Everyday Systems

Success on my first day - granted it was an S day. However, I didn't have seconds at any meal and, considering I did a lot of cooking for the week, I didn't take too many taste tests or nibbles. I did indulge in a cafe mocha and a small bowl of ice cream at the end of the day. Hoping for a good start to the N days.

I didn’t get off to a good start as my first N day was a failure. But, I am able to start over and at least I don’t have to go too far back to begin again! I was tempted to call it an S day (it was the Fiesta Bowl, and the Buckeyes were playing in it, after all), but I don’t want to get into the habit of that. What happened was, I went to a friend’s house to watch our beloved Buckeyes lose to Texas. I was hungry (something I am not used to being, but acknowledge the fact that I was nowhere near as hungry as many around the world are), I was drinking (but not to excess as I had to work the next day), and I was with a friend who was devouring chips, pizza, and other things. A few positives: 1) I still ate less throughout the day than I would have normally; 2) I was tempted to say “screw it†and gorge on the entire bag and then some (there was pizza and a few other things there); & 3) the chips really didn’t taste as good as I had remembered or hoped. Now all I can do is stand back up, dust off, and march onward in this lifestyle change!

2 more No S day successes! Even stared down the temptation of unlimited bread rolls, unlimited peanuts, and cookies! I did have a bread roll, but waited until my plate came and was able to add it to my plate without any problems!

Have been pretty successful. Now looking at portion control. I don't think my portions are way out of whack, but still think they may be a little too large. So, the goal this week is portion control.

I've also started a new workout routine and have entered a contest. They have a nutritional plan for it as well, but when I'm restricted in what I can and cannot eat, I'm not as successful. Here, I don't feel as restricted, so I'm hoping to me successful!

Starting the daily check-in again. I failed on my first No S day after an S weekend. My lame excuse is golf league and lack of sleep. I had worked Sunday night and wasn't able to sleep most of Monday. Then I had golf league. I hadn't eaten much all day, so I ate something before league. At league, I had a couple of beers and by then end of the round, I was starving, so I ordered some food. When I got home, my wife was eating ice cream and we were discussing some stressful events going on in our lives and I caved on the ice cream. Thankfully we didn't have a whole lot, so damage was limited. Will keep trying today!

Thanks for the encouragement. Yesterday was much better, even with being home all day with the kids. Since I work nights, I thought I might have been tempted to snack or eat something in the middle of my shift, but I held off. I kept thinking of the quote from the book "hunger is the best sauce" or something like that. Then, I would plan on what I would have for breakfast! Hopefully today goes well also!

Wed and Thurs were good days. My struggle now is dealing with working 3rd shift. My day usually goes like this: I come home from work and eat breakfast and then go to bed. I usually wake up around 4:30 or 5 and eat dinner w/ the family. I then take a nap and go to work at 10:30. So I'm basically getting 2 meals in. However, last night at my lunch time, I was starving, so I ate a deli sandwich I was able to pick up at a Speedway gas station. Not the best thing, but better than McDonald's or White Castle. I didn't even eat the whole thing. Then I came home and ate breakfast and am planning on a smallish lunch and then we have friends coming over for dinner. So technically, I may be having 4 meals today, the past few days I have only had 2, so I am down 2. Other than that, I haven't snacked, gone for seconds or eaten anything sweet.