Kevin's daily check-in

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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Kevin
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Kevin's daily check-in

Post by Kevin » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:37 pm

Starting again.

Today is day one.
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Day 1 - Success

Post by Kevin » Sat Sep 26, 2009 7:21 pm

Day 1 - Success

Current: 195
Goal: 165 in October 2010.
Kevin
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Day 2 - Failure

Post by Kevin » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:34 pm

Yesterday was an "S" day, so I had ice cream after dinner, but upon reflection, that wasn't the right thing to do. I should be working on habit by doing 21 N days.

Oh well. Back to the starting blocks today.
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

frugaltexan
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Post by frugaltexan » Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:02 pm

Kevin,

S days are part of the 21 day habit. They are free from guilt or "shoulds." You can't fail on an S day. So, Friday was day 1, Saturday day 2, and today day 3.

Welcome, by the way! ;)
5'9 -- Laura --

Started July 23, 2009 -- 246.6
Restart: June 13, 2010 - 241.6
July 18, 2010 -- 235 .... - 11.6 lb loss in ~1 yr.
Back Again: January 13, 2012 -- 242.2 lbs

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Post by mimi » Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:16 pm

Kevin, when you are working on establishing your NoS habits and aiming for the 21 Day Club, you count 21 consecutive non-failure days on No S - that includes your S-days!
Personally, I think it takes much longer than 21 days to establish strong habits...at least for me it did. Good luck with your NoS journey!

Mimi :D
Discovered NoS: April 16, 2007
Restarted once again: July 14, 2011
Quitting is not an option...
If you start to slip, tie a knot and hang on!
Remember that good enough is... good enough.
Strive for progress, not perfection!

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Post by Kevin » Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:42 pm

Take a look at the very first post in the 21 club, Mimi. Same Kevin. :)
mimi wrote:Kevin, when you are working on establishing your NoS habits and aiming for the 21 Day Club, you count 21 consecutive non-failure days on No S - that includes your S-days!
Personally, I think it takes much longer than 21 days to establish strong habits...at least for me it did. Good luck with your NoS journey!

Mimi :D
Kevin
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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9/27 - Success

Post by Kevin » Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:44 pm

9/27 - Success
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Post by mimi » Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:45 pm

Kevin wrote:Take a look at the very first post in the 21 club, Mimi. Same Kevin. :)
Well...I'll be!! THE Kevin that founded the 21-day club! Welcome back! I first tried NoS back in 2007 and was very successful for awhile...then a vacation and some other family things caused me to derail. Try as I might, I couldn't seem to get it together again even after several more attempts...that is until this past April 30 when something clicked. I've been No Essing since then and have been doing very well in spite of a couple of obstacles that have been thrown in my path.
I've always thought to be a member of the club one had to complete 21 consecutive days without failures? If I'm incorrect, I hope someone will enlighten me!
Best wishes this time Kevin. We both know how well NoS works!

Mimi :D
Discovered NoS: April 16, 2007
Restarted once again: July 14, 2011
Quitting is not an option...
If you start to slip, tie a knot and hang on!
Remember that good enough is... good enough.
Strive for progress, not perfection!

Kevin
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Post by Kevin » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:44 pm

I think 21 days without failure was the entry criteria. After "creating" it, I think there was some concern that it could anti-motivational, and I felt bad about that.
mimi wrote:
Kevin wrote:Take a look at the very first post in the 21 club, Mimi. Same Kevin. :)
Well...I'll be!! THE Kevin that founded the 21-day club! Welcome back! I first tried NoS back in 2007 and was very successful for awhile...then a vacation and some other family things caused me to derail. Try as I might, I couldn't seem to get it together again even after several more attempts...that is until this past April 30 when something clicked. I've been No Essing since then and have been doing very well in spite of a couple of obstacles that have been thrown in my path.
I've always thought to be a member of the club one had to complete 21 consecutive days without failures? If I'm incorrect, I hope someone will enlighten me!
Best wishes this time Kevin. We both know how well NoS works!

Mimi :D
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by kwonset » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:29 am

I think 21 days without failure was the entry criteria. After "creating" it, I think there was some concern that it could anti-motivational, and I felt bad about that.
Kevin.

As a new comer, I think the 21 days club was an inspired creation. It made me try hard to get the basic vanilla No S plan down pat, and it worked. I haven't kept count since, but the habit of No S happened more easily --and more quickly-- because I was determined to do 21 days. For me it was certainly not anti-motivational. Thanks!

