Restart

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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idontknow
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Restart

Post by idontknow » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:16 am

Day 1 success.
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Post by idontknow » Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:59 pm

Day 2 success.
Day 3 success so far!
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Post by jw » Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:53 am

idon'tknow, it sounds like you have gotten off to an excellent restart!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

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Post by idontknow » Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:18 am

Thanks jw :D
Small fail just before bed yesterday-had tiny piece of halloween chocolate. V v small fail and not going to let it worry me.
Day 4 today and I know I can be successful today
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Post by jw » Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:44 am

Well, technically Halloween is an S day, so it's really nothing to worry about! Just keep going!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

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Post by idontknow » Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:40 am

Well, since my restart I've had 2 green days and 7 red days :oops:

Issues are:
1 Fear of being hungry between lunch and dinner makes me want to eat. I know I can go this length of time - I have before, but it scares me so I feel I have to eat. There's a big gap between what I know and what I feel.

2 Work pressures - I eat to deal with the feeling of overwhelm. Not an answer.

I'm writing the same things I've written for the last 2 years every time I've failed. Aarrgghh!!!

I know I do better when I:
eat a healthy breakfast
exercise
have good recording method for food/exercise/weight.

In September I gave up all sweet things for the whole month. It wasn't hard - I think I am an 'abstainer' rather than a 'moderator' (thanks to Gretchen Rubin for this insight), but I tend to think I should be a moderator and resist the abstainer part of me. Maybe I need to think of myself as an abstainer during the week and a moderator at weekends - or am I overthinking this??

And how do I get over the fear of hunger between 1pm and 7.30pm??

The first time I did NoS I used to eat fruit in the afternoon - but the all or nothing bit of me felt like it was cheating... Not meeting the gold standard of Vanilla and therefore not worth doing. However, it's probably better to do this than keep failing with high fat snacks.

So this week I will try splitting my lunch in two - leaving the fruit until mid-afternoon and count it as a success. Small steps.....
[/list][/list]
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Post by keep on going NMW » Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:43 am

I have been drinking milk, or coffe or tea in the afternoons if I feel peckish. It helps keep the habit going and stays within the rules. It s enough to satisfy, but not spoil my appetite
I am training for a marathon, not a sprint!
Start weight 179
Dec 17 2013..177.8

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Post by idontknow » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:17 pm

Thanks NMW - today was easy actually. I went from 12.30 to 7.30 and was only hungry for the last hour. My fear of hunger is often worse than the hunger itself.

Success today - spurred on by not wanting to post a fail. If I post every day it may well motivate me to post successes.
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Post by idontknow » Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:56 pm

Tuesday - success. The fear of hunger is definitely worse than the real thing.
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Post by idontknow » Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:53 pm

Wednesday - success. Late dinner today so it was a struggle. Being hungry makes me tired and cold. Not eating sugar improves my mood though!
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Post by jw » Wed Nov 13, 2013 9:24 pm

I found that, too, idontknow -- I feel in a better, more stable mood when I avoid sweets. And I agree that a little hunger before dinner is not at all a bad thing!
"The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective." -- El Fug

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Post by idontknow » Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:07 am

Thursday - success.

Friday - I've changed my S days around because of Children in Need day. This meant lots of cake sales at work, along with a tea party given by my 2 most vulnerable students. They would have been very upset if I'd refused the cakes they had made. So I decided to take Friday and Sunday as S days as I don't want 3 S days in a row. Having dinner at my in-laws on Sunday which will mean a delicious dessert and I'm not depriving myself of that!

Exercise can be tricky during the week as we are so busy. Friday - 45 min zumba class. Today I'm doing Step and Body pump - not sure how my knees will hold out....

Feel like I'm relaxing back into the No S routine
53 years old
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May 18 - 2.45lbs

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Post by idontknow » Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:58 am

Saturday - N day - success.

3 meals, step class, body pump. I ache now, but feel so much better for exercising.

Sunday is an S day. No restrictions, but be mindful that my mood is better when I restrict the amount of sugar that I eat.
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Post by automatedeating » Sun Nov 17, 2013 4:33 pm

Sounds like you do some great workouts!
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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Post by keep on going NMW » Sun Nov 17, 2013 4:38 pm

I just reminded myself the same about the sugar. Much to my disapointment I did not enjoy the chocolate whipped cream cake I ate yesterday. I have not been enjoying CHOCOLTE! You think I would be happy about that.
I am training for a marathon, not a sprint!
Start weight 179
Dec 17 2013..177.8

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Post by idontknow » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:05 am

Automatedeating - I love exercise classes but don't have a lot of time during the week, so try to cram it all into weekends!
Keep on going NMW - chocolate is such an emotional food. I love eating it, but I often love the idea more than the real thing.

