Everyday Systems

Last Martian

Day 2 Sunday Success
Day 3 Monday Failure

Oops.

It wasn't a particularly big breach, but da rules is da rules.

I do know how it happened, though. Took an extra light lunch and then got hungry. Moving on...

Last Martian

Day 1 S-day

Once more into the breach...

Rules:

- I'm only counting special S-days but I'm fairly generous about those.

- I'll also allow myself healthy snacks.

And that's it for now. Exercise resolutions to be added later.

Last Martian

Wednesday Failure
Thursday Failure
Friday Failure
Saturday S-day
Sunday S-day

Yeah, well...

Last Martian

Monday Success
Tuesday Failure

Last Martian

Monday Success
Tuesday Failure
Wednesday Failure
Thursday Failure
Friday Failure
Saturday S-day
Sunday S-day

Well, I guess this is where the rubber meets the road. I promised myself not to use failures as an excuse to give up this time. So... well, so, I won't, and that's all there is to it ...

Last Martian

Saturday was kind of excessive, even for an S-day. I'm cutting myself some slack since it's early days, but long-term that probably won't do. Also, kind of gross.

This week's goal: Exercise.

Last Martian

Monday S-Day
Tuesday Success
Wednesday Success
Thursday Success
Friday Success
Saturday S-Day
Sunday S-Day

Week Four: Success

Last Martian

Week Three:
Monday Success
Tuesday Success
Wednesday Success
Thursday Succes
Friday S-day
Saturday S-day
Sunday S-day
Week Three: Success

Last Martian

Week Two: Success

Day 1 Monday Success
Day 2 Tuesday Success
Day 3 WednesdaySuccess
Day 4 Thursday Success
Day 5 Friday Success
Day 6 Saturday S-Day
Day 7 Sunday S-Day

Last Martian

VintageGeek wrote:I like your avatar.

Thanks!

Last Martian

Day -1 Sunday S-Day
Day 1 Monday Success
Day 2 Tuesday Success
Day 3 Wednesday Success
Day 4 Thursday Success
Day 5 Friday Success
Day 6 Saturday S-day
Day 7 Sunday S-day
Week One: Success

Last Martian

Day -2 S-day

Last Martian

Things are still going well, much better than I was hoping for, actually. :D Still some unpleasant stuff that needs taking care of, but I think I'm out of the woods.

However, I'll disappearing from here for a while. For my next step I want to reduce my online time since that's really the biggest ...

Last Martian

Things are generally looking up. 8)

Initially I thought my resolution was to modest to make a real difference, but apparently half an hour can make a lot of difference.

Well, why not? Even some things you could do in thirty seconds can give your life a new direction...

Been giving some thoughts ...

Last Martian

Hi Kevin! Thanks for your reply. You make a lot of good points there.

I had a fairly good week actually, so things are much better now.

You are very tough on yourself.

Is it fair to require x hours of work? Maybe it would be better to make a list of discrete things you should do today - the more ...

Last Martian

So. Fresh start. I'll make this as easy as I can stand.

Resolution: Half an hour of serious work each day.

I am hoping that this will kickgstart a bit more, but as far as the HabitCal is concerned that counts as a success. I will also try to get the half hour done as early as possible, again to ...

Last Martian

Not going so well. :( In two weeks I have moved from minor lapse to serious lapses to utter desaster. :oops:

Small wonder, the way I have been putting myself under pressure once again. :roll: I don't know why I keep doing this.

I'll change my approach drastically. I do in fact know that it makes ...

Last Martian

Well. This day didn't turn out that well. Fairly minor violations, mostly, though.

- No-S: Skipped breakfast, had too little at lunch. Ended up doing some virtual plating in the evening, which, in retrospect, went overboard.

Lesson learned: Eat breakfast. Eat a decent meal for lunch. Watch out for ...

Last Martian

Third hour done.

Three hours, three tasks. Narrow, very narrow, but finally a success here. Beautiful crisp and clear green! Gotta make it through tomorrow and the day after that and I should be through the worst of it.

