CM is Slow and Steady in 2014

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:10 am

Alright! I am going to check in daily.

My first goal is to stick with No S for the rest of January. That's it. I have set no other goals or challenges. I need to take my time and build one habit at a time.

January
21 I did it!
22 I did it!
23 I did it!
24 I did it!
25 S Day!
26 S Day!
27 I Failed

28 I Failed

29 I Failed

30 I Failed

31 I did it!

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:40 am

Great plan! One habit at a time, one day at a time.

eschano · Post by **eschano** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:49 pm

Welcome!!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:45 am

Gosh, I had a dream about Oreo cookies last night. What does that mean?

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 1:14 am

Ha, ha! That is funny, and, believe it or not, super common on these boards. I think a lot of us have dreams like that in the beginning. I actually think it's a good sign--it's like your mind is really trying to commit.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:16 am

automated, I sure hope my mind is trying to commit.

I guess I know what I will be eating on my S day.

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:06 pm

Funny! Enjoy those Oreos!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:21 am

I failed hard today. I was a munching, crunching fool! Not sure what happened.

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:15 am

OK, CM, this is where NoS really shines. You:
Mark it and Move On!
Success is Just a Meal Away!
Do not give into the What the Hell effect! (A little fender bender need not end up a train wreck!)
Remember, be gentle with yourself when you fail. Pay attention to your self-talk. Get up, dust yourself off, give yourself a loving affirming statement, and go for green tomorrow!

ZippaDee · Post by **ZippaDee** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:38 am

Yes!! What auto said!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:09 pm

This must be the same thing I have experienced in the past when I tried to do "eat all things in moderation" diets. As soon as I allow myself sweets I go hog wild for days.

As much as I hate to say this, I truly think I am addicted to sugar. I may not be able to handle it even on S days. Now I am trying to find my way back the sanity I had before that first S day.

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:42 am

CM, if you keep your N Days sweet-free for a long enough time, there is a decent possibility you will get over your sugar addiction. I've seen testimonials for people where eventually their S days calm down.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:46 pm

automatedeating wrote:CM, if you keep your N Days sweet-free for a long enough time, there is a decent possibility you will get over your sugar addiction. I've seen testimonials for people where eventually their S days calm down.

I hope so. I really don't want to experience this again. I already had a bad start today. This morning was bad...really bad...but I will say that I found some sanity by lunch time. I did very well with lunch. I hoping to stay the course through the rest of the day.

Right now I think I have to consider keeping away form sweets on S-Days. I hope that will not be putting too much pressure on myself. I can still enjoy those non-sweet snacks that I love on S-Days. I miss buttered popcorn. It doesn't quite go along with a meal. It may be a better alternative than Oreos.

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:10 pm

I'm hoping some more experienced NoSers will chime in on your thread, but I'll do the best I can while we wait for them.

Do NOT give up all sweets on S Days!! I think it will put to much pressure on yourself, just as you wondered it might. S Days are a much-needed release valve from the work of building N Day habits.

And good job finding some sane-eating by lunch. With NoS, success is just a meal away!

jw · Post by jw » Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:32 pm

I'm only about a month more experienced than automated, but I agree -- if you try to do without sweets entirely, you set the stage for huge resentment and feelings of deprivation and binge eating later on. Let the S days roll -- if they don't settle down after a month or more, you can think then about structuring them. I went wild with sweets the first month or so, but now it's not the same compulsion. In fact, if I don't have sweets in the house and am feeling lazy on an S day, I just don't bother. Be nice to yourself -- right now, that means having sweets on S days, but eventually, it will mean doing what makes you feel the best.

Hang in there!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:11 am

Thanks for all the advice.

I did manage to make it through lunch and dinner without a sweet and without overeating! I guess the binge cycle is over!

I will have to think about the advice to keep the sweets on my S-days. I am so afraid to have next week be like this week. I don't know. I have to ponder it a little.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:43 am

Well, my first goal was to make it through the last 11 days of January. I stuck it out but I did have several days that were failures.

My next goal is to make it through the first two weeks of February with less failed days than I had during those 11 days.

My other goal is to stop looking, hunting, seeking, new nutritional information. Gosh, I have been on enough diets to know what is nutritious and what isn't. Why I keep looking for something new is beyond me. So I will be trying really hard to just let No S be enough!

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:53 am

CM, I love how you are focusing just on habit: more green days for the first 2 weeks of February than in the last 2 weeks of January. Sounds like a great "mini-goal".

