as a tool to lose weight but to maintain heart health.

I can't take the cholestrol medications which I should be on as I already have 50% blockage in my corotid arteries, so exercise helps keep my HDL higher (my spelling is off)...

Here's to health!!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:27 pm

Absolutely loved the video...maybe you should post on the main boards.....now this will keep me motivated.....

Thanks so much for sharing!!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:57 pm

I found it on the boards. I should watch it once a week.

Vanilla is fine today. I want to try my bestest

to have a weekend that is basically N but with a couple S events. Keep those flood gates shut!!!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:31 pm

I'm with you about the weekend..I hope to have a bit of a tame one...we'll see...just can't let it derail us...for a fresh start on Monday!

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:24 pm

GREAT video!!!! Motivated me to get with it and exercise simply because it is good for me....NOT just to lose weight. I've not been doing it the past few weeks because of extreme busyness, but what is 30 minutes out of my day. I think I can do that for my health right?! Plus, it is an awesome stress reliever. Thanks for the reminder! Have an awesome weekend!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:53 pm

I was stuffed all weekend. I'm going to try to adopt the "sometimes" in the rules for No S. I've been avoiding it for a long time and thinking of S days as a green light to go for it!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:12 pm

I want a cookie!!!!!!!!!!

determined · Post by **determined** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:36 pm

Cookies can be downright evil!!! At least on Mondays they can be!

You can do this....hang in there!!!

janie

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:40 pm

I did not eat that cookie nor any other evil thing!

Like I just told someone that said that they needed a slap upside the head:

You sound like me and the thing that gets me on track is cold-turkey-no-debating-it-this-is what's-going-to-happen vanilla No-S. Break the control that food has over me. It gets easier and easier the longer I comply.

Or, sometimes I just need a shocker, like my son telling me that I'm killing myself.

Just keep following it, and when the habit comes, (and it's near) then maybe think about a tiny tweak.
What I need the most is Sday control. That is what I tackle next.

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:21 pm

I feel the same about my S days....if only....

So glad you did not give in to the cookie..."it is so not worth how terrible you would feel afterwards and how that slippery slop can be downright dangerous".

You are doing great...

I suggested on Butterflies' page some things she might want to jot down on a 3x5 card...check them out if you like..

If we can stay strong, it will pass and we'll be happy we succeeded..

have a good one.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:27 pm

No snacker ~ I have that. I actually have one of those tiny picture albums full of incentives like a horrible fat picture of me, a thin attainable picture of me, realistic pictures of others I'd love to look like, the best quotes, and things to remember. I take it out once in a while, but I should more often.

Another thing I remember helping me once was a study that determined that the average bite is 25 calories.

That single red this month sticks out like a sore thumb and it was only a cookie. THAT is what got me through the cookie temptation yesterday.

I want to keep that one red fail as the only one for the month. If I failed a perfect month just because of one single cookie... I might remember that!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:25 pm

Oh ya, you got that....I had seeing the red tooo....so far since 3/20, no reds but helleva weekends..which if not on No S, I would call major red, relapes, etc. But hey, I'll go with the plan.

You are doing fantastic!!!! There are quite a few of us hanging on by our greens

Have a wonderful night...dinner time soon for me...

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:45 pm

I had a double good day today... just sayin'

Amy3010 · Post by **Amy3010** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:36 am

Woo hoo

!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:54 am

Awesome....those are the best days and when we wake up all the more the good feeling is there...

If we all could hang on and thrive on the good feeling of accomplishment when we don't give in to the urges...we are in control of what goes in our mouth..food is not the one in control.

You are doing fantastic!!

Thanks for the comments on our 21 day challenge....yes just a few more days left until we start the next one!! I'm in....

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:47 am

Double good days are.....well....DOUBLE GOOD!!!

Keep on keepin' on! You are doing GREAT!!!

determined · Post by **determined** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:17 am

Look at you go! Well done....

janie

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:45 pm

As I near the weekend, I feel the need to bump up the "sometimes" thread for a bit of wisdom. http://everydaysystems.com/bb/viewtopic ... 916#117916

I like what Nicloe said "I have reinstituted sometimes, meaning NEVER (with occasional exceptions), with great success the past two weekends. I don't feel out of control this way. Yay!

That's how I'm going to think this weekend!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:43 pm

Just a few gathered quotes:

â€œTo lengthen thy Life, lessen thy meals.â€ ~ Benjamin Franklin

â€œTo rise at six, dine at ten, sup at six and go to bed at ten, makes a man live ten times ten.â€ ~ 16th century proverb

â€œBe careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.â€ ~ Mark Twain

"People are way too focused on calories all day long. Diets are the ones forcing people into this obsessive compulsive action"

"The body knows what it needs, if we only give it time to take a break, reset and then really listen."