I just have to stop being so goddamn, huh, let's say, intense about this stuff ...

Last Martian

And the second hour done.

Bah, bah, bah.

Got sidetracked, too tired to work effectively, horribly indecisive, work is boring, won't lead to anything anyhow.... Also, I'm stupid for not starting earlier. All of this could already be behind me, if only.... Bah!

My attitude needs work.

Short break ...

Last Martian

And the third task done. Namely, taking a hard look at my financial situation. I've put this off for months and months, and now it just took 15 minutes and was, well, decidedly unpleasant certainly, but compared to what I was afraid of a piece of cake. Hum. Short break and then I'll tackle the ...

Last Martian

Another task done. Gonna get late. Damn procrastination.

Last Martian

One hour of work done. Half of it taken up with computer troubles, but so it goes.

Man, I'm relieved. At least I got started finally. Hopefully I'll make my resolution today, but if not at least I've made some progress. But I think I'll manage. Might get a bit late, but I'll manage.

It's a new ...

Last Martian

Hm. Actually got some work done yesterday. Just got fed up with stuff lying around. Also gearing up to build on that today. Gotta keep calm, can't let anxiety overwhelm me. Ugh. Stuff I should have done ages ago always comes with an extra heaping of guilt and fear.

I'm thinking my resolution about ...

Last Martian

Stupid sick day. I wanted my five green days. Oh, well. I abused my sick day a bit, but not too much (no binging). Still feeling a bit squeamish, but doesn't require another sick day.

I'm simplifying my system for anger management. I'm just going by outward behaviour for now. Emotions seem to call ...

Last Martian

On reflection I actually think that would be overkill. The simplicity of the current system seems to be helpful in keeping me focused. You just can't keep track of too complex stuff this way. Any system you can't just remember is probably too complicated anyhow. Some extra functions would be nice ...

Last Martian

Just for the record: I'm taking today as a sick day. Ugh. Now excuse me.

Last Martian

No-S is going fine, this time around. Already dealt with some major temptations without a hitch. :)

Anger management: Huge progress, overall. Minor flareup of the old temper today. I think it was well within acceptable limits, but sadly there is no room for half-measures with this issue, so I'll ...

Last Martian

If you want to make a rule regarding TV, I'd say: never watch unintentionally. Never just turn it on and see what you find. Have a show or a dvd in mind and watch just that. Never have the TV on while you're doing something else.

It's not a bad idea, except I do that already. :wink: I stopped ...

Last Martian

Added a new resolution. Keeping calm. I do have some problems with... I guess I have to say anger management, though that makes it sound worse than I think it is. I don't get into fights. Mostly I just sulk or do passive-agressive stuff like snide remarks or bark at people.

Man, writing that down ...

Last Martian

One feature that would help me a lot would be the ability to just write something in each field. Four letters just below the date, for instance. That would make it possible to keep track of more complex resolutions.

For example you have an exercise program of Jogging, break, Cycling, break ...

Last Martian

Hi Deb! :D

Thanks for the encouragement.

I do actually have a better attitude than I used to--courtesy of intense cognitive therapy. :!:

Actually, I think I'll talk about that in a bit more detail at some point. It's really interesting and highly relevant for self-improvement stuff.

For ...

Last Martian

Day 6 Thursday Failure .

I drank a (non-diet) soda. Dang. No big deal really, but clearly against the rules, so...

Gotta be careful today. I'm tempted to just call the week a loss. On the other hand, come on, it's just one day 'til the next s-day.

Still got a good feeling. As failures go that one ...

Last Martian

Good points. I've also seen in my family what can happen when willpower overrules common sense and self-preservation. But that's not quite what I'm getting it anyhow. I guess a simpler way to ask the question is just: What would you like your lifestyle to be like, ideally?

For instance, I'm trying ...

Last Martian

Day 5 Wednesday Success
Day 6 Thursay Looking good so far. Some virtual plating (to accomodate fruits). Big temptations in the evening!

