WINhappy's Check-in Thread

[WINhappy]

Thank you, Soprano and Maigret!

I did well yesterday too, so if I stay the course today, I'll have made my entire week green.

11/09/2025 - S Day
11/10/2025 - Green
11/11/2025 - Green
11/12/2025 - Green
11/13/2025 - Green
11/14/2025 - In Progress

[Soprano]

Go for it!

[WINhappy]

11/09/2025 - S Day
11/10/2025 - Green
11/11/2025 - Green
11/12/2025 - Green
11/13/2025 - Green
11/14/2025 - Green
11/15/2025 - S Day

Well, I did it. One full 5 day stretch of N days. I'm very pleased I was so disciplined. And yet..... wow, was it hard! I was SO hungry but I tried a few things this week that might have made staying disciplined a little bit easier.

First, I started drinking 1 liter of water between each meals AND started drinking it while I was still full from my meal. I've never been one to mistake thirst for hunger or misread my hunger cues. I KNOW when I'm stomach-growling hungry and drinking water after I've already reached the point of physical hunger does nothing to help. But it seems like if I start drinking water while I'm still feeling really physically satisfied/happy from my last meal, the water helps keep the hunger at bay for longer than usual. This sounds very weird and I'm almost embarrassed to write it but it's like the water on top of food reminds my stomach/brain that I've had plenty to eat. Whereas water alone on an empty stomach just reminds my stomach that it really prefers to be filled with food and "right NOW, if you please".

Second, I chewed sugarless gum between meals. I'd sort of forgotten this option but purchased a pack of sugarless spearmint gum at the grocery store on impulse last weekend. I don't know why, but I think it helped me.

Third, I rescheduled my workouts to right before my meals. My struggle with No S to date has been feeling so hungry between meals and caving in the final hour or so before my meals. The period between lunch and dinner is the hardest. So, this past week, I shifted my workouts to right before dinner (I fully recognize my luck in having the flexibility to do this). Doing so kept my attention healthfully occupied for the last hour or so before my meal. My meal then became a well-earned reward for my hard work, AND I got to relax and do whatever I wanted for the rest of the day—no stress or pressure because I “still need to workout”.

I really believe that if I can stick with No S consistently, I can make some progress. I'm hoping that what worked for me last week will work for me this week too.

Wishing everyone all the best! WIN

[Soprano]

Well done on your green week.

It's great when you can find a way to make it work for you.

Here's to week 2

Jx

[Amy3010]

Congratulations! A fully green week - well done! It sounds like you came up with some great strategies that really helped you achieve it.

[Maigret]

Job well done! Nice work with observations and advance planning.

[WINhappy]

Thanks so much for the encouragement, all! I really appreciate you taking the time to offer your support.

Yesterday was green. I drank my water, chewed my gum, thoroughly enjoyed my 3 meals, and did OK. I shortened my workout yesterday to just the bare minimum because, frankly, I didn't want to do anything at all. Working out just felt like yet one more burden/drag/obligation/"should" To Do in my day and I was NOT feeling it. If you know what I mean.

Today, has been "so far, so good" and I'm determined to keep going. In order of increasing difficulty so far, the Ss are: No Seconds, No Sweets, and No Snacking. None of them are anywhere close to habitual yet, with No Snacking feeling the hardest by a very long, deep, wide margin. But I REALLY like eating real, normal meals with my family stress-free, so will continue to reinforce that benefit in my imagination between meals.

Best wishes to everyone! WIN

11/16/2025 - S Day
11/17/2025 - Green
11/18/2025 - In progress

[Maigret]

Sounds like you're on a roll! Two thumbs up to "real, normal meals with my family." Eating alone (snacking) is kissing cousins to drinking alone, I sometimes think; risky un-tethering from the social aspect.

[WINhappy]

Interesting observation, Maigret.

11/16/2025 - S Day
11/17/2025 - Green
11/18/2025 - Green
11/19/2025 - Green
11/20/2025 - In progress

I have only two more days to go before I can declare this week a success and I'm determined to make it. I'm still having to put a lot of mental energy and fortitude towards not snacking between meals, especially between lunch and dinner. Drinking water after meals and before I get hungry and chewing gum seem to help me stay on track.

Yesterday, I tried something else that I think helped me. I made myself a hot cocoa around 3:00 PM (just a spoonful of unsweetened baking cocoa and a little bit of unsweetened soy milk—no sugar or artificial sweetener). Instead of using a regular coffee mug, I poured it into one of my double-walled, insulated travel mugs. This mug keeps my hot beverages hot for hours and is so effective that I can only sip a little bit off the top at a time. So, drinking my single cup of plain, unsweetened hot cocoa took more than 2 1/2 hours. It was just enough of a taste to look forward to that it kept me from snacking. I'm going to try this again today.

I hope everyone has a great day! WIN