Everyday Systems

okbyxmas

Thanks you two! I've applied for the program I want and am just waiting to hear back. Then we have to figure out finances... ick.

In other news I'm still No Essing along. Kiddo didn't get very good Halloween candy this year so most of it wasn't much of a temptation for me. I took Halloween day as ...

okbyxmas

I am terrible about reading and posting right now but I'm just finding that life is so busy! I thought I would have more time to do things once kiddo hit school age but somehow my days get eaten up even more so. I am still enjoying baking as a hobby and now I am learning to sew with a friend. I'm ...

okbyxmas

Super understandable Tessy. I'm finding I just don't have as much time to devote to reading and writing here as I would like, good days or bad, and I get where you're coming from. Good luck with collecting yourself and finding your peace and path. I'm still cheering you on. <3

okbyxmas

Oh my goodness! I can't believe your dog ate your dough! That is kind of gross because that dough doesn't look so tasty when it's ready to come out of the bowl. Did Katie get sick or does she have an iron stomach?

okbyxmas

The edamame story made me laugh! I think we've all been there a time or two.

okbyxmas

Belated thanks for that bread blog you posted, OK -- I tried it over the weekend and it is fantastically easy and very crusty and chewy, just the way it should be! A small loaf, too, which will insure that I don't overdo it. After so many years as a low carb gal, it is a real luxury to bake good ...

okbyxmas

Hello No S friends! Took a deep breath this morning and steadied myself for a green day! So far so good. We did not end up traveling this weekend but my partner has been on the phone non-stop with his parents and other family members as they try to figure out what to do with nana and grandpa's ...

okbyxmas

Thanks, you two. The death of grandpa is especially difficult because Nana has been in a home for a few years now as her mind declines and her care just got a lot more complicated with him gone. Everyone is worried and anxious about what to do next.

Sorry to pop back in with such drama. This is a ...

okbyxmas

Well, friends, this week has been an utter write-off. I received some bad health news (not fatal, just worrisome) and some other negative personal things have been happening. As well my partner's grandpa had a bad accident and has just passed away. All in all a terrible week for us and I have not ...

okbyxmas

Oh, Tessy. Don't feel like you don't deserve support! I am not able to be here as much as I was currently but I still check in on you and am sending you all my good vibes. Hugs to you!

okbyxmas

Things are fine (thank you, Linda) but I do have to write yesterday off as RED because I tested some of my egg-free challah between meals. :oops: It was a cinnamon-swirl loaf and the smell...

Yeah, that is one way that the bread-making can be dangerous! Delicious bread is so delicious!

Onward and ...

okbyxmas

Hi there. Just wanted to say how brilliant about the bread. I started making my own bread some years ago, took me a while to get it right but now it is second nature, a habit!! There is some comfort in that for me so thanks for reminding me. I find it really theraputic but also very rewarding ...

okbyxmas

Thanks Linda! Thanksgiving was fantastic and my bread went over really well. People couldn't get enough of it. I was super intimidated by it going in but it's really like doing magic! I have been following a no-knead process (http://www.simplysogood.com/2013/03/artisan-no-knead-bread.html) and it ...

okbyxmas

Thank you jw! I'm feeling much better and have been for a bit. My partner and kiddo are having trouble shaking it (just like I did) but we're headed off for a family Thanksgiving dinner today and hopefully will all enjoy it.

Today's an S day, obviously, since it's Canadian Thanksgiving. I'm taking ...

okbyxmas

Honestly doing this without any kind of 'real life' issues is difficult enough. I have stuff going on, we all do, but you are trying to work through some really difficult things and trying to change deeply ingrained habits at the same time. Looking at it that way makes the green days even more ...

okbyxmas

Good luck Tessy! And congrats on the green day!

okbyxmas

Thank you so much, Tessy! I really didn't expect so much sickness to be happening during my first couple of months of No S, that's for sure!

