Wim's check in

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:12 am

Discovered this site last week so have started No-S'ing. Am still sorting out what that means, but mostly I've stuck to it. The tricky thing has been flavoured yoghurt. I have eatern it as part of my lunch, but am now thinking it's probably a sweet and I should drop it. The hardest change for me is not eating at night when I'm up late at night working (teacher/marking) - and getting exercise (which I have to do in work time - sigh). But am feeling inspired by the simplicity of the formulae - and the fact that it works if you do stick to it.
Am not entirely sure how to use this Bulletin Board (or how it works), so I guess I will watch it for a while. But I'm hoping I can use it for support along the way.

Spook · Post by **Spook** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:07 am

Welcome funfuture! Glad you found the site. I've been here a couple of months and found the bulletin board to be a very friendly and helpful place.

Personally I still allow myself yoghurt as part of my lunch, some days - I'm not sure how much sugar it has but I've never thought of it as a sweet. (Although snacking and seconds have always been my most major problems so I've paid slightly less attention to the 'no sweets' rule). I do think it's important not to punish yourself too much by giving up things you love or you won't be able to keep the habit going.

The late night eating is one of my big problems too. I've ended up having (slightly) larger & later dinners in order to help beat that one, and if I feel like snacking, a glass of milk usually helps.

Anyway, good luck with No S!

MerryKat · Post by **MerryKat** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:07 pm

Don't over think this too much.

If you usually have some yoghurt for lunch (and it is not a litre container at a time) then continue with it.

The "No Sweets" rule is aimed at true sweets and those items that are a problem for you. If you cannot eat a small amount of yoghurt at a time and have to finish the entire litre then yoghurt is a problem in your life, but a little with lunch will not hurt you.

I am also a night time snacker and can easily eat more in my evening snacks than I do at dinner. This is the beauty of No S - after dinner that is it, no more food till breakfast. It took me a surprisingly short time to teach myself this concept. Milk is a good idea if you are really desperate.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:14 pm

Thanks, Mo. That's helpful. I went back to the homepage yesterday to have another look at the general guidelines for the No S diet and came to much the same conclusion. I'm not a really big milk drinker (too much compulsory millk in primary school - the milk would be delivered in the early morning and then left in the hot sun till recess - eeerrrk) and I think the yoghurt is a good source of calcium for me. I also don't have a huge amount of it - maybe 100-150mls.
I've only been on this diet a week, but so far so good. I'm waiting for the first emotional/stress plunge though - that will be the real test for me.
Sounds like you have been doing this for a while and that it has been successful for you. That's great. javascript:emoticon(':D')
Thanks again for your response.
Wim
x

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:23 pm

It's 2 weeks tomorrow since I started the No-S and so far so good, though I am starving tonight. Guess that is a good thing as it means the no-snacking and the walking I've been doing are having some effect.

Up till now, it hasn't been that difficult. I have been eating quite large plates of food, with lots of protein - but there's just something about today. I've been working incredibly hard lately - rarely to bed before 2am and then up early for my 7-year-old - so that's probably got something to do with it. Anyway, work will calm down from Monday, so all is well.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:26 pm

Thank you too, Spook, for your reply to my first message - I've been so cross-eyed busy that think I read your and MerryKat's responses together as one post. Sorry about that. I appreciate your thoughts and advice and that you took the trouble to send it.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:38 pm

So far I have been puddling along on No-S without too many problems, but tonight was the work Xmas party - dinner in an Italian restaurant. Yum. I was tempted to count it as an S day, but I didn't. Am thinking of keeping it as a green no-S day, mainly because I showed great restraint (!) The restaurant was very crowded and the waits for the meals to be delivered were very long. I ended up having a very small proportion of anti-pasto for entre (mainly because I was starving) and veal for the main course. I didn't have dessert and I had 2-and-a-half small glasses of wine (mainly becaue the food took so long

. I have to admit, I was partly saved from dessert by my young daughter who called me from her sleepover and asked me to come and pick her up, so re the food it wasn't all self-discipline on my part. But I'm still pleased with myself - especially because I don't usually drink much and when I do have a few glasses of wine it makes me crave food, particularly sweet things. But I resisted the urge to stop and buy anything on the way home or to eat anything once I got here. Both unusual for me.

One thing I am noticing is that, while I started out with huge plates of food at mealtimes, the portions I am eating are starting to ease off a bit, (though I am starting to feel a bit hungry).

I'm also noticing that it isn't worth snacking too much on weekends because it is hard then to get back into the swing of things on a Monday. I love having the option of S-days (and so far have always used them), but I'm beginning to realise just how much I was snacking and to not want to do it so much anymore.

I'm also trying to get back into exercise - I have been walking a few times a week and I'm thinking of setting up a weights program that I can do at home. Am not sure about shovelglove (it seems so blokey), but I do want to do something, particularly as I am heading into menopause and, besides lacking muscle tone, I'm concerned about losing bone density.

That's it for now.
wim

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:30 am

I bought some dumbells yesterday and found a website with a weight trianing program for women, so here we go. I may also end up getting a 'shovelglove', but won't have a chance anyway to get to the hardware store till next week.

