automated eating tracker

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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NoSnacker
Posts: 1481
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:40 am
Location: Buffalo, New York

Post by NoSnacker » Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:21 am

Oh my husband when he used to live in the warmer states said he loved Jack in the Box. I have yet to find one up north east.

Hope you had a great Saturday....
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:27 pm

Saturday, Week 21
S Day
NoSEating
B: hashbrowns, eggs, bacon (and then more hashbrowns!)
Lunch/Dinner: movie popcorn and reese's pieces and diet coke
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
NoSpending
$40 on movies and food there!
NoScreeningKids
they were using electronics virtually all day! They only took breaks to do chores, or play a few board games. I think my mild panic about this truly is similar to how people feel about wild S Day eating. Will my kids settle down or will this be their norm? The "experiment" ends at the end of January, so I'll eat least wait until then to decide if I should put further restriction on electronics on S days.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:08 pm

Auto, are your kids passing up real life opportunities in order to stay online? Or is the electronics thing a default activity for them? Speaking from experience, if I don't have a full day, I drift into too much electronics use. Sometimes I just OD on it and then I pull the plug for a week or so.

You might consider setting a goal of a certain number of hours of real life stuff (sports, outdoor activities, socialization with friends, reading, tasks, etc.) for them, after which they can have electronics. Back in a simpler day, it was "No TV until you finish your homework!"
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

middleager
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:13 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:15 am

Did you watch movies and eat movie food all the time from lunch to dinner? jealous!

Be interested to see what you decide with the electronics in the end.
Longest run so far: 22 days

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:57 am

Ha, ha middleager. I just went to one movie with my 8-yr old, but we ate so much popcorn and candy that neither of us wanted any dinner! :)

jw, ah, yes....limitations on S Days. My kids always jump at "real-life" opportunities, as you put it, but the weather has been yucky, and their chores don't take more than a half hour (I need to add more chores for both of them, that's one thing I'm realizing!!). But, yes, stay tuned on my weekend strategies to a) maximize simplicity in the parental management dept; and b) maximum freedom within structure for the boys' screen time.

I don't think it's too farfetched to say that the habits my boys build now will follow them throughout life, whether those habits involve eating, video games, work ethic/chores, and reading. So.....onward toward a workable plan. It's a pity my older son is already 8, I wish I had worked on systems like this when they were younger. But Reinhard would caution against "premature optimization" of my NoScreening rules, so I'm trying to give the basic outline a chance before I tweak it.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:14 am

Sunday, Week 22
S Day
NoSEating
coffee with milk
B: hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon
samples at Costco!
L: tortilla soup, chips, diet soda
D: spaghetti, mozarellla sticks, few tortilla chips, diet soda
ice cream
Verdict: I overate, but didn't stuff myself. I am not uncomfortable, but reflecting on whether I really enjoyed that ice cream (I didn't, I was distracted while i ate it)
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
30-minute walk with the boys (they rode their bikes)
100 jumping jacks while watching stressful football game
NoSpending
normal shopping at Costco--I have been intentional about making a grocey list, since I know I have to make it through the upcoming week.
I don't crave lattes on the weekend, I think it's merely a reaction to weekday stress that gets me buying them sometimes.
$1 for a donut for 4-yr old as special treat during our outing
Amazing! By having to wait until the weekend to make purchases, most of my impulse desires to order books on my ipad or kindle just go away. I either forget about it, or find it at the library instead! I am spending less money this way!! Without a lot of rules. Just one: wait til the weekend.
NoScreeningKids
Once again, screen binging. The kids are cooperative about finishing chores, going outside for a while, reading quietly or with me, etc, but the hours using screens are still very high!
It's a variation on Reinhard's point about piling food high on a plate, and overeating is obvious. I am really seeing how many hours my kids have screen time, and I am not comfortable with it! Well, I guess that gives me a good place to start: I know the current situation. I should be thankful that the boys are obeying about the new rules and willing to comply with my structure.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:40 pm

I think it's great that you are setting a goal to limit your kids' technology time. However, also lovely to hear that they do jump at real-life opportunities so I'm convinced: they'll be fine!

My niece and nephew are unforunatly shying away from real-life opportunities. In fact, while they are very social online they are not very well equipped to deal with real-life meetings nor do they enjoy anything off-line much. But not my place...
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

finallyfull
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:10 pm

Post by finallyfull » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:28 pm

up until the teen years I was very vigilant about screen time and when I was disciplined I found it led them to be far, far more active, creative, social and definitely more happy. Now that they are older, I enforce alot of "screen free" breaks and allow them to set the pace more. I can still see a huge benefit from it. Thanks for the reminder!

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:31 pm

Eschano, thanks for the encouragement ('they'll be fine!') :)

And finallyfull, thanks for reminding me of why I am doing this: to help my kids tap into their potential and be able to have satisfying relationships, enjoy their work in life, and remain physically active. That's what your post reminded me of! Also, you gave me a good brief vision of how this type of discipline could eventually transition to the teen years.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

middleager
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:13 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:58 pm

Your s day eating seems so structured! So little snacking. Has it seeped in from the NoS days? Are you doing it on purpose? Does it just come naturally?
Longest run so far: 22 days

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lpearlmom
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Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:59 am
Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:14 pm

I read this guiltily as both my kids are on computer ..oh well we are all a bit exhausted from our trip so letting it slide. Just not ready to tackle this one yet but so interested to see how this plays out for you.

DH says it's better than mindlessly watching tv all day. At least they're engaged. I think he's right but still want them to have more outdoor, and/or creative time. There's nothing like watching your kids playing in nature to make you feel calm as a parent. Maybe they could be munching on broccoli spears and rescuing stray kittens at the same time for the ultimate feel good parenting experience. :)

Keep up the good work on all accounts. You're doing great & an inspiration to all of us.

Linda
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:54 pm

Ok, I had to try it. . . but I only got to 50. Jumping jacks. Whew. Those are hard. Even harder than jumping rope, actually. I jump rope the one foot at a time way, not two, so maybe that is why jumping jacks are harder - two feet off the ground at once. Wow! Good for you!!!

automatedeating
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Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:17 pm

middleager wrote:Your s day eating seems so structured! So little snacking. Has it seeped in from the NoS days? Are you doing it on purpose? Does it just come naturally?
Yes to all three of your questions:

It has mostly come naturally as I realized how much I love structured eating. I didn't have it much as a kid, and I thrive on it. I enjoy the food so much more, and it simplifies my life so much.

I do it on purpose, by planning ahead a little, for example, on Saturday I thought, "OK, I'm going to a movie at 2:30 and I want to have popcorn and candy, so I will enjoy that food more if I skip lunch". A little planning ahead helps, but it doesn't take much self-discipline. It's a self-rewarding cycle for me.

