Rebirth of moderation

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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Y Goddodin
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Rebirth of moderation

Post by Y Goddodin » Sun May 31, 2009 6:08 pm

Although the habitcal is an excellent tool, I have noted that I do best with an additional log here. That is not all I have noted using these systems; I have also seen that I am weaker with the booze than I thought, and stronger with food... whodathunk? So, some refinements to my old systems:

1) Yoga - still my chief daily habit

2) No S - as written.

3) Ranger - not always urban, so I've dropped that bit.

4) No Booze - I've had to lower the glass ceiling - for the time being at least - because I'm not grown up enough to stop at 2.... My one exception to the zero-booze thing will be joining in toasts at weddings and other significant social events.


The one other habit I'm working on is exercising at work. We have a gym, and get plenty of time to use it, so I want to get 2 sessions in a week. It's not daily though, so I'll just note this as an extra point of interest, (I use the word loosely...).

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Y Goddodin
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Post by Y Goddodin » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:59 pm

31st May

1) Yoga - SUCCESS.... 45 min short form

2) No S - EXEMPT

3) Ranger - SUCCESS - walk around a country house and gardens with the wife, nothing too strenuous....

4) No Booze - SUCCESS; worth noting my summer non-alcoholic cocktail for future reference:

-reduce some fresh lemon juice, water and sugar, then bottle it in the fridge to cool & thicken into a syrup.
-now use this as a base to add to diet tonic water
-chop in cucumbers, strawberries, fresh mint and lots of ice
-pretend it's a gin and tonic
-but know it isn't.
happiness is not his who too much fasts or too much feasts; who wears away his strengths in vigils, or sleeps away an idle mind...

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Y Goddodin
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Post by Y Goddodin » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:49 pm

1st June

1) Yoga - SUCCESS... 90 mins practice

2) Ranger - SUCCESS - short walk into town, then a longer one round a country park (17k steps total)

3) No Booze - SUCCESS

4) No S - SUCCESS
-oatmeal and berries
-lentil soup
-papaya and soya bean salad




plus some work in the garden....
happiness is not his who too much fasts or too much feasts; who wears away his strengths in vigils, or sleeps away an idle mind...

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Y Goddodin
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Post by Y Goddodin » Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:57 pm

2nd June

1) yoga - SUCCESS.... 90 min class

2) Ranger - SUCCESS... walking at work and couple of 'laps' of the park with the wife in the evening

3) No Booze - SUCCESS

4) NO S - SUCCESS
-oats, blueberries, milk
-lentil and spinach soup
-chickpea curry


Exercise at work: did some chin ups spread throughout the day
happiness is not his who too much fasts or too much feasts; who wears away his strengths in vigils, or sleeps away an idle mind...

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Y Goddodin
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Post by Y Goddodin » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:28 pm

3rd June

1) yoga - SUCCESS.... 90 min class

2) Ranger - SUCCESS... walking at work and quick walk into town on evening

3) No Booze - SUCCESS

4) NO S - SUCCESS
-oats, blueberries, milk
-broad bean soup
-soy bean and jasmine rice kedgeree


Exercise at work: did more chin ups spread throughout the day
happiness is not his who too much fasts or too much feasts; who wears away his strengths in vigils, or sleeps away an idle mind...

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gratefuldeb67
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Post by gratefuldeb67 » Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:37 pm

Hi :)
You have a nice menu on your daily check ins..
I just brought a bag of lentils home yesterday.. Do you make your own soup from scratch? If yes, could you share your recipe?
Continued good luck to you, you look like you are doing great!
8) Debs
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

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Y Goddodin
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Post by Y Goddodin » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:01 pm

Hi, thanks for the encouragement!

Yes I do make it from scratch, although it's not always much to write home about... I can be a bit hit and miss with them!

Todays:

broad beans
A small potato, peeled and diced (adds some 'thickness')
some grated fresh ginger
soy sauce
lots of fresh coriander
a little honey



Simmer till it looks like it's about done, then blitz it in the blender until smooth... Season as required. Spinach works ok too in these kind of things, and coconut can add something if you feel it needs it.



My basic ones though, are lentils and pumpkin or sweet potato, cooked with some coriander or Morrocan spices. Maybe some veg stock in there for the base as well, although I don't always have this in. Blending them post-cooking is definitely key to making it look appetizing!

Let me know if you come up with anything more exciting - variety isn't always my forte....
happiness is not his who too much fasts or too much feasts; who wears away his strengths in vigils, or sleeps away an idle mind...

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Y Goddodin
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Post by Y Goddodin » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:16 pm

thurs 5th

1) yoga - SUCCESS.... 90 min class

2) Ranger - SUCCESS... walking at work and quick walk into town on evening

3) No Booze - SUCCESS

4) NO S - SUCCESS
-oats, blueberries, milk
-sweet potato & lentil soup
-squash lasagne


Exercise at work: did more chin ups spread throughout the day
happiness is not his who too much fasts or too much feasts; who wears away his strengths in vigils, or sleeps away an idle mind...

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