Imogen's Daily Check In
Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating
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I had wonderful time in Cro, as I always do. My Croatian has improved A LOT since my last visit in April, so I was able to speak comfortably with locals. I just can't pick what I love most about Cro - the people, the food, or the views?
I came back one pound lighter - current weigh-in 118 lbs - even though I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and not even once said no to local food. I went with "vanilla No S with extra tolerance for screw ups", and it worked just fine.
I came back one pound lighter - current weigh-in 118 lbs - even though I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and not even once said no to local food. I went with "vanilla No S with extra tolerance for screw ups", and it worked just fine.
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Thanks, eschano! It's great to be here again. Sinnie, Slovenia is absolutely lovely - I'll never forget the Skocjan Caves and the underground river tumbling at my feet. A must see!
Yesterday - SUCCESS. Actually, I had one red event (a small piece of cake with my lunch), but managed to keep the rest of the day sugar-free.
Yesterday - SUCCESS. Actually, I had one red event (a small piece of cake with my lunch), but managed to keep the rest of the day sugar-free.
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GREEN yesterday, with one contained S-event with lunch (colleague sharing her birthday cake). I'm trying to focus on no snacking and avoiding WTH effect. I won't lie, I'd love to lose 8 pounds I've put on since last summer, but I know I need lots of patience and persistence to see the scale budge. Also, more exercise - I've been slacking terribly for 4 months.
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Well, so it seems that I've had a single, contained fail every single day since Monday this week. Nothing major - a small slice of cake with my lunch at work, or a scoop of ice cream. Quality, artisanal stuff. I'm feeling pretty okay about this, which is strange, because I'm quite sure I haven't lost any weight since last week. Maybe I'm slowly getting over my diethead, who knows? Being binge-free feels great!
The weekend is going to be food-centered. I'll try to keep my sanity, eat as slowly as possible, and pick only the best.
The weekend is going to be food-centered. I'll try to keep my sanity, eat as slowly as possible, and pick only the best.
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Perhaps you are just getting to the point where you know you can have small indulgences without going overboard. If you have conquered binging behaviors, you have done a lot. This is how people of normal weight eat! There is also nothing wrong with just maintaining your current weight and taking a rest from trying to lose. Just focus on not gaining!
When it comes to what works best for me, I have found that it is very easy to slip from the behavior you described into more frequent indulgences so I am very careful about it. I generally try to keep that "fence around the rules." However, I will not pass up an occasional favorite treat that is offered either.
When it comes to what works best for me, I have found that it is very easy to slip from the behavior you described into more frequent indulgences so I am very careful about it. I generally try to keep that "fence around the rules." However, I will not pass up an occasional favorite treat that is offered either.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.
Maintenance is progress.
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So, I've switched again. Two weeks of vanilla made me gain two pounds I've kept "no snacking" and "no seconds" rule, but I include sweets on my three plates. It's been working pretty well so far - I stay vigilant about keeping food out of my mouth between meals, and watching my plate size. Saturday weigh-in will be very informative indeed, although I can already feel my waistbands getting more comfortable.
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eschano, I must admit that vanilla has never felt moderate to me. Weekday deprivation followed by weekend bingeing until stomachache kicked in = my usual pattern.
My main goal is to eliminate out-of-control eating. This mod usually works well for a time, but things go awry in two or three weeks... Still, it allows me to stay binge-free as long as I follow it closely. It is easier on the mind than vanilla No S - a limited portion of some previously forbidden fruit is never further than 6 hours away from you - but it can be very tricky. We'll see how that goes.
My main goal is to eliminate out-of-control eating. This mod usually works well for a time, but things go awry in two or three weeks... Still, it allows me to stay binge-free as long as I follow it closely. It is easier on the mind than vanilla No S - a limited portion of some previously forbidden fruit is never further than 6 hours away from you - but it can be very tricky. We'll see how that goes.
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The point of NoS is to be moderate, so if Vanilla NoS makes you feel deprived/out-of-control, then definitely adjust how you see fit. I'm still working out the kinks of getting to moderation, too. Right now, I feel like I constantly test the boundaries of really being able to eat what I want - so, for meals I'll choose the unhealthy, delicious option versus a healthier option. And S Days... They are pretty wild at times!
Good luck with the mod!
Good luck with the mod!
Vanilla No S is not for everyone, but for me, it brought sanity to my life of permasnacking. My snacking included a lot of sweets. I found that my weekday habits eventually moved to moderation on weekends and special days as well. Now I only have occasional seconds, sweets or snacks on S days. Moderation in general has become a habit, and it is wonderful to not feel stressed over food any more.