One of the things I am not sure about with shovelglove is that emphasis on working out the upperbody, particularly as women's centre of gravity runs through their hips, not their shoulders. Am not sure how suited all those movements are to women (...as well as the blokey thing...) but excuses excuses. The point is to fit some weight training in. I love the 14 mins idea.

Re No-S - have been feeling very hungry the last couple of days. I ended up having a big meal last night (chops, baked chips and salad), but no snacking. I think the timing of this is right for me as our teaching year has just finished (in Australia) and we're heading into the long summer break. My biggest issues around food are to do with stress eating and pure fatigue. So hopefully I'll have lots of opportunities to chill out, get lots of early nights and eat well over the next two months.

March, I suspect, will be the testing time for me, so I'm hoping to have a few routines and habits in place by then.

wim

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:20 pm

Ate too much on the weekend. I just slip into snacking on weekends really easily, partly for emotional reasons and partly because I'm socialising with friends. I don't have the 'sometimes' thing down at all. On the 'good' side, I have been exercising at least several times a week. Between pouring rain and a sick child, I haven't been able to get outside to walk lately, but it finally twigged that that was no reason not to do exercises at home, so at least I have been doing that intermittently. My pants are definitely looser and I have lost about 5 lbs since I started on No-S, so I'm happy (though a bit despondent tonight about the amount of snacking today and yesterday). Just need to get that snacking under control. I also had sweetened yoghurt with both meals on Friday and realised afterwards that I was really using it as a sweet. So I'm going to cut it. I really don't want to be eating sweet things during the week. I don't want to restrict my food intake during the week except for the No-S rules because I don't want to stuff this up by making it too complicated or difficult, but on the other hand, I do want to follow the No-S principles.

Jammin' Jan · Post by **Jammin' Jan** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:50 pm

Congratulations on your weight loss and also for sticking with it in difficult times.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:32 am

Thanks, Jammin' Jan!

Fell off the wagon last night though. I took my DD (Darling Daughter) out to a seafood dinner to celebrate her very good school report

, then ate half of her meal after I finished mine! Woooah - I don't do that when I'm not dieting. I think it was a reaction to the silly snacking of Sunday (Well, ok, it could also have been the promised deliciousness of those prawn cutlets - not her chips though! - and I was pretty hungry.)

I'm noticing more and more how hard it is to get back to sensible No-S eating if you've had a very uncontrolled day on a Sunday. (We had a Xmas picnic with a group of close friends on Sunday and we were awash with chocolates and home-made sweets, not to mention chips and cheese biscuits, etc, etc...)

Anyway...found I wasn't hungry this morning (all that fish protein last night) and quite absent mindedly forgot to have breakfast. That's unusual for me. It shows me that this program does help to bring you back to eating when you're hungry, rather than obsessing about food and eating for reasons other than hunger. I am always hungry by the time I get to a mealtime on No-S - and that's a nice feeling.

The other thing I am realising about No-S (hey, I'm a newbie), is that it has built into it, a program of getting back up after 'failures' - which is really really useful (and useful in life really!

By letting you eat what you like on S days, but then making you get back to regular eating on No-S days, the program is teaching a manageable way of eating that is far more useful and sustainable than diets where one crash inevitably makes you think you may as well chuck the whole game away. (But hey, as I said, I'm a newbie - ask me again in 6 months time if I'm managing to stick to it!)

gratefuldeb67 · Post by **gratefuldeb67** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:34 am

By letting you eat what you like on S days, but then making you get back to regular eating on No-S days, the program is teaching a manageable way of eating that is far more useful and sustainable than diets where one crash inevitably makes you think you may as well chuck the whole game away. (But hey, as I said, I'm a newbie - ask me again in 6 months time if I'm managing to stick to it!

Hi Wim

Welcome and good luck

My Son and I have been with NoS for a few years now, and it's still ultra fun to look forward to S days and enjoy them

Peace,
Debs

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:22 pm

Thanks, Deb,
I appreciate your support. Am also enjoying your posts and comments on the discussion list. It's very encouraging to hear from people who have been doing No-S for a while and are still committed to it. It's great.

Wim

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:40 pm

Weighed myself yesterday and I have maintained my weight, but aaagghhh, the holidays are really putting a dint into my sense of balance between N0-S and S days. Managed 3 no-S days this week, but have been 'enjoying' the S days. Will be glad when New Year is over (and we return from holidays with friends). In some ways, the food hasn't been so bad, but it has been really hard fitting in exercise. We've had family commitments and/or parties almost everyday - or else we've been minding other people's children as all the kids have 6 weeks off. But again - excuses, excuses. I'll just have to sort out something like an exercise bike at home (and get that sledgehammer!).
w

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:17 am

Well, my no-S'ing went out the window over the last few days. We're back from our beach holiday. Only managed a walk one day when one of the other parents minded the small children. The weather was warm and sunny and I swam a lot, but not really for exercise - mostly with the kids. And our hosts are wonderful cooks, so the food was terrific - no snacking really, but it was a bit hard to refuse desserts, fine wines and cheeses.
It was wonderful, but in a way I'm glad to be home and back to routine tomorrow...Hate to think what the scales say, so I'm not going to look for a while. One of my NY resolutions is to stick to No S throughout 2008.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:30 am

Another red day. I managed No-S with no problem till about 5pm when some friends came round for dinner armed with wine, cashew and basil dip and small red peppers stuffed with goats cheese. oivey. I think I like food too much. I had some of that and a normal dinner (baked chicken, vegies and salad), but because I had fallen off the wagon with the snacks, I sort of gave up and had chocolate icecream and sponge fingers for dessert. Grrrr. No resolve today at all after the holidays - I'm so NOT in the No-S habit. And we are out again for dinner tomorrow because of the holidays and then on the weekend as well. Am wondering if I should just put a line through it all until monday which is a work day for me... but then again, I really really really don't want to eat my way through this weekend let alone January...