Monday - small fail.... a handful of snow bites after dinner. My daughter bought them and I had resisted them in the car and on the worktop before dinner, but mindlessly ate a few afterwards. Oh well, not a huge fail as I didn't carry on eating after this.

This is a tricky week - Husband's birthday today, event at daughter's school tomorrow, late night working on Thursday. It will all test my ability to keep on the straight and narrow.

On the plus side - I've found a cleaner for my house!! It will be lovely to be freed from this at weekends. :D
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Post by idontknow » Thu Nov 21, 2013 5:16 am

Tuesday - S day for husband's birthday. A lovely meal in a local restaurant.

Wednesday - huge 'crash the car' fail. Question to consider: did the stress of the day cause the eating, or did eating rubbish cause the stress??

Thursday - getting back on track.
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Post by automatedeating » Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:48 am

My instinctive response to your question was "idon'tknow". I wonder why that was? He he, it's the little things that get me through the day.
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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Post by idontknow » Fri Nov 22, 2013 6:14 am

automatedeating: :D :D

Thursday - another big fail.

I set myself up to fail at the beginning of the week by telling myself it would be tricky - built-in excuses. Well, today's not tricky - it's easy to follow the rules today - nothing to throw me off track.
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Post by idontknow » Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:31 am

Friday was a fail - which made for a pretty rubbish week altogether.
The weekend had sane moments and wild moments.

A new week means trying again, and not being put off by last week.
Monday - success.
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Post by automatedeating » Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:02 pm

Every new meal is an opportunity for success. Maybe you could even go by meals rather than just 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

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Post by idontknow » Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:39 am

Hi automatedeating - that's a good idea. On tricky days I could track portions of the day, rather than the whole day itself.

Posting here keeps me accountable and motivated. I have made a promise to myself that I will stick with this, no matter how hard I find it. In the past when I have started to fail I have stopped posting, which makes me less accountable, which makes me fail etc etc. The thought of posting another fail can actually help me keep on track - I really don't want people to think I'm rubbish :oops: !!

So Tuesday - I resisted the bag of chocolates in my desk drawer all day, and the toffees and pork scratchings on the way home late last night (family night out to see The Fratellis - superb!). The day was a success!
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Post by automatedeating » Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:39 pm

No one would think you're rubbish! Yeeks, you're worth more than your weight!

From what I've been reading, sticking with NoS without condemning yourself is a required element for long term. Everyone will fail, so the key is how will we treat ourselves in that moment. Will shame take over? Or will we be compassionate and encouraging of ourselves in that vulnerable moment?

I have had 3 straight green months. Someday I will fail, and then I need to brush myself off and keep on going! I know the support of this group will help me through that. My absolute greatest fear with NoS is that I'll just give up on the whole thing, stop cold turkey. I don't want to do that! I need to face failure, and still be able to accept 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

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Post by idontknow » Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:38 am

Hi automatedeating - everyone here is very supportive and non-judgementa - I know that. And I am so much more than my weight. But I know that if I have to post failures every day, I feel rubbish and I don't want to post. Therefore daily posting motivates me to succeed on days where I find it hard. In the long run, what I weigh doesn't matter to anyone except me - my family still love me, my friends still like me, and I can still do my job.
This is a great forum for support and help - it's kept me coming back after many crashes over the last four years! 3 straight green months is fantastic - well done!

Wednesday - success. Still ignoring the chocolates in my desk drawer.
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Post by idontknow » Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:12 am

Thursday success.
Friday - the chocolates in my desk drawer won! I shared them with a colleague but they weren't very nice and made me feel a bit sick. There's a lesson in that...

