Everyday Systems

Hello. I'm new and just getting started. I'm an older woman, weigh 188 pounds and 5.4 I have struggled with my weight just for the past 15 years or so- before that I was a pretty healthy weight. About a year ago I found an old manual from the early 80's called Learning to Eat. It was a group leader's manual for a weight loss group and is full of such wonderful advice on forming new eating habits. It has charts and lessons on establishing new habits. I also added my own habits such as three meals a day, no eating between meals, and no second helpings of food at a meal. I followed along and lost about 25 pounds in six months or so. After that I maintained the weight I'd lost but stopped losing. What derailed me was snacks. I didn't want snacks every day or anything, but I did not like the thought of never again joining my husband for popcorn at night, or not having birthday cake that I baked for a family member. I would "break the rules" on a birthday or some other occasion and then feel I'd blown the whole thing. I did stick to many of the habits I'd formed but not all. When I found this site it felt like it'd just been here waiting for me. I've been reading these boards all day today and yesterday.
Anyway, that's my little story so I'll begin. Yesterday was my first day- an S day, but I wanted to start right off.
Saturday, 2/2/14 S day- did well. Had pumpkin pie for dessert.
Sunday 2/3/14 S. day-Fine- had Flan for dessert and popcorn in the evening.

Welcome -- it sounds like you're off to a great start!

Katy, it sounds like you were trying to No S before you ever heard of it! Glad you have found us -- best of luck!

Thank you Xtal and JW for the kind welcome.

Monday, Feb 3, 2014 success

Tuesday, Feb 3, 1014 Success.

Well done!

You already have quite a testimonial!
Welcome to the support group for what you've already been pretty-much doing!

Thank you eschano and automatedeating.

I made mistakes on my earlier dates.
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2014 success.
Wednesday Feb 5, 2014 success.

Oh my gosh!!! I feel so stupid. 2010? Maybe it's because I've been reading so many older posts on here this week. I'm not stuck in a time warp, promise.
If there's a way to correct or edit an old post I'd like to know it. Otherwise I'll just let it be and make an effort to remember what year it is when I next post...

Look in the upper right hand corner of your post for the edit box and click for a second chance! I do it all the time for spelling errors and typos!

Thanks so much Jw.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 success

Friday, Feb 7, 2014 Success. Week 1 done. I am happy? Anyway, a certain restless feeling is gone. Down 3 1/2 pounds, some possibly water but who cares?

Congrats on finishing week 1!

Thank you- it really feels grand. And tonight I'm looking forward to buttered popcorn and hot cocoa, one of my favorite treats.

Sat, Feb 8, 2014 S-day.

Looks like a great start to me. Come on week 2.

Thank you eschano.
Sunday, Feb 9 S-day
Monday, Feb 10 failure

Oh how I hate to write that, but want to be strict and honest. While cooking soup for dinner I did not limit my tasting to the necessary for seasoning, and had a few bites of the soup plus a few bites of beans. A snack while cooking. This is a main failing of mine that I really need to work on since I'm the cook in the household. I have made progress on this problem but still have a way to go, obviously. Oh well- onward and upward.

It might be a fail in your books and in "fencing around the law" but hey: congrats for not giving into the What The Hell effect and keeping it to this!

Eschano: and you know? I most probably would have gone on to say, "wth" if it wasn't for this board. At other times I would have maybe gone ahead and ate a sweet or something, thinking that I was going to have to report a failure anyway so I might as well make the most of it. However, I immediately felt that I should report the failure at once so I could put it behind me and move on from there- and that is what I did. The rest of the evening was fine. I simply love the idea of this board and am thankful to find others here fighting the same kind of battles I am.
For myself, I will try to report any failures on here as soon as possible and how I failed. Then, if I recover myself and get right back on track I'll mention that later, as I just did. That way I will feel more accountable and although a day has to be red on habit cal it won't really be a total write-off for me. Anyway that's my plan for now.
If only I could find a way to limit tasting while cooking without totally stopping. Nothing really seems to work for long and I dislike the idea of not seasoning the food correctly.

Sounds like a good plan and I might just copy it.

As for the tasting when cooking. I get it. Personally, I only cook big on weekends so it doesn't affect me as much but I think you could virtual plate and shrink your portion for lunch/dinner by however much you ate during cooking and also ask yourself: am I snacking on this or tasting it for cooking? Maybe that will work.

Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 success

Yes, I like your question to ask yourself when tasting. I think it's a matter of being mindful of what you're doing and the questions would help with that. Yesterday I did fine by putting my "tasting teaspoon" in a cup of water in the sink right after tasting. That way I'd need to get a new one if I have to taste again and gives me time to ask myself why I need to. Monday I was adding canned beans to a bowl of red soup and took my spoon and ate some. LOL, who needs to taste canned beans? That's one reason it was truly a failure.

Wednesday, Feb 12, 2014 success. I went to a church pot-luck for which I baked a cherry pie without tasting. I filled my plate and ate it and didn't go near the dessert table. Pleased with myself.