Kiddo is feeling better enough. I managed another GREEN day yesterday but possibly only due to not having much around here to snack on anyhow! I made a lovely ...

okbyxmas

Yesterday was GREEN. With kiddo being sick I'm not getting a lot of sleep currently so I don't have a lot of energy for updating but I want to make a point of at least recording some things! I hope everyone is having a good week!

okbyxmas

Linda, don't feel bad! We all have our personal guidelines. I don't allow myself sweetened drinks because I drink Coke Zero. Too much of it, but I do plan to wean myself off of it gradually. I didn't need to have that soda which is why I was so ticked off.

Tessy, thank you for your kind words! I ...

okbyxmas

The weekend was great! I enjoyed some esses but didn't go crazy. Then in the wee hours of Monday my kiddo woke up with an earache and now her dad is sick too. I just have to laugh because whaaaaat.

Today was unfortunately RED . I had a bit of a crazy morning with kiddo home from school and then ...

okbyxmas

Yesterday was a GREEN day. I have no big eating plans for my S days this weekend other than a Cadbury's Flake I have stashed away for today. I will possibly indulge in a DQ Blizzard at some point as those are one of my favourite treats. Not sure I want to try the pumpkin pie one, though.

I feel ...

okbyxmas

That's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you, Tessy!

Now you can relax and enjoy your S days with a clear and happy conscience. Be good to yourself.

okbyxmas

jw, they are pretty delicious! For how simple they are at least. Here's the recipe: http://andrecipes.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/chocolate-crackles/

That's exactly the recipe my mom always made for us as kids and now that she's retired she's resurrecting all kinds of delicious treats. These are best ...

okbyxmas

Well yesterday was GREEN but today was big fat and RED !

Being at my mom's place is a bit of a danger zone as I have written about in the past. I usually do pretty well with it but there are certain times of the month when I am a bit weaker I guess (ahem ahem) and today I caved. There are two days ...

okbyxmas

Woot Tessy! Don't give your plates a second thought. You were green and that's awesome!

okbyxmas

Yup. Four meals IS VANILLA No S. Reinhard says it himself, lady! There is nothing wrong with that four o'clock second lunch!

okbyxmas

Thank you so much you two! I really am feeling better now. I have a lingering cough that is annoying but I have more energy and more appetite finally.

Yesterday turned out to be a surprise S day. I considered marking it as a red day but it wasn't a case of weakness. My family had a little surprise ...

okbyxmas

Thank you so much Tessy! I feel a little guilty because when I have no appetite it's easy to eat less and stick to No S rules, I guess. We'll see how I do with the rest of the week now that I'm starting to feel hungrier!

okbyxmas

Today was GREEN . I still have little appetite. I went light on breakfast then made a normal lunch which I ended up not finishing entirely. At supper I had a few scant spoonfuls of some corn chowder I'd made before realizing it needed to cook a little longer. While waiting for that I suddenly felt ...

okbyxmas

I'm so so sorry that work is such a stressor right now. And we are conditioned to see food as a comfort or reward for feeling awful. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to put a bad day behind me or geared up to face something difficult with a sugary binge.

I like the point that Sinnie made ...

okbyxmas

Friday was GREEN as well but oh man, just barely ! I wasn't even hungry but I kept thinking I needed a sweet in the late evening. I even went to the cupboard and stared hard at a packet of fudge but in the end I held off and waited until Saturday.

Still coughing, still congested. What plague is ...

okbyxmas

I will admit that it's possible I'm enjoying cough drops a bit too much!

okbyxmas

Thanks Linda! Can you believe I'm still sick and had a mild fever again this morning? Yesterday was GREEN at least and I'm going to do the same today but I'm wishing I'd just get over this. I'm sick of being sick!

