Everyday Systems

I committed to being reasonable about Halloween candy tonight and I'm happy to say I conquered it instead of it conquering me this year. No sugar high, no sugar low!

Today:
B - Cereal, fruit
L - Salad, crackers
D - Veg sausage, tots
S - 3 pieces of Halloween candy

Tomorrow:
B - Cereal, fruit
L - ?
D - Pesto pasta, veg

Congrats for Halloween moderation!

Nice job, liveitup!

Today:
B - Cereal, banana
L - Soup, sandwich
D, S - Bowl x 2

Tomorrow:
B - Cereal, banana
L - Salad
D - Soup, bread

Today:
B - Cereal, banana
L - Salad, bread
D - Lentil soup, focaccia

Tomorrow:
B - Cereal, banana
L - ?
D - Falafel pita, fries

B - Beans, kale, grapes
L - Sandwich, soup
D - Ethiopian
S - Sundae

A small success before Thanksgiving.

B - Broccoli, mini sesame bagel, grapes
L - Veg sandwich
D - 2 slices of mushroom pizza

Fail

Today it was crucifers all day long, lol.

B - Crucifers in the form of cauliflower, hummus, hash browns
L - Same crucifers again (yes the cafe downstairs just cooks the same thing all day long apparently, why fix it if it ain't broke I guess?), black eyed peas, 2 papadums
S1 - A delicious mini vegan chocolate chip cookie, should have stopped here.
S2 - add some unnecessary chewy fruit candy
D - More crucifers -- broccoli this time --, rice, "butter" "chicken"
S3 - 5 marshmallows (feeling very foamy and full right now, which feels pretty gross), a couple breaks of peppermint "bark".

Tomorrow I will try again.

Well, liveitup, your entry was certainly entertaining, if not your ideal day.

You know, I was thinking about BMI this morning and then noticed that your is 26. But as a male, you probably have a lot of muscle mass and may not actually need to lose weight. Have you taken your measurements or had your body fat tested? Those might be better numbers for you to "travel" by. I have a scale now that gives body fat. It's not perfect, but I did have it done at the school fitness center too (they have calipers and a body fat scale) - all three numbers matched, so I figure my (cheap) home scale is reasonable for catching trends. And measurements - can't ever go wrong with those. Probably you've heard of this - you're looking for less than 0.5 ratio of waist:height to indicate decent insulin sensitivity.

I had not thought of that! Believe me though, I don't need a scale to tell me that I have too much body fat, so at the moment both BMI and the body fat scale would point me in the same direction, as I don't plan on bulking up anytime soon. It's interesting how the scale works. I didn't realize it sends an electrical current to measure body fat, measuring a higher resistance when more fat is present.

Success

B - Green beans, chilaquiles, rice and beans
L - 1 perfect plate of vegan Filipino food
D - "Burger" and

Oh, and Auto, you're right that it's worth considering setting my goals according to that rather than BMI. Thanks for the suggestion!

I went against the rules and made today an N day. Good thing, because it was a success! Also I was sick, so no appetite today anyway.

B - Keema on flat bread
L - 1/2 burger, Asian pear
D - Vegetable soup

Going to my sister's house tomorrow for brunch. I will have a reasonable, non-foamy S day.

Success

B - Green beans, mini orange scone, mini everything bagel, diced pineapple
L - Burrito, chips
D - Coconut curry soup with noodles and tofu

Happy New Year Liveitup!

Fail! Just finished my 40th birthday cake, and thought I'd drop by No-S to see how everyone is doing.

B - Lemon poppyseed bundt cake remnants oh lord, chia pudding
L - Tofu bacon and tomato sandwich, dried fruit
S - Chips, almonds, some candies that my 5 year old really wanted me to eat
D - Ethiopian take out

Happy 40th birthday!

Thank you, Auto! I hope you are hanging in there during lock down.

Fail

B - Chia pudding with berries and nuts
L - Chili dog and chips
D - Spaghetti with meatballs and chard
S - Biscuits with jam

I was hungry after dinner, and caved in.

Edit: I wasn't hungry, let's be honest. They were out, and I wanted them more than I wanted to stick to NoS tonight, apparently.

Success

B - oatmeal
L - and chili
D - soup and

Edit: I wasn't hungry, let's be honest. They were out, and I wanted them more than I wanted to stick to NoS tonight, apparently.

Definitely happens! Especially when we are craving some sort of dopamine hit. Food is always the quickest fix (well other than illegal drugs.... LOL!)

