Everyday Systems

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Hi Ellis - You are doing wonderfully well, especially with (not in spite of!) your red day. Well done on avoiding the WTH quicksand! That is a fantastic victory and pride in that accomplishment should absolutely swamp any disappointment you feel about a technically red day. I know weighing slightly ...

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Great job on the 10K, Amy! That's a pretty impressive time! All the best, WINhappy

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Hi Sinnie, You've taken a great first step with your fresh start and your initial guidelines seem like they will help you get on a path. Just keep plugging away and you'll get into a workable groove. All the best, WINhappy

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Soprano, you are doing so well! Congratulations! I hope you enjoyed your trip. All the best, WINhappy

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Hi Sammybunny,

It's been a while since I last checked in, and I was SO hoping to see that your stress had improved since the last update of yours I read. I'm really sorry to learn that—if anything—your stress level seems to have worsened. Please disregard ANY AND ALL of the following if it isn't ...

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Hi MaggieMae! Welcome back!
You've made a great choice in re-starting No S. I'm sure No S will help you regain some peace of mind and contentment while you make progress towards your goals. Let us know how you are doing so we can support you (only when you feel comfortable doing so, of course). All ...

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I second MaggieMae's thanks to you, Reinhard. I very much appreciate you keeping this site going for those of us who have come to rely on it for support and encouragement. Best regards, WINhappy

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Hi Dave,
Thanks for posting this update and congratulations on your successes! Keep up the great work! All the best to you, WINhappy

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Thanks, Ellis! And thank you Soprano, Dandelion, and Sammy for your comments as well!

I've not done too badly from an eating and weight-management standpoint since my last post. I plan to track my green/red days more consistently, and see where I land.

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Hi Pink - I just wanted to reach out and say Hi and that I hope you and your daughter are doing well. Absolutely no pressure to reply but I am thinking of you and sending you both good wishes. All the best, WIN

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Hi Dandelion - I'm adding my voice to Amy's, Soprano's, and Ellis'. Just keep trying, and give yourself tons of credit for every move you make in the direction you want to go. We are here for you! Sending you all the best wishes, WIN

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Hi Ellis - How are you feeling? I truly hope you have recovered from that nasty virus! Wishing you all the best! WIN

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Hi Sinnie - I'm glad you and your twins enjoyed their birthday. Congratulations on sticking to three meals a day. That's quite an accomplishment, especially if you felt "snacky".

All the best, WIN

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Hi Soprano - I'm sorry about your disappointing blood sugar test; I know that is a disheartening blow. But congratulations on hitting a new weight loss low and (perhaps even more importantly) feeling in the weight loss groove. Blood sugar control can be difficult but I know you can do it. I'm ...

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Hi Amy - I'm glad you're doing well. That Korean meal sounds wonderful—what a clever and pleasant gift! I hope your 10K training is going well (aside: Wow, 10K! You go, girl!). All the best, WIN

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Hi Sammy - First, congratulations on the house! I'm sorry the renovations are another source of stress for you and I hope they go both smoothly and quickly. Second, you're not alone in your perception of the dreaded afternoon snack and how you don't want to snack on healthy food. Yes, one CAN select ...

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HI Sinnie - Checking in and hoping you're doing well. All the best, WIN

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Hi Dandelion - First, let me say that I both empathize and sympathize with your discouragement around steadily increasing weight. It's a miserable situation to be in, especially if you've struggled with weight management and eating habits for a long time. In my opinion, Vanilla No S is a WONDERFUL ...

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Hi soprano - Congrats on getting back into the groove! Good, healthy habits are so easy to drop out of and so tough to build back to, so your course-correction is inspiring. Be proud! And continue posting so we can support you.

All the best, WIN

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Hi Ellis - I'll add my thoughts to the others' and say that I'm sorry your dog's heart murmur has progressed. I'm glad that she is still enjoying life and that you still get to enjoy being together. I'm also sorry that you've been so sick. Many, many people in my area are in the same boat. Coughing ...

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Hi Amy - I have every faith in you. I'm believe firmly that every fresh start is exactly that—fresh—regardless of how many times someone begins again. Focusing on all the little extras that sneak in and keeping to three meals and planned snack as much as you're able is a wonderful plan. And quiet ...