Your desire to look up diets and nutritional information somewhat compulsively is something that seems to be really common in people first starting NoS. NoS is so simple that it's like we're looking for details to focus on to help our willpower. Eventually that compulsion will lessen. It helps to just focus on green days, then green weeks, then green months with all that compulsive energy.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:58 am

Automated, I have tried so many diets and failed. I am naturally an all-or-nothing person when it comes to some things. I decided to take a different approach this time. Small goals that hopefully will give me results in the long run.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:43 am

*My goal is to have less than 5 failed days during the next two weeks.
*I finally stepped on the scale. 158.8 is my starting weight.

February
1 S Day (I went wild...again)
2 S Day
3 I did it!
4 I did it!
5 S Day ~ My son's birthday. Had two cupcakes. Couldn't stop with one
6 I failed

emotional eating
7 I failed

8 S Day
9 S Day
10 I failed

11 I failed

12 I did it!
13 I did it! Today was tough but I pushed through.
14 I failed

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 3:20 am

I have to get up very early in the morning during the week. I usually don't have breakfast...maybe coffee. Today, I decided to sit down at eat a little. I will say that I felt much better today. I did not have any sugar cravings. I read somewhere once that a protein breakfast is good for people who have trouble with sugar cravings. I will test that theory this week and see if it is true.

eschano · Post by **eschano** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:55 am

Do keep me posted! I do suffer the sugar cravings as well.

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:33 pm

I didn't eat breakfast much when I started NoS, but now I always seem hungry for it. Still not a big breakfast, but a little something.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:16 am

eschano wrote:Do keep me posted! I do suffer the sugar cravings as well.

Sugar cravings are the worst! I hate them! I will try to post about my progress with them.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:18 am

automatedeating wrote:I didn't eat breakfast much when I started NoS, but now I always seem hungry for it. Still not a big breakfast, but a little something.

I am eating a small breakfast too. Only two eggs and some coffee. I don't have time to cook much more than that. I have to get up a little bit earlier. Hopefully, it will be worth the sacrifice.

eschano · Post by **eschano** » Wed Feb 05, 2014 3:36 pm

Yeah, so far I have always use the "outlast-them" strategy for cravings, specifically:
My number one hit: take a bath - I love it and my body seems happy in hot water and forgets about sweets.
Number two hit: tea - sometimes with milk, sometimes without, depending on the kind.
However, if a protein breakfast fixes the cravings - even better!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:58 am

Tea is one of my strategies too.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:35 am

I have been thinking a lot about sweets on S Days. I am torn between including them or giving them up completely. I just seem to be unable to stop eating once I begin. I am trying to find strategies to help me include them without going overboard.

I remember a day years ago when I was trying to be more aware of how much I was eating. A co-worker brought in doughnuts. I said "I'll get mine at lunchtime because one never satisfies me. If I eat it now I will want more."

I was being completely honest with myself. Doughnuts do not last long enough for me. One doughnut? Are you kidding! I can demolish 6 Krispy Kreme doughnuts in a matter of minutes. That is why I hate it when dessert is cake or cupcakes. I haven't mastered the art of slowing down when it comes to things like that. My taste buds go crazy and I just eat them way too fast. Then I want more.

So, maybe I have two strategies I can use from that situation.
1. Choose desserts that take longer to eat. (Crunchy cookies vs. soft, Peanut M&Ms vs. straight milk chocolate, cheesecake vs regular cake)
2. Eat them after a meal so my stomach capacity is already 3/4 full.

or

Maybe I just need to work on stopping no matter what I am eating?

What do you think? Maybe I am over thinking this?

osoniye · Post by **osoniye** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:30 pm

CM2014 wrote: I can demolish 6 Krispy Kreme doughnuts in a matter of minutes.

Yeah, me too. In fact I think I can do 10 KK doughnuts before I start to think, OK, that was about enough.
I'd advise not overthinking, as much as possible. You're still in early days right? Try to plan good meals and safely measures for N days first and foremost. Then for S days, it's great to plan sweet treats that you will really enjoy, especially in the company of people you enjoy being with. Other than that, I think it's best to relax and see how the S days settle down or don't in the much longer run. Don't put your mental energy into squelching them just yet. They serve a purpose for now while you get the N days straight.
Wishing you the best!

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:58 pm

I do think the crunchier food idea is intriguing, but I'd still have to advise that you don't overthink the S days yet. Like Sonya said, plan treats that you LOVE for your S days. Don't eat your "second favorite" treats..... That sounds way too much like forbidden foods diets.