Karen
"If you don''t like how things are, change it! You are not a tree!" Jim Rohn

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Post by frugaltexan » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:35 am

I agree with Kwonset. The 21 day club was a great way to get started for me on focusing on the habits of No-S. Although I had a few rough weeks after completing my first 21, I am back in gear for my second 21 in six days. :)
5'9 -- Laura --

Started July 23, 2009 -- 246.6
Restart: June 13, 2010 - 241.6
July 18, 2010 -- 235 .... - 11.6 lb loss in ~1 yr.
Back Again: January 13, 2012 -- 242.2 lbs

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Post by guadopt1997 » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:12 pm

That's so funny! People telling you how it works--to be encouraging--and you invented it!

It must have morphed since then because my understanding was also that S days were included in the count.

Good luck however you count them and thanks for your encouragement about looking better.

Liz

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Post by Kevin » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:06 pm

It is funny, isn't it. :)

By the way, I'm noticing there are a lot of Suburban DCers on this forum.
guadopt1997 wrote:That's so funny! People telling you how it works--to be encouraging--and you invented it!

It must have morphed since then because my understanding was also that S days were included in the count.

Good luck however you count them and thanks for your encouragement about looking better.

Liz
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by guadopt1997 » Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:28 pm

Who, besides the two of us?

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Post by mimi » Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:38 pm

Does being two hours away from DC count?! Probably not, huh?
Discovered NoS: April 16, 2007
Restarted once again: July 14, 2011
Quitting is not an option...
If you start to slip, tie a knot and hang on!
Remember that good enough is... good enough.
Strive for progress, not perfection!

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Post by NoelFigart » Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:48 pm

mimi wrote:Does being two hours away from DC count?! Probably not, huh?
I grew up and lived my first 30 years in Fredericksburg.

I'm exiled to New England *weeps*
------
My blog https://noelfigart.com/wordpress/ I talk about being a freelance writer, working out and cooking mostly. The language is not always drawing room fashion. Just sayin'.

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Post by kccc » Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:58 pm

Wow, the inventor of the 21-day club! How cool to have you back. (I've been here a while, but you pre-date me.)

I actually went back and looked at the beginning of that thread, which I hadn't before. There's discussion at the very start about S-days counting or not, so I guess it's been an ongoing conversation. :)

Welcome, and hope you are as successful this time around as you were before. :)

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Post by Kevin » Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:24 pm

Are you going to make me go back and look? :)

Actually, there is another Marylander that posts in Shovelglove, and at least one more... but off the top of my head, I can't remember.
guadopt1997 wrote:Who, besides the two of us?
Kevin
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Post by Kevin » Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:25 pm

Two hours is a pretty normal commute in the DC area. :)

Virginia is a pretty big state...
mimi wrote:Does being two hours away from DC count?! Probably not, huh?
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by mimi » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:05 pm

Yes, Virginia is a huge state! We're down in the Shenandoah Valley - the I-81 corridor between historic New Market and Harrisonburg. I have about a 7 minute commute to my school. I'm soooo spoiled!
Discovered NoS: April 16, 2007
Restarted once again: July 14, 2011
Quitting is not an option...
If you start to slip, tie a knot and hang on!
Remember that good enough is... good enough.
Strive for progress, not perfection!

Kevin
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Post by Kevin » Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:08 pm

The other night my wife made something that just... well. We've been going to this community farm lately. It's called Red Wiggler: they employ mentally disabled adults and you buy "shares" which pay off each week.

They had turnips. Lots and lots of turnips.

Now, normally, I don't like root veggies much, but she did this with them:

Sliced them like home fries (into rounds). Fried them in canola oil, with salt and pepper. Then, after they cooked enough to brown and soften up a bit, she tossed in all the turnip greens and let them braise...

Oh, my. Thankfully, she put a lot on my plate, because I *might* have had seconds... the greens were just a bit sweet and the turnips were just a touch bitter, but ate like potatoes.

Fantastic. This community farm is just the thing for my No-S diet. And she's been making collard greens... this is remarkably like soul food for such suburban caucasians as us. Smile
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by Dandelion » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:49 am

Sounds great :)

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Post by hilly6000 » Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:41 am

Something I'm in the mood for recently -- sweet potato french fries. Those turnips things DO sound good. I have been trying to open a can of veggies for dinner, but it's not going so well lol

Seems like you're doing well!

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Post by Kevin » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:22 pm

Trader Joe's (maybe you don't have them where you are?) sells kick @ss sweet potato fries.
hilly6000 wrote:Something I'm in the mood for recently -- sweet potato french fries. Those turnips things DO sound good. I have been trying to open a can of veggies for dinner, but it's not going so well lol

Seems like you're doing well!
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by Starla » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:59 pm

Those turnips sound good! I belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and get a box of produce every other week, and that's been great for No S. We got turnips in the spring, and I just cut them up into salads, but it's nice to have other options. Unfortunately, growing season is over around here, and there are no more deliveries until June.