"...people who probably eat a huge breakfast (and then lunch), are groggy, have less focus, need to snack in fear of a blood sugar crash, overload on stimulants and just feel like taking a nap most of the day.
It is no wonder most of society is full of walking zombies looking for the next shot of energy."

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:27 am

So there was a pizza party tonight for our church youth group and I actually skipped a meal, yes skipped, just so I could have 2 plates of pizza (legal in my book) and they ran out before I could get back for the second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took the ride home for me to feel satisfied. Fullness came earlier on

So, I guess I had another double good day!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:08 am

Wow, I'm going to check out the thread...

Glad you had sanity over the weekend...I hope to find a little this weekend...

Going to my friends house Friday night and spend the day there...we both eat pretty healthy so looking forward to our bike ride..we may end up for ice cream as we celebrate our birthdays.

I like your quotes as well..might jot a few down on my 3x5 cards...

I have this one "The binge is just not worth it anymore, does nothing for me in reality, it really doesn't".

Have a great Thursday..

AND you go girl...and once the food hit your tummy you realized you were satisfied....awesome.

I find it takes less to satisfy my tummy these days...

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:31 pm

So so close to a little goal of mine... I feel like not eating until I get there. I don't even care if it's a bit of dehydration. I want to see that number!

Very determined today to say the least.

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:53 pm

NoSnacker wrote:Glad you had sanity over the weekend...I hope to find a little this weekend...

Ha! No, I wish. I ate all blasted weekend and was stuffed the entire time. I really really want to attack my S days this weekend and do what Nicole said in a quote above about reinstituting "sometimes" as in NEVER (with occasional exceptions) when talking about the NoS rules.

lbb (Liz) · Post by **lbb (Liz)** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:17 pm

Thanks for those great quotes. Starting a little book I'll add my favorite quotes.
Good luck this weekend!
Liz

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:29 pm

I'm looking to implement sometimes this weekend coming as well, but with something really worth it..like a walk to dairy queen for a sunday, or on Sunday stop at the cupcake shop, their frosting is so good, not really sweet at all like the grocery stores...

S days are not a license to binge, not at all. We can do it...

My first go around was not successful at all..

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:58 pm

I am going to try to pretend it's Tuesday. Tuesdays are almost easy. Maybe I'll tell my kids to police me. Believe me... they will! And they'd love it do it too! I'm dreaming already of what I can have. Uh oh. But maybe planning ahead is a good thing! I always thought it was. I neeeeed popcorn. I may have to eat popcorn for a meal. I can do that! I can not have pizza leftovers for Friday. I usually wake up and have cold pizza even though I normally am not hungry or even like food until 11. I think the mornings are the worst. Once I start, it's hard to stop.

Plan plan. I was thinking about having another one of those vanilla icecream sandwiches (I can't eat chocolate) but I may have to plan on a banana float instead. I can even have only one scoop if I do that! Yea, that's the plan!

Lets take up arms and conquer the evil S enemy! We'll bear our shields, strengthen our "no thanks" muscle, make a plan of defense and tape our mouths shut. Ok, maybe not that, but you know what I mean...

Just going for another visual. Where oh where is bluebunny? He would get a visual for us!
Oh yea, that's right, he lost 90 pounds and doesn't need to stop by anymore

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:07 am

You are too funny....when I read some of the No S book yesterday, Reinhardt does say to plan your special treat..something to look forward to......Here is a couple good ones from his book

"The habits that you build during the week will start to carry over to the weekend, as long as you're patient and stick with it.

If your S day are more about quantity than quality, plan ahead....Make sure your don't have so much quantity around and that you do have some quality. Be proactive with quality. Don't skimp"

I'm going to my friends tonight and we'll share a few meals together...and of course tonight is Friday, MY last day of my 2nd 21 day challenge..so that will be my arsenal for not snacking at night..this is going to be tough....

I'll jot down on a 3x5 card, "Snacks are not an option" until tomorrow..and 1 snack will suffice..."

Have a great Friday..

determined · Post by **determined** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:01 pm

Another 21 days!!! You go girl!!!

janie

snapdragon · Post by **snapdragon** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:22 pm

I failed yesterday with popcorn, I wasn't planning on making it but kids were starving. We pop it on the stovetop in a big pot. My oldest DD did it herself and I could not resist!!!!
The funny thing is my oldest has no interest in cooking or baking ever and decided to make the popcorn herself yesterday. She ended up burning her leg with the hot pot lid and I don't think she will ever try any kind of cooking again.

So saving popcorn for a meal is a good idea!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:06 pm

If I am successful today i'll be at 18 straight! I had no idea. It's turning easy and I am loosing.

My youngest son cleared out his locker yesterday and found uneaten Godfather's pizza in his lunchbag... and ATE it!!! It was from last week, Wed. That's at least 8 days warm... ick. I could see the mold and imagine the bacteria. I called poison control to ask their opinion. We are now watching for food poisoning symptoms... my life...

