Mer's Daily Log

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.

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MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Mer's Daily Log

Post by MereyGnome » Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:05 pm

Okay, I'm not off to a good start. I started the No S Diet last week. While I have been about 80% successful (2 slip-up days - one day some cake a bridal show and just last night a few chocolates my friend offered me as her dinner guest), I'm most disappointed that I didn't get this daily log-in started until now. So, I'll count these last 7 days as my tutorial run of the No S Diet. I'm now all-in and ready to play for reals!

Also, a little about me: I'm 31 yo. I'm getting married next March and I'm using that as motivation to get back on the saddle. However, I will not torture myself to lose 2 sizes for my wedding day. It'd be nice, but that's not the end game. Instead, I'd like to lower my blood pressure and just feel overall better. Even though I've always been a bigger person (I have inherited my Dad's body-type - tall and a big-boned frame) and I'll never been a skinny girl, I'm also naturally an athletic person and it's been a few years now where I haven't been taking care of myself and it's catching up to me. I want this to change and I want to be healthy again. Also, I will not be doing weigh-ins. I don't trust the scale. The only numbers I'm interested in is inches. So maybe I'll keep track of that.

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Log for Wednesday, Aug. 5th, 2009

Breakfast: A Starbucks turkey bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. And a Starbucks strawberry banana smoothie. [not the healthiest breakfast and probably a little more food than I needed - that smoothie was huge]

Lunch: A small (8 - 10oz) red curry chicken soup and an French roll.

Dinner: (friend hosted dinner) a bunch of Mediterranean dips (hummus, babaganush...etc., cheese, pita, fruit and 2 glasses of wine.)

Dessert: 2 fancy chocolates and piece of a Trader Joe's milk chocolate with hazelnut bar. [oops]

Beverages: water, unsweetened ice tea and seltzer (I tend not to like sweetened drinks)

Overall score ( 1= poor, 10=perfect ) = 3 :-(
Last edited by MereyGnome on Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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~reneew
Posts: 2190
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:20 pm
Location: midwest US

Post by ~reneew » Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:18 pm

Welcome! Remember that it's not so much what you eat, just when. My tip for those sweets is to freeze them for later. I have lots of things hidden in the freezer labeled "touch and die!" It gives me peace of mind knowing that it will be mine and it will be there when I can have it. I also have my GodFather's combo pizza slices in there for when I think I need a special meal. Its amazing how I forget the stuff once it's in there. The temptation is gone. :shock:
I guess this doesn't work unless you actually do it.
Please pray for me

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:27 pm

Thanks for the welcome, reneew. I just checked your thread. Congratulations of you progress. That's awesome and inspiring.

The freezing of treats is a good idea. Thanks!

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:22 pm

Log for Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009


Breakfast: a veggie with cheese omelet with a side of home fries and a piece of buttered wheat toast. [I didn't finish it all but I ate more than I needed]

Lunch: Fresh fruit smoothie (16oz) and a hot dog

Dinner: 2 slice of pizza and two bread sticks with marinara dipping sauce

Exercise: None


Overall score: 7
Last edited by MereyGnome on Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Bushranger
Posts: 368
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:30 am

Post by Bushranger » Sat Aug 08, 2009 4:21 am

Welcome MereyGnome. Don't be too down on yourself. I think you will find over time and with commitment you will grow stronger in your No S ways. The beauty of this is it gets easier as time goes on as opposed to harder like most diets.

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Sun Aug 09, 2009 2:42 pm

Log for Friday, August 7, 2009

Breakfast: Starbucks Chocolate Banana smoothie and blueberry oat bar

Lunch: buffalo chicken sandwich from and some baby carrots

Dinner: 2 small vegetable samosas and 1/2 portion of Chicken Tikka Masala

Exercise: Yes - 1/2 hour cardio at gym


Overall Score: 6 [not the best choices for meals, but for the most part the portions were decent and I did a second gym morning for the week. Getting up early for the gym is my biggest struggle]

Goal for next week: Start bringing in homemade food to work.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bushranger: Thanks for the encouragement! I do feel myself getting stronger. I have allowed myself some sweets this weekend, but I haven't been craving them as much as I use to.