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Hi sammy - Two things (at least to start! :)) I completely understand how hard it is to feel proud that you've "just" maintained in March. AND wow, you maintained in March! That's fantastic! You've been under so much stress, kept soldiering on, and STILL kept focus on your goals and health, even to ...

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Hi pink - I'm so sorry for the loss of your dogs. Our pets can never stay with us as long as we (and they!) would like and deep grief when they must leave us is both real and legitimate. If it helps, try to remember the wonderful companionship they gave you while you had them.
I'm also sorry to ...

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Wow, congrats on ANOTHER new low! You are really doing well!

Also, "engineered denial" sounds like a wonderful technique. If you can't change something, worrying over it constantly just exhausts you to no benefit, so do what you need to do to stay as happy and relaxed as possible (I'm glad your ...

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Hi Soprano, I'm checking in to see how you're doing. I hope you're doing well. All the best, WIN

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Hi Ellis, How are you doing? For what it's worth, I agree with the others about excluding what you eat to correct low blood sugar from your perception of green vs. red No S days. Even the No S book specifically allows medical exceptions and Type 1 certainly qualifies. I can't believe that you just ...

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Hi Sammy, Great job losing your 11 pounds and marking a new low. I'm so excited for you, especially because you managed that feat without starving yourself or taking risks with your health. And honestly, managing all that even while you are so busy?! I'm so impressed.
Keep it up! Eventually, life ...

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Congratulations on your progress, Kathleen. Best, WIN

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Hi Amy, I'm just checking in to see how you are. I hope you're doing well. WIN

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Hi Sammy, I'm so glad you're feeling better! Remember to continue prioritizing rest. Until you're 100% done moving, and 100% healthy again, you're still using a lot more energy than you might realize, especially if the daily trend starts feeling easier/better. You're doing such a great job attending ...

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Hi Amy, Nice work skipping the snack. Sometimes a "real quick" type distraction can interrupt the thought-->"let's eat" decision long enough to either move past the impulse or make it to the next meal. All the best, WIN

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Hi Sammy, I know it never seems like it, but moving doesn't last forever—it will just seem like it does when you're still in the midst of it. I'm sorry you've caught a cold. That's just miserable, I'm sure. I hope you feel better soon! All the best, WIN

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Hi Amy, Your body, mind, and spirit need the deepest support on the toughest days. That "what's the point" feeling is our brain's shorthand version of "I'm so tired, When can I catch a break? When do I get a rest? When will things get easier? Who's taking care of ME?!". The trick is to answer the ...

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Keep at it, Ellis, and let us know how you're doing. Great work on skipping that cake. Every little bit helps! Wishing you all the best, WIN

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Hi Soprano, It's great to see you back. I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling to get back into the groove but I'm sure you're on the right track. Just keep at it and it will get easier. Wishing you all the best, WIN

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Hi Sinnie! I'm glad you're back! If it helps, just think of all the time that you'll save not weighing every ingredient and bite you take, counting every calorie, debating whether X has more calories than Y or whether you have enough calories left for the Z you really want (and on and on and on ...

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Hi all! Thanks for your responses. I enjoy hearing from you all and your kind encouragement really brightens my day.

I wish each of you a great start to the week! All the best, WIN

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Hi Sammy, I just wanted to let you know that I also am reading your posts and am delighted that you seem to have found a workable groove, especially since you're moving (wow, I KNOW how much work and stress moving entails! The diplomatic term "a process" just doesn't quite cover the scope, does it ...

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Hi Ellis, Your most recent post really touched me and I have things to say. :)

Please don't feel embarrassed or ashamed about your struggles; it's unnecessary. Anyone who would read your posts (or the posts of anyone else on this board who's honestly trying to successfully manage their weight and ...

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Hi Amy, I wish you good luck getting back into your habit groove as we tackle Monday. I'm glad you're feeling better! All the best, WIN

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Hi Sammybunny, Ellis, and everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I'm sorry I disappeared from the board for so long. 2026 has been a bit more chaotic than I hoped so far. :)

Thank you for the encouragement, Sammybunny. Ellis, it's funny you mention tracking days using a paper calendar. I JUST ...