I did have a lot of weight to lose, and I lost a lot of it the first year with nothing other than vanilla. I am finally losing the rest now, in my fourth year of No S. However, the weight felt like less of an issue to me than sanity with food after getting through the first year....thus it took me awhile to push myself to pay more attention to the contents of my plates in order to lose the last of the pounds.
Again, vanilla is not for everyone....just sharing what it did for me.
PS Exercise is also an essential component for me.
I did have a lot of weight to lose, and I lost a lot of it the first year with nothing other than vanilla. I am finally losing the rest now, in my fourth year of No S. However, the weight felt like less of an issue to me than sanity with food after getting through the first year....thus it took me awhile to push myself to pay more attention to the contents of my plates in order to lose the last of the pounds.
Again, vanilla is not for everyone....just sharing what it did for me.
PS Exercise is also an essential component for me.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.
Maintenance is progress.
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Quick update: I'm doing fine, in spite of having two-three excessively "snacky" days in the last two weeks. My sugar consumption has dropped a bit. I used to eat sweets with at least one meal every day, now it's more like 3-4 moderate desserts per week, preferably right after dinner. On some days I double-check my calories, on others the only thing I count is three plates. I'm slooowly losing the weight I've put on in the last year. So far so good!
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I've fallen off the wagon yet again. Big time. I'm trying to understand what makes me fail so miserably over and over again. Mods work like a charm for a couple of weeks, months at most, but inevitably, I rebel against my self-imposed rules...
I don't know what to do. Continue with my experiments, or decide once and for all that vanilla is not perfect, but just good enough, and that I need to let go of my fantasy of "goal weight"? Guys, I need your peep talk please.
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I guess you have to decide what you really want. I think sticking with 3 meals is very doable for life, regardless of whether you have sweets with a meal. Did you fail because of sweets, snacking, or something else? Do you really need to lose more weight? I'm just throwing some things out there. If you really want to lose more weight, I imagine you can do it by being really strict about what you have with your meals, counting calories, etc... You just have to decide whether it's worth it. A lot of the questions I raised are things I'm still thinking about for myself. I hope you can figure out something that works for you.
Hey Imogen,
I think CG has brought up some good points. I need to give these a hard look myself. I have been struggling again myself big time. Just overeating day in and day out. Never from hunger, always from emotion. Hate it, hate it...
I guess we both have similar issues, goal weights and desires for sweets. I wonder if maybe you just need to look at what's going wrong and see what will fix it. That's what I am trying to do. I have attempted 3 meals a few times recently, but when I can't make it through a day, I remember why I legitimately told myself I can just forego No S. I kinda feel like no plan will work for me until I get the binging under control, which is my main problem. You did have a lot of success with No S so perhaps just keep it going and if you mess up, continue at the next meal not the next day. I guess I'm kind of landing on "just keep trying" because that's all we've got. Every day, just keep plugging yourself into No S, unless you think maybe it's not for you anymore? You could even take a break for awhile and abandon it altogether, and see how you feel after that "vacation". Sorry, not much help. Good luck, I'll be checking up.
I think CG has brought up some good points. I need to give these a hard look myself. I have been struggling again myself big time. Just overeating day in and day out. Never from hunger, always from emotion. Hate it, hate it...
I guess we both have similar issues, goal weights and desires for sweets. I wonder if maybe you just need to look at what's going wrong and see what will fix it. That's what I am trying to do. I have attempted 3 meals a few times recently, but when I can't make it through a day, I remember why I legitimately told myself I can just forego No S. I kinda feel like no plan will work for me until I get the binging under control, which is my main problem. You did have a lot of success with No S so perhaps just keep it going and if you mess up, continue at the next meal not the next day. I guess I'm kind of landing on "just keep trying" because that's all we've got. Every day, just keep plugging yourself into No S, unless you think maybe it's not for you anymore? You could even take a break for awhile and abandon it altogether, and see how you feel after that "vacation". Sorry, not much help. Good luck, I'll be checking up.
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Thanks for your replies, ladies.
I guess I had to ask myself upfront: will this mod or that diet be something I will be happily living with to the end of my days? The honest truth: no. I can count calories for several weeks or keep up with a mod that reduces my overall calorie intake by limiting food/dessert portions, but in the end, I rebel. Exercising so much control over one's life is very, very tiring indeed, and ultimately futile. You HAVE to break at some point, shake off all the rules, enjoy freedom... but with some rules constantly hanging over your head like the sword of Damocles, you can't "enjoy" anything. Guilt, shame, and disappointment kick in almost immediately, and then you seek more food to numb yourself or fix your foul mood.
Maybe I'm finally grasping the brilliant core concept of NoS? The safety valve of completely legal special days when you can do whatever you want - and it's on the plan! The three simple, binary, non-negotiable rules from which you regularly take a well-deserved break?