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 3:00 pm

ok, i'm feeling better and back on track. I made this weekend No-S days because of all the recent indulgences - just wanted to be in control again. So I have done 3 no-S days in a row and hope to complete the coming week as No-S, reverting to weekends as S days from next weekend. It was actually quite hard not to snack these last few days - the old snacking habit was back, but it is nice to know it's just a habit and not a compulsion that I am powerless to control (which is what it has felt like at times!)
I also need to keep an eye on the size of my helpings. I had more than one plate at dinner tonight I think as I finished my meal with a half a mango and some low fat yoghurt. But I'm not that worried about it as it was a light meal (vegetable omelette and a piece of toast).
I succumbed to the temptation to weigh myself yesterday. Not too bad over Xmas. I gained a pound, but that was better than I expected.
I managed a walk on Friday and one late today, but it is still hard for me to get out of the house to do that, so - accepting that fact - I'll put my mind now to a home-based exercise program. I have been doing some leg lifts and sit-ups, etc, but not many over the Xmas/NY break. I have a great deal of weight to lose, but f I can exercise regularly and stop the snacking, that would solve things for me, I think.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:29 pm

Well, I've bought the sledgehammer...
The thought of making the commitment here to daily shugging fills me with apprehension. But it's time to get started. I want to build up muscle and lose weight. And I'd really like the No-S'ing plan to work as a lifetime way of managing my weight, fitness and health.
Guess it's time to hold my nose and leap in.
So now I just need the 14-minute timer and we're away.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:07 pm

Still haven't started shugging - am psyching myself up for it. Ended up starting my two S days on Friday night and am finishing them tonight (Sun). Ate quite a lot over these two S days, but I don't think outrageously so. I seemed to eat more as the weekend progressed and I got out of the frame of mind of my new habits. Anyway, back to NoS tomorrow.
I walked on Saturday, but not today. I'm hoping I'll have opportunities to walk most of this week as DD is going to a culture camp each day.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:44 am

Successful No-S day yesterday and so far so good today. I had a larger meal than usual last night and a large lunch today and am feeling uncomfortably full - think that's a good sign.

Went for a long walk this morning (45mins) and a short one this afternoon (25 mins).

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:11 am

Successful No-S so far this week - and walking/exercise most days.

And, hey baby, got the timer and last night....drumroll....I shugged!

MerryKat · Post by **MerryKat** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:24 am

Congrats on starting Shugging, and I am sure you will soon feel the difference.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:34 pm

Thanks, Mo. I had some fun with the shugging last week, but didn't do it on Sunday and no exercise Monday. Today I swam laps at the pool while DD had her swimming lesson. I've been very out of condition, and in the small amount of lap swimming I did before Xmas, could only manage breaststroke/backstroke laps and not that many of them. But today I got in a few freestyle laps, so that was encouraging. I'm hoping to work up the freestyle laps over the next couple of months to get a bit fitter. I"ve never been terribly sporty, and I have never liked swimming laps that much to be honest - but the opportunity to exercise while DD is occupied is like gold and I don't want to pass it up - and its rather nice in this hot weather.

Withe freestyle laps, it's the breathing that's mostly bothering me (that's why backstroke and breastroke aren't so much of a problem), but I think underpinning that slightly panicky feeling with freestyle is a lack of strength in my limbs. So hopefully the shrugging and gradual weight loss will help build my strength back up so I can swim further.

I've been keeping to the No-S and was relieved not to permasnack on the weekend. I had some chocolate on Saturday, but otherwise just had my regular meals. And I went out to friends' for dinner on Sunday. Saved up my treat for then and they didn't serve dessert! I did have two chocolates though with tea after dinner - I felt a bit deprived on the way home at the thought of the long No-S week ahead so stopped and bought a chocolate ice cream - and it was delicious!

Got back into the No-S on Monday. I weighed myself today. I seem to be down another pound - so it is slow but steady weight loss. If I can make this a lifetime way of eating/exercising, then I'm thrilled.

cheers
W

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:51 pm

Swam laps for half an hour. Didn't shug, but I'll count it as a success for exercise.

Am recording a failure on the habit cal for No-S. Virtual plated for lunch, but I'm pretty sure I ate more than a plateful.

Then tonight - not a major infringement, but I've been sitting up making cake for mum's 90th birthday party (no candles - it would be a bushfire) - and I couldn't resist tasting the cakemix when I was mixing it. Not much of a taste, but the point was breaking the habit of not mindlessly snacking, of putting things in my mouth to eat without thinking.