I hope No S is going well for you this time, Kevin. You are so supportive of everyone else; I hope you know how many people appreciate your comments and are rooting for you.

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Post by Dandelion » Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:28 pm

I finally got one of those french fry slicers :)

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Post by Kevin » Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:10 pm

I'm losing weight at a pace of about a pound a week.

I'm still not sure what got me off track last time (after I had lost almost 30 pounds). Live and learn.
Starla wrote:Those turnips sound good! I belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and get a box of produce every other week, and that's been great for No S. We got turnips in the spring, and I just cut them up into salads, but it's nice to have other options. Unfortunately, growing season is over around here, and there are no more deliveries until June.

I hope No S is going well for you this time, Kevin. You are so supportive of everyone else; I hope you know how many people appreciate your comments and are rooting for you.
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by gratefuldeb67 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:23 pm

Hey Kevs, just here for a few mins, but wanted to drop in and congratulate you on your great month so far! I read you lost about 8 lbs already!!
That's fantastic!!!
Have a great week! :)
8) Debs
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Post by Kevin » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:53 pm

Nice to hear from you, Deb. Somehow, I don't think it's quite eight pounds, even though I think my initial weigh in was correct. it just doesn't seem right.

gratefuldeb67 wrote:Hey Kevs, just here for a few mins, but wanted to drop in and congratulate you on your great month so far! I read you lost about 8 lbs already!!
That's fantastic!!!
Have a great week! :)
8) Debs
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by ~emilyr » Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:17 pm

Way to go ~ starting out strong 8) 8)

Just thought you might like some peace on your own check in :D :D

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Post by Kevin » Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:28 am

Thanks, Em!
~emilyr wrote:Way to go ~ starting out strong 8) 8)

Just thought you might like some peace on your own check in :D :D
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Just checkin' in...

Post by Kevin » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:08 pm

Well, as of December 1, I'm down a good 10 pounds since September 15 (maybe more: I think I'm under-stating my September 15 weight).

Given that Thanksgiving was in there - and I'm not getting enough exercise - I feel pretty good about 10 pounds in 13 weeks or so.
Kevin
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Post by gratefuldeb67 » Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:44 pm

Wow!!!! That's great Kevin!!!! Congratulations!!!! :D
8) Debs x
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Post by ~emilyr » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:12 pm

You are heading in the right direction :) :) :)

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Post by kccc » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:37 pm

That's marvelous! Especially this time of year. :)

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Post by hilly6000 » Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:41 pm

10 pounds is awesome! This is the hardest time to lose weight, so that is quite an accomplishment! :P
"The question is: Can we turn him back again?
The question is: Do we want to?"

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It's been a while...

Post by Kevin » Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:11 pm

Well, I'm still NO-Sing, although exercise has gone down the tubes. December is a demanding month!

I've gone up about a pound, but I'm not sweating it at all. If I get through Christmas below 185, I'll be very happy. Things get a bit more slack in January, and I can concentrate a little more on the exercise I know I need.
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by BelfastBloke » Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:10 pm

Good luck, thanks for your early encouragement to me, and happy christmas.

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Post by ~emilyr » Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:26 am

That is the beauty of No S ~ you don't get freaked out by a pound!! You know you can get right back on track. It took me a long time to figure that out, but now that I have, I don't panic. So, good for you and here's to a great 2010 :D This is an every day diet ~ I will do it every day forever :D

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Post by Kevin » Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:55 am

Well, it was a tough holiday season, but I'm back at it. I'm not going to weigh in for at least two weeks. I just don't want to know. :o)
Kevin
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"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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Post by ~emilyr » Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:16 pm

Good idea, just focus on making good choices! Happy New Year!

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Post by Grammy G » Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:49 am

I'm hoping that I can get turnips at the farmers' market here in sunnyland because those turnips your wife made sound delicious! Have you tried parsnips? I love them roasted along with some carrots and onions and celery. They don't seem to be very popular in many parts of the USA and I don't understand why...but then again, they aren't popular in my house, so why would I expect something different from the USA?

I always enjoy reading your posts and wish you continuing success!
Also..love the 21 day concept. I have a big copy of the logo hanging on the frig ...I even brought one (and a spare!) south with me so I would be inspired all winter! 8)
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think another negative thought."
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Starting again, tomorrow

Post by Kevin » Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:02 pm

See subject.
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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21 Days

Post by Kevin » Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:03 pm

Today is a good day to re-start. So, January 11 is day 1.
Starting weight - 189.
Day 1 - Success
Day 2 - Success
Day 3 - Success (well, a couple of hours early)
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."

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