12/8/2010
No S: SUCCESS
Things I did well yesterday:
1. Stuck to 3 realtively healthy plates
2. Upped strictness by putting fruit on dinner plate (I didn't do this yesterday and it is my goal)
2. Nourished myself to the point that I didn't crave sweets or more food
Yesterday was a good N day. The cravings simply evaporated. My new attitude is succesful so far, I'm feeling happier and trying to enjoy food and accept myself. The weekend will be more challenging but I'm starting out really well so I'm going to try to enjoy N days. I read a really great quote by KCCC that Brightangel had put on her thread. It really resonnates with me.
KCCC wrote:
Dear Self,
This is your internal voice of reason, and I just want to remind you of a few things... things you know, but sometimes forget.
You've been doing No-S for a while, and you have experienced the difference between "good" S-days and... and well, S-days that aren't so good.
On a Good S-Day, you have a scrumptious, satisfying treat of some nature. Maybe more than one - and you savor every bite. However, you also eat regular meals (maybe extra-yummy, but on time), refrain from perma-snacking, and enjoy the day. Emotionally, you feel proud of yourself, and deeply satisfied by what you ate. Physically, you feel good.
On a Not-So-Good (okay, pretty bad) S-day, you fall back into perma-snacking mode. You eat so much between meals that meals don't taste very good. Neither does anything else... for all the food you're inhaling (without even tasting), you don't feel satisfied. Emotionally, you feel desperate, out of control...and dissatisfied. Physically, you feel bloated and queasy.
Reinhard says S-days are meant to be a reward. A good one is exactly that. A bad one... nope.
So, what can you do to have a rewarding S-day? Well, start by remembering what works for YOU (other people will have different strategies, and that's okay). And remember to use the strategies your user name, which stands for Keep, Chuck, Change, Create.
KEEP what works for you during the week. Reinhard says habits will naturally carry over, but you don't have to passively wait for it to happen by magic! Pick an easy habit or two that you actually like, and incorporate them intentionally. For instance, eating regular meals and remembering to drink enough.
CHUCK what doesn't work for you. Right now, the biggest issue is snacks - they're a slippery slope, and you don't even like them that much. Do you need them to have a special day, or will seconds/sweets do it? (And when that self-destructive little voice whines "but it's an S-day, it's allowed!" tell it firmly that "allowed does not mean obliged. I don't HAVE to eat that if I don't want it!")
CHANGE the day's patterns to make them work better. For example, you have more energy in the morning, so maybe cook a big lunch and an easy supper. Or try one of those "put it in the oven and bake for an hour" recipes that you never have time for during the week.
CREATE new routines and habits that give you pleasure. Plan a special outing with the family. Buy flowers. Find something special to do... and savor it.
And yes, I know you know all this, but sometimes it helps to be reminded at the right time.
So have a great S-day. And remember, there will be a lot of weekends in your life. If you miss a treat, there will be another chance. And if your S-day is not-so-good... well, learn from it. There will be another chance.
Best wishes,
Your Internal Voice of Reason
Which is similar to what I was doing a few months ago when I wrote goals for each weekend. Where I went wrong was trying to make myself follow a strict set of rules everyweekend. Every weekend is different and I'm different every weekend. It makes sense the same rules/goals won't work every time. I'm going back to making a few simple goals for each weekend. I make these goals to remind me how to enjoy S days as well as care for myself, they are less restrictive then rules and I resent them less than the strict rules I made for S days in order to lose weight. I will start again with this method on Friday.