Sometimes (you can imagine when) I wish that all food was illegal!

Re-read nosdiet.com yesterday. Two success days to report.

Yesterday:
B - cereal
L - sandwich, tomato soup
D - salad, lentil soup, focaccia
A - 1 whiskey

Today:
B - chia pudding with raspberries
L - sandwich, dried apples
D - polenta, sausage, salad
A - 1 beer

Success

B - oatmeal
L - lentil soup, focaccia
D - soft tacos

Weird week at work. People are starting to go stir crazy, I think.

Yeah, I think people are getting a little strung-out. "Civil unrest" and all that....

Fail

B - cereal, dried mango
L - grilled cheese w/ greens, chips
D - burger, fries
A - 1 whiskey
S - ice cream

Exercise - HIIT 30 mins

I listened to a fun podcast about 9 minute workouts where you basically just do two 20-second sprints separated by some recovery time. Talk about short HIIT!

Sounds like a get rich quick scheme. Is it for real or for fun?

Today continues to be a struggle. I posted a rambling thing about it on the general forum hoping to piggyback on some of the amazing threads happening there.

B - chia pudding and fruit
L - enchiladas and beans
D - pizza and salad

S - don't waste it
S - doesn't go with anything tomorrow
S - at least it's vegan

A whole bunch of crap eaten for bad reasons. Frustrating.

I'm making a new S: "S-cuses"

I'm making a new S: "S-cuses"

Yes, that bike is a real thing! It's funny because just yesterday I was telling Pinkie about it - I must have just learned about it when I posted on your thread in April.

LOL I love it. Come to think of it, I have tried a 7 minute HIIT workout. It was this one. I remember this being a what-you-put-into-it-is-what-you-get workout. That applies to all HIIT workouts, but the longer ones will force me to work more.

B - Toast, peaches, chick'n patty
L - Samosa burrito
D - Potato bowl

Three delicious and hearty meals for Father's Day. I'm considering the copious amounts of syrup on the pancakes to be an S.

B - Pancakes, sausage, strawberries
L - Tostadas, yogurt
D - Chicken fried tofu, green beans, hash browns

After some long needed visits with my father and my step father today, and lots of societal analyzing with them, I'm ready to wind down.

Happy Father's Day!!

Thank you, Auto. How long does Father's day last? Is it just one day or all week?

B - Tacos
L - Sandwich, fruit, yogurt
D - Rice bowl

I've been talking with the family on how we can take a vacation this year given lockdown. We've settled on buying a small, used RV. It's the perfect solution: we get a vacation, but we don't need to use public bathrooms, we can cook all of our own food, and we don't need to deal with a hotel. We can sell it when we're done with it. We pick a destination, find an RV park / state / national park to hang out for a few nights, and the kids get to roam outside. I can't wait to see one tomorrow in person and see if we can make this work.

What a fun and creative idea!

I love this idea, liveitup! I told my husband that this is what we need to do too. If not this year, then definitely next year.

We received a text from the seller on the way to go see the RV saying that it didn't have 4 seatbelts. On to the next. There is one more option we hope to see this week.

Good luck on your search when the time comes, Pinkhippie! Thanks Auto, wish us luck!

B - Tofu, green beans, rice
L - Sandwich, chips
D - Burmese

No RV yet, but NoS is going well.

B - Burmese
L - Sandwich, fruit
D - Enchiladas, salad

The pattern-liker in me was really thinking you were almost at a perfect inverted meal plan from yesterday to today.

This one will throw you for a loop then, Auto!

B - Bagel, sausage, fruit
L - Burmese, enchiladas (done with leftovers!)
D - Burger, slice of pizza (basically crust and veggies), milkshake

Today's technically a fail. Milkshakes are not a normal problem for me, so no bad feelings.

We stopped by Amy's in Rohnert Park for dinner. It was OK, maybe 6/10.

Random thoughts: I eat mostly vegan without any kind of agenda, be it environmental, political, for animal rights, or anything at all like that. That is not my battle. None of those are my passions. As a personal challenge, I chose not to eat meat 12 years ago, and over the last year I have eliminated most dairy and eggs. It stuck with me. I like it. I feel physically good, providing I don't overeat. There is always new food to try. I won't call myself vegan, or even vegetarian, since I will have marshmallows when the ones without gelatin aren't around with zero concern.