A much better week overall :D
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Post by idontknow » Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:00 am

Last week was a Disaster. I failed every day. The week was tricky with lots of long work days and I ended up feeling chaotic and couldn't manage everything, so eating went out of the window. However, I promised I would keep coming back and posting to make myself accountable - so here I am. Interesting that I didn't do that during last week - was that because I wanted the liberty to fail...? Mmmmm

I ordered and have read the No S book. Several things strike me:
  • I have read the website several times, but it isn't like reading a book: holding a book in my hands makes me read more slowly and take it more seriously.
    The section on taming habit by treating it like a wild animal makes a lot of sense. Strictness and no exceptions!
    The section on emotional eating is excellent. I am sick of reading that I should have a hot bath, phone a friend, listen to music etc when I want to eat. None of those things makes me feel better or is even realistic at the moment I want to eat. I like the idea of categorising eating as a 'self-hate crime'. Reinhard is right - it's not comfort eating. It doesn't give comfort and it needs to be absolutely forbidden.
    I often 'crash the car' when I make one slip up in a day. I laughed out loud when I read 'I messed up my winning streak. My sense of perfectionism is outraged'. It just shows how ridiculous I can be!
    I love the idea of 'enlightened self-mockery' and can see that this is a tool that will work for me.
So - renewed determination. I am out for my first Christmas meal today - I will enjoy it as today is an S day. Then tomorrow I am going to start taming that wild animal.
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May 18 - 2.45lbs

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Post by NoSnacker » Sun Dec 08, 2013 11:34 am

Hi there...I just came back as well and dusted off my No S book.

I love all that you said...I think we are our own worst enemy. And I guess if applying the take a bath and call a friend was an easy escape we would all be skinny!

I found this quote that I love:

"Enemy" of motivation is the tendency to see yourself as the hapless victim of forces (or urges) over which you have no control."

I kept feeling I was helpless when it came to binging...the forces of the urge surely can make one feel powerless..

Seems you are taking back you power..me toooo!!!!!

Hang in there....
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by idontknow » Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:11 am

Hi NoSnacker - thanks for your kind words. Power to the NoSers should be our motto!

Monday - success.
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Post by NoSnacker » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:55 pm

Hi again....hope you had a great day!!!

I did something dangerous, bought a cheese cake (individual) serving sizes, I put the whole thing in the freezer and on the weekend I'll have one and savoir it!!

But if I can stop thinking about it now things will be okay!
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by idontknow » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:18 pm

Hi,
Today was ok - another success.

The cheesecake idea sounds good. Are you good at visualising? You could visualise a sign saying 'Only to be eaten on Sat/Sun' on your cheesecake, or you could visualise yourself eating it on Saturday and feeling really good about it.
I really like the idea from the book about training appetite. I keep thinking that if I was puppy training I wouldn't make any exceptions because the puppy wouldn't get it quickly enough. I'm visualising my appetite as a black lab - they take loads of training but are brilliant once they get it!
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Post by automatedeating » Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:54 am

I loved your post with some favorite thoughts from the book. I think I will pull out my copy and reread! You inspired me!

I have not had a fail day yet... I am so afraid how I will respond when that day arrives. Will you remind me that my sense of perfectionism is a ridiculous reason to just throw in the towel then?! :)

Thanks for encouraging all of us with your post.
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
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Post by NoSnacker » Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:24 am

Hi, yes I surely am visualizing me taking my time, enjoying every bite as I should do.

Not sure if you ever smoked, but sometimes people quit the first time and that is it, others like me had many attempts before I succeeded..same with changing our eating patterns..but we can do it!

Hope you had a great night..hang in there..we are all here to support you and each other!!
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by idontknow » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:02 pm

Hi NoSnacker and automated - thanks for the encouragement.

Wednesday was a fail. Went to a meeting where Christmas snacks were served and I didn't want to miss out. And this led to more snacking later...

Thursday - black lab puppy is firmly back on the lead and is under control. Success.
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Post by NoSnacker » Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:32 am

Surely we can be our own worst enemy...I remember one year everyone brought in homemade cookies, mind you I don't bake or like to cook at all...so to me that was like heaven...I kept sneaking back for more when no on was looking, every time I walked by I would take more..it was pathetic....I guess I felt deprived since the Christmas before :)

Anyhow, remember if we can let the one bad day go, it will be easier to have a good day. That day is gone and you are a puppy in training....

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

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Post by idontknow » Sun Dec 15, 2013 7:37 am

Friday - success. Went to a Christmas networking event and there were chocolates, mince pies, crisps etc everywhere. I had a cup of tea and gave the appetite puppy a firm NO. And it worked!

Saturday - chocolate after lunch and after dinner, but planned and not excessive. My eldest girlie is home from uni - it's lovely to have her back for the holidays. :D
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Post by NoSnacker » Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:09 am

Ahhh, I'm sure it feels great to have your daughter home for the holidays. Does she live far? My daughter is expecting her third child right around Christmas "she is 30" and still wants mummy as she says at the hospital with her and hubby...