My frustration with vanilla No S always boils down to "I can't reach my goal weight while doing it!". Vanilla, therefore, is not a problem - my head is. I'm not overweight. I don't NEED to lose any weight, I would simply wish to. But nothing in the world, save for some serious plastic surgery, would make me into a waif-like creature I've always longed to be. I'm short and pear-shaped, and I will always be. And even when I weighed 110 pounds, due to which I started missing my periods, I still wanted to lose some more. I was on the verge of a full-blown eating disorder, I suppose, and I still haven't moved much from there. It's not the weight I have a problem with - it's my distorted thinking and unrealistic expectations.
Thursday and Friday were GREEN. Weekend was quite predictably excessive, and from the vast assortment of sweets I devoured only ricotta/raspberry ice cream lived up to my expectations. I felt okay, though, knowing I'm free to make any food choices I want.
I guess I had to ask myself upfront: will this mod or that diet be something I will be happily living with to the end of my days? The honest truth: no. I can count calories for several weeks or keep up with a mod that reduces my overall calorie intake by limiting food/dessert portions, but in the end, I rebel. Exercising so much control over one's life is very, very tiring indeed, and ultimately futile. You HAVE to break at some point, shake off all the rules, enjoy freedom... but with some rules constantly hanging over your head like the sword of Damocles, you can't "enjoy" anything. Guilt, shame, and disappointment kick in almost immediately, and then you seek more food to numb yourself or fix your foul mood.
Maybe I'm finally grasping the brilliant core concept of NoS? The safety valve of completely legal special days when you can do whatever you want - and it's on the plan! The three simple, binary, non-negotiable rules from which you regularly take a well-deserved break?
My frustration with vanilla No S always boils down to "I can't reach my goal weight while doing it!". Vanilla, therefore, is not a problem - my head is. I'm not overweight. I don't NEED to lose any weight, I would simply wish to. But nothing in the world, save for some serious plastic surgery, would make me into a waif-like creature I've always longed to be. I'm short and pear-shaped, and I will always be. And even when I weighed 110 pounds, due to which I started missing my periods, I still wanted to lose some more. I was on the verge of a full-blown eating disorder, I suppose, and I still haven't moved much from there. It's not the weight I have a problem with - it's my distorted thinking and unrealistic expectations.
Thursday and Friday were GREEN. Weekend was quite predictably excessive, and from the vast assortment of sweets I devoured only ricotta/raspberry ice cream lived up to my expectations. I felt okay, though, knowing I'm free to make any food choices I want.
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So are you back to doing No S? That's great, if you are. If not, I hope you find something that works for you. Vanilla No S definitely has the appeal of the fence of the 3 plates and no sweets during the week, and total freedom on the weekends.
Edited to add: Sinnie, I totally know where you're coming from! Some days, I do pretty well with my eating, but there are other days where I totally blow it. I'm still working on finding a balance in my eating.
Edited to add: Sinnie, I totally know where you're coming from! Some days, I do pretty well with my eating, but there are other days where I totally blow it. I'm still working on finding a balance in my eating.
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SUCCESS. Tuesdays are always hard for me. I need to plan something extra yummy for the future. I craved sugar after dinner, so I fixed myself a small cup of cafe au lait (1:1 water and milk) with a teaspoon of brown sugar and some instant chai powder. Another cup of plain cafe au lait between lunch and dinner too.
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I agree with Mitchelll! I also hate it when a planned treat is dissappointing.
However, isn't it great that we are so much pickier about what we eat these days? Gone are the days of mindless eating. We actually want to enjoy our food now, not just inhale it.
However, isn't it great that we are so much pickier about what we eat these days? Gone are the days of mindless eating. We actually want to enjoy our food now, not just inhale it.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.
Maintenance is progress.
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Reporting another FAILURE. But I managed to stop myself from bingeing, woohoo! A little bit of freshly baked apfelstrudel made me raid the cupboards an hour later, proving yet again that anything sweet eaten on empty stomach does weird things to my blood sugar level. I had a small slice of bread with bean pate, and some plain oatmeal in a ramekin. I'm getting back in touch with that "yuck!" feeling I get every time I eat sugar between meals.
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Well Done on your loss!
Isn't it amazing how a day like we would have eaten in the past now makes you feel so yucky!!!
Enjoy being back to N Days!
Isn't it amazing how a day like we would have eaten in the past now makes you feel so yucky!!!
Enjoy being back to N Days!
Hugs from Sunny South Africa
Vanilla No S with no Sugar due to Health issues - 11 yrs No S - September 2016 (some good, some bad (my own doing) but always the right thing for me!)