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:42 pm

Weekend round-up: Not good. I went overboard on the sweets. I had 6 oreo-sized macarons and good quantity of chocolate. Otherwise, I ate pretty well, but I need to do a bit better on the weekends.

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Log for Monday, Aug. 10, 2009

Breakfast: 2 cups of Honeynut Cherrios, skim milk and a banana

Lunch: Grilled shrimp Mexican salad with blackbean and corn salsa dressing

Dinner: Hamburger with with mozzarella and grilled peppers, and a tiny side of potato salad

Special occasion dessert: a tiny slice of birthday cake


Overall Score: 6 - I'm going to say it's a success because I purposely ate a small dinner so that I could be polite and accept the small piece of birthday cake. We were celebrating my to be brother-in-law's birthday and I didn't want to offend my to be SIL by not having cake.
Last edited by MereyGnome on Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Wed Aug 12, 2009 4:22 pm

Log for Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009

Breakfast: egg white, cheese and turkey bacon on wheat toast

Lunch: salmon teriyaki, rice and steamed vegetables and 1/2 container of miso soup

Dinner:
Turkey burger with cheese and mushrooms and some fries

Exercise: none :( - way too hot

Overall score: 7

I had a snack attack around 4 p.m. I really wanted something sweet, candy-like, but I had water instead and ignored the craving. Yay!
Last edited by MereyGnome on Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:40 pm

Log for Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Breakfast - 1 cup Honeynut Cherrios, skim milk and a banana

Lunch - Starbucks small Cheese plate with a few crackers, apple slides and grapes and a strawberry banana smoothie

Dinner - 6" veggie patty sub from Subway. A bag of baked BBQ Lays

Exercise - None :(

Overall Score: 7

Again, I had a snack attack in the late afternoon. I avoided the cravings and had water instead. Yay. Need to work on the exercise. I will definitely go to the gym tomorrow morning before work.
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:57 pm

Log for Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009

Breakfast: toasted raisin bagel with cream cheese

Lunch: beef udon soup

Dinner: 2 1/2 banana pancakes with real maple syrup and 1 1/2 turkey sausages.

Exercise: None


Overall score: 4

It's a fail day. I did avoid succumbing to the late afternoon snack attack but I made a poor dinner choice and I ate more than proper serving.

:(
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:33 pm

Weekend Round-Up: I definitely didn't do so well. I, again, at too much junk. I should see the weekends as being able to have a treat or two instead of going-all-out and having whatever I want.

Log for Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

Breakfast: Cinnamon Roll from Starbucks (a Friday morning breakfast treat)

Lunch: Salad - greens, cucumbers, chicken, red peppers, artichoke heart and balsamic vinegar dressing

Dinner: Potato Knish and 12oz beer (went to a football game)

Exercise: None

Overall Score: 6 I've got to work on that exercise. I just wish it weren't so damn hot and sticky.
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:57 pm

Log for Monday, Aug. 17, 2009

BIG FAT FAIL


Breakfast: 2 cups Honeynut Cherrios, skim milk and a banana

Lunch:
8 pieces shrimp tempura sushi and fruit salad

Movie snack: 1 package of M&Ms and two handfuls of popcorn


Dinner:
[Restaurant - Republic] 3 fried shrimp wontons, some Thai inspired calamari, two pieces Thai inspired pork brushetta.

After dinner snack: a rainbow sherbert pushpop

Exercise:
None :(

Overall score: 3

Going to the movies on a week day completely threw me off. However, that is not an excuse and it is esp. not an excuse for the pushpop dessert I had later. Ah well...start again.
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:15 pm

Log for Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009

Fail again

Breakfast: Cherrios with skim milk

Lunch: Two small-ish slices of pizza

Snack: snack size bag of trail mix

Dinner: 6" meatball sub

Dessert:
A Tootsie Roll pop and a bag of peanut M&Ms

Exercise: None

Overall score: 2


I had a bad day yesterday and succumbed to my sugar cravings. And the M&Ms weren't all the satisfying. Yeah, I definitely use food to relieve stress even when I don't thoroughly enjoy it.