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Ditto. :)

After starting strong last week, I lost focus. I'm sure I didn't keep the remainder of last week green because any green day still requires a lot of effort and I just didn't have the energy to give to fighting hunger. I hope I didn't go too wild but sadly, couldn't say for sure.

I did ...

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Hi Sammy, Great job on re-focusing your attention. Ride that wave as long as possible!

I also read existing posts and the Testimonials to refresh my motivation. I'm grateful to Reinhard for maintaining this site. Wishing you all the best, WIN

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Hi Ellis, I'm just checking in to say "hi" and that I agree with Sammybunny. IF works for some people but if it doesn't work for you, that's OK. That recognition simply frees you up to pursue a strategy with which you can succeed. I hope you've been doing well (or at least feeling better) since your ...

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Hi Amy, I'm just checking in to say "hi" and that I hope you're doing well. Best regards, WIN

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Hi Pink, I'm chiming in late on your update but I hope you're doing well. Best regards, WIN

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Hi everyone and thank you for the lovely messages. Ellis, I would LOVE to not worry so much! I'm definitely still working on that! :)

Since my last check-in I simultaneously focused on No S and completely ignored it. Meaning that I know I worked hard to keep my N days green last week as far as no ...

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Hey, that's GREAT, Amy! Those strategies sound both reasonable and effective, which is kind of the dream.

I hope you have a great, green day today. All the best, Win

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Ok, that's totally AWESOME, pink! Nice work! All the best, Win

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Hi Sammy, Absolutely no pressure to respond but I just wanted to say "hi" and that I hope you and your family are doing as well as you can during this very stressful period with your mother-in-law. All the best, Win

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Hi Ellis, I just wanted to say "Hi" and that I hope you're doing well. All the best, Win

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Hi Linda, Just wanted to say "Hi" and that I hope you're doing well. Win

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Hi Simmstone, It's nice to hear from you! Well done managing your two greens earlier in the week. How has the rest of your week been? Win

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Hi everyone!

I've a lot better this week, with three greens under my belt. I'm shooting to keep today green as well, and then I'll have accomplished four for the week. Still not quite at my target of a consistent five N days per week but I'm making progress.

It's great to see a few more people on ...

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Thank you both for the encouragement!

I didn't do as well as I'd hoped this week. I had only one indisputably green day on Wednesday. The rest of the days were green-adjacent. I came close to staying green, but included a snack or a sweet (always small, but still present).

Sunday, 04/04/2026 - S ...

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Hi Amy, Well, I'm sorry that the stealth green didn't quite happen but I hope you at least enjoyed the nibbles.

How did the rest of your week go? All the best, WIN

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I love that "stealth" greens even exist on No S! How many other diets can say that?! It's SO cool to work on improving one's eating habits without everyone and their brother knowing about it, having an opinion about it, and watching one's every move. Good luck! Best, WIN

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Hi Linda, There's definitely no harm in trying No S again. Even if you don't adhere perfectly, as long as it doesn't make you lose any ground (and I doubt it will), you'll be ahead of the game. You can take what works and ignore the rest, if it comes to that. I hope you keep coming back and checking ...

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Thanks, Amy, and "hi" Soprano and Ellis!

I did well on Friday as planned. I stuck with just three regular meals, no snacks, and no sweets. I was absolutely tempted to eat both but talked myself out of it.

That said, I'm quite worried about this upcoming week. Frankly, five days of discipline ...

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Hi Amy, Happy New Year! How kind of you to host your friends for such an extended period of time (that would drive me absolutely bonkers, so my hat is off to you!). It's kind of cool that the new year coincides with your return to a more normal day-to-day life once your friends leave (although I'm ...

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Hi Ellis,

More and more, I agree with Amy's statement that a simple plan is the best plan. I also understand exactly where you're coming from about not being as sure whether you're actually eating better overall if you have sweets on an N day. Great work on already having a green Vanilla No S day ...

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Hi everyone and happy New Year! I hope those of you who celebrate Christmas or other holidays this time of year had a wonderful holiday season!

Despite my best intentions to post to my check-in and stick to No S during the last two weeks of December, Christmas celebrations got the better of me and ...

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Oh dear, that doesn't sound very good at all! (Great visual, by the way!) :) Maybe you could pick just one thing to focus on to help you get back on track, maybe even whatever you think might help you start to sleep better. I hope things settle down for you and you start feeling better soon. All the ...