And yes, it has totally seeped in from my NoS days. As I look back to the first two months I did NoS, I remember (and wrote about here) a few weekends where I grazed and hated how stuffed, gross, etc I felt heading into Monday. I'm lucky in that my body and mind both craved the structure of NoS. Snacking just isn't fun. I don't think it ever really was. In my past life as a "mindless snacker" I think I was just looking for some emotional pick-up from food. I never really got emotional satisfaction from snacking anyway, so why continue it?
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:19 pm

chani8 wrote:Ok, I had to try it. . . but I only got to 50. Jumping jacks. Whew. Those are hard. Even harder than jumping rope, actually. I jump rope the one foot at a time way, not two, so maybe that is why jumping jacks are harder - two feet off the ground at once. Wow! Good for you!!!
LOL, Chani, jumping jacks are my quick way to feel like I exercised. :) If I've been laying around or something reading for too long. The kids usually can't resist doing them with me (ah, for the energy of youth).
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:24 pm

Hi Linda,
LOL! My husband says the same thing about video games vs. TV. :) He says it's good for their reflexes. And sometimes he even joins in with them and then it's kind of interactive!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm

You all sound really well-balanced, auto! It's wonderful to hear how willing your family is to experiment with you on No S in various parts of life.
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Tue Jan 21, 2014 3:15 am

Monday, Week 22
S Day
NoSEating
coffee with milk
B: blueberry yogurt
L: nachos (ate food left on 8-yr olds plate....), 2 brownies
D: piece of bread with butter
wine
NoSittingOnButt
90-minute walk around a golf course, ran into a woman that walks 8 miles a day (she told me as she sped passed me.....)
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
$0
NoScreeningKids
not too bad today, but I'm looking forward to N days!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:02 am

Awesome day!!

8 miles a day would take me forever. She must be retired or she has long legs. I walk 3 mph, and thats pushing myself.

middleager
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:13 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:53 pm

There's a retirement plan: "crazy walking lady"!

Re the structured eating on the weekends, I notice so much now how I'm always ruining my dinner on the weekends by snacking. Then I'm annoyed.
Longest run so far: 22 days

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:42 am

chani8 wrote:Awesome day!!

8 miles a day would take me forever. She must be retired or she has long legs. I walk 3 mph, and thats pushing myself.
Yeah, Chani, she told me that's why she walks so fast!! She said otherwise it takes forever!

Middleager, all this time I was reading your siggy as "middle eager". I am such a goof. i shouldn't even admit that, it makes me look so dumb. But alas, I am all about ugly honesty. 8)

Tuesday, Week 22
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: blueberry yogurt
L: turkey panini and salad, kombucha
latte (made by a friend...!)
D: not very hungry, but it was date night. It actually worked out well because I really enjoyed my husband's company, but just shared his entree, so the price stayed down too! bread and olive oil (virtual plated); 1 lasagne fritter (? some kind of appetizer); 1 piece gourmet thin-crust pizza. It was a great learning experience. I have felt like that before (not hungry) and still eaten a whole meal anyway, because I would have been afraid I'd be super hungry later. But this time, I really trusted my body. For whatever reason it wasn't hungry, and I trusted that it would be fine until breakfast without a lot of food. And I didn't get hungry at all after dinner.
NoSittingOnButt
walked to work (45 minutes)
40-second plank (note: it took me a whole month to be able to increase this from 30-seconds to 40-seconds comfortably!)
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
$3 FAIL--bought a dozen eggs from a friend. Then when I remembered it was a NoSpend day I was too embarrassed to tell her I couldn't spend money....sounded a little inflexible of me, so I just went with it. Does it help that I took the money out of my husband's wallet? :lol:
NoScreeningKids
Great day! The neighbors put their basketball hoop up (it's been down for a couple months due to the cold weather) and my 8-yr old has been shooting baskets for an hour! We also went to a friend's house and my boys ran themselves ragged.
Last edited by automatedeating on Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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ZippaDee
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Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:14 pm
Location: No Quit Zone

Post by ZippaDee » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:51 pm

week 22?!! Awesome!! :D

Good for you on limiting screen time for your kids! We do no tv during the week here. It works well for us.

You are a big encouragement to me. Thanks!
"Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day." ~Winnie the Pooh ~

A Flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms!

Diets Don't Work.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:16 pm

Wednesday, Week 22
N Day
135.2
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: blueberry yogurt
L: apple slices, clementine, nuts, cheese
was uncomfortably hungry between lunch and dinner today. But I could barely finish my lunch. I notice that happens when the food is apples or some other bulky food. I think I needed a few more calories in that meal, but there wasn't room in my stomach!
D: pot roast and mashed potatoes
NoSittingonButt
Plan for today:
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
Today on my walk in to work I realized that my body talks to me. In fact, my body is like a bunch of 1st graders jumping up and down to tell me all about their summer break. My joints talk to me at various times: fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders; toes, ankles, knees, and hips; spine and jaw. My muscles talk to me: hip muscles, calves, quads, hamstrings; trapezius, rhomboids, and deltoids. My body is like one big chatter box! I talked back today: "tell me all about it, left medial collateral ligament of the knee: tell me what I haven't been listening to." I think my past response has been more akin to: "shut up and do your job!" I like this new conversation better. :)
NoSpending
All Clear--GREEN
NoScreeningKids
Fantastic--GREEN

I am a far-cry from a calorie-counter. Indeed, I tend to not buy into the simple calories in/calories out formula, since our bodies metabolize different types of food with varying efficiencies. But anyway, for simplicity sake, I like to consider my theoretical "calorie-deficit" due to NoS eating and Urban Rangering--let's say about 300 calories/day. That would add up to a weight loss of about 2 pounds/month. Well, at times that's been true, but more of the time the weight loss has been slower than that. Let's say I've lost 1 pound/month....that is an average deficit of 150 calories/day. That's probably more accurate. No wonder NoS is so sustainable! 150 calories is not a huge noticeable difference (and since I'm walking, it's possible my caloric intake is not actually much less than they used to be at all!!) NoS truly is a way to moderate my eating and avoid excessive caloric intake. It eliminates the egregious offenders in my dietary intake, and that has been charmingly effective at returning me to a "healthy" BMI.

Oh, I shouldn't overlook a small amount of muscle gained. Walking is certainly not going to build me a ton of new muscle, but I'm certain I've added at least a little bit of new muscle. I can see it in my legs.

So, all told, whaddya think? A deficit of maybe 200 calories day, created partially by eating less and partially by moving more?
Last edited by automatedeating on Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:57 am, edited 3 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

middleager
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:13 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:16 pm

"Middle eager"? Lol So, eager in moderation? :P I am 45 which according to the guardian online is not considered middleaged in the US anyway.

Anyway, i hope your mcl doesn't end up all whiny and demanding. But it does sound good, listening to your body. I am starting to think more and more that I should learn to walk without needing headphones or a friend.

At this stage, I always eat more than i want at meals in case I get hungry later. The idea of just sharing an entree sounds scary!
Longest run so far: 22 days

User avatar
thepowerofcheese
Posts: 48
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:56 pm

Post by thepowerofcheese » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:18 pm

Hi, AE! I figured since you visited my journal I should pop into yours. I started a new journal called "Thepowerofcheese's New Start." I'd love to see you there sometime. :)

Pot roast and mash potatoes sounds SO GOOD right now. Yummy! I hope you have a great dinner. :D

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Thu Jan 23, 2014 2:03 am

middleager, eating a lot at my 3 meals was absolutely critical for me for months of NoSing!! That is why what happened at that restaurant was so notable! I most definitely think you're doing great to make sure you're eating plenty at every meal. Over time, I think most of us will start to have a better "body-sense" of how much we need to be full......it's like returning to the way most kids naturally know that. I'm by no means there, but Tuesday night was special for me that way.