Vanilla No S with no Sugar due to Health issues - 11 yrs No S - September 2016 (some good, some bad (my own doing) but always the right thing for me!)
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SUCCESS. I struggled SO MUCH between lunch and dinner! Thankfully, a small cup of sweet chai fixed my sugar craving. Loud music also helped. Tuesdays are always the hardest, closely followed by Thursdays. I need to work on my meals a little more, and get creative in the kitchen once again.
EDIT: I FAILED miserably late in the evening and binged. Work is so stressful right now that I barely keep my cool, and sleep deprivation doesn't help either. Of course, at some point last night I started fantasizing about some ultimate diet that would finally fix my relationship with food... but I very soon started laughing at myself for that, so I consider it a success. Come on, let's get real. Any diet that requires you to use willpower every single day is doomed to fail.
I need to find some kind of solution for Tuesdays. They are always the hardest.
EDIT: I FAILED miserably late in the evening and binged. Work is so stressful right now that I barely keep my cool, and sleep deprivation doesn't help either. Of course, at some point last night I started fantasizing about some ultimate diet that would finally fix my relationship with food... but I very soon started laughing at myself for that, so I consider it a success. Come on, let's get real. Any diet that requires you to use willpower every single day is doomed to fail.
I need to find some kind of solution for Tuesdays. They are always the hardest.
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Thursday - FAILURE. I shared some cheesecake and apple pie with my girlfriends after dinner. Very enjoyable fail, that's for sure.
Friday - uneventful SUCCESS, save for some infuriating work issues. I did my best to eat my three meals and nothing else. There will be plenty of great stuff tomorrow - crepes with curd cheese and pudding, Greek yogurt with strawberries, and Kit Kat peanut bar.
Friday - uneventful SUCCESS, save for some infuriating work issues. I did my best to eat my three meals and nothing else. There will be plenty of great stuff tomorrow - crepes with curd cheese and pudding, Greek yogurt with strawberries, and Kit Kat peanut bar.
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Monday was an S-day (day off work, which I consider special), and Tuesday is a national holiday in my country.
Monday went well. I kept the 3-a-day structure, and added from there only if I really, really wanted something. From my previous attempts at intuitive eating and the like I figured that I overeat if I indulge in something I'm not really interested in (you know, maybe this next bite would give me the satisfaction I was looking for?...). Besides three meals, I had four nougat pralines and some vegetable salad as a snack. Not bad, not bad at all.
Today I plan to do exactly the same - go beyond the basic N-day structure only if I really want something. I had a bite of apple cake, but as it didn't taste that good to me, I refused to eat more. On Thursday evening I'm invited to a party, and from what I know, appetizers and dessert are going to be really really divine, so I'm saving my appetite for after tomorrow.
I'll try to focus on N-days, and throw all rules out the window on S-days, which are for:
- slowly and openly indulging a specific craving carried over from weekdays
- trying out new tastes
- participating in social eating occassions as they arise
- savoring
- eating only the things I REALLY want and enjoy
- allowing seconds of exceptionally good food
No "shoulds" then! If the weekend goes by without any treat, that's not the end of the world or a tragic missed opportunity. There's plenty of good stuff I can have on N-days (Greek yogurt with strawberries or mango, I'm looking at you!), and if I want something specific, weekends come soon enough.
Monday went well. I kept the 3-a-day structure, and added from there only if I really, really wanted something. From my previous attempts at intuitive eating and the like I figured that I overeat if I indulge in something I'm not really interested in (you know, maybe this next bite would give me the satisfaction I was looking for?...). Besides three meals, I had four nougat pralines and some vegetable salad as a snack. Not bad, not bad at all.
Today I plan to do exactly the same - go beyond the basic N-day structure only if I really want something. I had a bite of apple cake, but as it didn't taste that good to me, I refused to eat more. On Thursday evening I'm invited to a party, and from what I know, appetizers and dessert are going to be really really divine, so I'm saving my appetite for after tomorrow.
I'll try to focus on N-days, and throw all rules out the window on S-days, which are for:
- slowly and openly indulging a specific craving carried over from weekdays
- trying out new tastes
- participating in social eating occassions as they arise
- savoring
- eating only the things I REALLY want and enjoy
- allowing seconds of exceptionally good food
No "shoulds" then! If the weekend goes by without any treat, that's not the end of the world or a tragic missed opportunity. There's plenty of good stuff I can have on N-days (Greek yogurt with strawberries or mango, I'm looking at you!), and if I want something specific, weekends come soon enough.
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Long time, no see!
I'm proud to announce I've been binge-free for a month or so, and I'm still maintaining at 116 lbs/53 kg... though struggling TERRIBLY to be content with it.