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Thanks, Amy. Today should be a more ordinary day than yesterday, with no super-special, once-a-year-only desserts to tempt me, so I plan to stay green. Best regards, WIN

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Thanks, Ellis! Yes, No S seems the best compromise so I'm determined to make it work for me. Doing anything else just sets me up to fail.

I was doing well this week then derailed myself after lunch today with some dessert. I knew I was breaking my green streak but really, really, really just wanted ...

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Hi Ellis! Yes, I do still exercise pretty much every day. I shoot for a minimum step count daily just to get a basic amount of movement, and my real workouts vary between strength training and some cardio workout DVDs. I shoot for consistency over going hard-core but I still have to force myself to ...

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Hi all!

Soprano, I'm sorry you experienced that mental struggle as well. I just couldn't sustain the constant bargaining, not to mention the constant feeling of low-grade deprivation even though I was eating wonderful food that I really enjoyed. But the biggest deal breaker was that I didn't lose ...

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Hi Ellis, First, I'm sorry you're having a hard time lately. Second, I COMPLETELY understand where you're coming from about the question of whether you should weigh yourself. Strength training is so important and healthful and yet..... WOW, does it mess with one's day-to-day weight (go ahead, ask me ...

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Hi Sammy, I'm very sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Alzheimer's is truly a dreadful disease and desperately difficult for everyone involved. Great job not binging during this time! I'm sure avoiding that particular coping strategy was challenging but I'm so glad you did. Adding a binge onto ...

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Hi Amy! I'm glad you enjoyed your niece's wedding and made it home safe and sound. Congratulations on your 33rd wedding anniversary! That definitely qualifies as a Special Day! (And yes, temptation abounds during the holiday season, for sure.

) All the best, WIN

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Hi Soprano and friends!

Fair warning: This post references other diets and approaches to weight management. I don't want to derail or offend anyone, or otherwise upset anyone's equilibrium so if you're vulnerable to this topic, please don't read further. Also, please forgive the following rambling ...

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It seems that I am continually thanking you, Soprano, but.... thank you! That is an excellent suggestion and one that I've already started to work towards. I think it may be helping me in the afternoons! :)

Sunday, 11/30/2025 - S Day
Monday, 12/01/2025 - Green
Tuesday, 12/02/2025 - Red
Wednesday ...

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Thanks Soprano. I'm putting your comment on repeat as I need the encouragement today.

I kept last Wednesday green as planned and enjoyed my Thanksgiving. I didn't go crazy (crazy S days thankfully haven't been a problem for me so far) and got back on track on Friday (green). Monday was green but ...

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Those are great suggestions, Soprano, thank you for providing them. I really should have read them sooner. :)

Yesterday was a total crash-and-burn day.

I basically did everything wrong, including:
- Ate lunch way too early (finished by 11:15 AM),
- Ate a lunch I didn't even like because it was ...

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Thank you both!

Yesterday was really tough. I almost snacked many times yesterday but didn't. Strangely, what stopped me is how difficult strict, vanilla No S has felt so far (especially no snacking). I'm excruciatingly aware of all the tasty snacks and sweets I didn't eat over the last few weeks ...

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11/16/2025 - S Day
11/17/2025 - Green
11/18/2025 - Green
11/19/2025 - Green
11/20/2025 - Green
11/21/2025 - Green
11/22/2025 - S Day

Three techniques really helped me this week:
1. Starting to drink water while I was still full from my meal (as opposed to waiting until I felt hungry to start),
2 ...

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Soprano, that is totally wicked! Great work! All the best, WIN

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Interesting observation, Maigret.

11/16/2025 - S Day
11/17/2025 - Green
11/18/2025 - Green
11/19/2025 - Green
11/20/2025 - In progress

I have only two more days to go before I can declare this week a success and I'm determined to make it. I'm still having to put a lot of mental energy and ...

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Hi Maigret, I'm so pleased you're feeling fully recovered. Great work on No S and getting back into your exercise routine. The mental image of your daughter walking you over to your gym made me grin. Have a great day! WIN

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Thanks so much for the encouragement, all! I really appreciate you taking the time to offer your support.

