axw daily checkin

Counting carbs/calories is a drag. Obsessive scale stepping is a recipe for despair. If you want to count something, "days on habit" is a much better metric. Checking off days on a calendar would do just fine, but if you do it here you get accountability and support. Here's how. Start a new topic in this forum called (say) "Your Name Daily Check In." Then every N day post a "reply" to that topic as to whether you stayed on habit. A simple "<font color="green">SUCCESS</font>" or "<font color="red">FAILURE</font>" (or your preferred euphemism if that's too harsh) is sufficient, but obviously you're welcome to write more if you want. On S-days just register that you're taking an S-day. You don't have to do this forever, just until you're confident you've built the habit. Feel free to check in weekly or monthly or sporadically instead of daily. Feel free also to track other habits besides No-s (I'm keeping this forum under No-s because that's what the vast majority are using it for). See also my <a href="/habitcal/">HabitCal</a> tool for another more formal (and perhaps complementary) way to track habits.

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axw
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axw daily checkin

Post by axw » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:30 pm

I just finished ready the book and I love this idea. I, like everyone else, have tried everything when dieting. All the special programs, all the different pills and drinks... you name it, I've tried it. But reading this book has given me some hope. I remember eating 3 square meals a day when I was a kid and never being that hungry. When did that all change?

Anyway, I'm excited by the idea of starting this. I decided that tomorrow would be a good day - especially since today would have been an exception day anyway.

My struggle is going to come from the fact that I work from home with very easy access to my kitchen. I've been working from home for years now and always wander around once every hour to get up and away from my desk. The kitchen is the easiest place to go. But now I have a reason to think about what I'm doing and so I have very high hopes that this will help me.

I weighed myself this morning and am starting the program at 201.8 which doesn't surprise me much. I was at 192 about 2 months ago but then my boyfriend moved in with me and that adds new stresses and influences. We've talked and he is completely supportive of my efforts to lose weight so I really don't foresee any sabotage from him. We're planning our first vacation together for the last week of August so my hope is to be back to the 192 mark by then. But, you know what... I gave up my scale today. After reading the book, I decided I was too focused on that number and would rather try to track my success in other ways - and plan on using the Days of Habit calendar to do so. I'm all about dashboard metrics and what a great option for me!

So, this is the first of many posts for me where I will report my successes.
Last edited by axw on Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

blueskighs
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Post by blueskighs » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:08 pm

But reading this book has given me some hope.
axw,
reading the book gave me a lot of hope too.
WELCOME!

great idea to focus on HABITCAL, it is amazing how hugely helpful that is,
Blueskighs
www.nosdiet.blogspot.com Where I blog daily about my No S journey

axw
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Day 1

Post by axw » Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:41 am

Thanks for the welcome!

Well, my first day was red but I'm actually a bit encouraged. It was red due to sweets (of course!). I couldn't resist some of the remaining treats that are in the house right now. I'm encouraged though because I didn't snack which is a huge concern for me.

I ate breakfast a bit later than usual (7:00am) this morning and started feeling hungry around 10:00am. But, I drank some water and waited it out without too much issue. The key there was to keep busy. I ended up eating lunch around 11:45am. I ate a huge lunch for fear of being hungry in mid-afternoon and unable to resist snacking. But, the huge lunch paid off and I wasn't hungry when I stopped work around 2:00pm. I even went to the gym and worked out for a while this afternoon. Dinner was uneventful around 5:30pm and I haven't really been hungry since.

I'm guessing I was eating a lot of extra stuff when I wasn't hungry due to boredom or simply because it's what I've always done. It's amazing what happens when you actually pay attention to what your body is saying!

Tomorrow is another day and hopefully a day without sweets or snacks!

axw
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Day 2

Post by axw » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:20 pm

I'm so excited to say that yesterday, Day 2, was green.

It's amazing to me how much bad food is immediately cut from my diet by simply not snacking. No more cheese and crackers in the middle of the day, no more gobs of ice cream in the evenings... I'm just eating my regular 3 meals and somehow, I'm eating right.

After only 2 days, I'm convinced about this diet/lifestyle working and I honestly think I can continue.

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reinhard
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Post by reinhard » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:34 pm

Welcome!
It's amazing to me how much bad food is immediately cut from my diet by simply not snacking.
It's funny how just changing your eating "structures" can have such profound side effects in terms of the "substances" you eat. And it's much easier than restricting the substances directly.

Congratulations on your first "green" and looking forward to many more,

Reinhard

axw
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Day 3

Post by axw » Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:57 pm

Chalk up another green day!

I'm not feeling hungry at all and my snacking ways are quickly disappearing. I still have a sweet tooth so that's been a bit tough but I'm working through it. The best thing is that I'm already feeling better without filling myself with crazy foods.

axw
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Day 4

Post by axw » Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:04 pm

Yesterday was another green day (wohoo!)

I can't say it's getting easier but it's feeling pretty easy to go with no snacks, sweets or seconds. I have to admit though that I'm looking forward to the weekend!

blueskighs
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Post by blueskighs » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:31 pm

I can't say it's getting easier but it's feeling pretty easy to go with no snacks, sweets or seconds. I have to admit though that I'm looking forward to the weekend!
It has taken longer than I thought to get easier ... but that is definitely happening now! You are doing great,

Blueskighs
www.nosdiet.blogspot.com Where I blog daily about my No S journey

axw
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Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:21 pm

Day 5

Post by axw » Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:34 am

Well, today was red. I'm doing great with not snacking so I'm still very encouraged. But I did give into some sweets today. My focus for next week will be to not eat sweets during the day (and of course continue not snacking).

On the flip side, wohoo... it's the weekend.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and thank you for your support during my first week. My second week will be even better!

axw
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:21 pm

Day 8

Post by axw » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:02 am

Both days this weekend were yellow. Yes, I ate sweets. Yes, I had snacks. But today was completely green so I'm still doing okay. It is a bit tougher now... my motivation seems to wane after the first week on a diet so I'm happy today was green. I just need to keep plugging along and see what I can do.

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