I have done this before. I can do this. I'm gunning for the 21 days club.

Some experimenting with the personal punch card system. Not sure if it's right for me ...

Last Martian

This is my second attempt at this post. The first kind of went off the rails and became rambling and strange, so I'll save the explanations and just ask the question I have in mind:

If you could make any lifestyle changes you wanted, what would you change?

Assume automatic success and no regrets ...

Last Martian

Day 4 Tuesday Success

Day 5 Wednesday: High risk day due to stress! Gotta stay calm. Just another day.

Last Martian

Day 3 Monday Success
Day 4 Tuesday Looking good so far.

Last Martian

Day 2 Sun S-Day

Last Martian

Day 1 (Sat 10-27-2007) S-Day

Here I go again. Got a good feeling this time, but we'll see. Daily check ins are definitely in order.

I gained a bunch of weight. Yeah. Also, lots of binging, which is more serious. Still, it's not so bad. There were special circumstances, which are now dealt with, so ...

Last Martian

Thursday: Success, exercise
Friday: S-day
Saturday: S-day, exercise
Sunday: S-day

Weight: Uh, I dunno. I checked this morning, but I forgot. (It's been a busy day.) I suppose it was good since I remember beeing cheered up by it? Let's say it was.

Plans for next week: Taking a break from no-s. Kind ...

Last Martian

Monday: Success
Tuesday: Success, exercise
Wednesday: Success (some funny stuff), exercise

Okay, this is more like it. Just two more days...

Last Martian

Weight: 78.0 kg

Kind of a relief, it's been a very s-full week. Tuesday was a success, the rest were failures. Hmph. Still, could have been worse.

Exercise: Monday, Wednesday, Sunday. Good enough, I guess.

Not that bad all in all, considering the circumstances. Don't want to go any details right ...

Last Martian

Hi Sinnie! Thanks for the welcome!

Last Martian

Weight check: 77.8 kg.

No-S: Thursday was a failure. Not a very bad one, but still.

Exercise: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. (Skipped Wednesday, but made up for it.)

Keep down surfing: Held out until Friday. Will reconsider approach.

Not a bad week really. Not perfect, but a decent start, I ...

Last Martian

Well, here I go again. Apologies for just disappearing without a word (again) but, well, shit happened. Perhaps more details some other time. Things are better now. Not much lasting harm done. I did gain weight though. Managed to lose some of it again, but still a long ways off from where I want to ...

Last Martian

... while you are busy making other plans.

Change of plans, due to medical issues. Nothing major, but doctor says actual dieting is not a good idea right now. And what I am doing right now is pretty much dieting. It's as reasonable as that gets, but...

On the positive side this is a legitimate ...

Last Martian

Been listening to the podcasts and considering the systems. Still thinking about stuff, but I'll just put down my impressions.

No-S . Currently using it in modified form. Will soon do the basic variety (and rejoin the 21 club).

Shovelglove . Doesn't appeal to me. Also, building upper body ...

Last Martian

So, okay. New approach with more focus and more dedication. The central problem for me is really getting started when I don't have any external structure.

So I will keept this at the most basic level: Half an hour of work each day, at the earliest possible opportunity (after breakfast etc. and ...

Last Martian

Day Six, 77.0 kg, exercise, success

Day Seven, 76.6 kg, exercise

Dealing with procrastination: definite failure. Not discouraged though, just annoyed. More later.

Last Martian

Day Six, two hours of work: Done, if pointlessly late. But I got some things done, more than expected actually.

Tomorrow I will do the same, one hour before lunch, the other in the early afternoon.

Also, I will come up with a concerted plan to deal with this.

Last Martian

Day Six, 77.0 kg, exercise

Daily exercise is getting more exerting than expected, both physically and psychologically. Will stick with it for the 21 days, since it's not disastrous, but right now I am disinclined against this as a long-term thing. Also, will probably get difficult organizationally ...

Last Martian

Hiya, pangelsue!