When I thought about it later, I realized that I had eaten a much bigger lunch than normal that day, so my body knew it didn't need much for dinner. My mind, however, loves to mess with me. :)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:54 pm

automatedeating wrote:so my body knew it didn't need much for dinner. My mind, however, loves to mess with me. :)
Hahahaha! So true, so does mine. No, but seriously, same was true for me: the plates get lighter with time not with effort.
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Fri Jan 24, 2014 1:48 am

Thursday, Week 22
135.3
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: blueberry yogurt
L: lentil soup, doritos
D: beef chimichanga, rice, beans, chips, salsa
wine
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work with a detour (120 minutes)
50 jumping jacks
40-second plank
NoSpending
All Clear! In just a few weeks on this plan, I have virtually eliminated all the waste from little expenditures on lattes, apps, movie rentals and books. Wow. I can't wait to do my bills Saturday and see how much I've saved!
NoScreeningKids
The 8-yr old is extremely restless, tired, and unhappy today. Hmmmm, not allowed to plop him in front of a video game. Gotta actually parent.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:55 pm

Friday, Week 22
134.7
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with milk
B: 2 pieces of buttered toast, clementine, few apple slices
L: leftover pot roast and potatoes
D: fried potatoes and a few meatballs
NoSittingOnButt
40 second plank
NoSpending
All Clear!
NoScreeningKids
7 games of Sorry later.....
And a zoo puzzle :)
Last edited by automatedeating on Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:23 am, edited 2 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

jw
Posts: 844
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Location: PA

Post by jw » Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:28 pm

"7 games of Sorry later....."

What a good Mama you are! I hope you won at least some of them. . .
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

middleager
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:13 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:15 am

Realised i have a similar breakfast to you so i want to brag about mine too. Homemade thick yoghurt, berries and also often nuts or sunflower seeds. I use frozen berries and the cheapest here are boysenberries or blackberries. I get them out the night before and they defrost and seep into the yoghurt. So yum!
Longest run so far: 22 days

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:25 am

Hi jw! My husband played most of the games today. He wins more than I do!

Middleager, your yogurt sounds delicious. :)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
Posts: 4812
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:18 am

You're such a rockstar auto and looks like that weight is finally budging a bit too!
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:47 pm

Thanks Linda. :) You're sweet.

Saturday, Week 22
135.3
S Day!!

Today marks 5 months of NoSing. 5 glorious months of getting my life back on track. 5 months of working with my body, with my mind, coaxing my habits gently rather than trying to force them.

I am more confident, more active, more organized and more joyful. Call me crazy, but it is all thanks to NoS. It was the factor that turned my lifestyle around and gave me a sense of control over my choices. That, in turn, helped me believe I can change, and to realize that change doesn't have to be huge to be significant.

NoSEating
coffee with milk
B: eggs and toast
L: 5 See's Chocolates, a few tortilla chips
D: sloppy joe, chips, some veggies, lemonade
Chocolate Frosty
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
lots of housecleaing
NoSpending
paid bills online; regular grocery shopping and got gasoline, then bought $32 pencil sharpener on Amazon. That thing had better work like a dream; also bought a $2 show for kids on Amazon.
NoScreeningKids
Once AGAIN, the 8-yr old spent most of his freetime playing outside, while the 4-yr old was glued to my ipad. I kicked him outside for an hour, then kept making up chores for him to help me with to keep him off-screen. This was officially the last weekend of this experiment. Stay tuned for how I will "mod" this experiment to prevent the 4-yr-old from bingeing every weekend on electronics. Rules must be: easy for ME to manage, but not so loose that I can't live with the results.
Last edited by automatedeating on Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:55 pm

Yay, auto! Love your new signature!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:14 pm

Congrats on your 5 month mark of No S'ing! It's a real life changer, that's for sure. :)

r.jean
Posts: 1653
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:47 pm
Location: Midwest

Post by r.jean » Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:55 pm

It looks like you have done well in your first five months of No S. Keep it up!
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

middleager
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:13 pm
Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:30 pm

Love your 5 month testimonial there. :)

Progressing your whole life step by step in the right direction for 5 whole months is pretty fantastic.
Longest run so far: 22 days

herbsgirl
Posts: 432
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:08 am

Post by herbsgirl » Sun Jan 26, 2014 6:40 pm

5 months!!!! 5 months of solid habits! Its all about the habits! Good job!

You are just over one month ahead of me!!! :D :D
SW 218.2 10-14-13
1 mo 193.4
2 mo 178.8
3 mo 162.8
4 mo 151.4
5 mo 146.2
72 lbs lost in 19 wks 5' 6.5" 31 years old BMI 23.1
counting bites go to: countyourbites . blogspot . com

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sun Jan 26, 2014 8:12 pm

Sunday, Week 23
S Day

Thanks everybody, for the nice posts. You'll have to laugh now--no sooner do I come back to post than I am in a funk! It's a passing thing, it always is. It's those darn electronics! My kids (especially the 4-yr old) is driving me BONKERS about wanting to play electronics. I seriously am so annoyed with him I just want to say mean things. I already know I need to rethink the electronics rules, but I'm still not sure what to try next.

Here is what I value about raising my kids (that pertains to this topic, that is!):
1. active outside, getting dirty and discovering things. playing unstructured basketball, football, and other kid-organized games (rather than coached.... at least in elementary years)
2. self-discipline
3. balance, rather than obsessions
4. healthy vision and neck muscles
5. creative play
6. having time to myself and not having to manage everything they do
7. I do not want to raise whiners.

OK, so what does all this have to do with electronics? Well, I WANT them outside playing, learning creativity, using different muscle groups, and resting their eye muscles by not looking close-up at things. I want them to work things out on their own (without always needing an adult referree). I do NOT want them hunched over electronics exhausting their eye muscles, arguing with me about when they can play electronics or not. I do NOT want them to always depend on me to keep them from going overboard on electronics. I'd like them to internalize their own sense of balance.

My husband suggested we limit the 4-yr old "ipad" time to a very narrow window of 1-2 hours on Saturday; then 1-2 hours on Sunday. You're all probably thinking that of course that makes sense, and I agree that it does, but how will I ever teach him to moderate on his own? I'm embarrassed because I can hear everyone saying that a 4-yr old is not ready to moderate. I get that, I do.....but when and how do we teach kids to moderate on their own? My 8-yr old is self-moderating pretty well on his own. What do you think the difference is? Is it just different kid-temperaments?

So, my husband and I definitely like the NoScreeningKids during the week. It's the weekends that still need some tweaking. Unlike NoSEating, I can't let S Days "just work themselves out". I just thought of something: I don't feel the least bit guilty about limiting my kids snacks. I justify it by figuring that they are building habits of limiting snacks. So electronics theoretically could be the same: even on the weekends, their electronics can be limited.

Golly, this is the most rambling post ever. Well, it is my check-in, I guess :oops:

NoSEating
coffee with milk
B: bacon, eggs, hashbrowns
sweet: 1 See's almond chocolate (last one of those!)
L: chicken and rice soup, toast, cup of milk
D: few jojos, big mint chocolate chip milk shake
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
nothing so far
NoScreeningKids
ergh, see rambles above
Last edited by automatedeating on Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

chani8
Posts: 244
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Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 8:46 pm

Keep on rambling until you get the clarity you need! Once you're clear what you want to do and why, then you'll be confident, and their arguing wont phase you.