Am going to take up the 21-day challenge again, starting tomorrow. And add into it some exercise as that seems to be making the difference for me. (not much weight lost but my pants are looser - hee hee).

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:49 am

Well, so much for starting the 21 day challenge again! Was off track over the weekend and a couple of days surrounding it. I know the weekend is made up of S days, but I went a bit overboard on Sunday at a family party - way more than I would on a normal S day. My excuse is that it was a special time and i was exhausted and stressed and tempted by all the wonderful food on offer.

Anyway, got back on track yesterday and am glad to feel in control again.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:01 am

Successful day. NoS (so far so good). Exercise - long walk (45 mins) plus 14 mins of shugging.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:31 am

Aaagh - a ghastly weekend. I gave up coffee last week and found sticking to No S really hard (am not sure if it was the coffee deprivation or if it was because it was a busy work week or if I was a bit hormonal or if it was just everything at once). I did stick to NoS for the week. Then went out to dinner on Friday night and had dessert, thinking I would swap Friday night for Sunday night - but all reason went out the window by Saturday. I basically ate chocolate and permasnacked my way through the weekend, ending up with a ferocious stomach ache by Sunday afternoon. Ooooooeeeeee - don't want to do that again. Technically, I didn't fail as I basically stuck to the S days, but it felt horrible. I am back on No-S today and intend sticking to it. And next weekend, want to stick to moderate treats - late in the day or in the evening - I really don't want to permasnack like that again....Just made me feel miserable, stressed and out of control.

On the plus side - am pretty much following No-S and am still slowly losing weight.
We're rained in again at the moment - but I shugged this morning.
Want to set up an early morning shugging habit, regardless of whether I can get out to walk or not. I've started reading the shugging discussion list and I'd really like the strength and tone that I think Shugging might give me.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:44 pm

Had a successful NoS week last week (though I ate a lot of food), reasonable S days and a successful NoS day yesterday. I really like this eating plan!

Had intended to shug all 5 days last week, but only managed Monday and Tuesday. Was exhausted by Wednesday and then found busy workdays and pouring rain an excuse not to exercise till the weekend (when I made up for it with lots of walking!). Shugged and walked again yesterday and will shug tonight.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:47 am

Successful No-S so far this week (though I'm still eating fairly big meals). Didn't exercise on Tuesday (fell asleep putting my daughter to bed!), but shugged again yesterday. I shugged after dinner - that might be a good time for me - DD's fed, settled and happy to play quietly by herself for a little while and I have a few peaceful moments before the bedtime routine starts.

way too much rain again to walk (am expecting the animals to start lining up two-by-two soon...)

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:57 am

I haven't had an internet connection at home lately - thus the silence.

Basically, I No-S'd successfully last week although I had some plain yoghurt on Friday night in the evening as a snack. I basically swapped Friday night and Sunday night - Friday is our relaxation night at home and it feels like the night to let loose a little bit.

(BTW _ I'm discovering that I much prefer plain yoghurt to sweetened - I've been buying a good quality, biodynamic yoghurt and it feels like an indulgence when I include it in my lunch, even though I eat it without sweetener.)

The S days were ok, but I ate too much on Saturday night at a friend's 50th birthday party. And I pretty much permasnacked my way through sunday morning and lunch) a reaction to the champagne and late night on Saturday I think - but not nearly as badly as previous weekends.
I found it much easier to stick to No-S this week, I think because last weekend was a bit more controlled.
I weighed myself last weekend - was a bit disappointed - didn't see any weight loss for the last fortnight, although my pants continue to feel a bit looser. The slowness of the program was beginning to bother me a bit too, but then I think about all the snacking and special S days I have had over the last few months - and the lack of regular cardio - and I'm re-motivated. I do want to stick to this way of eating. It just feels much saner and more comfortable.
I am pleased with myself re the shugging - I want to shug again tonight - that will make 4 days out of 5 this week. Woohooo. Am aiming to make it a regular weekday thing.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:18 am

The weekend was reasonably good for S days. Not permasnacking on weekends helps me and is one of my goals.
I didn't get out to exercise this weekend. But I did exercise all 5 days last week, so that's good. I'll shug again tonight before bed. My aim is to shug every day this week.
Am on track with No-S.
Weighed myself on the weekend. I'm down another pound. That means 11 lbs since mid-Nov. I have lots to go, but slow and steady hopefully wins the race.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:03 am

I've stuck to No-S all week and it's been fine. I was craving something comforting during a PMS day, so resorted to milky decaf coffee a couple of times that day. And plain yoghurt with my lunch (a yummy biodynamic one).
I shugged Monday and Tuesday and swam laps and walked on Wednesday. I didn't exercise yesterday (ran out of time - opted to do a 20-min meditation instead and then missed my opportunity to exercise - fell asleep with my daughter about 9pm). Will shug tonight though and hopefully will walk on the weekend.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:01 am

Had a bit of a blowout weekend. Couldn't stop snacking. I hate that and would really like to get that under control.
Have been sticking to NoS through the week though and that gets easier as the week progresses. By Wed/thurs I'm not really thinking about it. Permasnacking my way through Sat and Sun though really makes Monday hard - it's like the habits are broken and I have to start again.
Hmmm - will have to plan proper treats on the weekend I think - once I start snacking it's v hard to stop.