Say a prayer for his tum!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:33 pm

Oh boyyyyyyyyyy, yes will say a prayer for him..how long will it be if he does get sick from it..did they say?

You mean you lost 18lbs or 18 days on green?

Either way...you go girllllll......

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:52 pm

Poison control said that we'd probably see some symptoms in 24 hours. He said he felt a bit nausiated, but I wasn't sure. He was running around.

And ~ 18 for both!!! Yea! I will jump up and down when I get to 20 pounds lost, and it will be very very soon!!!

snapdragon · Post by **snapdragon** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:26 pm

Great job on 18 it's my lucky number!!!
Hope your son doesn't get too sick.

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:45 pm

Great job Reneew!!!! YOU GO GIRL! Hope your son is feeling ok tonight. YUCK!!! I have a 14 yo son. I can so relate!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:53 am

My sons are 10 and 16, daughters are 14 and 18.
My son said that he felt just a bit yucky this morning but feels fine now. Which I probably could have figured since he loves to prove me wrong, and I was sure that anyone who would have eaten what I saw would be sick. He ate a whole piece... fuzzy green and all.

I actually couldn't make my usual pizza for supper tonight on pizza night because my gut churns when I think about that in his little body. Maybe I should try to visualize that next time I'm tempted to eat something when I shouldn't. Paul McKenna tells us to do that.

I am so darn close to making a goal that I could scream!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:54 pm

April
1
2 This is day 21 straight for me! I haven't been able to do that for a year and a half!! Woohoo!
3 and a good day it was!
4
5 kids (4) are out of school until Tuesday... beware!
6 with a tiny S event
7 here comes Peter cotton tail hoppin' down the bunny trail tossing me candy!
8 It's hard to concentrate on Christ's sacrifice when jellybeans are calling my name...
9 temptation at every corner but I did it!
10 what a relief to get back to the no Struggle days! I am rewarded with loser pants.
11 today would have been 30 days One blasted cookie did me in! I am soooo mad at myself! (See my daily for gruesome details)
12 fine recovery. I was a bit more tempted... maybe because I put my foot in the door yesterday??? I'll slam that door shut!
13 tall plates but I did it!
14
15 ongoing binge all day. No control at all!
16 whew!
17 yepper! Struggling with conviction today, and also having computer issues. ug.
18 Full plates, and mental struggles
19 I know it's going to be green because I'm straightened out today. I think. And I'm even planning on exercising more.
20 so busy. Headed out of town this weekend, eating out... ug.
21
22 Ate all blasted weekend. I was stuffed the entire time. I'm going to adopt the "sometimes" in the NoS rules. I've been avoiding that!
23 it's hard to get back to behaved eating. I just want to eat a cookie! but I didn't! I kept imagining that 1 red caused by a cookie.
24 Double good day today! I'm working (mentally) on gaining a strong habit during the week, and then I'm going to attack those Sdays.
25 another great day, but not by choice. (see daily for details if interested)
26 I just really get a kick out of doing two green guys on days that are double good.
27 18 straight! Wow, I had no idea. That one red just glares at me.
28 Mild day today! Yea! I've lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!
29 I think I forgot the "sometimes" part!
30 It will be a good day because I am on track and it's the last day of the month! One red isn't too bad, but next month will have no reds at all!

I've lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!!

I did everything short of breathing helium, but I saw it on the scale! Woohoo!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:06 pm

When I go missing for a while some time its not because I'm straying... it's because my computer is definitely sick and getting worse. I'd bring it in, but my life is crazy this week!

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:22 pm

What an awesome report!!!! Congrats!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and congrating me on my 21 days...yes today is back on green, and I can feel it doesn't seem to be such a struggle..looking forward to eating my nice dinner..

You rock...great job....I'm jealous

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Wed May 02, 2012 8:14 pm

I am doing fine! I didn't blow the 20 I lost... just up a tad on the weekend, but back there now. I have high hopes!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri May 04, 2012 2:56 pm

Down 22!

I have sure had my panic moments... panic as an extremely extreme frustration. I really believe that the repeated compliance of the vanilla rules erases the bad habit and creates new. I can never be naturally thin, and I really need to work on it now but I believe that the pull from food will disappear or at least recede to such a tiny ignorable tug that I'll be able to breeze through the temptation some day.

Bethmoore was talking about James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Then she went on to say "He doesn't flee from us, beloved. He runs from God who is standing right over us every time we submit. What a wonderful true thought!
An other thought: there are so so many diets out there that may be good and help us loose weight. Low carb, low fat, low calorie, wait until you're hungry (which is how our bodies were obviously made), eat at certain times... But if you really think about it, NoS teaches you to eat less fat, less calories etc., and you will most likely be hungry when you get to eat! It's an easy set of rules, it's easy to count, it's NOT easy to follow, none I've found are, but it gets easier the more you actually do it.