My kids' interests in electronics is very personality based. The more introverted, the more they head for the computer. The others get so bored and need to get out of the house instead. I'm not sure which is worse, having them close/safe but ruining their brains on the computer, or out and about and not knowing who they're with or what they're doing. I've only got one kid who is totally addicted, out of 6. They are all allowed to regulate themselves as long as they do their chores/schoolwork.(For the addicted kid, we now encourage him to set some limits for himself.) Rather than set limits, we teach about brain health, and then we also try to distract them with other things to do. They prefer doing things with me much more than computer. I learned in parenting class that you have to be an active parent, not spend so much time/energy making rules. Focus your energy on getting them to do what you want them to be doing, instead of what you don't want them to do. If that helps any.

automatedeating
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Post by automatedeating » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:30 pm

Chani, your advice really resounded with me! It was a :idea: moment, for sure. Your comment that I have to be an active parent, not just make rules; and that I should focus my energy on getting my kids to do what I want them to do, not keep them from doing things I don't want them to do. Excellent. Thanks. Extremely thought-provoking with regard to all of my current parenting challenges.

Pretty simple solution, when you put it that way: go outside with them, read with them, keep requiring chores, and interact with them on Yes Screen Days. Your advice was timely and will figure largely into my action plan for next weekend.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
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Post by lpearlmom » Mon Jan 27, 2014 4:35 pm

Chani, I have to say that advice helps me too. I spend a lot of time getting upset w my oldest because she's very unorganized. She loses things, forgets to turn in assignments etc. I think I need to spend more tine with her helping her to get organized instead of getting upset with her after the fact.

Auto, not sure what to say about the electronics. I think all modern parents struggle with this to some extent. I follow Ellyn Satter's guidelines for feeding kids. She says we are responsible for the what (offer plate w all the food groups) and the when (3 sit down meals plus 2 sit down snacks) but children are responsible for how much (if any).

She says the same thing goes for activity levels. We need to provide the opportunities and remove the electronics but they get to decide if they want to participate. If they rather read a book or draw a picture that's up to them. She also says it's not your job to entertain them constantly. Remember how creative we got as kids when we were bored? A little boredom can be good.

Ellyn satter is very against putting kids on a diet of ANY sort but she does the best thing you can do to assure they maintain a weight that's right for them is to limit those electronics so I really applaud you for your efforts. On the plus side, my 10 year old is starting to do some cool things w her computer. She's writing a sci-fi story and even has her own blog.

Best of luck & hang in there.

Linda
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

jw
Posts: 844
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Location: PA

Post by jw » Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:52 pm

You ladies all sound like really involved, caring moms -- your kids will remember and respond to that. My mom raised eight kids to be happy, responsible adults and she lost her temper just about every day! When it was justified, we were contrite, when it wasn't, we just shrugged and rolled our eyes . . .
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:05 am

Linda, your response warmed my heart. And jw, your response made me laugh! Thanks to both of you for your support. :)

Monday, Week 23
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: blueberry yogurt
L: PB&J; chips; apple
D: spaghetti and buttered toast
My kids sure eat more at dinner when they don't have snacks in the afternoon. :) And they sure are more grateful for the meal.
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
40-second plank
Today I walked very slowly. I have been a little weary. At first I felt bad and inferior for going slowly, then I realized that sustainable exercise (4 days/week of walking for 4 months) requires tenacity and perseverance, not speed. I am looking to establish life-long habits of walking. I'm not expecting to get perfectly healthy or in great shape in a short period of time. In the past, today is the kind of day I just wouldn't have gone walking.... thinking I was too tired. Instead, I just walked slower and continued building my habit.
NoSpending
All Green (paid babysitter, allowed exception)
Love this habit! It's been such a good fit for our family and our finances are already a bit healthier, thanks to the NoS way of finances. :)
NoScreeningKids
All fine. You know, the days without electronics are getting easier! It's almost like when people binge on the weekends and can't wait for the predictability and moderation of the upcoming N Days.
And (drum roll, please) I THINK I MIGHT HAVE A PLAN! :)
I am reader and a critical thinker and I want to raise kids that read and think critically (makes sense, right?). I want them to know that reading is the most important thing to me, and so for this reason most nights I read to them quite a bit. Sometimes they want to stop early and that is fine. I'd like my 8-yr old to read more on his own, and I'd like my 4-yr old to listen to me read more books. So......
Ta Da! Stickers on a chart for accumulated reading time (either me reading aloud or them reading on their own). Stickers will equal a certain amount of weekend electronics time, which will be doled out with a timer.
So, it seems I haven't avoided management, but I am actively encouraging them to do what I want them to do.
I have shied away from rewarding the kids for reading.....lots of research suggests that can be counterproductive and raise entitled kids or kids that won't try, etc., etc. But it is what it is, and I'm going to give it a try, educational research or not. :)
So, I am working on the details of this action plan. Stay tuned for when I unveil it to the kids.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
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Post by lpearlmom » Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:44 am

Sounds great auto! Over the summer my oldest was desperately trying to save up for an ipod and I was desperately trying to get her to read more. I decided to do something I normally wouldn't do and paid her for each book she read. She ended up reading a ton and really started enjoying it too (as I thought she might). Sometimes they just need a little push in the right direction!

I read to my girls every night too. We are currently reading The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. It's SO good. What are you currently reading??

Btw, great job on the attitude adjustment with your exercise today!

Linda :)
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

finallyfull
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:10 pm

Post by finallyfull » Tue Jan 28, 2014 4:07 am

I think the lovely boredom that comes with no screens leads naturally to reading if you leave interesting books around and read yourself. I definitely checked good looking books out for them and left them around as bait. Or I'd pretend to read them myself and throw out an interesting tidbit to lure them in.

They read like crazy now! Good for you. :)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Jan 29, 2014 2:24 am

Tuesday, Week 23
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: PB&J, chips, apple
D: tomato soup and half a chicken sandwich. ugh, I feel stuffed. That hasn't happened in a long time. I think it was all that liquid soup + the bread of the sandwich.
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
All Clear--but thanks to Linda I had to go tempt myself about The Incorrigible Children of Ashley Place! :lol:
NoScreeningKids
A-OK, both boys were eager to read. Still not sure how modified plan will go into action, but it's shaping up....

Linda, thanks for the book recommendation! It sounds super fun and tomorrow is our library day so maybe I'll find it there! We are currently reading The Two Towers (the second in The Lord of the Rings trilogy). I am ready for some lighter reading for sure! But my son loves the intricacies of the plot. With my 4-yr old we just read picture books. He likes Curious George, Franklin, and Little Critter.

Can you recommend other good read alouds? We tried How to Eat Fried Worms a few weeks ago, but that wasn't as good as it sounded (ha ha, doesn't sound good, either). Feel free to list a bunch!

I can recommend The Great Brain. We LOVE that series. Oh, we also like Encyclopedia Browns. They're super short little mysteries. Of course we've liked most of the Beverly Cleary books. A little heavier, but good, is A Wrinkle in Time.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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ZippaDee
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Post by ZippaDee » Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:13 pm

I love Curious George!! :)

How wonderful that you are able to walk to work....and that the weather.is nice enough for you to do so!