Grrr! :(
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:15 pm

STARTING OVER

I was on vacation last week and completely failed. It was mostly due to be in my childhood town (on the other side of the country) and wanting to eat at my favorite places. Oh, and I can't resist See's Candy. Their chocolate is just so damn good.

Log for Monday, August 31

Green Day

Breakfast: Bagel with smoked salmon salad (like smoke salmon cream cheese, but less cream cheese and more salmon).

Lunch: Hot dog and blueberry, watermelon and strawberry smoothie.

Dinner: Pizza (2 slices and 2 breadsticks)

Exercise: none

Score: 7

Log for Tuesday, Sept. 1

Green Day

Breakfast: cinnamon raisin bagel with lowfat cream cheese

Lunch: Vegetarian Lasagna

Dinner: Small lobster bisque soup and half of grill cheese sandwich

exercise: Urban Ranger - 1.5 miles of walking briskly around my Queens neighborhood

Score: 9
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm

Log for Tuesday, Sept. 2

Green Day

Breakfast: Cherrios with skim milk. A little later, a banana

Lunch: Another piece of homemade veggie lasagna

Dinner: spicy salmon sushi roll and beef soba soup

Dessert: frozen icee pop thing...more for my burnt tongue than needing a dessert

Exercise: none other than some department store browsing

Score: 6
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:55 pm

Log for Thursday, September 3, 2009

Green Day

Breakfast: Honeynut Cherrios and skim milk

Lunch: hot dog and half a roasted pork bun and a small (12oz) coconut milk tea

Dinner: Small soup and a strawberry banana and yogurt smoothie.

Exercise: 2 Miles of Urban Ranging. I went walking with my fiance, which is awesome because he's an extremely fast walker.


Score: 7


Log for Friday, Sept. 4, 2009


Green Day

Breakfast: Cinnamon Roll (my Friday breakfast indulgence)

Lunch: Bagel with smoke salmon salad

Dinner: Grilled cheese with caramelized onions, shared small order of fries and a fresh lime margarita

Exercise: none - walk to restaurant doesn't count

Score: 6
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:36 pm

Log for Monday, Sept. 7

Red Day - I'm tempted to take it as a S Day because it was Labor Day, but the day was really ruined after the family BBQ. I caved into my sugar cravings and ate some candy I had bought over the weekend.

Breakfast: cup of plain cherrios and skim milk

Lunch: codfish quiche -YUM

Dinner: grazed chips, dip, and bruchetta. Had a few bites of hamburger and a few bits of a mayo free potato salad

Dessert: Some fruit salad and slice of pound cake

Snack: candy (boo!)

Exercise: 25 minutes of Cardio and 1 mile of Urban Ranging

Score: 4
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Wed Sep 09, 2009 5:34 pm

Log for Tuesday, Sept. 9

Red Day

Breakfast: HN Cherrios and skim milk

Lunch: Two slices each for soppressa and asiago cheese, crackers and frozen yoplait whips yogurt (this is an alternative to boring old yogurt).

Snack: White peach and some muffin

Dinner: Left-over Chicken Tikka Malsala, rice and 1/2 nan

After Dinner Snack: 3 Red Vines

Exercise: 2 1/2 miles of brisk Urban Rangering

Score: 5

Ugh! The afternoon snack is killing me. I get REALLY hungry around 4pm. I'm trying to keep it to fruit, but I've been surrendering to my cravings. And today is going to be difficult because a co-worker brought in a piece of cake for me. Cake is my weakness.
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

MereyGnome
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: NYC

Post by MereyGnome » Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:23 pm

Hmmm... Last week didn't turn out so well. Although I was okay with portions, I just couldn't stay away from the sweets. However, I did do much better with exercise. I got lots and lots of walking in.

However, irc, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were all Red Days.


Ah well, back up on that horse I go!
Currently: August 5th, 2009: Size 16

1st Goal: By October 31st: Size 14

Wedding Goal: By March 1st: Size 12

Ultimate Goal: Size 10

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