Exercise has been going well - Monday to Wed are fine. And I can usually go for a long walk on one day of the weekend. Thursday and Friday are hopeless though because of my timetable, so I'm thinking of making Thursday and Friday my S days for exercise. Getting up early to do it doesn't really work for me. I got up in the dark this morning to go downstairs to catch up on some work and my daughter heard me and woke up too! aaaghh. We had a nice cuddle, though.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:43 am

weighed myself on the weekend... I've gained weight over the last two weeks. sigh....The only things I've done differently are to switch to full cream milk rather than light milk and to have stopped drinking coffee. I wonder if dropping coffee has slowed down my metabolism??
Anyway, I think I'm going to have to stop eating between meals even on weekends. I think the permasnacking through Saturday and sunday is a problem, and perhaps the only way to tackle it is to stop snacking but allow myself desserts on the weekend...
will give it a go.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:55 am

well, the extra weight's gone - don't know what that was about. I'll weigh myself again this weekend and see how I've gone. I don't think I've lost anything - which will make about a month either at the same weight or above. hmmmm. I've switched back to light dairy products and have cut out the yummy biodynamic yoghurt and also the raw almonds I had started eating to fill the corners at meals. I'm full on back at uni now so my work days are chock-a-block. which means lots of time sitting at a computer. There is less time to exercise and I've dropped the shugging. I have to get back into it and will do so over this Easter weekend. I have managed a few walks a week but not much more. That clearly isn't helping.
I've not been too bad with the No-S diet - just have to get back on track with exercise and not get discouraged at this point.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:32 pm

well....I managed Good Friday as a No S day; Saturday was a relatively controlled S day, but Sunday and Monday ....wooooaaah. Talk about a chocolate blow out (and a general blow out).
And no exercise, except walking around the Royal Easter Show for about 8 hours straight on Monday (hey, that's gotta count).
As I expected, I'm finding No-S really hard now that I am back at work and all the stresses are back in full. Still, no excuses. I want (and need) to get back on track.
I have had two successful S days (today and yesterday). I want to do another 21 days with a 'fence around the law' as KCCC says - no virtual plating, no seconds and no sweets. I also want to get the out-of-control S days under control. The same thing happened over easter as happens too often - I'm fine at the beginning of the weekend, but once I start snacking, the weekend spirals out of control. Hmmm, I really don't want that to continue - it's demoralising and counter productive. Am happy to have treats, but there must be a way of having them in moderation!

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:57 pm

Successful no-s week so far. Not much exercise except a long walk yesterday (45 mins) and the day on my feet on monday at the Easter Show. But am happy to be reasonably back on track.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:25 pm

Got in a long walk today (45 mins). Have also managed to control the snacking. Had a bowl of icecream with chocolate for dessert tonight and a glass of wine with dinner. Am happy with that for an S day. I liked the post on the discussion forum (a humorous post) that S day treats could be limited to one treat in different places each S day. I know it was tongue in cheek, but I really like that suggestion.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:32 pm

I meant to add that I've lost no weight (and no inches) in the month of March. Not sure why - too much snacking on weekends? The weight plateau coincides with the students coming back and work being full on and stressy. My opportunities for exercise are also much more limited. And my sleep gets disrupted by work demands. (staying up late to get things done - or waking up in the middle of the night anxious about work and getting up to do some. sigh.) Anyway, I'm hanging in there and will try to get more exercise and to keep limiting the snacking on weekends.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:22 pm

Sunday wasn't too bad either - although I did eat a lot of raw cashews during the afternoon (nibbling while chatting with a friend) and half a chocolate egg left over from easter.

Had a successful NO-S day today but no exercise. Will be able to walk tomorrow.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:47 pm

Have had a successful NoS week so far, though my one plate for lunch today was rather large (grilled fish, chips (fries), salad and a bread roll). I know it's 'legal' but it seemed like rather a lot and I could have done without the fries. Got a long walk in yesterday and today and hope to do so tomorrow as well.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:36 am

Lots of walking today = about 2.5 hours worth over the day. Successful NoS. Am a bit proud of myself as I went to a cocktail party to do with my work and they had gorgeous savouries. But I had made sure I at an early dinner before I went and that helped me not eat anything.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:00 pm

