Everyday Systems

I challenge you to set a goal to meet by the end of the month!
This is for anybody who needs encouragement and daily accountability. We will all keep tabs on each other. Think of this as your own little cheering section.

- *Remember* to only post once at the top with your goal and edit that first post all month. It's easier to skim-read and find each other. Accountability helps!
- Please re-read that last one, some people don't get it.
- after May 2nd we will continue posting at the bottom for encouragement and fun.
- This challenge is meant for all of us to give support, so let's try hard to do that.
- anyone can start whenever through out the month. The more ~ the merrier!
- good luck and have fun with it!

I think my goal will be strict vanilla with a couple double good days a week if I feel like it.
My goal was only one red day. Now I just want to finish the month green.
May
1 mayday mayday!
2 21 straight!!! I can't believe it. I really can't believe how this habit took hold just by making myslef do it for a week or two. Why did I ever quit?
3 doing so well! Worried about the next 4 days.
4 decided to call it an S day. Daughter's confirmation weekend and lots of company.
5 this is not going so well
6 daughter's confirmation. Ate all day. What's with that?
7 trying to make up for that S-travaganza weekend. I now have all of the great leftovers in my fridge.
8 barfy migraine last night. On meds and migraine hang-over today. I think I ate too much wisconsin cheese.
9
10 I watched 11 hours of tennis in the hot sun today. The things we parents do...
11 FAIL change goal to one red only
12
13
14 had to go to a pizza buffet for an end-of-season track awards night for my daughter. Why do they do that? Don't they know I can't control buffets? But I ate at home!!!
15 S event- hubby's b-day. Tempted and loosing control lately so I am going to try my darndest to go 10 days straight strict N. I've had too many treats in the past 5 days.
16 whew!
17
18 borderline.
19 not too over the top
20
21 strict vanilla from here on out! My 4 kids are getting out of school soon and I need all the sane help I can get!
22 I had to make cinnamon rolls. They small wonderful, but I have not had one yet. I'm saving it for Saturday. Maybe 2
23 Fail with a slice of dull previosly frozen cardboard-like pizza
24 FAIL AGAIN!!!!!! ug! (see daily if you want details) But I'm not throwing in the towel and I'm still tracking here just because!
25 I have a new plan to help with vanilla (see daily for details)
26
27
28 even though it was technically a holiday, I did fairly well.
29 on track and using my plate with a line down the center. It's reeeeeeally helping!
30 I didn't loose this month. Maybe it's because I found excuses to have treats... and because I wasn't eating enough fruits and veggies. Next month will be much better.
31 jelly candies. Wouldn't you know... last day of the month.

I'm thinking next month I may issue a 21 day challenge. Summer is tough with all of my kids around (especially the older they get) and trying to fit 21 in there amongst the 30 will be a tad easier I'm thinking

1. S days>> 3 squares and moderation in the way of "Sometimes" with 2 S events each day. (not sure if I should make such a commitment yet )
2. N days >> Keep to No S Vanilla during my vacation and for another 3rd round of 21 days
3. 30 minutes of exercise at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week (marked by an X).

(start of my "3rd" round of 21 days)