You had a wonderful S day, and I'm glad your puppy listened..I can envision as you say it "NO"...same as Dr. Beck "NO CHOICE". :)

Have a great Sunday as well..
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Post by automatedeating » Sun Dec 15, 2013 3:51 pm

It doesn't matter how old a girl is, she wants her mommy to be there when she's having a baby! And.....there's nothing like mom in the first couple of weeks after a baby arrives. I bawled for a whole day after my mom left after my first baby was born.... and I was 29!
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
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Post by idontknow » Tue Dec 17, 2013 5:36 am

NoSnacker - congratulations on being a grandma again really soon. You must be so excited and it's lovely that your daughter wants you there :D.

Sunday - grazed on chocolate and sweets because I didn't plan meals properly. I went shopping but didn't have time to stop for anything so just ate rubbish all day.

Monday - success. I went to an event at my daughter's school which finished later than I thought so didn't eat until nearly 9pm. That was a big gap from lunch at 12.30 but I managed it fine. It's unlikely I will ever have to wait longer than that, so I know I can do it now and need to tell myself that in future.

1.5lbs down from last Monday.
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Post by NoSnacker » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:53 am

Congrats on the weight loss, I know that can surely be an incentive to continue on knowing you can do it.

I was having trouble and Oolala closed a response with "You CAN face this down, Deb"...

So can all of us....if we truly want to build the habit to become just that, a habit just like brushing our teeth..for me it is my morning cup of tea, totally such a habit I would go bonkers without it :)
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Post by idontknow » Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:20 am

NoSnacker - I too love my morning cup of tea - it's always a perfect moment in my day! And you're right, we can face it down - it's only food after all...

Tuesday -success
Wednesday - success.

I have resisted so much food over the last 2 days - chocolates, sweets, mince pies, cake... I did have a hot chocolate on Tuesday as I went out with some colleagues after work. I know this is technically not allowed, as it is very sweet, but I rarely drink it and it won't become a habit - it was to save me joining in with tea and cakes. That would have been much more damaging and would have set off a whole evening of eating. So I'm calling it a success.
Wednesday was another late day - didn't eat between 12.30pm and 9pm - but it wasn't a problem. I didn't feel hungry until 8pm and then it was easy to last another hour. My lunch is usually the same - chicken, hummus, salad sandwich, yogurt, fruit. Not huge, but filling.
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Post by automatedeating » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:50 pm

Yay! Sounds so wonderfully moderate and reasonable. Good job!
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
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Post by NoSnacker » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:55 pm

Funny you should mention hot chocolate..I actually make a cup now and then using 1% milk, 1 tbs of cocoa powder and 1 packet of splenda. I know, I know, splenda is bad, but it sure beats the heck out of eating :)

Congrats..It surely is the behavior that warrants success and you surely found it!
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by automatedeating » Thu Dec 19, 2013 2:05 pm

Yeah, I don't think hot cocoa is that big of a deal in the large scheme of things. Lots of people get lattes to tide them over when they're hungry, especially in the beginning.

And this is off-topic, but there was a new study that supposedly says aspartame isn't so horrendous (my husband mentioned it to me, I still need to go look it up). So perhaps an aritificial sweetener is not an evil choice compared to real sugar (which we know for sure is bad for us!).

And really, what I love about NoS (and its practitioners) is the "whatever works" attitude. If we need some diet drinks to get us through in the beginning, so be it. I have noticed that I am drinking WAY less diet soda now than when I first started NoS 17 weeks ago.
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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
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Post by idontknow » Sat Dec 21, 2013 7:57 am

I don't like the taste of artificial sweeteners so tend not to eat or drink things with them in. My husband can't either as they have a bad effect on his digestive system-if you know what I mean... :wink: I know sugar has a bad effect on me so I just need to limit it.

And with that thought.... Friday was a big fat fail. I could give lots of excuses but it was the last day of term, party food was everywhere and I wanted to join in. And then I didn't stop. And I didn't feel good either.

My aim for the weekend is to eat regular meals-even though I'm going to be really busy so that my day isn't food disordered.
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Post by NoSnacker » Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:17 am

Hi, organic coconut palm sugar is another alternative, it is low on the GI index.