Have a great day!!
"Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day." ~Winnie the Pooh ~

A Flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms!

Diets Don't Work.

jw
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Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:35 pm

A Wrinkle in Time is a great book -- and part of a trilogy. I read it as an adult and loved it! Madeleine L'Engle wrote lots of books for all age levels, so you could try more of hers -- For your younger son, try Chris van Allsburg books. Fantastic illustrations by the author!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:25 pm

Wednesday, Week 23
N Day
133.9 (what???!!!!! is that really MY body?--haven't seen that number in years. Vanilla is sure sweet.)
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: apple, mixed nuts
D: ham and fried potatoes
wine
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes, in the pouring rain, I might add)
NoSpending
I kind of love becoming a penny-pincher....it's like I'm discovering a long-dormant cheapskate inside of me! 8)
NoScreeningKids
All Good. Have I mentioned the weekdays are fine?! :) It's those darn weekends that send me into a tailspin? It really does bear a REMARKABLE resemblance to NoSers that dread the weekends when they lose control.

jw, thanks for letting me know to look for more works by L'Engle. I will do that! And I would like to look up the other author, too--van Allsburg. I'm going to go do that right now. :)
Last edited by automatedeating on Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
Posts: 4812
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:43 am

Hi auto

Some other books we've enjoyed reading aloud are:

Goonie Bird series by Lois Lowry
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
Hitchhikers Guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams (hilarious)
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler (my childhood fav)
All the fudge books by Judy Blume

We still read a lot of picture books on those nights we're getting to bed late, but those are the novels we've really enjoyed.

Congrats on embracing your inner penny pincher. I haven't found mine yet but did tackle our finances today. Boy do I feel better!

Linda
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:37 am

A great win on the scale for you! Hurray!

It's my turn to tell you not to stress about the weekend Yes Screen days. Your kids won't be ruined by all the electronics, and you're not a bad mom if you find it hard to control Screen time on an S day. Think of it as, you're making a better life for them by encouraging/directing them to find other things to do, and it doesn't have to turn into a power struggle when it's supposed to be a reward for them. Also, you really got to celebrate that you are leaps ahead of the rest of us on the issue of computer usage for young kids, by your limiting it so well during the week. And that's awesome. :)

automatedeating
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Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:32 am

Linda, thanks for the book recommendations. Have fun with those finances.....just when I was thinking we were saving a little I'll be doing taxes....eek! :roll:

Chani, thanks for the encouragement. I really appreciate it--and really need it!

Thursday, Week 23
N Day
134.1
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: leftover spaghetti, apple
D: chicken tortilla soup, diet coke, few fries
Oh, no! It's my turn to be sick. I woke up with a bad sore throat and have gone progressively downhill throughout the day. I took some Nyquil and I am hoping I can sleep tonight. One neat thing is I know it's been at least 5 months since I've been sick, since I track everything on this check-in thread. :lol:
NoSittingOnButt
walked to work (45 minutes), then got a ride home in the afternoon once I was feverish and doing poorly.
NoSpending
All Clear
NoScreeningKids
All Clear

Good night, here's hoping I feel a little better tomorrow.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
Posts: 4812
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Fri Jan 31, 2014 4:11 am

Feel better! Taxes--ugh!!!
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Fri Jan 31, 2014 5:26 am

Oh no! Feel better soon!!

jw
Posts: 844
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Location: PA

Post by jw » Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:31 am

Yikes! Sorry the bug has struck, auto -- hope it passes quickly!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:47 am

Friday, Week 23
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
no breakfast, don't feel good! :cry:
L: leftover ham and potatoes, leftover corn dog, milk
D: lentil soup and poorboy crackers
NoSittingOnButt
Too ill to even do jumping jacks or plank
NoSpending
All Clear
NoScreeningKids
All Clear

jw, I started to comment on your thread about cleaning and decided I should probably put it on my own thread.

Last August, coincidentally when I started NoS (or maybe not coincidence?) I gave myself "permission" to do all my cleaning on Friday through Sunday (other than dishes, which I'm thankful that my husband does all of those!). It has been a good system for my family.

This way, my focuses during the week when I'm at home are homeschool stuff and family time, etc. Then on the weekends the kids help me with the chores, laundry, floors, etc, etc. I have not mentioned this as a "system" but I guess it has become one for my family.

I also haven't mentioned it because I know most of my friends keep their houses much cleaner than I keep mine and would probably hate my system! Ha, but it works for us--helps me train the kids and frees me from guilt about what I "should" be cleaning when I'm exhausted after work.

I don't have the greatest track record as far as housecleaning goes, so I have been pleased with my progress in this area.

jw, you also mentioned electronics. I also am considering electronics rules for myself. But I know that my situation is a little trickier than the kids (as a teacher, I'm expected to check my email in the evenings and post grades and student announcements). I also was reading a lot of books on my ipad. Well, I have had that ipad since last May and it has NOT been good for anyone in my family. I had good aspirations for it to make my life easier, but it has turned into just a time suck and, I think for me, a parenting escape. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave it at work. But when I say that I feel like a smoker that says, "I'm going to quit on Monday". Well, we'll see.

My husband took the kids to my in-laws for the weekend. I'm home alone! And, I might add, he has my ipad so I will not be using it for at least this weekend. That's a start.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:50 am

Ooooh enjoy your weekend alone or as much as you can while recovering!

Sounds like your cleaning solution is a good one for you & your family!

Linda :)
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:24 pm

Saturday, Week 23
134.4
S Day
NoSEating
B: eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, french toast, OJ, coffee with cream
L and D: snack bag of Butterfingers; a box of red licorice.
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
NoSpending
Regular grocery shopping
bought 2 pairs of pants for 8-yr old
oil change for car
ate breakfast out by myself since fam is gone
NoScreeningKids
Since they are with G&G& Daddy and Cousins, I'm sure they'll be way too busy to overdo it this weekend!

Still feel pretty awful, but I am slowly puttering through my weekend chores. I want to get to the library to find that Incorrigible Children book Linda recommended, but I don't think I have the energy. Update: I did! Somehow I got a burst of energy that carried me right to the library. I checked out The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1. Now I am ready to take some Nyquil and crash for the night.
Last edited by automatedeating on Sun Feb 02, 2014 1:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Jill d
Posts: 67
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:27 pm

Post by Jill d » Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:07 pm

Congratulations on your 5 months! I have really enjoyed reading your posts, and seeing how No-S can permeate other parts of your life. Cool!
"A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labour of a spasmodic Hercules." -Anthony Trollope

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lpearlmom
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Sun Feb 02, 2014 4:54 am

Oh yay on getting the book. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Remember to rest while you can! Feel better!

Linda
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:42 pm

Sunday, Week 24
S Day
NoSEating
coffee with milk
B: 2 pieces of buttered toast
L: steak sandwich, chocolate chip mint ice cream
D: taco, chips and salsa, green/blue cupcake (Go Seahawks!), 2 hard ciders
NoSittingOnButt
Thank goodness it's an S Day, because I am still way too sick to move much.
40-second plank
NoSpending
Nada
NoScreeningKids
Who Knows?? They're with Daddy and G&G. :)

Thanks, Jill, for stopping by my thread. :) And yes, Linda, I know I should rest...... but golly gee, I got so much done with the house empty! I went through all their clothes, made piles for Goodwill, and relabeled bins with ages. The house is so clean. And ready for kids to come home!
Last edited by automatedeating on Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:49 pm

"The house is so clean."