I've been following vanilla No S principles, with some special food fails here and there. S-days are pretty tame, with virtually no snacking. If I want treats, I have them, but I make sure I'm eating for enjoyment, not for some misguided ("I can eat, so I eat") reasons.
I'm proud to announce I've been binge-free for a month or so, and I'm still maintaining at 116 lbs/53 kg... though struggling TERRIBLY to be content with it.
I've been following vanilla No S principles, with some special food fails here and there. S-days are pretty tame, with virtually no snacking. If I want treats, I have them, but I make sure I'm eating for enjoyment, not for some misguided ("I can eat, so I eat") reasons.
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Only three binges in the past two months... not so bad!
I want to start posting here again, though. I can feel myself getting more and more relaxed about NoS rules, which can pretty soon result in a slippery slope situation. There's one crucial thing to remember: one single, isolated fail won't make any real damage. Throwing in the towel and abandoning NoS for the rest of the day/week most certainly will. Mark it and move on. Next meal - next chance.
S-day
B: 1/4 plate beans in tomato/bacon sauce, 1 slice sourdough rye bread, orange, homemade chai latte
sweet snack: scoop of cream cheese/blueberry ice cream (very good), 2 pistachio/almond biscuits (HEAVENLY!)
L/D: tomato/dumpling soup, 1/2 duck breast roasted with apples, potatoes, red cabbage/bacon salad
I want to start posting here again, though. I can feel myself getting more and more relaxed about NoS rules, which can pretty soon result in a slippery slope situation. There's one crucial thing to remember: one single, isolated fail won't make any real damage. Throwing in the towel and abandoning NoS for the rest of the day/week most certainly will. Mark it and move on. Next meal - next chance.
S-day
B: 1/4 plate beans in tomato/bacon sauce, 1 slice sourdough rye bread, orange, homemade chai latte
sweet snack: scoop of cream cheese/blueberry ice cream (very good), 2 pistachio/almond biscuits (HEAVENLY!)
L/D: tomato/dumpling soup, 1/2 duck breast roasted with apples, potatoes, red cabbage/bacon salad
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eschano, clarinetgal, thanks for stopping by!
Sadly, I don't have any recipe for chai latte. I simply buy David Rio's instant chai powder - they come in several varietes - and add to my coffee.
My plan to post here more regularly fell flat on its face... well, such is life. I'm preparing to move in to my apartment at last, and even considering my minimalist lifestyle, cartons pile up! I'm moving stuff little by little every week, and purging/packing/driving takes time.
This week I haven't been very consistent with vanilla NoS. I had seconds with my dinner this afternoon, and a sugary snack yesterday. Still maintaining though, so I can't complain much. I might add some sweets to my plates somewhere down the road - I'm feeling much more confident around desserts now. I'm able to pass them up sometimes, even on S-days, and I'm getting better at recognizing what I truly crave. Also, I actually prefer some lighter stuff, like Greek yoghurt with berries (or salted pistachios and maple syrup - trust me, it's super tasty!), which are perfectly legit on N-days as well.
Sadly, I don't have any recipe for chai latte. I simply buy David Rio's instant chai powder - they come in several varietes - and add to my coffee.
My plan to post here more regularly fell flat on its face... well, such is life. I'm preparing to move in to my apartment at last, and even considering my minimalist lifestyle, cartons pile up! I'm moving stuff little by little every week, and purging/packing/driving takes time.
This week I haven't been very consistent with vanilla NoS. I had seconds with my dinner this afternoon, and a sugary snack yesterday. Still maintaining though, so I can't complain much. I might add some sweets to my plates somewhere down the road - I'm feeling much more confident around desserts now. I'm able to pass them up sometimes, even on S-days, and I'm getting better at recognizing what I truly crave. Also, I actually prefer some lighter stuff, like Greek yoghurt with berries (or salted pistachios and maple syrup - trust me, it's super tasty!), which are perfectly legit on N-days as well.
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The longer I am in the vanilla camp, the clearer I see how and why the simplicity of the system works. Your world stops revolving around food or calories or macronutrient grams. You fill your plate three times a day, and when you're done, you're done. Calorie counting sure works, but it's so tedious - so much planning, reshuffling, tweaking... ugh. So is intuitive eating and its varietes.
Still within my maintenance range of 116 lbs. Hopefully I'll be able to post some of my meals this week.
Still within my maintenance range of 116 lbs. Hopefully I'll be able to post some of my meals this week.
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Oh boy. I've fallen off the wagon! I caught myself binging or at least wanting to binge on a few occasions, and loading up my plates because I still had some calories left. Current weigh-in: 53.5 kg/117 lbs. Time to tighten the reins! I want to complete my first ever (after 5 years of NoS!) 21-day challenge.