I just receive my Latte machine yesterday...so excited..So I can control what I'm putting in it..I'll focus on using on the weekends only as to not become dependent on them.

Parties are always a downfall for me..always..I go with the good intentions only to join in on the feeding frenzy. Once the holidays are over it will get easier :)

On day at a time is all we can do..
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by idontknow » Tue Dec 24, 2013 7:35 am

Monday - fail. Out shopping and shared a cake then had a mince pie after dinner.

Going to try and make Christmas Eve a success, because I've then got 3 S days on the trot.
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Post by NoSnacker » Wed Dec 25, 2013 10:01 am

Hi, I plan on having a moderate S day today, sticking to my 3 squares with a treat at both of the houses I'm going to today...

Not overstuffing is my main goal because then I get into the WTH spiral.

Hope your days turn out just like you planned...
deb
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by idontknow » Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:58 am

So, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day have all been S days. Today is also an S day as I am going to my lovely MILs to see family. A fondue is planned - so lots to eat and drink.

I have eaten a lot this week - my appetite puppy is running round and round completely out of control - so I am going to make Sat, Sun and Mon N days. I know it's the wrong way round, but otherwise I will have had 2 solid weeks of eating. I need to plan a break! I'm also drinking more than I normally do, but I'm not worried about that - I know it will stop once the holidays are over.

So - plans are
Fri - S day - but only after 2pm
Sat, Sun, Mon - N days
Tues - S day - but only after 4pm
Weds - S day
Thurs - N day
Fri - S day (meeting an old friend for shopping, chat and food)
Sat, Sun - moderate S days. A good structure with treats after 4pm.

Let's see how it goes
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Post by idontknow » Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:03 am

Friday was an S day after 1pm rather than 2pm.
Saturday was a successful N day, although I overdid the alcohol a little bit in the evening - too many glasses of Baileys! However, I don't generally drink much so these few days don't worry me on that score.

Still planning an N day for Sunday and Monday although it might be tricky, as we have family over today and are having a day out in London tomorrow. Still, I do need to train myself to deal with these types of situations so I need to plan and stick to it.
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Post by idontknow » Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:03 am

I just read this by Oolala on No Snacker's thread:
On Sparkpeople teams, I often tell people that stress, boredom, emotions, etc. don't make us eat (as so many people insist); they make us WANT to eat. That's not the same thing. We don't have to eat just because we want to! We can have all the desires, emotions, stress, etc. and still not eat.

I think what makes it hard is that we still subconsciously give ourselves the choice to eat; thinking we have a choice and that we might miss out on a nice experience makes us waver. Wavering is harder than definitively saying no. Judith Beck recommends writing NO CHOICE on an index card and just reading it periodically, or even carrying it and pulling it out in tough moments until it's not needed anymore.
This is a bit of a coincidence as this is something I've been thinking about over the last few days: my desire not to miss out. Over Christmas I have chosen to take very few N days because I don't want to turn down the snacks, nibbles, nice desserts, chocolates after dinner - I don't want to miss out. I also don't want to come under pressure from others as I know I will crack easily (oh, just have a little bit, it won't hurt just this once etc...). Also - I don't want people to think I'm odd because I'm not indulging when they are.

N days when I know there will be temptation causes panic and constant noise in my head. (what if there's chocolate, how do I say no, what if they think I'm weird, one little piece won't hurt, you've had 4 green days - one red day won't hurt, no one else is bothered - it's only your rules for yourself, you can start again on Monday, one cake will only be a slight fail....etc etc)

So Oolala's point is well made at the right time. I am still telling myself I have a choice when actually there should be no choice. Every time I give myself a choice I am making it more difficult to form the habit. I do know this - but I need to make the desire to form the habit stronger than the desire to eat or not appear different.

Time to put the appetite puppy back on the training lead. This was working well for me before the holidays. If I was puppy training I would allow no exceptions until the puppy was well trained. This needs to be the same.

Today will be ok. I am at home all day. Tomorrow I am meeting an old friend for lunch. That will be harder, but I think I will just explain. She is my oldest friend - she will understand. And there will be cocktails.... which are allowed :D
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Post by NoSnacker » Thu Jan 02, 2014 9:44 am

I'm reading a book called "Brain over Binge", quite an interesting read. Kathryn the author was a bulimic/binge eater who has been set free for 6 years now..her concept is the same as Oolala's or at least very similar.

She explains in great detail how conventional therapy doesn't always work and does a great job explaining how she over came her disorder.