Try to put all this glorious energy you have into green n days.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 3:19 am

automatedeating wrote:Try to put all this glorious energy you have into green n days.

Good advice.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 3:23 am

I can't believe that I have gone another two weeks with this program! My goal was to have less than 5 failed days for the first half of February. I didn't make it. Today was a definite fail!

So, I am aiming for less than 5 failed days for the second half of February.

I also said I was going to try my best not to go diet hunting anymore. I struggled with that a little too. I have to get a strategy for that.

I am still debating with myself about the idea of giving up sweets completely. Having today happen when I gave in and ate a cookie which turned into me eating lots of cookies...well, that really upset me. I just don't like that out of control feeling. I know people say it is a choice or a habit but if feels like something stronger. I don't know. I have to decide if sweets are really so important to me.

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 3:36 am

Hi CM,
Small goals are good goals. One thing at a time.
Have you read that book Hungry? I found it very enlightening about food addictions. It's a quick and riveting read.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 3:44 am

I haven't read it. I will look into it. I need some insight into this...dare I say it...sugar addiction.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 12:02 pm

Starting round 3 today.

*My goal is to have less than 5 failed days for the next two weeks.
* I also want to break the habit of being a diet hunter.
* I plan to start a plank and wall sit challenge this week. I will do a plank and a wall sit everyday and hold each for as long as I can.

February
15 S-Day Fitness: Plank- 60 sec Wall Sit- 40 sec
16 S-Day Fitness: Plank- 60 sec Wall Sit- 40 sec
17 Success! Fitness: Plank- 61 sec Wall Sit- 45 sec
18 Success! Fitness: Plank- 61 sec Wall Sit- 45 sec
19 Success! Fitness: Plank- 65 sec Wall Sit- 50 sec
20 Success! Fitness: Plank- 65 sec Wall Sit- 50 sec
21 S-Day...finally! Fitness: S-Day
22 S-Day! Fitness: S-Day
23 Failed

Fitness: Failed
24 Failed

Fitness: Failed
25 Success Fitness: Plank- 65 sec Wall Sit- 50 sec
26 Failed

Fitness: Plank- 65 sec Wall Sit- 50 sec

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 6:06 pm

Cool, a plank challenge buddy! I'm with you on that one, CM!

I hold 40-seconds/day. I started out with 30-seconds for the first month or so.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:26 pm

automatedeating wrote:Cool, a plank challenge buddy! I'm with you on that one, CM!
I hold 40-seconds/day. I started out with 30-seconds for the first month or so.

Cool! I found this great book called 90 Second Fitness. The first phase is to hold a plank and a wall sit for 90 seconds. I'll have to work my way up to that!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 12:56 am

I had a very stressful end to my day at work. I had to dig deep for some will power. I really wanted to come home and just dive into some cookies or candy. I didn't...but it wasn't easy!

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 1:10 am

Good job, CM! Hope you're proud of yourself!!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 1:01 am

automatedeating wrote:Good job, CM! Hope you're proud of yourself!!

I am!

This week has been great. I have managed to stick with it! I also took your advice to stop overthinking S-Days and focus my energy on how to make No S work Mon-Fri.

That being said I didn't totally stop thinking about S-Days. I decided to make myself sit down and really enjoy whatever dessert or snack I choose. No nibbling standing up or picking a little of this and a little of that. I am going to relax and enjoy however much I need to feel satisfied. If that means 1 cup of ice cream instead of 1/2 so be it. If I need 6 cookies instead of 2 to feel satisfied then that is what I will eat. I am not going to feel guilty anymore. At some point my mind and body will link up and let me know just when to stop.

I have decided to make Friday an S-Day. Fridays and Saturdays are my unwind days. Sundays are super busy. I will see how it goes.

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Sun May 04, 2014 10:16 pm

I am going to start posting again. Life got super stressful and I just didn't stick with the small changes I was making. I am going for it again.

My weight is almost exactly the same as the first day I posted here. 158.6

automatedeating · Post by **automatedeating** » Mon May 05, 2014 2:41 am

Hey--welcome back! Happy to see you posting again!

CM2014 · Post by **CM2014** » Tue May 06, 2014 12:38 am

Thanks for the welcome back, automated!

May 5

Fitness:

May 6

Fitness: Plank-60 sec Wall Sit 45 sec