Newbie

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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middleager
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Location: New Zealand

Newbie

Post by middleager » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:19 pm

Well I have done two whole days of no S and now it is Saturday. I like the idea of the system - it fits in really well with other people, you don't have to make a fuss about anything, plus it ought to work. I'll have to see how it goes.

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:25 am

Welcome!!!!!
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:15 am

Stopping by to see how things are going so far for you? How was your Saturday?
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

middleager
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Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:31 pm

Thanks nosnacker! Well saturday and sunday were fine. Party, family lunch etc and I enjoyed the guilt free social eating! Monday here now and i'm hoping to stick to the three meals a day for the two days before xmas. Even though i am home on leave and relatives staying, kids, treats everywhere etc :)
Longest run so far: 22 days

oolala53
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Post by oolala53 » Sun Dec 22, 2013 8:51 pm

Hello! and welcome.

I've had many times of days off work and with people but still enjoyed an N day, especially if I had cafe au lait breaks while others snacked. It felt very civil.

Dec. 26 will be my 4-year anniversary, having started when I was 56 and post-menopausal. It's very doable! And 5 years is the gold standard, so hang in there. :lol:
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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

Post by middleager » Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:57 pm

Ha ha 5 days, 5 years - practically the same! :lol:

Congrats on the 4 year anniversary oolala.

Anyway it is going well for me so far. I feel like I have more brainspace to think about other things already.
Longest run so far: 22 days

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Mon Dec 23, 2013 7:37 pm

Oh have you tried the habitcal, the color coding is right there for you...I love it, especially when I see green and mark my S days as yellow. I also added to the tracker exercise...

Have you seen it yet?

p.s. thanks for coming by my daily check in and helping me not be so harsh on myself :)
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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

Post by middleager » Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:10 am

Oh ok i can see the habitcal now. I quite like my paper calendar because i walk past it twenty times a day. But i might get some colours for it.

Anyway i made it clean through xmas eve but it was QUITE HARD!

Merry Christmas.
Longest run so far: 22 days

oolala53
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Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Tue Dec 24, 2013 6:32 pm

It's when it's hard that you get the most benefit from sticking with it. Or so I tell myself, but I think there's some truth to it. And didn't you feel good afterward?

No need to answer soon. Enjoy your time away from the boards!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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NoSnacker
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Location: Buffalo, New York

Post by NoSnacker » Tue Dec 24, 2013 6:48 pm

I like to print the habitcal in color and hang on my wall especially of the months past. Hope your calendar inspires you :)

I'm a list kind of girl!

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

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

Post by automatedeating » Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:48 pm

I signed up for habitcal but still seem to gravitate to my pantry calendar. I have green, orange and red sharpies on strings, and it's the kind of calendar where you can see the whole year on one page. So it only takes a few seconds to color in the day, and it gives the same kind of visual effect as habitcal can.
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 » Thu Dec 26, 2013 2:09 am

Well i definitely noticed "last meal syndrome" as christmas day drew to a close. I was really full but had to have one last helping of pavlova/chocolates/steamed pudding because I wouldn't be able to help with the leftovers the next day. Silly!

Anyway a relief not to make any decisions about snacks etc today.
Longest run so far: 22 days

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

Post by automatedeating » Thu Dec 26, 2013 2:17 am

Right! Back 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

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

Post by middleager » Thu Dec 26, 2013 6:45 pm

I am not counting yesterday as a complete success. I did pretty well. Just I didn't fill up my plate for lunch and then eat it. I ate the nuts straight out of their container on the table. So i will start my run again today. Hopefully i can get to 8 this time :D
Longest run so far: 22 days

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Thu Dec 26, 2013 11:54 pm

Don't forget holiday's are "S" days :)

I know we all want to have the perfect S days and they will come.

The pudding sounds yummy and I'm sure it is a special dessert for the holidays :)

Can you freeze some :)
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

oolala53
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Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Fri Dec 27, 2013 3:38 am

Was Wednesday an S day for you?
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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

Post by middleager » Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:37 am

Yep christmas day was definitely an s day! I am in new zealand so the time zone is ahead. Like right now it is 5.35 pm on friday....
Longest run so far: 22 days

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:04 am

Stopping by to say hi and hope you had a great Christmas!!!

How is your streak (longest run) going?
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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

Post by middleager » Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:45 pm

Thanks nosnacker. Well I started my run again on friday after my slip up on thursday. So today (monday) would be day 4. I ate too much sugar and not enough veges over the weekend. It didn't make me feel very well. Silly silly.