Most of eating disorders start when we are a lot younger, hence why most of us can say we started our first diet at "..." age and it never stopped from there. We have in fact ingrained paths in our brains that bring on urges to binge, but we can change those paths to new ones, hence No S and habit building. Not to say an urge would never come, but they are seen in a different light.

I want to be happy in life and not consumed by thoughts of food...as I know most of us would love to be set free from the constant thoughts.

Oolala has walked the path for sure and is a poster child for No S :)
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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Post by idontknow » Wed May 28, 2014 7:42 am

Starting again.

Even though I'm not posting I think about NoS every day, start with good intentions, but don't see them through. Maybe I need the accountability of the boards to help me succeed. I do know this is the only plan I am ever going to try and follow-I hate and despise commercial weight loss plans and the 'diet head chatter' of calorie counting, so I need to give NoS the focus it deserves.

Day 1 restart on the restart...
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Post by idontknow » Wed May 28, 2014 7:06 pm

Wednesday- success.
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Post by idontknow » Fri May 30, 2014 7:17 am

Thursday-success. Bit of virtual plating was required as we were eating out. Had salad bowl but left some of main plate to make room. No dessert. Feeling proud that I didn't give in.
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Post by eschano » Fri May 30, 2014 8:53 am

Well done! It's hard to be in a restaurant and not give in - but that too becomes habit :)
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
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Post by idontknow » Sat May 31, 2014 8:03 am

Thanks eschano. Actually the meal wasn't very good so I didn't mind leaving it. It might have been a different story if it had been really special :)

Friday was a fail. Baking cake pops. I really shouldn't bake during the week but I need to try something out so had to start early. That led to a small chocolate fail after dinner.... Because I'd already failed so wth?! Both fails were small but I should know better. Oh we'll, mark it and move on.
Today is an S day!
53 years old
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May 18 - 2.45lbs

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Post by idontknow » Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:24 pm

Monday - success.
B - pineapple/toasted teacake/butter
L - chicken salad sandwich/yogurt/tangerines
D - chicken and pesto pasta - yum!

Hungry now so going to bed!
53 years old
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Post by idontknow » Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:42 pm

Tuesday-success. Could have been a tricky day because of a late meeting but I added a bit more food to lunch and ate it late so that I didn't get too hungry. Turned out to be a good tactic :D
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Post by snapdragon » Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:57 pm

Looks like your off to a good restart! I am just back at it too. We both had pesto pasta with chicken last night.
Starting weight 185
Healthy BMI 139
Willingness without action is fantasy

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Post by idontknow » Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:41 pm

Thanks snapdragon. Love chicken and pesto!
Success for third day in a row.

B mango/toast and honey
L chicken salad sandwich/yogurt/fruit
D chicken and chorizo risotto
53 years old
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Post by idontknow » Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:17 pm

Thursday - success
B - mango/bagel with butter/marmite
L - ham and cheese salad roll/yogurt/fruit
D - steak, chips, tomato

Can't believe I've had 4 successful days in a row. Keeping this in mind 'the days are long but the years are short'. This helps me to see the big picture -which is a motivator for me.
53 years old
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May 18 - 2.45lbs

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Post by idontknow » Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:02 am

5 successful days in a row :D
Friday was the hardest day - I really wanted chocolate, and I really wanted seconds of dinner, but I resisted.

I feel so much better - less bloated and lighter. I promised myself I wouldn't weigh until 1 July. In the past I've weighed daily, which is fine because I don't over-obsess and I like to see the scale coming down bit by bit. However, this time I decided I need to focus on the habit. If I focus on weight I will treat this as another diet and will stop the habits when I get where I want to be. Did that 4 years ago and ended up a lot heavier than when I started! So this time I'm focussing on embedding vanilla and trying not to think about the number on the scale.

Five green days in a row on my habitcal - it looks great! :D :D :D
53 years old
Average weight loss:
May 18 - 2.45lbs

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Post by automatedeating » Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:50 pm

Sounds to me like you're implementing some of the ideas from the Willpower Instinct! :)
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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Post by idontknow » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:32 pm

Thanks automated - not sure I'm being that successful!
Monday was a fail.. Hungry early in the day so had an small piece of toast, seconds after dinner as the youngest left some of her dinner, so why not have some chocolate too???!! :oops:

Fresh start from now!
53 years old
Average weight loss:
May 18 - 2.45lbs

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