Just a quick note:

Day Five, 77.3 kg, exercise, success with some funny stuff

Was kind of on the fence on whether to call it a success. But then I thought, what does it matter what I call it anyhow? It's not like it'll either change the behaviour in retrospect or magically ...

Last Martian

Day Four 77.2 kg, exercise, success

Day Five 77.3 kg

Having one treat on s-days seems to have been a good idea. I think I enjoyed that one thing more than anything I've eaten during the holidays put together. Really interesting. I think long-term I am going to stick to some kind of rule for s-days ...

Last Martian

Day Four 77.2 kg, exercise

It's more fun without the rain. Was more exhausting today for some reason.

Tomorrow I'll do it before noon.

Also, I am going to talk some other issues. Possibly I'll TMI you. Or I might just be extremely vague. Don't know yet.

Last Martian

Thanks, gettnbusy!

Day Three 77.1 kg, exercise, success

Day Four 77.2 kg

So I guess I could get in my exercise a bit earlier today. Yes, that definitely seems like something I should maybe perhaps sort of resolve to try to set as a possible... oh, all right. I'll do it in, uh, half an hour. Ish ...

Last Martian

Day Three 77.1 kg, exercise done

The wages or procrastination are having to jog in the rain again. Let this be a lesson to me.

Last Martian

Still Day Three.

In a somewhat risky move I bought weekend treats. It was interesting. Just allowing one treat really focuses the taste buds. Many of my usual temptations seemed kind of mediocre. Also, it was difficult to find stuff which comes in reasonable portions; I don't quite trust myself ...

Last Martian

Thanks, david!

Day Two Success

Day Three 77.1 kg

Yeah, that seems more plausible.

Weather seems okay today, thankfully. Gotta remember to buy better training clothes for bad weather soon.

Last Martian

If this is the only problematic issue for you I say just relax, call it a special day and enjoy your half a dessert. Heck, have a whole dessert (or two half ones).

If there are other similar issues for you, I'd be wary. You don't want to set a precedent.

I also think talking to your friend would ...

Last Martian

Still Day Two. Exercise has been done despite bad weather conditions.

Last Martian

Day One 77.7 kg, exercise, success

Day Two 76.5 kg

Whoa. That's gotta be mostly dehydradation, I suppose. Still makes for a nice start though.

Again, something for the record: As I said before, I am taking the long-term view this time. I am staying with this for at least the entire year, in some ...

Last Martian

Hiya Martian! I'm too new to remember you but your name did catch my eye. I am impressed at the number of people who return here. You must really believe there is value in this program!! Welcome back.

Hi there, Annie, and thanks!

I do basically believe in the program, yes. Although in a way that ...

Last Martian

Jammin' Jan wrote:Glad you're back. I'll look forward to reading your posts.

Thanks!

Last Martian

Welcome back, last martian! I remember you -- you've got a very distinctive username, among other things.

I've got nothing against personal modifications -- whatever works for you. I'm flattered just to have loosely inspired anyone's success.

Best wishes this time around,

Reinhard

Hi, Reinhard ...

Last Martian

Day One: 77.7 kg, exercised

(I'll report success for the day tomorrow since the day isn't over yet. Looking good so far though.)

Last Martian

So, I'm back. It has been a while, hasn't it? Anybody remember me? Don't blame you if not. I never got that much involved in stuff around here. And then I just vanished.

I'll try to maybe be a bit less standoffish this time.

Actually, I got a bunch of stuff I want to share. I have done a lot of ...

Last Martian

Day Zero

Ground rules:

Daily Check In

Daily Weight Check

Zero tolerance concerning "no sweets"

Sometimes = a treat once a day on regular s-days, twice on special s-days.

No binging whatsoever. A bag full of potato chips or a whole plate of chocolate in one sitting is officially Not Okay ...

Last Martian

I am not really good with dealing with stress myself, but here are some things which, in my experience, can help:

- Expect less of yourself

- Don't help other people so much

- Get other people to help you more (Bully, beg or guilt-trip them)

- Spend more time just being lazy

Probably doesn ...