Ok, managed a full successful NoS week - my first week of a 21 day challenge as part of my recommitment to NoS.
The weekend may be a bit of a challenge - am craving chocolate at the moment. I resisted having a hot chocolate tonight, so am pleased about that. But I did go out today and get the ingredients to make chocolate brownies as a weekend treat. I'll see how I feel tomorrow about baking them.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:53 am

aaagh - I still have a tummy ache from the weekend. Strangely, I didn't eat that much - at least not compared to what I might have eaten 6 months ago. I had some easter egg after lunch (1.5 sandwiches and fruit and some seeds) and again after dinner on Saturday. I had a mid-afternoon coffee with skim milk and two glasses of wine with dinner (stir fried chicken). I also snacked on some crackers after dinner - but woah - I felt a bit yuck. I did have a large handful of pepitos and sunflower seeds at lunch and wonder if they were too much fibre, in combination with the coffee, alcohol and chocolate. On Sunday, I had pancakes with lemon juice for breakfast, BBQ chicken, chips and steamed vegies for lunch and then again ate chocolate immediately after lunch - a very good quality, hand made chocolate this time with dried apricots inside. But it was all too much. My stomach was in absolute revolt by the evening. Just can't seem to tolerate that much rich/fatty stuff, I guess. Coffee has always acted a bit like a laxative for me - also dried apricots and alcohol too. Adding the rich chocolate just pushed me over the edge I think.
By dinner time I could only look at toast.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:32 pm

Monday and tuesday have been successful nosing days. I walked 45 mins on Monday but no exercise today. I will walk again tomorrow morning.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:27 am

successful S days wed and thurs (so far) and have walked both days (45 mins).

Terez · Post by **Terez** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:35 am

Where are you, funfuture?

The only time I had lemon juice on pancakes was at a B&B in New Zealand. Tried to duplicate it when I came back to the States but our lemons are different. I saw some meyer lemons in the store this week and thought of seeing how that would taste squeezed onto pancakes, then I click through and there's your post where you talk about that very thing!

(I didn't read all your posts so I apologize if you've already mentioned where you are!)

Terez

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:04 am

Ah, it must be an Antipodean thing. I'm in Sydney, Australia.

I've been making pancakes as a weekend breakfast treat for me and my daughter for the last couple of weeks - they're her favourite. They are really more crepes than pancakes - I make them quite thin - they taste better that way. I'm not sure of the quantities because I just chuck things in till it looks right, but here goes re instructions (and you are probably a v experienced cook, so apologies in advance if the blurb below sounds patronising...) -

Into a pouring jug mix about a cup of milk, an egg, some plain flour (1/2 cup?) and some sugar (a tablespoon full? - be careful not to make it too sweet - you can actually leave out the sugar at this point if you like and it will still work because you put more sugar on later). I then whisk it all up and let it sit for half an hour or more to get the last of the lumps out and let it settle. Then heat up a pan, put a little bit of oil or butter in (and wipe it across with kitchen paper so there isn't too much). Once that's warm, pour in the batter and move the pan around so it reaches the sides. Once the crepe starts to lift around the edges, run a flat spatula around and underneath without breaking the crepe and then toss it. (They are easy to toss this way). Then squeeze fresh lemon juice over them (a generous slurp from a half lemon) and sprinkle them with sugar.

I think our lemons are much the same as yours as we tend to get Californian ones when ours are out of season.

Very much an S day treat - we only had them on Shrove Tuesday (start of Lent) when we were little.

cheers
w

Terez · Post by **Terez** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:29 am

Aha. So it was probably the pancakes that were different and all this time I thought it was the lemons! That was exactly it, squeezing a lemon over top then sprinkling it with sugar.

I won't have the leisure to make it this weekend but I'm going to give it a go on an S day along the way before too long.

Thanks!

Terez

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:18 pm

Hmmmm - weighed myself on the weekend. No weight lost for 6 weeks. What's going on!! Found that a bit demoralising and had a red day today on my habitcal - seconds at dinner and then some chocolate.

I'm wondering if the blowouts on S days are too great or my mealtime servings are too large or I'm not doing enough exercise....

Anyway, back into it today.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:22 am

Have been away roughly since my last post - and eating wildly. Was relieved to come back home and back to our routines - and to No-S. Weighed myself after the trip and haven't gained anything (which is miraculous). So this is clearly a plateau. Time to knuckle back down to No-S, get my weekends under control and start my walking up again.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:26 pm

I've been sticking to No-S since we got back from holidays - a managing a walk 3-4 times per week. This weekend was pretty decadent - but it was my birthday and mother's day.

My weight seems to be starting to move again - which is good. Only slightly but I can feel it. Two people that I've seen recently but haven't seen for a while commented on how I've lost weight. woohooo. And I've gone down a pants size. Double woohoooo.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:37 pm

Am starving tonight, but am enjoying settling back into my NoS routines. I've been having steamed vegies for dinner the last two nights (once with a small can of tuna (100g) and mayonnaise mixed in and tonight with a small can of beans). Steamed vegies on their own used to be my favourite dinner but I haven't had it for years because now I tend to eat what my daughter eats for dinner - often meat of some kind. I must say, I really enjoyed the veg. Made me feel like I was 10 years younger.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm

Hmm today was interesting - I didn't put any butter on my toast this morning or my roll at lunch. I think that, plus the light dinners lately, left me absolutely starving by tonight. I was still starving after I had finished my evening meal - vegie soup with mixed grains; brown rice, a lamb chop, corn and peas. It was a big meal as the soup was really an extra, over and above what would fit on the plate (though I partially used it as a sauce for the rice). I was so hungry afterwards though that I ate half a cup or so of plain yoghurt as well. But, when I thought about it later, that means I ended up having a 3-course meal - a healthy one though! Hmmm - I really felt stuffed land it was a lesson in eating enough at meals so that you don't get too hungry and overeat later...