I have to decide ahead whether new years eve should be an s day or not. Most likely staying up late playing board games with the 11 y old, so probably no real reason to...
Longest run so far: 22 days

oolala53
Posts: 10072
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:54 pm

Is it a public school at which there are so many choices for English? Amazing!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

oolala53
Posts: 10072
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:57 pm

Yeah, games with an 11-year-old hardly seems NWS-day worthy. :lol:

I started No S officially on Jan.1, 2009. I didn't take an NWS day for three months. Just didn't seem worth it! But my S days were pretty wild.
Last edited by oolala53 on Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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

Post by middleager » Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:15 am

Damn. I didn't realise until after lunch that i have already failed twice on the no sugar today. Honey on my porridge (yes it is mid-summer here...) and then a nutella sandwich at lunch. Back to day zero. All part of the learning process.

Yep it is a state school. I still don't really understand why they need "english for historians" though. It is a good school though.
Longest run so far: 22 days

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:27 am

Hi, I think Nutella is like peanut butter, not sure I would count as a sweet and honey, I have in my tea every single morning...to me if someone can have sugar in their coffee on No S I can have honey in my tea. I only have one cup in the morning so in my heart I don't feel it is wrong.

Plus Reinhard said if you have to think about it, like "mmm I wonder if this is considered a sweet" then most likely it is not. Plus he did mention he did not say go sugar free, not the purpose of his building habits but to not eat sweets like pop tarts, danish, doughnuts, etc., snacks could be one of those but snacks meaning in between meals eating anything. Sometimes I'll have a little chips on my plate with my sandwich..alone and in between meals chips would be considered a snack. I try not to have chips in my house as I love them too much and might buy some on the weekend :)

Others may feel different, but I'll never give up my honey in my first cup of morning tea.

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

oolala53
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Post by oolala53 » Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:57 am

This says it posted on sunday, 12/29. No fails on Sundays! and I, too, would not call honey in your tea nor Nutella fails. I use all kinds of sweeteners in my coffee and jam on toast, about a tablespoon, sometimes.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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

Post by middleager » Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:28 pm

You guys are sweet. In my book nutella is closer to icing than peanut butte and honey on porridge is closer to syrup on pancakes. So they didn't meet my own standars and neither are part of what I normally eat.

Oolala I don't think there is a way to change the posting times from Greenwich mean time to local time. Current local time: tuesday 31 december 7.30 am. And i have had a good breakfast! Sun woke me up even though I am on holiday
Longest run so far: 22 days

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Over43
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Post by Over43 » Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:37 pm

I don't eat Nutella, or honey. I f I did I wouldn't sweat them, I don't check labels, but don't think Nutella carries much more sugar than peanut butter. And honey...? I don't know, I imagine you need something to make the oats taste better. Not a big oat fan, or creamed wheat, rye, Malto-Meal, etc. So, don't be to awful on yourself.
Bacon is the gateway meat. - Anthony Bourdain
You pale in comparison to Fox Mulder. - The Smoking Man

I made myself be hungry, then I would get hungrier. - Frank Zane Mr. Olympia '77, '78, '79

middleager
Posts: 90
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Location: New Zealand

Post by middleager » Tue Dec 31, 2013 8:20 pm

Yay! A successful noS day yesterday. I didn't even get hungry, although def would have snacked if I didn't have a rule.

Happy new Year everyone! posted 0920 on new years day, local time.
Longest run so far: 22 days

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NoSnacker
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Post by NoSnacker » Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:07 pm

Happy New Year to you and to successful habit building in 2014!
Age 56: SBMI=30.6 (12/1/13) CBMI 28.9 (2/2/14) GBMI-24.8

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

Post by middleager » Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:19 pm

Another success day yesterday. I notice i have started piling up my plate to avoid getting hungry later...oh well I will deal with that problem when i get to the 21 days.
Longest run so far: 22 days

oolala53
Posts: 10072
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Thu Jan 02, 2014 3:31 am

You may want to give yourself even more than three weeks...you'll get there! Doing well.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

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

Post by middleager » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:53 pm

Another green day yesterday. Yay!

So three green days in a row. And now i have.. Six s days in a row! Today (friday) is my 21st wedding anniversary and we are going out to a very nice restaurant. Then on sunday we are starting a four day hike so chocolate and trail mix will be essential.

So I automatically get to my longest run so far - 9 days.
Longest run so far: 22 days

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

Post by automatedeating » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:15 pm

Congrats on the wedding anniversary and the amazing organization that was probably necessary for you to be ready for a 4-day hike! Have fun!!
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

Diligence
Posts: 80
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:09 pm

Post by Diligence » Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:16 am

Happy Anniversary, and enjoy your hike! :D

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