Alison's Daily Check-in

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.

Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating

Post Reply
lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Alison's Daily Check-in

Post by lucdown » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:12 am


lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Test

Post by lucdown » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:31 am

:wink:

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Day 5

Post by lucdown » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:41 am

This is my very first post! Accidentally stumbled across this website and thought it sounded sensible (though have almost no faith in myself to pull it off).
Have had 2 s days and 3 n days so far.
Today was most difficult.
Became extremely hungry this evening resulting in a 5pm dinner.
Mentally put off by reading article that said allowing yourself to get hungry puts your body into a famine state that stops you losing weight. Nearly caved in, except that this philosophy certainly hasn't helped me to date!
Hanging in there...

User avatar
reinhard
Site Admin
Posts: 5957
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:38 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA
Contact:

Post by reinhard » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:24 pm

Welcome, Allison!

I seriously doubt that not eating between meals will put your body into a "starvation state." Almost no one in human history did any snacking worth speaking of until we here in the states started to about 30 years ago -- and promptly got obese.

More (anti-)snacking stats here:

http://everydaysystems.com/podcast/episode.php?id=28

Reinhard

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by lucdown » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:57 am

Wednesday check in. Success!!
Better day emotionally today because I was less hungry (had a bigger lunch). Tonight almost lost the plot on bread rolls...went into automatic pilot mode but stopped just in time.

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Thursday

Post by lucdown » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:20 am

SUCCESS!
Starting to get excited and nervous about S Days...
Al

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Friday

Post by lucdown » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:08 am

SUCCESS
Very proud of myself. Avoided having Macca's for breakfast with kids. Can't wait for my first S days tomorrow... YAY!!!

User avatar
gratefuldeb67
Posts: 6256
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 pm
Location: Great Neck, NY

Post by gratefuldeb67 » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:20 pm

I would never turn down Paul McCartney for breakfast! He's welcome here anytime! LOL :wink:

Hehe.. Good for you on your success mate!
And cutting down on the fast food is a definite healthy choice..
We (my 11 year old Son and I) eat it about once to twice a month at most these days..

Have a nice weekend and keep it up!
Peace and Love,
8) Debs
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

S days

Post by lucdown » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:33 am

(Thanks Deb for your lovely entry!)
Well, my first weekend of S days is almost over, and it definitely was an interesting experience... After having almost no sleep on Friday night in anticipation of "breaking loose", I was surprisingly unappetised by the thought of any treats. I did still eat in an uncontrolled way, but nothing seemed to "hit the spot" (even my very favorite lemon meringue pie and dutch liquorice!!!). I felt bloated and not good about myself (different to my no S week) and felt like I was undoing all the good work I'd done. I'm still processing what this all means.
Back on board tomorrow.
Alison

User avatar
gratefuldeb67
Posts: 6256
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 pm
Location: Great Neck, NY

Post by gratefuldeb67 » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:49 pm

Well your mind is telling you that you are undoing all your good work but you are not.. You may not necessarily see loads of weight loss in say a few weeks or even a few months, cos it does go slowly (and is helped greatly by exercise so add that if possible!) but if you are strict on N days, they will win out over the long run..
Though it may be true that if we all stuck to diet rules for 7 days a week we might all lose faster, but you need to have that carrot at the end of the stick and you need to have a steam valve to relax in order to be committed to the long term. The bloated feeling is actually a wonderful sign that your body is getting used to a new way of eating!
That's good!
The fact that nothing really "hit the spot" might point to something like you are bored or something or eating from a feeling of emptiness that's not even food related..
Sorry if I'm being presumptuous at all.. Just taking a guess here..
Sometimes I just enjoy not having to worry about structuring meals so much on the weekend, and that's enough of an S for me.. Just being able to "take five" so to speak..
Other times I know I'm going to go and hit Haagen Daz :)
Don't get overly worried tho about undoing the good work of the week on your S days. I promise you in the long term it will balance out in your favor! I only did NoS with about 75% success the first year and lost 17 lbs back then. Considering how liberating this all is and all the plusses here, like not having to stress out over every little item of food you put in your mouth, I'd still pick this even though the results take time and involve occasional plateaus as well.. Be patient and if you aren't exercising already, add some activity..
Sorry that was a little rambly! LOL.
Have a good week!
Peace and Love,
8) Debs
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by lucdown » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:00 pm

Monday

SUCCESS!
At times difficult today as I got back into the swing of things, but overall a much better experience of eating compared to the S days.

tuckdown
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:20 am

Post by tuckdown » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:30 am

Keep up the good work Ali. You are my inspiration and if I can support you in return I will.
Love meg

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by lucdown » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:23 am

WEDNESDAY
Success.
Made fatal mistake of weighing myself prematurely and only recorded 1/2 kilo loss. Have nearly given the whole thing away...then I remembered that this is the old way of thinking...ie. quick results or give up (very black and white).
I'm proud of the fact that I've maintained a habit for nearly 2 weeks now, and feel I'm developing a healthier relationship with food.
Alison

lucdown
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by lucdown » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:57 am

My very first FAILURE...
Had 6 mini donuts. Gave it no thought...just ate them.
I won't let this signal the end of the diet as I usually do... straight back on board.
Alison

User avatar
gratefuldeb67
Posts: 6256
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 pm
Location: Great Neck, NY

Post by gratefuldeb67 » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:20 pm

Good attitude!!
Failures do happen.. Just keep yourself from letting that psych you out.
It's part of the process.
Peace and Love,
8) Debs
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

tuckdown
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:20 am

Post by tuckdown » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:23 am

Great attitude Ali. You are strong and know that afew mini donuts will not have you come undone- you are worth more.
Love Meg

tuckdown
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:20 am

Post by tuckdown » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:22 am

Where are you Ali? I have missed seeing your daily check in. Nothing can be so bad that together we can't conquer. Perhaps you are too busy but if it is that you need support just let me know.
Love Meg

Post Reply