And an other thought: I really want to fast until dinner sometimes, but I couldn't do it all last year while I was trying every diet under the sun. BUT, I am completely able to do it now. Please keep in mind that I said "right now" as I'm so weak and who knows what I'll be able to do tomorrow. I'm basically doing vanilla with fast 'til supper days if I feel like it. I am now able to do that almost easily! AMAZING to me! I just don't feel the pull as strong right now. When I follow vanilla it goes so so slow for me that if I have an over the top weekend, and then I gain. I've lost 22 pounds since 3-17 doing vanilla and now occasional fast-til-supper days I call "double" good or green days.

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Sun May 06, 2012 11:48 am

you are such an inspiration...how many days a week do you fast..fasting is so good for the body and soul.

NoSRocks · Post by **NoSRocks** » Sun May 06, 2012 1:15 pm

omigosh! renee! CONGRATULATIONS! 22 LBS. I too have to say i'm mighty envious! Thanks sooo much for the inspiration! Perhaps this will spurn me on to greater things!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Mon May 07, 2012 3:20 am

thanks guys! I've been fasting until supper on all of the days that I put 2 green success guys on for the day when I record.

Friday was going so great until company came for the weekend for my daughter's confiration. People walked in the front door and my control walked out the back.

I declared it an S day since my whole family only comes once a year. I guess it is pretty special.

I just didn't want to since 3 S days in a row will set me back for sure.

A bit of wisdom from mimi: "First of all, you don't have to eat sweets, seconds, or snacks on Sunday...there is that sometimes factor to consider. Just throwing that out there! Most all of us do indulge, however, on the weekends, so here's what I do:
1. Plan ahead. Decide in advance what your treats/sweets will be.
2. Eat only worthy, high quality treats. Become very discriminating about your snacks and/or desserts.
3. Basically keep S days looking the same as N days, with the addition of one or two very special treats.
4. Buy and bring into the house only the treats you will eat on Saturday and Sunday. If it's not there you can't graze on it.
5. Make sure your meals themselves are filled with foods that are yummy and satisfying to you. Then eat them slowly and savor every bite."

Amy3010 · Post by **Amy3010** » Mon May 07, 2012 8:49 am

Wow! This is so inspiring - congratulations! I really enjoyed reading your recap - it just goes to show you how you can have days that are more difficult, but if you perservere, it can still be green. Good for you!

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Tue May 08, 2012 5:59 pm

Ate too much wonderful, fresh, aged, Wisconsin cheese yesterday and got a barfy migraine. Uk. Well, at least I don't feel like eating today... at all.
Then I went to my son's 5th & 6th grade music concert this morning. There's just something motivating about 200 10-12 year olds singing "Ain't no mountain high enough".

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:14 am

I watched 11 hours of highschool conference tennis today. In the hot sun. My son's team won and he got 4th in singles. I had no plates... I virtual plated it. I am burnt. I am tired. I am going to bed. Note to self: bring a pre-contained planned lunch and supper and sunscreen next time at substate on the... oh, it's on the 19th and it's a Saturday! Yea!

I probably still should. You should have seen the junk those boys ate all day. I brought apples to share. The other mom's brought scotch-a-roos and brownies. They are thin. I am not. Grrr

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Fri May 11, 2012 5:41 pm

wow, you aren't kidding that is a long time to sit in the sun, but i bet you are a very proud mom

and you will be thin one day tooooo...

have a great weekend....

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:20 pm

Thanks for the encouragement!
This weekend I will treat as normal N days, except for no more than 3 S events each day.

NoSnacker · Post by **NoSnacker** » Fri May 11, 2012 8:30 pm

Me tooooo....I'm going to try and do the same!!! We can do it....I have been struggling way too long with my weekends...time to take the next step.

For Mother's day, my daughter is having dinner, I'm making dessert, cheesecake..found a fast and simple recipe seeing I had to bake...so that will be my special dessert on Sunday..

How about you?

~reneew · Post by **~reneew** » Fri May 11, 2012 8:47 pm

I blew it already!!! I sat down to a nice bowl of soup for lunch. Then I added oyster crackers... that led to bold n' spicey chex mix which led to chips, then on to cookies! AHHHHH!!!!! Now I need to rein in the what the heck effect before I can even get a hold of my Sdays.

EDIT: I just noticed that the only other FAIL that I've had since 3/13 was also on the 11th. Creepy.

lbb (Liz) · Post by **lbb (Liz)** » Fri May 11, 2012 8:49 pm

You can do this.
Just consider it all part of the meal. Eat a regular dinner tonight as you would have already.
I think sometimes a binge is what we MAKE of it. You added the unexpected oyster crackers and let your mind take it away.
Just proceed as you would have done tonight...!