I am so jealous! -- did the flylady sink thing, though, and took on the stove, too and it really is delightful to see all that gleaming white!

Hope you're feeling better soon, auto!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

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lpearlmom
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:11 am

I totally understand auto! Isn't it amazing how you can get done when the kids are out of the house? I feel so much more relaxed when the house is clean so I'd say that was time well spent.

I used to sometimes leave the kitchen mess till the more and occasionally I'd get sick overnight. Oh there's nothing worse than waking up really sick to a messy house. Now I force myself to clean up the kitchen and pick up main living areas of the house before bed. It's so hard sometimes but so worth it.

Anyway kudos to you and JW glad to see you trying out some flylady ideas.

Hope you're all better by tomorrow auto!

Linda :)
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

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Location: No Quit Zone

Post by ZippaDee » Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:14 pm

Hope you are feeling better!!
"Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day." ~Winnie the Pooh ~

A Flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms!

Diets Don't Work.

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:17 am

Monday, Week 24
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: left it in my office, then had to walk home early to pick up a child.....no lunch!! Ended up scraping together some tortilla chips, part of an orange, and 2 hard-boiled eggs.
D: ham and potatoes
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
40-second plank
NoSpending
Nada, but SO tempted to get take-out because the meat I had thawed to make spaghetti was all nasty freezer-burned.
NoScreeningKids
All Good. Logging 1-hr reading with boys today.

Still have a cold, but it's manageable.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:54 am

1 hr reading is great! In general, a very successful update :)
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:53 am

Woops, delete
Last edited by automatedeating on Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:54 am

Tuesday, Week 24
S Day! (husband's birthday!)
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: mixed nuts, cheese, apple, clementine
D: steak, mixed veggies, fried onions (that's the "S" part of the meal!)--overall a great outing where I enjoyed the "S"pecial occasion of my husband's birthay, but didn't come home overly stuffed. That said, I ate more than my body needs, but hey, it was an S Day. I passed on the bread, I passed on the soup, I passed on the mashed potatoes. In the past, I would have eaten them because they were there. I'm so much more "mindful" of my actual hunger now. I love that!
2 margaritas
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
NoSpending
Nada, and date night is an exception. :)
You know, this NoSpending thing saved me yesterday from a snacking temptation....I had left my lunch behind and I was starving. It would have been so easy to go through a drive-through and get fast food....but then I would have spent money AND snacked!
NoScreeningKids
All Clear
Last edited by automatedeating on Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:21 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:07 am

"but then I would have spent money AND snacked!" LOL :D
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:57 am

Wednesday, Week 24
N Day
NoSEating
Today has been hard. I ate so much at dinner last night that I wasn't hungry for breakfast this morning. I thought, no big deal, I have a decent-sized lunch. Un-Uh. Wasn't enough. I've been hungry since 2:30. It's almost 5 and I'll be fixing dinner by 5:30. A lot. Another thing: it is hard to wait when I'm "over"-hungry, but it doesn't happen that often, and when it has, I know that I will survive until the next meal. I'll be fine. It's a good feeling to not feel at the whim of my appetites (for food, money, entertainment, you name it).
coffee with cream
L: ham and potatoes, apple
D:tortillas and beans
NoSittingOnButt
walk to/from work (90 minutes, very cold today)
40-second plank--why is it that I am still bad at this and my muscles get all shaky before the time is up? You'd think this would be easy by now, I've been doing it every day for well over a month!
NoSpending
Also hard, I wasn't sure what to fix for dinner tonight.
NoScreeningKids
Just fine. Last night at dinner, my husband expressed how glad he is that I began this "experiment" of No electronics for the kids during the weekdays. He said he had been having a growing sense of unease about how much the kids watched tv and played video games. He says he loves this, and he agrees that we may need to continue tweaking the weekends, but that we are already doing much better than before NoScreeningKids. :)
I've already logged 1-hour reading to them and our normal reading time starts after dinner, so we're doin' good. The kids are outside shooting baskets with some neighbor kids (it's 32 degrees, brrr) while I get stuff ready for dinner.
Last edited by automatedeating on Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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lpearlmom
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Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:34 am

I'm so impressed with your electronics rule. Seems to be really working out for you and so great Hubby is on board!

Tough when our meals get out of whack. Good for you for hanging tough. I think the great thing about NoS is that there's no "never" just "not now" "soon" and "later". So much more tolerable than the Never Again we've experienced on other diets.

Linda
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:30 am

Sounds like your whole family is benefiting from No S! you must be due for a 6-month testimonial on all the wonderful changes moderation has brought into your life, auto . . .
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:42 pm

jw, you're too kind. :lol:

However, I haven't met ANY of the criteria yet! Not 10 pounds lost, not 10 months compliance, not 10% lost.....

Trust me, I can't wait until June 25th!
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:33 am

Thursday, Week 24
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal (ate it even though I wasn't hungry! didn't want a repeat of yesterday)
L: steak burrito with guacamole, apple, clementine
D: fish tacos, french fries
wine
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
NoSpending
All Clear
NoScreeningKids
No Problems, logged one hour reading to the kids. Linda, we just finished chapter four in The Incorrigible Children! We are really enjoying it!
Last edited by automatedeating on Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:10 am

That steak burrito sounds so yummy. And well done on what seems to be a very successful day yesterday.
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:23 pm

Hi eschano. Actually, last night I felt like the day had been a bit red. I virtual plated at dinner and I was pretty sure I had overeaten. But perhaps I didn't, because I was super hungry this morning. Also, I had put in that I had done my plank (I often do that and then do the plank after I've already typed it in!) but I truly didn't do it yesterday. That's my second missed plank this week. My sister and I are trying to do one every day for the month of February.

Last night I was feeling down, kind of discouraged, for no tangible reason. I was fighting weird thoughts about not having progress on NoS, getting older and not having NoS be "enough" to prevent weight gain, and other non-practical worries. I had to consciously tell myself that one night of too big of a dinner is not something to focus on---it's the year over year patterns that matter. Sigh. I think I'm a little hormonal right now. This too shall pass.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Feb 08, 2014 4:05 am

Friday, Week 24
N Day
135.1
NoSEating
B: oatmeal
coffee with milk
L: lentil soup and toast
D: pizza and diet coke
wine
NoSittingOnButt
Um, yeah, so today I sat on my butt
NoSpending
All Clear
NoScreeningKids
Made it another week! Now for the tough S days of electronics. ergh.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

User avatar
lpearlmom
Posts: 4812
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:59 am
Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:43 am

Glad you're enjoying the book!

*hugs* hope you're feeling better. Normal to have ups & downs but you really are making tremendous progress. I was 135 when I got married (I'm 5'3"). I looked great & what I would give to be there again. So remember your feeling discouraged, not quite perfect weight is someone else's dream weight. :)
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

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NoSnacker
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Location: Buffalo, New York

Post by NoSnacker » Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:44 am

I see you had lentil soup..I love lentil soup and make enough to freeze some for lunch here and there..thought I'd share my recipe :)

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-d ... pe=2345159
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:24 pm

Linda, thanks for the encouragement.