I also don't identify myself with the food I put in my mouth. My self is completely divorced from that. I despise being labeled in this way. Isn't it funny how susceptible we are to that? What does what I chew on have to do with me as a person? For some it definitely does, and it's important to them. I get it. For me, nope. I hate it.

The food can be vegan, but I am not. This is in line with what we teach our kids, isn't it? It's not you are this or you are that. We emphasize the effort that you exercise, and the passion that they have. We emphasize the patience that they have to see something through, or the generosity that they show to someone. The emphasis is on something value based that they exercise. Same thing is true for adults. You in the general sense are something very special, but I am pretty sure that you are not everything-that-is-not-an-animal-product, or nice, or polite, or anything as banal and boring as any of those. You are something far more intangible, valuable, and complex than any of those things, and that should be respected and protected. That's why I won't devalue myself with these labels.

In my food journal here, I find it annoying to say fake sausage or vegan something-or-other. Sometimes I write this, but I cringe when I do it, so I'm stopping that now. I don't like it. If you must know, when you see sausage, it probably means Field Roast veggie sausage (poison for gluten-free folks) or Beyond sausage. When I say chicken patty, it probably means MorningStar chick'n patties. When I say cream cheese, it probably means Tofutti (or Miyoko's, but Tofutti is better). When I say burger, it probably means an Impossible patty. When I say cheese, it probably means Chao cheese. When I say mayo, it's likely Veganaise, (although now we have some Avocado based stuff since Veganaise was sold out). You get the idea.

I got enamored with this WFPB thing for health reasons for a while, but I'm way over that now. I found that it made me focus on all the wrong things and put me into a diet mindset, and I hated that. It's also antithetical to NoS, which frees me from that. Auto, you mentioned once something along these lines once, which I completely agree with: I believe people should eat what they want, even if it's pork sausages for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but please: no snacking and no seconds. That's where I draw the line!

RV update: Saw a small Class C and a nice little Class B camper van today. The Class C was lived in for 6 months and that wear can really show on cheap RV materials, so we passed. The Class B was really well cared for, but it's 27 years old, and there's no way around it. Everything worked, but not particularly well given the age. So close.

There are no other options within a large radius of us right now in the price range we are looking at, so the wait continues. We might have our expectations too high and our wallets too thin.

Well, the adventure of shopping for the RV can be a lot of fun, too! Although if you are feeling time pressures, that makes it a little less fun, I suppose.

Lovely thoughts about not being identified by the foods that we eat. Thank you for sharing.

Good thoughts about the food and identifying as it. I know people often seem to become their "diet" identities, be it vegan, paleo, keto etc..

I think if it works for you and it feels good in your body, then your body is telling you what it needs and wants and by eating that way you are listening to your body and taking care of yourself. That is awesome that you have reached that level of knowledge.

I am sorry your RV hunt isnt going as well as you want. Would renting one be an option or is that ridiculously expensive? I have no knowledge about RV's so please excuse if that is a dumb question.

I think if it works for you and it feels good in your body, then your body is telling you what it needs and wants and by eating that way you are listening to your body and taking care of yourself.

Yes!

Renting one is an option, but they're hit and miss. Cruise America in all locations within 150 miles are rented out, and Outdoorsy has dismal, sketchy options. I'm sure the selection is better when July 4th isn't around the corner. We're set on finding one to purchase regardless. Going to see another one tomorrow.

B - Fried rice
L - Ethiopian
D - Pizza, salad

Hope you both are having a great weekend.

I saw the cutest little RV for sale (on the side of the road) yesterday. Thanks to your great idea, I was imagining myself zooming all around in it this summer.

The crackling of a campfire, your own Covid-free bathroom, a bed with real sheets, and three home cooked meals a day. It sounds fantastic.

We're seeing another one on Wed.

B - Ethiopian
L - Wrap, fruit
D - Burger, fries

I am sorry the RV hunt isn't panning out yet. Of course, the rentals would be gone...duh! I didn't even think of that. I hope you find the right RV for you soon! Maybe Wednesday!

We've had a few RVs (motorhomes in the UK) great holidays but limiting in the UK. Parking was always an issue. Guess that won't apply in the US. Enjoy your search.

Check for damp, pretty common in the ones over here and layout is important.

Jx

Thanks Soprano. We checked for water damage and leaks among other things. We're on a dry coastline and were also concerned about rust.