Last Martian

Weigh yourself as often as you like

Well, that's kind of the thing: I end up weighing myself more often than I actually like or think is reasonable. I don't think weighing yourself everyday is necessarily wrong for everyone. But I've tried it and in the long run it's never worked out for me.

In ...

Last Martian

Thanks for the support, Hunter-Gatherer!

Friday Day 9 Success, no exercise

Confession: I have been gone back to daily weight checks lately. That kind of stuff and the somewhat excessive exercise are just setting me up for failure and I know it.

I have, once again, put away the scales. Will check ...

Last Martian

Thursday Day 8 Success, exercise

Wasn't quite as exhausting as last time. Might still be a bit much, though.

Very glad the weekend is near. Been a little too hard on myself this week, I think. But I have reached the point where I am now a couple of times before and this was always where I'd yo-yo ...

Last Martian

Monday Day 5 Success, no exercise, no surfing
Tuesday Day 6 Success, exercise, no surfing
Wednesday Day 7 Success, no exercise, surfing

(Thursday, no-s looking good, no exercise so far)

Hrm. :? Staying off the net seems to be the really tough one for me here. Maybe just too many resolutions at at ...

Last Martian

Sunday Day 47 or 100 Success, exercise, offline
Monday Day 48 of 100 Success, exercise, offline
Tuesday Day 49 of 100 Success, exercise, offline
Wednesday Day 50 of 100 Failure, no exercise, offline

:oops:

Thursday Day 1 of 21 Success, exercise
Friday Day 2 of 21 Success, no exercise
Saturday Day ...

Last Martian

Well, it looks like I may actually make 21 days in a row. Hooray!

Congratulations :!:

I have been experimenting a bit with adding additional habits and the like. Too early to tell how it's working out though.

But from the things you've listed I'd definitely go with exercise. From my (limited ...

Last Martian

Friday Day 45 of 100 Success, exercise
Saturday Day 46 of 100 S-daily, exercise

Still frustrated about being so out of shape. Nothing to be done but keeping at it, I suppose.

Day 50 is not so far away now and I feel pretty good about that.

Last Martian

Wednesday, Day 43 of 100 Success, exercise
Thursday, Day 44 of 100 Success, exercise, "offline"

Last Martian

Again, thanks for the encouragement, Deb. :)

Things continue to go well on the no-s side. I've been experimenting a bit with plate sizes. It seems that three big plates is actually a bit too much for me to feel good about while three small plates is not enough. Two small plates/one big plate or ...

Last Martian

Monday Day 41 of 100 Success, Exercise
Tuesday Day 42 of 100 Success, Exercise
Wednesday Exercise

Somewhat interesting developments.
The decision to leave s-days completely free seems to have been a good one, although obviously it's to early to say for sure. But for now it seems to have helped me ...

Last Martian

Day 37 of 100 Thursday Success, Exercise
Day 38 of 100 Friday Success, Exercise
Day 39 of 100 Saturday S-Day, Exercise
Day 40 of 100 Sunday S-Day, Exercise

S-days kinda bad again and Sunday's not even over yet, yaddayadda...

I was thinking about putting some kind of limit on s-days, like only two ...

Last Martian

Day 36 of 100 Wednesday Success +Exercise

(also exercised today)

New resolution: Three consecutive days of exercise, either Friday/Saturday/Sunday or Saturday/Sunday/Monday (might be scheduling issues).

Still not sure about the long term approach wrt exercise.

Couple of special s-days and ...

Last Martian

Accountability, or even just the illusion of accountability (no one here is going to track you down and punish you), is a powerful thing, but only when applied to realistic goals.

Definitely. Also, there is, well, bragging rights. No fun in managing to keep to the program through another day ...

Last Martian

From the tone of some of your posts, it seems like you were like I was, a hard core by the rules take no mercy diet dictator, when you were following a diet. If so, I'm glad to see that you've let that demon go, because life is far more enjoyable without him around!

Oh, yes, absolutely. Been ...