May end up at the walk-in clinic tomorrow if I'm no better.

okbyxmas

Everyone is different, right? And you have it right when you compare it to quitting smoking. You kept at it until you built the habit and now you don't do it. Looking at this in the same way is very healthy and realistic.

okbyxmas

Thanks you two! I do think I'm getting better now. Still coughing and hacking and congested and weak but I can feel my appetite returning finally. SO, I'm allowing today to be a final Sick day and then tomorrow and Friday will be usual N days. Then I'll take it easy on the esses over the weekend.

okbyxmas

Congratulations, Tessy! That's wonderful. Even if I'm too sick for food right now I'm still peeking in on everyone here and was hoping to see some good news in your check in. Good luck tomorrow and I love the knitting idea. My mum just gave me some needles and I'm considering taking it up myself.

okbyxmas

Sorry I've been so quiet, little check-in, but it's tough to write about doing No S when one is so sick!

Seriously I hardly remember the last time I was sick like this. Every time I think maybe it's starting to get better it turns out that no; it's just decided to focus elsewhere. Eating has become ...

okbyxmas

Hey, Linda! Don't look at your S days as something you're 'bad' at. We're allowed to snack on those days and as Reinhard says it's all a process. Sounds like you're aware of your S day behavior and what you want to change and that's part of it, right?

Have a great N day today!

okbyxmas

Good luck this week, Tessy! I've been thinking of you.

okbyxmas

Ugh, I am glad I took yesterday as an S day. Between yesterday and today I've barely eaten three meals worth of food. Now my kiddo is snurfling and sneezing and sniffling yet again and she just barely got over her last illness! I remember what it's like when school starts up, though. Everyone gets ...

okbyxmas

I hope you're feeling better! I've got the awful cold that's going around here so I'm taking an extra S day today and hoping I can eat anything at all. When I'm really sick I like lots of liquids and hot comfort foods but even those don't sound appealing today.

When I feel better I might just make ...

okbyxmas

Thanks Linda! I'm not very bothered by the wee snack myself; I guess I do feel a little bummed that it's a red day as a result. I know intellectually that it was a non-issue so I'll just put it behind me and know that it could happen again.

Yesterday was GREEN , though. I ate less than usual ...

okbyxmas

Woo hoo! That's wonderful stuff. Stay strong, Tessy.

okbyxmas

Thank you for dropping by my thread, your words were very comforting to me especially to realise that maybe I am not such a failure after all! Thank you
Tessy

Aw, Tessy, I'm just glad you're feeling more on track and positive! We're all in this together, right?

Yesterday was a RED day but I'm ...

okbyxmas

I agree that allowing yourself unlimited drinks no matter what they are for a while sounds like a good idea! I am still drinking my diet soda whenever I want. Does that make what I'm doing not Vanilla? Maybe so but it is making a difference in overcoming eating urges. Right now it might be an ...

okbyxmas

Linda I can see me being emotional every year too! She took the school bus for the first time today and even though she was fairly stoic about it once the bus pulled up there were tears and fear beforehand. At least it distracted her from being grumpy about school itself! :D

Anyhow, yesterday was ...

okbyxmas

It's been a busy few days so I haven't been posting a lot but things are good. Today was my kiddo's first day of jk and boy was that tough. Tears and hysterics and pleas to come home with us. We toughed it out, though, and when we picked her up at the end of the day she was quite happy and looking ...

okbyxmas

Anyway, was wobbling badly so looked up my thread to inspire me and found Kats advice. So started singing the Kermit song " it's not easy.....BEING green" . :lol: it worked!!!

This is wonderful! I think I'm going to try to promise myself that when I'm feeling 'wobbly' too I'm going to sit down ...

okbyxmas

Thanks Tamburello! I have been thinking of doing something similar to what you say here but with grits instead of oatmeal. I don't like oatmeal but do love grits and they're nice and filling and hearty too. Plus they cook up fast.

I'm also checking in to say that today went fabulously and was ...

okbyxmas

Welcome, tamburello! Yes, No S is pretty perfect for what you need, it seems, since you have the physical activity part of things solid already.

I'm a fellow Canadian, too. Nice to see you here.

okbyxmas

Thank you, ladies! I managed to get breakfast in me again this morning. Toast and honey, mmmm.

