Everyday Systems

So I actually haven't read the No S book yet, but in fairness to me, I didn't know it was a book until tonight. I read a review of Michael Pollan's "Food Rules" that referenced the basic No S rule back in January, and I was totally struck by it! It just seemed like such a simple and sensible way to be healthy. So, I started on January 16th and I have lost 22 lbs. so far (From 228.5 lbs. to 206 lbs. this morning). I have been exercising regularly (3 to 5 times a week) during this time, and now that I've found out about it, I can't wait to try the shovelglove!

Four years ago I dropped out of college (it seemed like a good decision at the time) and I have spent the last year and a half trying to get my life back on track, which meant going to school full time while working a 50-60 hour week. During that time I paid no attention to what I ate and gained about 50 lbs. (not that I was exactly svelte beforehand). Now that I'm a college graduate and I just turned 25, I wanted to set some goals for this year. I haven't set a "goal weight" necessarily, I just want to be healthy. Two of my most important goals are as follows: Go an entire year without drinking a soda (regular or diet) and join a roller derby team (something I've wanted to do for years but always thought I was too fat for).

Between quitting sodas and the No S diet, I am feeling good and feeling good about myself. Neither one has been as hard as I thought it would be, and I am way more energized without all that caffeine! (I still drink coffee, but one cup a day is a far cry from the 4 to 5 cokes I used to drink!)

I was excited to see this thread on the forums, because I had been trying to blog everyday to keep myself accountable, but it was boring and no one cared (including me!), so this seems much simpler.

So...

DAY 1 (Day 82): SUCCESS! No funny stuff, except that I only had coffee for breakfast as I overslept. But, I was so busy at work that I barely had time to get hungry and before I knew it, it was lunchtime!

(P.S. I am totally glad I found this and started the check-ins today, because yesterday was a FAILURE of Italian Cream Cake proportions)

Welcome Amie! And congratulations on the great success you've had with No S so far!

Thanks for the welcome!

Day 2: SUCCESS! Lunch and dinner were not so healthy, but there were no sweets or seconds and I didn't have any snacks, even though I was pretty tempted by the bowl of easter candy sitting on the front counter at work.

DAY 3: FAILURE

Breakfast was healthy, greek yogurt with raisins and granola in it--yummy and filling!

The trouble was lunch. I had the afternoon off (between a short morning shift and an evening shift) and since I got paid today, we decided to go out to lunch. We picked a local tex-mex restaurant that we love, and I was faced with a quandary-- they put free chips and salsa on the table! I love salsa, and I just couldn't say no. I didn't overindulge, but I definitely ate a fair amount of chips, more than would fit on the plate that was already full when it was served to me. I didn't eat my rice and beans to make up for it, but I still felt like it was a violation of either the snacks or seconds rule.

Then, we went to catch Hot Tub Time Machine at the mall movie theater. The theater is directly across from a Mrs. Fields (or equivalent) and we got there about 30 minutes before the movie. I would have been okay, but my boyfriend insisted on getting a cookie and once we were standing at the counter and I was staring down a tray of snickerdoodles, I caved.


Dinner, though not against the rules per se, was a small macdonalds hamburger and fries with a bottled water. Just disappointed by my choice, even though it wasn't technically a cheat. Especially disappointed since when I got home my boyfriend had heated up some of the roast chicken I made last night. It smelled 10 times as delicious as my dinner, but I couldn't have any.


Normally I would make one of my S days an N day since I messed things up today, but I think I'm just going to let myself have them. Work has been stressful and I'm trying to quit smoking (while I'm ruling out S words) and it's had me a bit too on edge.

oops! Let being busy get the better of me and forgot to update!

so, a quick run down of the inbetween:

DAY 4: S-Day
DAY 5: S-Day
DAY 6: FAILURE! brought down by leftover snickers candies from easter
DAY 7: SUCCESS!
DAY 8: SUCCESS!
DAY 9: SUCCESS!
DAY 10: SUCCESS!
DAY 11: S-DAY (Still a Success!)
DAY 12: S-DAY
DAY 13: SUCCESS!

Doing pretty good. Have lost another 3lbs and finally bit the bullet and joined a roller derby league last week. My first practice is tomorrow, and I am super nervous! I have been working out pretty regularly, but I haven't been involved in serious athletic activity since I played basketball in high school, and the friend who is joining with me is extremely fit already. But, I have resolved to do this, and I am not going to back down. I'm just going to have to deal with my nerves and do my best.

DAY 14: SUCCESS!

1st roller derby practice today! It wasn't easy, but I did it-- and I wasn't too bad at it either!

DAY 15: FAILURE

Waited too long between lunch and dinner and then I just couldn't resist a second helping of potatoes and cole slaw. Not the end of the world, but irritating.

DAY 16: SUCCESS!
DAY 17: FAILURE
DAY 18: S-Day
DAY 18: S-Day