1 - Wednesday A little tough (8 hours between lunch and dinner!), but I managed. Relearning that hunger is not an emergency.
1 - Wednesday A little tough (8 hours between lunch and dinner!), but I managed. Relearning that hunger is not an emergency.
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Yep. I assumed as much, but if you go easy on cocoa powder (just one level teaspoon per cup), there's very little bitterness left, and adding a few grains of salt tends to enhance the natural sugars in milk. Also, I use unprocessed cocoa powder from Ghana, which is much lighter in colour than typical, Dutch cocoa.
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Fell off the wagon at the end of last week. I was so sleep-deprived that my body was SCREAMING for sugar and caffeine. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were as red as you can get, with loads of sugary snacks. My pants got tighter, boo! But another lesson learned: when I start rummaging the cupboards on Sunday evenings, looking for "something to eat", with no particular craving in mind, that's my diet-head speaking. I'm afraid of weekday deprivation (why deprivation? It's just postponing the good stuff!), and I feel like I HAVE TO eat something, anything, because that's my last chance. And then it doesn't matter what choice I make - nothing brings satisfaction, so I eat more and more. Also, because Sunday lunches tend to be heavy, I always try to skip dinner. Keeping the normal, 3-a-day structure on Sundays should help. Other problem areas:
- having sweets around on N-days,
- having multiple servings of sweets around on S-days,
- taking multiple servings of sweets on S-days (should be easily remedied by eating moderate portions, not tiny and not huge, slowly and in tiny bites).
Back to square one, I guess. The good news is I've been doing fine yesterday.
- having sweets around on N-days,
- having multiple servings of sweets around on S-days,
- taking multiple servings of sweets on S-days (should be easily remedied by eating moderate portions, not tiny and not huge, slowly and in tiny bites).
Back to square one, I guess. The good news is I've been doing fine yesterday.
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Tuesday was successful. Yay!
I've just realized something funny: I know that calorie counting works. It does. But it's waaaay too time-consuming and tiresome. I can't imagine myself doing it for the rest of my life, and I believe it puts your perspective in the wrong place, making you obsessed with food. And after 4+ years of NoS (on and off vanilla), eating sweets on weekdays feels wrong. Weekends are much more enjoyable when you know you can look forward to some special treat.
I've just realized something funny: I know that calorie counting works. It does. But it's waaaay too time-consuming and tiresome. I can't imagine myself doing it for the rest of my life, and I believe it puts your perspective in the wrong place, making you obsessed with food. And after 4+ years of NoS (on and off vanilla), eating sweets on weekdays feels wrong. Weekends are much more enjoyable when you know you can look forward to some special treat.
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Yes!! I completely agree. I've just come off from 3 1/2 years of calorie counting, and while the smartphone app I used made the actual counting easy, I was becoming more and more obsessed with food--e.g., saving up calories and pigging out just because I knew I could. My eating had no structure, and that was the problem. I had no habits. That's why I'm doing NoS.Imogen Morley wrote:. . . I know that calorie counting works. It does. But . . . I believe it puts your perspective in the wrong place, making you obsessed with food
(Btw, sorry to but in on your check-in without as much as a "hello"---just realized that as I'm typing. You seem as if you're back on track and are doing great! Best wishes to you!)
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Hi Imogen-
Sorry to hear your discouraged! I'm sure the 2# up and down is frustrating, but it's so much better than 2# up and then again up, which is what I do when I let my guard down. I feel confident that having identified your problem with too many milky drinks and not enough veggies, you'll be able to correct the situation with adding veggies and having tea or whatever you enjoy more often, and save the milky drinks for really hungry times.
Hang in there!
Sorry to hear your discouraged! I'm sure the 2# up and down is frustrating, but it's so much better than 2# up and then again up, which is what I do when I let my guard down. I feel confident that having identified your problem with too many milky drinks and not enough veggies, you'll be able to correct the situation with adding veggies and having tea or whatever you enjoy more often, and save the milky drinks for really hungry times.
Hang in there!
-Sonya
No Sweets, No Snacks and No Seconds, Except (Sometimes) on days that start with "S".
No Sweets, No Snacks and No Seconds, Except (Sometimes) on days that start with "S".
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Fail yesterday. I had seconds at dinner.
I'm struggling with the plan. Really struggling. I've bought a flat, and moved in there a couple of weeks ago, only to discover that the neigbour upstairs is not only noisy, but also totally inconsiderate. I've tried talking to her politely, but she evidently suffers from what I call "lawyerosis" (funny, she IS a lawyer) - can't take even a hint of criticism, and refuses to take any responsiblity, blaming other neighbours. I'm so exhausted! I've been sleep-deprived for almost a month now, and my body craves sugar and caffeine. More often than not I give in.