NoSnacker, thanks for the lentil soup recipe.

Saturday, Week 24
S Day S Day S Day
NoSEating
B: eggs and bacon
coffee with milk
L: hot dog and potato chips, diet coke, 1 mini-butterfinger
D: beef burrito, lemonade, chocolate frosty
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
Groceries, oil change, 2 outfits for 4-yr old, Seahawks Superbowl shirt for hubby :)
I am happy to say that I have broken my latte habit. The past couple of weeks I assumed I would get one on my way to or from shopping, but both weekends the urge just wasn't there anymore. Amazing. I know that bad habits come back easily, though, but I will celebrate this minor victory for my pocketbook!
NoScreeningKids
Ah, I think we're finding some balance. No electronics before 8am (my boys are 6am risers!), then we take a mid-day electronics break, 12-3. Additionally, they have a rough limit of 4 hours Saturday, 4 hours Sunday. I have made a graph for each of them logging reading time each day. If they read (or are read to) 5 hours/week, then they get the above-stated lax rules on S Days. If they don't make it (only 2 weeks of this method, so that hasn't happened yet), their electronics will be further restricted on S Days. I haven't determined how yet.... ! :) An evolving plan, certainly. It's 2:15 and they have each played electronics for 2 hours today so far.
It is somewhat disconcerting to think that they are still using electronics more in a given week than reading, even with this plan. However, believe it or not, it is an improvement.
Chani's suggestion to focus on what I WANT them to do has really helped. I WANT them to read, and I WANT them to play outside and I WANT them to have a good work ethic. So I require reading, and I require outside time, and I require chores.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Sun Feb 09, 2014 6:44 am

Your Want list gave me goosebumps! You're really clear and you've got great goals!! <cheers>

Did you say, butterfinger? OMGosh. Those still exist. Thank G-d they don't import them here. Melt in your mouth heaven!

Enjoy your Yes S day!!

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Sun Feb 09, 2014 2:28 pm

I love that positive approach, auto (and chani!) -- you can really apply forward-moving energy to "I want," whereas looking at all the things you don't want just makes you angry and saps your strength. And it helps that the kids also want those things!

Happy S-day!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Sun Feb 09, 2014 10:37 pm

Sunday, Week 25
S Day S Day S Day!
NoSEating
coffee with milk
Brunch: leftover pizza
Desserts: Rocky Mountain chocolate factory: small piece of English Toffee, Mountain Toffee, and Almond Bear. These chocolates were not quite as tasty as the usual See's candies I get on the weekends. I got the boys a box of different flavors of jelly beans; they can combine flavors in "recipes". It is so cool! (BTW, yes we definitely still have butterfingers around here, Chani!)
Dinner: One more piece of English toffee and one more piece of almond bear. A bowl of gardettos snacks.
wine
NoSittingOnButt
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
bought gas for car, paid bills and bought chocolates and jelly beans
NoScreeningKids
doing good. My minimal boundaries have made a huge difference in my ability to handle their electronic use. It's no longer a free-for-all, but they still have lots of time and freedom. I think I can live with this. Stay tuned for when I eat my words. Ha ha, sure wouldn't be the first time for that to happen.
Last edited by automatedeating on Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:20 am

Hi Auto!

Hope you're feeling better. Those thoughts about your age and diet are very understandable - who doesn't get them being bombarded 24/7 with photoshopped 16 year old models - but they are also BS. Look at all the great role models in this forum who are older than us and also at all the cultures who do not gain much weight throughout their ageing. My grandmother was tiny until her death and she actually wasn't tiny at all in her 30s, she lost weight in her 40s and maintained successfully keeping a meal-based diet of three meals per day (and not so healthy: a lot of coffee and cigarettes).

So hope these thoughts are in the past and yeah us to a another N Day week!
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

Sweetness
Posts: 1152
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:54 pm
Location: Fall and winters in Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico and summers in St Paul, Minnesota

Post by Sweetness » Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:46 pm

Hi automatedeating,
Thought I'd check out your thread since you've been to mine, Thanks!
I like all your extra NoS tracking things. How many kids and how old are they? So good that they're getting out to play, and you're reading to them!
Patty

Anxiety in a person's heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy. (Proverbs 12:25 NET)
I'm a glutton for encouragement.

anna418
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:15 pm

Post by anna418 » Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:51 pm

You're so good! I am really impressed. I feel like my first two weeks of No S have been difficult due to illness (first week) and the snowpocalypse (second week) disrupting my best-laid plans. Ready to really commit to it this week. I like that you track other things too. I really need to incorporate more exercise into my life.
Vanilla No-S

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:15 am

Thanks Sweetness, Anna, and eschano for the supportive comments! :)

Monday, Week 25
N Day
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: PB&J, apple, clementine
milky coffee
D: spaghetti, buttered toast, glass of milk
red wine
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
A-OK, but tempted to buy some math drills workbooks on amazon.
NoScreeningKids
Going well. Already have read 45 minutes and we just finished dinner. We're playing ticket to ride, then I'll get in some more reading.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:32 pm

Tuesday, Week 25
N Day
133.4
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: spaghetti, apple, and handful of mixed nuts
D: steak fajitas, guacamole, few chips with salsa
update: I didn't get to eat until almost 8pm. Normal dinner time is 5:30pm. I was VERY hungry between 4:30 and 6:30pm, but then, (miraculously????) my hunger went away. Then, when we finally sat down to eat, I was starving again. My interpretation? My body has learned when it's TIME to be hungry! When I missed the meal, my body assumed it was NO EAT time until breakfast, and I was truly OK!! But then, when my body saw the food, it reminded me I WAS hungry. Cool stuff! Love NoS. :)
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (90 minutes)
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
A-OK so far
NoScreeningKids
All Clear so far
Last edited by automatedeating on Wed Feb 12, 2014 5:13 am, edited 3 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

chani8
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: israel

Post by chani8 » Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:22 pm

You really won on the No Sitting on Butt today! Great job!! 90 minutes of walking is awesome!! And 50 jumping jacks!! Woo hoo!!!

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:46 am

Thanks, Chani. :)

I wanted to start documenting my month-by-month progress, all in preparation for my 1-year testimonial (ha! go ahead, laugh, I know I'm silly).
I'm afraid I'll forget some of this stuff, so I'm just jotting down a summary:

Month 1:
Realized
a) how much I had been snacking and how habitual it was to pick up food to munch on, especially when I was anxious, mad, or sad.
b) how much I enjoyed regularity to my meals, and waiting to eat until I was hungry.
c) how much better NoS habits were for my family's eating, too.
d) permasnacking on S Days was unsatisfying
Lost:
1 pound
Challenges:
*freaked out that NoS would not be "enough" for me to lose weight. These boards calmed me with encouragement to give it time.