Yesterday was a GREEN and it felt great. Breakfast definitely makes the difference in my daily eating. I wish it didn't but oh well; it's probably healthier for me this way.

okbyxmas

Linda I am so with you on the eating with family and friends thing! I am so in love with how they just have no idea I'm doing something that could be considered a 'diet'.

And I wish I could have a dog. I like walking but dogs make it better.

okbyxmas

Just popping in to say that I had a couple of bananas to get breakfast in me. Now that school has started mornings are so much busier and I'm finding even getting out a bowl and some yogurt feels like a hassle which is silly. Definitely a thing to make time for!

okbyxmas

Tessytwinkle wrote:Never mind last two days have gone better that I would ever have hoped so I am feeling good

That's right! Hold on to that and keep moving forward. You're doing fantastically!

okbyxmas

Today was Green as well. I've noticed breakfast becoming more of an issue for me. I truly don't have the urge to eat first thing in the morning and I'm finding it easier to 'forget' about it in the morning shuffle with my kiddo and whatnot. Then I end up eating only two meals and feeling cheated. It ...

okbyxmas

I forgot to mention that yesterday was GREEN ... just barely. I was more tempted to snack yesterday than I have been in the last two weeks! I think it's just the almost unconscious reaction to frustration that I have. Oh, something sweet or snacky will make me feel better, right?

I resisted, though ...

okbyxmas

Aaaaahhh!! That's fantastic! I love reading how happy this made you. Congratulations on a successful day!

okbyxmas

Linda you are a lovely, supportive person! Thanks for the sensible advice. My kiddo is still sick but at the same time wants to play so no rest for the weary around here!

I don't feel awful about yesterday; just a bit disappointed that I didn't uphold the 'fence around the diet'.

I'll just keep ...

okbyxmas

Hmmm. I am not sure whether to call today a success or not.

Technically it could be but the letter of the law was not followed in this house on this day.

My kid is sick. It hit all of a sudden last night and in meeting her needs this morning I missed breakfast. I figured no big; I'll have a late ...

okbyxmas

I like Hippy's way of looking at it. You DID make it until 4:00. That's a lot of day there. Stress is the biggest thing that makes us eat and you've been living with a boatload.

Since you know that 4:00 is a bad time for you how about giving yourself permission to have four meals a day with lunch ...

okbyxmas

Good luck today, Tessy! Be good to yourself and hang in there.

okbyxmas

I think daily check-ins, though a bit tiresome at times, were enormously beneficial, and it's worth giving it another shot. Posting here keeps me honest.

I know what you mean. I also find reading other people's check ins is very inspiring and helps me to apply advice given to them to my own ...

okbyxmas

Doing well! Sounds especially like you are putting S days to good use.

Can you believe I forgot about that piece of tablet in my purse?!? Now I have to wait until the weekend to eat it! Ah well. It'll be a test of my resistance to sweets when they're easily available. My usual tactic is to try ...

okbyxmas

Feeling a little hungry is fine. But there also needs to be a balance. Extremes are not good.

In my experience, feeling lots of hunger (intense, painful) between meals means I'm getting too skinny, weak and fatigued. You kind of have to know how much to eat at your meals to feel full and still ...

okbyxmas

You sound refocused. I think your determination is inspiring and I love reading what you have to say!

okbyxmas

I think for most of us the biggest fear of starting No S is that of hunger. Three meals a day sounds great on paper but finishing a meal and knowing there are hours to go before you can eat any more food is scary! Hunger is uncomfortable and I think most of us have forgotten what real hunger feels ...

okbyxmas

I just blogged about this today! For me weighing makes me a bit nuts because my entire mood and motivation begins to hinge on what the scale says. I'm going to weigh again at Christmas to see how four months of No S treats me.