We got one. It's a 24 ft 2006 Winnebago View. Fits in the driveway. Over the 4th we did a 700 mile maiden voyage without major hiccups. We've spent the last couple weeks cleaning, repairing, updating, and just spending time in it. I believe the common saying is that the best days of owning an RV (or boat) is the day you buy it and the day you sell it. We're still very much in the honeymoon period. Doing a shorter trip for 4 days this weekend. Then it's off to the shop for maintenance and new tires.

Parks are not crowded and highways have no traffic.

Lots of bad eating habits recently, but back on track today. Eat to live, don't live to eat.

B - cereal, fruit
L - red beans and rice
D - coconut curry noodle soup

So excited for you

Enjoy, it's like setting up home

Jx

Yay! This sounds like such fun!

Glad to hear you found an RV! It does sound like a lot of fun to set up and get ready!

Have fun on your 4 day trip!

Have a fun trip (: We bought an RV this summer too. I’m a camping/RV girl, we’ve had multiple RVS & pop-ups since we’ve been married. There’s just something fun about setting up a little home!! Even cooking seems more fun in the small kitchen We have a microwave/convection oven & I tried that for the first time to make chocolate chip cookies in the RV. I was amazed that it actually worked!! Happy travels!

Well it has indeed been fun, and the kids are loving it. It's a money pit but we are figuring it out and are more attached to it than I thought.

As for diet, well, its not easy. I hate admitting a lack of control, but here I am. I got the Covid-19... pounds that is. I have this idea that tomorrow I can do it, it seems so easy, and then tomorrow comes and simply waiting an hour or even 30 minutes sometimes feels insurmountable.

Hi there! Glad to see you on the boards.

liveitup wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 6:03 am As for diet, well, its not easy. I hate admitting a lack of control, but here I am. I got the Covid-19... pounds that is. I have this idea that tomorrow I can do it, it seems so easy, and then tomorrow comes and simply waiting an hour or even 30 minutes sometimes feels insurmountable.

Hi liveitup. I really sympathise with your feelings about this. I think we’ve all been there. It feels like trying to stop a cannonball rolling downhill! This may be not much help, as we’re all so different, but when I’m in an out-of-control phase, I find swapping indulgent snacks for indulgent drinks is a great first step back to green-ness. On a good day, anyway... Wishing you all the best.

Thanks for the advice and the kind words, Octavia.

Despite it being the weekend, I was feeling motivated to have a few N days in a row, and here I am day 3 of N days and feeling great! At mealtimes, I have been reminding myself of how enjoyable the food is. Just a basic attention to nutrition (i.e. well balanced), but ignoring other considerations. Just making the effort to enjoy what I have makes a big difference.

Nice to see you liveitup! And a few N days can feel great, and surely empowering!

Thanks, Auto! Always good to have some sanity with eating. Hope you're doing well.

Success

B - toast w/ butter, broccoli leftovers from a Burmese restaurant -- delicious
L - tortilla soup
D - rice, broccoli, teriyaki tofu

Good plan to start tracking on Friday! Enjoy your weekend!

Success

B - Malt o meal with yogurt and nuts
L - kimchi eggs, sausage, potatoes
D - cheeseburger on whole wheat english muffin, salad

Yogurt is homemade as is the kimchi.
Feeling great today.

Success

B - Malt o meal with butter, almonds, yogurt, apple
L - Just eggs, roasted potatoes, green salad w/ vinaigrette
D - Soyrizo and veggie tacos, refried beans

Fail

B - Whole wheat toast with butter, apples, yogurt
L - Soyrizo and veggie tacos, refried beans (leftovers)
D - Brown rice, roasted veg, tofu bowls
Esses - Scoop of ice cream, snack pack of Cheez-Its

Gave in to temptation easily. Feeling awful today though, so bad I thought I might have a fever, which thankfully I don't. I'm not often thinking I'm sick when I'm actually not, but today is one of the least healthy feeling days I've had that I can remember. It was nearly impossible to accomplish anything. I haven't been sleeping well at all, so I think that's what I'm feeling. For the last few days, I get to sleep around 11:30, wake up at 2:30 for an hour or more even, then up again at 6:30. MAJOR brain fog today.

I blame the brain fog and an upcoming exam, along with a very big, high pressure work project kicking off. Tomorrow, I'll be well rested and can resist temptation more easily.. I hope!

Hope the good sleep happened!

Two success days!

B - corn flakes, banana, oj
L - sloppy joe
D - veggie burger, fries

B - eggs, toast, couple apple slices, oj
L - veggie sandwich, pickle
D - tofu, potatoes, green beans, gravy