Yesterday was green. I drank my water, chewed my gum, thoroughly enjoyed my 3 meals, and did OK. I shortened my workout yesterday to just the bare minimum because, frankly, I didn't want to do ...

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Hi Maigret, Both days sound like you did really well. Good job on walking when your body decided it was done running for the day (I love how you phrased that—very respectful to your physical well-being). Take care, WIN

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11/09/2025 - S Day
11/10/2025 - Green
11/11/2025 - Green
11/12/2025 - Green
11/13/2025 - Green
11/14/2025 - Green
11/15/2025 - S Day

Well, I did it. One full 5 day stretch of N days. I'm very pleased I was so disciplined. And yet..... wow, was it hard! I was SO hungry but I tried a few things this ...

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I hope you recover fully soon, Maigret. That experience sounds miserable. We're thinking of you and wishing you well! WIN

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Thank you, Soprano and Maigret!

I did well yesterday too, so if I stay the course today, I'll have made my entire week green.

11/09/2025 - S Day
11/10/2025 - Green
11/11/2025 - Green
11/12/2025 - Green
11/13/2025 - Green
11/14/2025 - In Progress

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11/09/2025 - S Day
11/10/2025 - Green
11/11/2025 - Green
11/12/2025 - Green

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Thanks, Soprano!

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Well, I didn't do very well at all last week and I'm sure No S went completely out the window. It was absolutely on my mind as something I "should" do. But I'm sure I didn't, as green N days still require a lot of focus and discipline to achieve, and I just didn't dig for those qualities last week ...

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Hi Soprano, Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear that you're holding steady and doing well. Great work and keep it up! All the best, WIN

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10/26/2025 - S day
10/27/2025 - Red
10/28/2025 - Red
10/29/2025 - Red
10/30/2025 - Red
10/31/2025 - Green

October 2025 Final Tally: 50% Green

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Hi Maigret,

I'm sorry I didn't see your question sooner and hope you've successfully navigated Halloween so far. A few things help me keep candy under control for Halloween. First, it's gotten SO expensive to buy (have you noticed?) so I haven't been buying as much over the last few years as I've ...

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Me too.

I'm thinking of you, Sammy, and I hope you're doing well. WINhappy

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Hi Maigret! Welcome back! WINhappy

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Thanks, Amy!

I did poorly this week. I psyched myself out by eating a lot (ok, probably too much!) salt over the weekend on both S days. My pants were more snug on Monday morning than they have been all month, so I lost all focus and wasted four potential N days during which I could have made some ...

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Thanks, Ellis!

Month To Date:

10/05/2025 (start) - S Day
10/06/2025 - Red. How disappointing.
10/07/2025 - Red. All me (and work stress and a lousy meal :)).
10/08/2025 - Green
10/09/2025 - Green
10/10/2025 - Green
10/11/2025 - S Day
60% Green

10/12/2025: S Day
10/13/2025 - Green
10/14/2025 ...

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This Week:
10/19/2025 - S Day
10/20/2025 - Green (very hard fought, hunger was a huge problem but kept to the plan)
10/21/2025 - Green
10/22/2025 - Red
10/23/2025 - Green
10/24/2025 - In progress

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Gosh, I really hope so, Amy!

This Week:
10/19/2025 - S Day
10/20/2025 - Green (very hard fought, hunger was a huge problem but kept to the plan)
10/21/2025 - Green
10/22/2025 - In progress

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Hi Amy, Checking in to see how you enjoyed your birthday. Happy Birthday! All the best, WIN

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Hi Sammy,
I understand where you're coming from and it's definitely hard. Both weighing and not weighing come with their own different drawbacks, in my experience. If you're at the point of feeling obsessive, it might do you some good to step away from the numbers on the scale. This might be ...

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This Week:
10/19/2025 - S Day
10/20/2025 - Green (very hard fought, hunger was a huge problem but kept to the plan)
10/21/2025 - In progress

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Last Week:
10/12/2025: S Day
10/13/2025 - Green
10/14/2025 - Red (vacation)
10/15/2025 - Red (vacation)
10/16/2025 - Green
10/17/2025 - Red (vacation)
10/18/2025 - S Day

This Week:
10/19/2025 - S Day

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