That said it is a temptation to weigh. I wasn't in the habit of it ...

okbyxmas

Thanks Linda and Tess! It wasn't necessarily easy to shut off that part of my brain that wanted to snack but I managed. :wink:

So glad that today is an S day, though! I went to the British Isles shop with my mom because she's been wanting to check it out and man, there was some awesome candy! I've ...

okbyxmas

Linda; you are so kind. Thanks for the encouragement and feedback! I appreciate it so much. I'm very, very glad that No S has a wonderful community of folks behind it. I know I tend to write a lot of things that are probably very obvious to so many of you more experienced No Essers but I like having ...

okbyxmas

Today was an S day (planned ahead) and it was fine. I didn't go nuts. I had a few gummy worms, a few pieces of chocolate and some birthday cake. Meals were normal servings with no seconds. A few minutes ago I wandered into the kitchen and opened the cupboard thinking, "Oh, it's still an S day; I ...

okbyxmas

Thank you Linda! I have been trying to pay attention to what feels uncomfortable and the writing my daily food in public is a little bit awkward for me. I feel pretty OK with my food choices but once in a while I'd suddenly think about what others might think and that's just not something I want to ...

okbyxmas

Woo hoo! I did it too! It's so, so hard in the moment but it's nice later to look back and feel proud at least.

okbyxmas

Thank you, eschano! I'm trying to be as realistic as possible while also being kind to myself. It's so easy to get upset and angry with ourselves and get demoralized. I want to do this for all the right reasons, you know?

okbyxmas

Feel better, Imogen! That hot pepsi thing sounds so weird but whatever helps! And I think I'll try that next time I'm sick (but with Coca Cola because I'm a loyal Coke drinker.)

okbyxmas

I did it. I did not eat a single candy while at my mom's place. There was various kinds of licorice, yogurt gummies, gummy worms, et cetera. She keeps it around for the grandkids but it was not easy to open the cupboards for something else and see all that staring back at me!

But I got through. And ...

okbyxmas

You can do it! I've been in the same boat all day and I'm frustrated. Let's just dig down and stay on track!

okbyxmas

Oh my gooooood I am surrounded by candy today. My mom's place is near my kid's daycare and I'm at her place for the day. She has candy everywhere. I am eating a nice and filling brunch to hopefully stave off weak moments!

okbyxmas

breakfast : grapes, 1/2 banana, yogurt

lunch : fried chicken and spicy sweet potatoes

supper : bowl of cereal and piece of fruit

I haven't actually eaten my supper yet but I know what I'm going to have already. It's going to be a very late supper. Lunch was very late which is why. I've gone ...

okbyxmas

You can eat anything you like on S days. That's the beauty of them. What you eat is entirely up to you and it's meant to be a break from the stricter rules of N days so you don't feel deprived.

So nachos and chips is fine!

okbyxmas

Today's food:

breakfast : skipped

lunch : roasted red pepper, cheese, pepperoni and apple sandwich x2

supper : toast and bacon

I ended up skipping breakfast. I guess me and my partner find it difficult to get in synch when our schedules are shaken up with holidays?

My partner is allergic to ...

okbyxmas

I remembered a little late that today is a stat holiday and I can count it as an S day if I want. I'm debating doing so if my family has a get-together this evening.

And jw, I know what you mean. It felt GOOD last week to be doing my N days and feeling like I knew where I stood with my eating. The ...

okbyxmas

So after my first two S days I feel kind of weird starting another week of N days. I didn't go nuts this weekend or anything. I had normal meals and my only indulgence was some sugary soda, a few gummy worms and some dessert last night. Nothing too extravagant.

I think the big thing was just ...

okbyxmas

Success!

Today went really well. Was the perfect combo of treats & structures. Strangely though I'm feeling like tomorrow I need a true S day with no rules.
Maybe that'll be the solution for me in the end. One S day with some rules, one without. Ill decide tomorrow.