I'm struggling with the plan. Really struggling. I've bought a flat, and moved in there a couple of weeks ago, only to discover that the neigbour upstairs is not only noisy, but also totally inconsiderate. I've tried talking to her politely, but she evidently suffers from what I call "lawyerosis" (funny, she IS a lawyer) - can't take even a hint of criticism, and refuses to take any responsiblity, blaming other neighbours. I'm so exhausted! I've been sleep-deprived for almost a month now, and my body craves sugar and caffeine. More often than not I give in.
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Oh, that would be tough. If it goes on too much longer, could you talk to a landlord, or manager? It doesn't seem fair for you to be sleep deprived for so long, because of a neighbor. I hope you can get it resolved.
As for the food, I'm sure keeping with the structure of No S will help, but just do what you can. That is definitely understandable, about craving sugar and caffeine when you're tired!
As for the food, I'm sure keeping with the structure of No S will help, but just do what you can. That is definitely understandable, about craving sugar and caffeine when you're tired!
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I need to reboot and regroup. Time to go back to my old mod which helped me achieve my lowest weight ever. And time to post my meals here again!
- three balanced meals a day (complex carbs, protein, fat, freggies), one plate each
- no snacking
- three desserts, 300 calorie each, after Wed, Fri, Sun dinner
- milky (and sweetened, if necessary) drinks to quell hunger or keep sweet cravings at bay, though I need to watch how much milk I use
- weigh-in once a week, on Friday morning
- three balanced meals a day (complex carbs, protein, fat, freggies), one plate each
- no snacking
- three desserts, 300 calorie each, after Wed, Fri, Sun dinner
- milky (and sweetened, if necessary) drinks to quell hunger or keep sweet cravings at bay, though I need to watch how much milk I use
- weigh-in once a week, on Friday morning
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B: pollock&root vegetable stew, tablespoon of evoo, wholewheat slice, a few grapes
L: gnocchi, stir fried vegetables sprinkled with a tablespoon of parmesan, 12 almonds
small cup of grain coffee with a little milk (I'm watching out for excess in this area!)
D: pasta with vegetables and sundried tomatoes
L: gnocchi, stir fried vegetables sprinkled with a tablespoon of parmesan, 12 almonds
small cup of grain coffee with a little milk (I'm watching out for excess in this area!)
D: pasta with vegetables and sundried tomatoes
Last edited by Imogen Morley on Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:41 am, edited 3 times in total.
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54 kg/119 lbs
B: truffle cheese, handful of grapes (sickeningly sweet), slice of wholewheat bread/butter
small cup of grain coffee with a little milk
L: cauliflower/potato salad with breadcrumbs, 12 almonds
Earl Grey with a little milk
D: pasta with pumpkin/sage/garlic sauce and parmesan
scheduled dessert: cream cheese pastry
B: truffle cheese, handful of grapes (sickeningly sweet), slice of wholewheat bread/butter
small cup of grain coffee with a little milk
L: cauliflower/potato salad with breadcrumbs, 12 almonds
Earl Grey with a little milk
D: pasta with pumpkin/sage/garlic sauce and parmesan
scheduled dessert: cream cheese pastry
Last edited by Imogen Morley on Fri Mar 20, 2015 5:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Aaaand things have gone downhill.
Now, when living alone, I have huge problem with boredom eating. I'm a total homebody with mostly online social life (most of my close friends have moved abroad and we keep in touch via Skype). I regularly see my family, about two or three times a week. But that leaves me with four evenings when the only thing I want is to stuff my face, simply to break the monotony of my free time. Housecleaning and cooking (dangerous!) don't keep me occupied for longer stretches of time, and movies/books/TV series don't seem to be as engrossing as before. I'm at wits' end.
I need structure, and I need accountability. I'm restarting my 21 day vanilla challenge, along with posting my meals here, including S-days. Last weigh-in: 53.4 kg/117 lbs, food habits all over the place, binge eating episodes once-twice a week.
Sunday S-day
B: 2 slices wholewheat bread/butter/sardine spread, 1 cup leafy greens, pear
2 scoops ice cream
binge (about 3-hour long): wholewheat pasta with buttered and sugared curd cheese, 2 slices pizza, handful of almonds, 3/4 cup Greek yogurt with teaspoon of fig/orange jam, 3 fritters with jam, 2 cups milk, Magnum ice cream bar, thick slice of cake, cafe au lait with sugar
S: cup of green pea soup
There. I posted it.