Last Martian

Day 34 of 100 Monday Success +Exercise
Day 35 of 100 Tuesday Success +Exercise

Might be seeing some weight loss there. Maybe just dehydration. Still, going well. Exercise seems to be getting me out of my funk.

It's funny, though. With the resolution on record, I could get myself to exercise. Today ...

Last Martian

Day 33 of 100 Sunday S-Day

Did exercise today, though not quite right after breakfast. Bit of jogging. Was reasonable about it too, despite some slight frustration over being out of shape. I used to be reasonably fit for a while there. Still, it'll come back with time I suppose.

For now I've got ...

Last Martian

Day 32 of 100, Saturday S-Day

Okay, S-day or not that was... not good. Hrm.

I can't seem to work up the willpower for a resolution about regular exercise, so here's a mini-resolution: I'll exercise tomorrow, right after breakfast. Nothing big--half an hour should do.

Last Martian

Day 29 of 100, Wednesday Success
Day 30 of 100, Thursday Success
Day 31 of 100, Friday Success

As of now I'm making 100 days on habit an official goal. Watch me do it. Or witness my failure. Oh, the suspense!

The nice part about an ambitious goal like this is that it gives some intermediate ...

Last Martian

25 Saturday S-day
26 Sunday S-day
27 Monday Success
28 Tuesday Success

Lots of sweets on the weekend. Huge dinner on Tuesday. Fit all on one plate, so not a failure, but I'm not that happy about it regardless. Ah, well. It was within bounds and that really was a kind of wacky day so I'm cutting ...

Last Martian

Day 24 Friday Success

Gah. That was a close call. If it hadn't been friday I probably wouldn't have made it. Definitely too early to mess with the system, at least if you've got my tendency to push too hard.

Now to enjoy my s-day!

Last Martian

The biggest bang for your buck now might be a tad more exercise. The tiniest little bit might be all it takes. I don't mean to goad you; status quo, if you hold out long enough, will probably be enough to do the trick by itself, but if you feel your patience being tried, the output end might be the ...

Last Martian

Congratulations, Last Martian! You bounced back from that one laconic "failure" in your log like it was nothing at all.

Thanks. :D

Truth is, I was incredibly, royally annoyed at myself over that failure. I was basically sulking something fierce when I made that entry.

This doesn't really make ...

Last Martian

Hello everyone!

I made it in the club.

It's a good feeling. I am very glad to join you here.

This was harder than I expected it to be, but also much more rewarding. It seems longer than just 21 days.

So thanks from me to our host reinhard and everyone in the community here!

Last Martian

Day 20 Monday Success
Day 21 Tuesday Success

Ha!

Not too shabby. 8)

I have decided I'll keep counting days on habit. It really is encouraging. I want to see if I can get to triple digits....

Still undecided about how to proceed. For now I'll just cut down a little bit in general, and use the ...

Last Martian

Thanks for the encouragment, Deb. It's appreciated.

Day 16 Thursday Success
Day 17 Friday Success
Day 18 Saturday S-Day
Day 19 Sunday S-Day

Almost at 21. Whee!

Also, I figured it was about time to get on the scales again.

Result: No gain, no loss.

Which is pretty much what I could reasonably ...

Last Martian

Day 14 Tuesday Success
Day 15 Wednesday Success

Last Martian

Day 10 Friday Success
Day 11 Saturday S-Day
Day 12 Sunday S-Day
Day 13 Monday Success

Last Martian

Day 4 Saturday S-Day
Day 5 Sunday S-Day
Day 6 Monday Success
Day 7 Tuesday Success*
Day 8 Wednesday Success
Day 9 Thursday Success

*some bread on the side at lunch, which wasn't actually physically on the plate at any point, but it would have fit.

Something unexpected: Sweets aren't really a ...

Last Martian

Day 2 Thursday Success

Day 3 Friday S-Day (Special)

Last Martian

Day 1 Wednesday Success

Last Martian

Day 9 Tuesday Failure

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