That sounds like a good ...

okbyxmas

I'm so sorry about your dog. It's so hard to lose our little friends. I recently went through the same thing with a companion cat and like Lpearlmom says; take your time and be good to yourself.

okbyxmas

After being pretty enthusiastic about having an S day to relax with I ended up feeling suddenly pretty sick this afternoon before splurging with anything! I had two normal meals, though, one of them comprising leftovers from yesterday's Indian take-out. Tonight, though, I indulged with a Turtle ...

okbyxmas

breakfast : yogurt with apple cut into it

lunch : spaghetti noodles in spicy peanut sauce

supper : curry chicken, rice and naan bread

I did eat a bit of breakfast after all; a smaller amount of yogurt than usual with an apple. It held me over perfectly until I had a late lunch. I knew that ...

okbyxmas

jw suggested I add a link to my weblog so here it is:

OK By Xmas: A Gift To Myself

There's a 'before' shot and there will be monthly progress shots until Christmas but I think they'll be pretty underwhelming in the amazing change department if I lose at a steady but gradual pace.

I'll probably ...

okbyxmas

That's a good point, oolala. I hadn't even considered the yogurt being a problem, really, until re-reading the No S Diet page and realizing that it can be a stumbling block in the sugar department.

But I'm seriously not going to worry over yogurt! I'm making a post on my blog later today about not ...

okbyxmas

Well, it definitely does help. It's a really good psychological signal.

okbyxmas

I'm not worrying about the yogurt toooo much right now but I may have to cut back on it a little. I recently started eating more of it for the probiotics but I don't want to have to switch to low-fat or sugar-free.

And I definitely see a bar of Cocoa Camino chocolate heading my way tomorrow!

okbyxmas

You are allowed to feel sorry for yourself! I do it a lot and with a lot less reason. Plus macadamia nuts are a great source of protein and there are far worse things you could have snacked on in the world.

I'm sorry you're feeling so down and disappointed but I really, really hope your week away ...

okbyxmas

Thank you, Linda! And jw; I'll do that!

Here's today's menu:

breakfast : yogurt with apple and banana, grapes on the side

lunch : two roasted red pepper/cheddar sandwiches

supper : spaghetti noodles in spicy peanut sauce, small lime greek yogurt

I am following the trick that jw posted on the ...

okbyxmas

That is a really great idea! I think that'll work well for me too. I think it would hurt my pride a lot to change a square to a failure!

okbyxmas

Tessy, I just read through your posts and honestly it sounds to me like you're doing better than you think you are. In reading it all at once two things really stuck out to me that might not have if I was reading it one post a day.

1. You are so much more comfortable and secure during No S days ...

okbyxmas

Thanks Tessy and Kitty! The club sounds like a great idea! I'm not counting on looking radically different by Christmas but I want to feel different, you know?

okbyxmas

Today has gone really well! Still not much hunger between meals and quite happy with the food I eat. Well, mostly. I'll explain. Here's today:

breakfast : bowl of cereal, banana, small yogurt

lunch : garlic pasta with broccoli

supper : banana and two cobs of corn with butter

Yes, supper was a ...

okbyxmas

I may not get a chance to post later tonight so I'll put in today's food and be very determined that this is a successful day!

Breakfast : Yogurt with apple and bananas

Lunch : Garlic pasta with broccoli. (This was amazingly good. Leftovers for lunch tomorrow, probably!)

Supper : Cheese ...

okbyxmas

jw wrote:Welcome, OK -- this is a great board with lots of collective wisdom to share. Best of luck!

Thanks jw! I'm poking around as I can and trying to absorb what others are saying. I'm glad to be here.

okbyxmas

Thank you both! I'm pretty pumped about doing this and having a community is so valuable.

P.S. I know how much I weigh now at the start and I'm not going to weigh again until Christmas. I know what a slippery slope that is for me!

okbyxmas

I figured a daily check-in here would be helpful to me. I'm keeping a blog (also called Ok By Xmas) since I've started a personal project to feel healthier by Christmas. No S is by far the most sensible thing I've ever encountered so I'm doing it through that and daily exercise!

Yesterday was my ...

Everyday Systems

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A neat perspective on discomfort

okbyxmas Daily Check In