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:22 am

I ate way too much on my S days again - I was just desperate by saturday to eat stuff that I couldn't on N days...so strange. Could have been partly hormonal. Sunday was much better, but still not great.
I'm thinking of cutting out snacks on S days and just allowing myself desserts. I know I've mentioned this before, and that it is tweaking, but what I'm realising is that I'm developing a bad habit on No-S of following my routines during the week and then blowing out on the weekend.
That's not an ongoing habit I want to develop. I think having the safety valve of s days is great - but not setting up a habit of out-of-control S days. It's not good for me and not a good example for my daughter.
So, am working up to cutting out snacking all together - at least for a while till I get a better set of habits going.
(It's hard to tell on the scales I use, but I have lost a little weight over the last 3 months - not much, but about 3lbs, so that's good.)

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed May 21, 2008 12:05 pm

Have been running into lots of people lately that I haven't seen for quite some time - and I'm getting a lot of compliments about how I look - which is v nice.

I haven't lost THAT much weight, but I have gone down a clothing size (top and bottom) and I suspect the regular exercise and a bit more rest are probably helping me look brighter and more relaxed. A good haircut I recently treated myself too has also helped. LOL.
I certainly feel HEAPS better now that I am exercising regularly - and eating consistently balanced and healthy food and only eating processed/sweet stuff on weekends. Haven't shugged for a while but have been regularly walking. The walking is no effort - and I miss it on the days I can't do it. I'd like to get back into shugging though, so I think once the walking is really pinned down - and the no snacking on weekends - then I'll bring back the shugging. I've learned to not to try too many changes at once but to concentrate on building those habits, one at a time.

blueskighs · Post by **blueskighs** » Thu May 22, 2008 2:10 am

Have been running into lots of people lately that I haven't seen for quite some time - and I'm getting a lot of compliments about how I look - which is v nice.

funfuture - that is WONDERFUL!

Blueskighs

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu May 22, 2008 2:39 am

Thanks, Blueskighs. I must say, getting a few compliments, is really really nice!

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Fri May 30, 2008 2:29 pm

Haven't been posting much lately, but am still NoSing quietly away in the background here.

I intended not to snack at all last weekend and ended up having a vile 3-day weekend of non-stop bingeing. I don't usually have any problem staying on NoS at home, but we tend to spend every weekend at a relative's place where I am in the awful habit of snacking/bingeing on my S days. Not sure why, but it really has to stop. I certainly haven't gained weight because of it, so possibly I'm not eating as much then as I think. But then again, I haven't lost v much over the last 3 months. What bothers me most about it is the feeling of being horribly out of control around food. I don't want it to continue. So time to stop talking about it and change that bad habit!

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:58 am

The weekend was good. I stuck to my resolve not to snack. I did allow myself dessert both days - tinned fruit and jelly on saturday night and icecream and milo on Sunday night. I was happy with that. If I can establish a no-snacking habit on weekends, I'll be thrilled.
Yesterday wasn't that wonderful. I was v stressed and ended up having seconds of stew. Ah well. Today's another day.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:18 am

Haven't been exercising this week - used the excuse of the rain (which has been bucketing down - and how). Also ate too much on Monday and Tuesday (what really amounted to seconds). Am back on track foodwise now though. Had a good day yesterday and today is going ok.

Am looking forward to the weekend, but also keeping to my no-snacking resolve.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:30 pm

Well, so much for my resolve. Had a ghastly blow-out weekend with an extra day (long weekend here for the Queen's birthday). Back on track yesterday. Walked on Saturday and yesterday and will walk today.
Am trying to work out why I find the weekends so hard - my snacking/bingeing on weekends is definitely emotionally driven, but I'm going to work on it from a habit approach as much as anything. If I can set up a no snacking habit, that would really help. I feel I am gaining weight at the moment and, if so, I'm not really surprised...
w

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:32 pm

Have had a good week food-wise. Stuck to NoS and really focussed on lots of veg and vegetarian or fish-based meals - although I think I am probably eating too much at mealtimes (surprise!). From reading the posts about 'fruit' on the general discussion list, I realise that I am adding a piece of fresh fruit and a small serving of plain yoghurt after the meal rather than including them on my one plate, which I did do when I first started NoSing. So I'll have to fix that. Also didn't get that much exercise in this week because of busy work days. Will have another go tomorrow.

One new thing I tried was the optimised oatmeal for breakfast (or porridge where we come from

). Yummo. Can't imagine though that it has less calories than the egg and toast I used to have...but it did keep me full till lunchtime.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:42 am

I did snack on the weekend but not till Sunday evening - Saturday was ok. Sunday was ok till afternoon tea and beyond! But not soooo out of control that I feel bad about it.
Am back on No S today. The scales were kind on Saturday.