Month 2:
Motivated to start exercising because NoS success had given me confidence that I can change.
Carefully chose an activity that was sustainable, practical, and moderate: walking to/from work 4 days/week.
Lost:
2 pounds

Month 3:
Started feeling hungry for breakfast. This hasn't been the case for many years.
Realized that my alcohol intake had fallen without effort.
Began enforcing no/limited snacks for kids--really started seeing their meal eating improve.
Had a "down" period where I felt discouraged and vulnerable, lacked confidence. NoS gave me a little stability during this time, actually. This was my first true test not using food to feel better. It was hard, but oh so worth it. Beware those afternoons when you are learning to not use food to medicate sadness! They are tough, but it is essential to learn that you feel better (in a while, anyway) without medicating with food. I naturally came out of this funk in about 3 weeks.
Lost:
2 pounds

Month 4:
Went into the holidays feeling really great about NoS. Planned 4 NWS Days, guilt-free. Got inspired to add a daily 30-second plank to my day. Best holidays ever--I ate good things, I was consistently moderate, it was fantastic.
During this month I ruminated a great deal on how moderation is a key to great living. I couldn't seem to keep ideas out of my head for implementing NoS principles. So, I launched a few plans in Month 5
Lost:
0 pounds

Month 5:
Two big plans: NoSpending Monday through Friday (with a few planned exceptions for date night and paying babysitters); and NoScreeningKids Monday through Friday. The NoSpending plan was a perfect fit for my family, and it was such a natural and practical way for us to reduce spending. I've already saved hundreds of dollars!! NoScreeningKids has been harder to get a working plan in place. We're still tweaking. I wanted to have full freedom for my kids on the weekends, just like I do on NoSEating. However, either my kids don't have natural balance (he he) or I just don't have the patience to wait out their electronic "binges". Either way, I instituted weekend mods for NoScreeningKids early in the process. With certain allowed times, and maximum hour limitations, I think the plan is now working OK.
Month 5 was another period of doubting NoS. I didn't lose again, and I was beginning to think NoS had brought my weight as low as it was going to. I had to come to terms with that, but just when I thought I had..... I started losing again. Not a lot, but enough that now I think that consistent NoS over many years could drop my weight another 5 or even 10 pounds, given enough patience and compliance.
Lost:
0 pounds

Month 6:

Realized that after almost 6 months of these habits my body is in the NoS rhythm. It gets hungry at breakfast, lunch and dinner time (well, an hour or so before, actually!). If I have to wait extra long to eat (unusual), I get quite hungry up until about an hour AFTER the meal normally would have been. Then my hunger abates. Intriguing. Fascinating physiology, but I think it basically comes down to my body knowing when food will be provided. I bet my body even knows the general nutrient makeup (for example, how many carbs are in the meal) and responds with predictable pre-meal squirts of insulin......theoretically, this is very good for blood sugar regulation! Another NoS winner! ***I should track my blood sugar for a couple weeks and see what it's doing on these three meals a day, rather than permasnacking. I kept records for a several months a few years back when I didn't NoS, so I could compare.
This month my weight has dropped a little (maybe 1.5 pounds). It's a nice place to be: in a healthy BMI, able to eat pretty much whatever I want (with planned mealtimes and special days, that is). I look forward to my next 6 months.
Last edited by automatedeating on Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:04 am, edited 4 times in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Sweetness
Posts: 1152
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:54 pm
Location: Fall and winters in Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico and summers in St Paul, Minnesota

Post by Sweetness » Wed Feb 12, 2014 2:46 am

Inspiring!
Patty

Anxiety in a person's heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy. (Proverbs 12:25 NET)
I'm a glutton for encouragement.

osoniye
Posts: 1257
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 2:19 pm
Location: Horn of Africa

Post by osoniye » Wed Feb 12, 2014 5:07 am

Hi Automated,
I really like your mini-testimonial! Perhaps soon you can post one on the testimonials page for the first 10# lost, if you don't want to wait 10 more months!
-Sonya
No Sweets, No Snacks and No Seconds, Except (Sometimes) on days that start with "S".

User avatar
lpearlmom
Posts: 4812
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:59 am
Location: Arizona

Post by lpearlmom » Wed Feb 12, 2014 5:11 am

I think it's really cool to see the month by month changes & progress all laid out like that and look forward to reading the rest.

Btw, 133? Nice! :)
:twisted: SW: 210 lbs
CW: 172
GW:160

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:15 am

It's great to read this - I think it should go on the testimonial page. Everyone should read your progress report and your challenges will be recognizable to many of us.

I agree, NoS alone won't get you to a BMI of 18, like ever. But the sanity is worth the struggle with patience. Or so I think.
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:29 pm

A testimonial like this gives everybody something to grab onto, no matter where they are in the process -- we've all been in all those places! But we haven't all been as consistently committed and enthusiastic as you! You're a star, auto!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:11 am

Wednesday, Week 25
N Day
133.0 (wowza, surprising but pleasantly!)
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: microwaveable chicken pot pie, some potato chips
D: spinach mozarella ravioli, glass of milk
wine
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (85 minutes.....I guess I'm walking faster!)
40-second plank
50 jumping jacks
NoSpending
All Clear. 8-yr old wants a Taekwondo uniform. I put it in my "cart" on Amazon to purchase on the weekend, if we still think it's a good choice.
NoScreeningKids
Kids wanted to watch a movie tonight, which was unusual that they even asked. I said no, but told them maybe Monday night we could do that as a family since it's a holiday here. :)
I've gotten in 30 minutes of reading, and we just finished dinner, so I should be able to fit in more reading.... along with a few games of Sorry or Ticket to Ride.

I'm weary. But I can see clearly from my check-in last October that I felt just the same at Week 6 in the Fall Quarter, too! I just need to hunker down for a few weeks and then I know things will ease up a bit. Our family has had an inordinate amount going on the past month. Suffice it to say, it has been EXTREMELY stressful. No family stressors, but some work-related issues for both my husband and myself.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

Tessytwinkle
Posts: 610
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:14 pm

Post by Tessytwinkle » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:46 am

Oh my goodness auto. You are doing such brilliant stuff!! So much to get my head round and think about. I love your structure. I shall think about this as I need to make some significant changes in my life. Your testimonial is inspiring and humbling. You are such a star :-)
Thanks for dropping by my thread to welcome me back it means a lot.

jw
Posts: 844
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:27 pm
Location: PA

Post by jw » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:33 am

133! I know it's not about the scale, but YAY, you!

auto, I am intrigued that you teach about gluten and joint pain. Do you teach nutrition?
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:00 am

Thursday, Week 25
N Day
132.8--I am actually worrying now that I am losing weight too fast this month and that it will be unsustainable--sheesh, I'm never content, am I?! :roll:
NoSEating
coffee with cream
B: oatmeal
L: beans and rice, mixed nuts, apple, clementine
D: pizza
NoSittingOnButt
walked to/from work (85 minutes)
NoSpending
All Clear, although I did put a couple more items in my Amazon "cart"
NoScreeningkids
All Clear, but I haven't read to the boys yet today. I got home late, and we haven't gotten dinner together yet.....hopefully a little later.
Update: :oops: Failure!!! My husband suggested a family movie night, which is rare and for some reason seemed like an exception to the NoElectronics. Big mistake. It was way too scary, so we stopped it early. The 8-yr old had a total meltdown and I ended up reading ZERO minutes to my kids today! Argh!!!!! I need to forgive myself, but I'm feeling pretty shameful about how lazy I was last night and how poorly I handled a variety of things that led to this colossal fail.
Last edited by automatedeating on Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

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