Now, when living alone, I have huge problem with boredom eating. I'm a total homebody with mostly online social life (most of my close friends have moved abroad and we keep in touch via Skype). I regularly see my family, about two or three times a week. But that leaves me with four evenings when the only thing I want is to stuff my face, simply to break the monotony of my free time. Housecleaning and cooking (dangerous!) don't keep me occupied for longer stretches of time, and movies/books/TV series don't seem to be as engrossing as before. I'm at wits' end.
I need structure, and I need accountability. I'm restarting my 21 day vanilla challenge, along with posting my meals here, including S-days. Last weigh-in: 53.4 kg/117 lbs, food habits all over the place, binge eating episodes once-twice a week.
Sunday S-day
B: 2 slices wholewheat bread/butter/sardine spread, 1 cup leafy greens, pear
2 scoops ice cream
binge (about 3-hour long): wholewheat pasta with buttered and sugared curd cheese, 2 slices pizza, handful of almonds, 3/4 cup Greek yogurt with teaspoon of fig/orange jam, 3 fritters with jam, 2 cups milk, Magnum ice cream bar, thick slice of cake, cafe au lait with sugar
S: cup of green pea soup
There. I posted it.
Last edited by Imogen Morley on Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Monday - N-day
B: beans in tomato sauce, 2 slices rye bread, pear
L: 2 slices sourdough with mayo and pork, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, black olives, apple
1/2 cup milk
D: cup of pea soup, grilled cheese sandwich
B: beans in tomato sauce, 2 slices rye bread, pear
L: 2 slices sourdough with mayo and pork, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, black olives, apple
1/2 cup milk
D: cup of pea soup, grilled cheese sandwich
Last edited by Imogen Morley on Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hi Imogen Morley,Imogen Morley wrote:I'm at wits' end.
It's nice to see you around again. Sorry that things have not been going so well with the NoS habits. I'm a bit envious that when you lose your way at least you don't come back with a lot of weight to lose. But that's my deal, I know it's avoiding binge eating episodes that is your personal goal. I was hoping the 3 desert events per week would work for you- that seemed like a very good idea. But anyway, I hope this time of Vanilla NoS gives you the right balance and peace with food.
I know I also tend to eat differently in the evening if I am out and with people vs sitting at home alone. I do like alone time, don't get me wrong, but I feel I must eat an adequate supper or I feel a bored kind of hungry. If I'm out and about, a couple of pieces of fruit and peanuts or something is sometimes enough, and when I get home I find I'm not even all that hungry. I hope you can work out alone time without eating more than you feel you really wish to, or that you can find some new social activities that you find very satisfying. We're all in this together!
-Sonya
No Sweets, No Snacks and No Seconds, Except (Sometimes) on days that start with "S".
No Sweets, No Snacks and No Seconds, Except (Sometimes) on days that start with "S".
Hi Imogen,
You've probably thought of this but I'm mentioning it just to be sure. Have you considered taking a class or course of some type. Around here, the local libraries have (relatively) inexpensive courses and, of course, there are plenty of on-line courses you could participate in. Our local community college has an extensive list of non-credit courses offered to the community. Not free but also not expensive and always offered in the evenings and weekends. This came to mind because it would be a way to fill your time and at the same time give you a skill that you can use even when the course if finished. Best case scenario: you meet new people and widen your social circle a bit. Worst case: you learn something new.
Good luck. I hope you find what you need.
You've probably thought of this but I'm mentioning it just to be sure. Have you considered taking a class or course of some type. Around here, the local libraries have (relatively) inexpensive courses and, of course, there are plenty of on-line courses you could participate in. Our local community college has an extensive list of non-credit courses offered to the community. Not free but also not expensive and always offered in the evenings and weekends. This came to mind because it would be a way to fill your time and at the same time give you a skill that you can use even when the course if finished. Best case scenario: you meet new people and widen your social circle a bit. Worst case: you learn something new.
Good luck. I hope you find what you need.
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osoniye, my mod doesn't seem to work as well as it used to, perhaps because my social life is now very active on weekends, especially Saturdays. I'd rather have ice cream with friends on Saturday than ice cream when sitting alone in my apartment on Friday or Wednesday evening. And sense of deprivation, quite predictably, leads to binges.
gingerpie, I live in the country where access to free education/classes/activities is very limited. However, thanks to your suggestion I've come up with a list of activities that could keep me pleasantly busy in the evenings, especially brushing up on my Spanish. The hard part is actually using the list...
gingerpie, I live in the country where access to free education/classes/activities is very limited. However, thanks to your suggestion I've come up with a list of activities that could keep me pleasantly busy in the evenings, especially brushing up on my Spanish. The hard part is actually using the list...