Walked this morning.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:42 am

Have had a successful No S week so far. I'm eating less meat and also my portions are smaller as I am being much more careful about fitting everything (fruit, yoghurt etc) onto the one plate with the rest of my meal. I walked Monday. No chance to do that yesterday but had my usual long walk this morning. If I can walk 3-4 times per week I'm happy.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:55 pm

Had a v good weekend this time - well, I was happy with it. I stuck to No S all weekend but shared 100g block of organic chocolate with someone on Saturday night (pre-planned - I know that's a lot of chocolate - but there was no emotional eating/binging) and I had sweetened yoghurt for dessert on Sunday. I also got lots of walks in last week. It felt v nice to be in control.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:58 am

Another good weekend. No uncontrolled snacking. I had 3 meals each day. My daughter and I had icecreams at the beach on Saturday as our treat.
We always have a bit of a special dinner on Sat night. This time we followed our meal with fresh strawberries sprinkled with icing sugar plus nougat icecream (two lots of icecream in one day isn't ideal - but it wasn't snacking either...so I'm happy with that). Sunday night, I had plain yoghurt with a teaspoon of honey for dessert, and some seaweed crackers - strange, I know, but they worked for me!. I had a glass of wine with dinner both nights. I don't drink during the week, so they were a nice treat too.

My exercise wasn't great last week (end-of-semester marking, a funeral, etc, etc) - only 3 walks I think - but I'll get back into it this week.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:49 am

I didn't really have uncontrolled snacking on the weekend, but we had guests and I ate sweets and afternoon tea and all sorts of things that together came to much more than was wise. Chalk it up to experience. Try again next weekend.

I have been shugging - sometimes as well as walking, sometimes instead of. It feels good. I want firm upper arms by summer (Nov down here...)

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:47 pm

Not a great weekend. Stressful family stuff on Saturday that sent me into a binge. It was strange though because I was also conscious that I was breaking some firm habits this time and I could really have stopped myself if I had been stricter and more focussed - it was almost like the family stuff was a bit of an excuse. Another thing - I did say what I thought to one family member who was being problematic (something I don't normally do) - not in a confrontational way but in a firm way and the response was great - she apologised to the person she had offended. I felt so chuffed. But breaking the good habits yesterday just meant more of the same today - nibbling at an event this morning, not having enough lunch and then eating lots of things I wouldn't normally eat tonight (sweet things, nuts, etc).

I read a very interesting post on "shrink yourself". About the costs of emotional eating. It really hit home - particularly 2 things - not developing intimate relationships because you eat rather than learn the skills to negotiate relationships - and - avoiding your ambitions because you eat rather than face the parts of your life that are unsatisfying...v interesting stuff.

http://www.shrinkyourself.com/5_surpris ... wup&bhcp=1

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:15 am

Hmmm - had a red day on Wednesday. My first uncontrolled one during the week really since I started last November. Although disappointing, it was also educational - I am really under pressure at work at the moment - I got up at 2am on Wednesday morning and worked through till my daughter woke at 7am. She was on holidays and it was her best friend's birthday so I ended up minding 3 children for the day, but I also had to visit Mum and check in on her while my sister was away. I prepared a birthday cake for afternoon tea and found I just couldn't resist eating some - ok, lots (apple bun). And then I had to work in the evening again (till 1am) and ended up snacking. Clearly , I was overtired, overbusy and craving the sugar hits to get me through. I'm tempted to count it as an S day and have only one S day this weekend, but I'm not sure...we have relatives coming to dinner tomorrow night and a picnic to go to on Sunday...anyway, the moral is that I have to be aware of when I'm overdoing it as that's when I am at my most vulnerable. It's also when I can't get any exercise in. As someone else mentioned on another post, the days I do exercise I find it much easier to stick to NoS. The good news is I got back on track yesterday and today with both food and exercise and feel good about that.

blueskighs · Post by **blueskighs** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:42 pm

I'm tempted to count it as an S day and have only one S day this weekend, but I'm not sure...we have relatives coming to dinner tomorrow night and a picnic to go to on Sunday...

sounds a bit punitive

I would just "let it go" and ENJOY your weekend, you have been working HARD, if anything maybe you can catch up on some zzzzzzzzz's this weekend

Blueskighs

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:40 pm

Not a great weekend - out of control eating both days. Not good. Back on track on Monday and today but, as usual, after a weekend where I've eaten too much, it's hard to get back into habit and my portions are too big. Ah well...just have to go easy with myself till I get through the next couple of weeks.

funfuture · Post by **funfuture** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:28 am

After a diabolical work week - two nights of lots of work and not much sleep (didn't finish a conference paper till 4.30am Friday morning - oivey - but it was very satisfying doing it - and it went down v well, so that's a relief) - I have been catching up on the ZZZZs as Blueshighs recommended. 10 hrs Friday night and 10 hrs last night. Plus DD was v tired too yesterday so the two of us stayed in our pyjamas till about 4pm. It was bliss.
No binging yesterday - but we had fish and chips for dinner - a rare treat. Otherwise, the meals were all as usual...Some organic dark chocolate after dinner.
The scales showed neither a gain nor a loss this week - which I've come to realise isn't that surprising...
Now DD is back at school after the mid-year break, we're back to our shovelgoving/reading combo...that's fun. I bought a couple of summer shirts the other day that show my upper arms - it's winter here now and v cold but they were so pretty and I so rarely buy clothes...so am looking forward to tighter upper arms by our summer at the end of the year as a result of shugging.