Good job!

Thank you!

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 Success
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 Success

Two weeks now with one failure. Down another pound too. So thankful for this wonderful method of eating and for this forum.

Congrats on green days!

Thank you.

KatyLamb wrote:Two weeks now with one failure. Down another pound too. So thankful for this wonderful method of eating and for this forum.

Brilliant! Well done Katy.

Thanks.

Monday, Feb 17, 2014 success.

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014 success.

Wednesday, Feb 19, 2014 Success

You're doing great katylamb!

Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 Success.

Lpearlmom: Thank you for the encouragement- I needed that this morning as I struggled with a feeling of self-pity while watching others eat cinnamon rolls.
I decided to get on here earlier than usual and seeing your post made me strong to resist. Of course, more cinnamon rolls are definitely on the menu for breakfast tomorrow.

Friday, Feb 21, 2014 Success.

Three weeks now. Weighed in at 182.5 this morning- down from 188. Not bad

I was going to go to reporting only failures after three weeks but I think I'll wait at least until the end of the month for that. I enjoy and look forward to this little ritual on here of reporting daily, so why be in a hurry to change it?

I am very grateful to the man who created this method and for this forum.

KatyLamb,
I know it must have been frustrating watching others eat cinnamon rolls, but think about how you have usually felt after eating a cinnamon roll. I don't know about you, but I usually get a headache and feel kind of gross.....

Katylamb--so happy my encouragement helped you! I love coming here. It has kept me strong through the more difficult times.

The good thing about NoS is that there's no more "never again" there's just "later" and "not now". Save the treats for the weekends but in the meantime you get three satisfying meals a day. Not too shabby!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Linda

Saturday, Feb.22, 2014 S-day
Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 S-day
Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 Success

Lpearlmom: Yes, that "later" is the best! It's really new for me and such a change from "never again."


Automatedeating: Yes, as I've seen some others note on here, on weekends I'm starting to look forward to Monday. I don't think I overdo too much, but I really don't feel as well in myself after eating sugary treats. I do like the choice though, and I love my evening snacks on the weekends.

Tuesday, Feb.25, 2014 Success

Wednesday, Feb 26, 2014 Success.

Kind of weird but not really a failure. Yesterday evening after dinner was long finished my husband brought home hot wings. Without even thinking I picked one up and started to bite into it. When I realized how spicy it was I decided I should get a slice of bread and butter to eat with it. That's when I remembered that it would be a snack! So I wrapped it up and threw it away without swallowing a single bite. I had tasted the sauce on it a little but it was not a failure- I'm certain.

I'm all in favor of not worrying about that! You are still learning to avoid snacks. My first few weeks I would be shocked to find myself staring in the fridge or prowling the pantry looking for snacks, and then remember--no snacks!

Definitely not a fail! I would catch myself all the time mid-bite in the beginning esp on Mondays! I've even been known to spitting things out.

You caught yourself in time so no worries.

Heehee, that is what I actually did Lpearlmom- spit it into a napkin and tossed it. I just didn't like to say so on here and have anyone think I'm uncouth or something.

Thursday, Feb 27, 2014 Success.

Hehe nah actually when I first posted that a lot of ppl said "hey that's a good idea". It's definitely a clear reminder not to do it again.

Friday, Feb. 28, 2014 Success

Well, that's done. I've lost 6.5 pounds in February and had a lovely time doing it. Only one red day on my calendar too.

Now comes March and a fresh new month! Hoping we all have a wonderful one. So thankful for this plan and this forum.

Yay that's SO awesome!!!

What a great first month, KatyLamb!
Wonderful that you are loving NoS and the forum. Me, too!

Just a heads-up, in case it is applicable for you: weeks 6-8 were the toughest for me with regard to avoiding snacking and sweets. It got harder for a patch there, but then easier again since then.

Well done, what a great result!

Thank you for the kind comments, and thanks for the heads up Automatedeating.

I have given up my computer completely during the week, for Lent. I'll only be able to post beginning Fridays at 7 PM and ending Sundays at 7 PM. I'm just using a paper calendar to keep track. It's hard and I've only done it for three days! LOL!

So anyway, I will catch up now.

Saturday, March 1, 2014 S-day
Sunday, March 2, 2014 S-day
Monday, March 3, 2014 Success
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 S-day (Fat Tuesday- big family supper each year.)
Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Success
Thursday, March 6, 2014 Failure- I was ravenous at bedtime and so ate 2 ounces of cheese. Think I wasn't on an even keel because of Fat Tuesday overindulging and Ash Wednesday fasting. Got back on track next day.
Friday, March 7, 2014 success

Sat. Mar 8, 2014 S. day
Sun. Mar 9, 2014 S. day
Mon. Mar.10 2014 success
Tue. Mar 11, 2014 success
Wed. Mar 12, 2014 success
Thurs. Mar 13, 2014 success
Fri. Mar 14, 2014 Success