4/30-M It felt good to be back to the normal 3 squares!
5/1-T Tough day yesterday..cat is sick and picked up from vet and just wanted to binge, almost gave up my streak...but I kept saying "it is not worth it, it really isn't going to help me"...deal with it, dinner will be soon....
5/2-W fairly easy day food wise..still stressed about my cat
5/3-Th (Birthday) took an S event day. Went to dinner for my birthday and had what they call a shot glass dessert (small piece of cake), yummy...had a little too much food..oh had a martini..too strong for me
5/4-F
5/5-S Over the top day, but move on they say, move on!!
5/6-S X Final walked my 4 miles...was slacking a bit..I do that sometimes
5/7-M X
5/8-T X
5/9-W X
5/10-Th X (Rode my bike 10 miles...sore hinny today!)
5/11-F X (Rode my bike 10 miles)
5/12-S X (S Day Gone Wild)
5/13-S
5/14-M
5/15-T X
5/16-W
5/17-Th Fail 1st "fail" since 3/19, not bad..43 greens, 1 red. Now this is where the old thinking will have to be kept in it's place...nowhere! Wow, I was only 2 days away...should have checked my calendar
5/18-F X (surely was hard not to give in to a snack...just one my mind kept telling me..you are hungry "nope, no can do"!)
5/19-S X 4 mile walk (15 minute miles)
5/20-S End of my "3rd" 21 day challenge X (Rode my bike 12 miles)
5/21-M boy I was hungry today even though I ate enough..strange...
5/22-T X surely I felt like something to have, so I had to do a little mental talking...getting easier to do day by day
5/23-W X dealt with some diet head thoughts of adding calories in my head, had to put a stop to it...not an option....
5/24-Th X
5/25-F
5/26-S X Had a great bike ride for almost 2 hours with my friend, then later in the day I wanted to test out a new ODO I bought for my bike, so went out again for 20 minutes. A lot of riding, glad my hinny did much better.
5/27-S The "who cares" effect took over...so this was an S day gone wild
5/28-M Fail - did do a 12 mile bike ride
5/29-T MOVED OVER TO THE **JUNE CHALLENGE"
5/30-W
5/31-Th
6/1-F
6/2-S
6/3-S
6/4-M
6/5-T
6/6-W
6/7-Th
6/8-F
6/9-S
6/10-S End of my "4th" 21 day challenge

I look forward to this not sure what my goal is since I can't even manage vanilla no s.
May 1 (I picked a bit prepping dinner not going to count that until next week! Exercise, played tag with kids after dinner.
May 2 fail
May 3 fail
May 4
May 5
May 5 n day
May 6 n day
May 7
May 8
May 9
May 10 can't get it together going to mark it anyway and not give up.

Hi everyone! Just finished up my first 21 days of vanilla no S two days ago. Hoping to keep up the momentum in May. Here are my goals for the May challenge:

1. stick to vanilla no-S
2. workout for 30 minutes at least 4 days a week
3. on S days, stick to treats that I actually crave and truly satisfy me rather than mindlessly eating just because it's an S day.

Here's to a great no-S start to the summer, good luck everyone!

4/28 - S day, 40 minutes run/walk on the treadmill
4/29 - S day, 45 minutes on the elliptical
4/30 - N day (had a cheeseburger happy meal for dinner, not terribly healthy, but it fits on one plate, so i'm counting today as a green day)
5/1 - N day, 45 minutes treadmill
5/2 - failure
5/3 - NWS day, 40 minutes walk on the treadmill
5/4 - N day, 45 minutes walk on the treadmill
5/5 - N day
5/6 - S day, 45 minutes walk on the treadmill
5/7 - N day, 40 minutes walk on treadmill
5/8 - N day, 50 minutes walk on treadmill (technically counting this as an N day, even though I had crackers and an apple for dinner. note to self - need to plan healthier meals!)
5/9 - N day
5/10 - failure
5/11 - N day
5/12 - N day, 45 minutes on treadmill
5/13 - S day
5/14 - N day, 50 minutes on treadmill
5/15 - NWS day (friend's baby shower)

1. Vanilla No S. Declaring an S day on May 11 for a dessert reception the day before a wedding I'm attending in New Orleans.
2. Minimum of 10 minutes of vigorous exercise on weekdays.
3. Read my list of 40 reasons I want to eat sanely at least two times a day on weekends only.

Good Lord, I didn't realize I hadn't updated this at all. Here it is May 30th. I did my 14 minutes this morning and got a 30-minute walk in pacing at my high school's graduation. Wore the wroin shoes for that! Got my sneaks on now. Look pretty strange with my graduation duds and athletic shoes, but don't care.

I've done this very sporadically and don't quite get why I resist recording it here or on a habitcal, though failing often cuold have something to do with it. Though recording is supposed to help me do it. I guess it works either way.

I'm in! Yahoo!
My goals:
I have since changed my goals to take "S EVENTS".
I know most people may frown upon this Mod, but I haven't given it a whirl and lately had a few reds due to some events throughout the week.
Frankly. I hate snacking and it's not a problem for me, but on the weekends do it just cuz'. And eat sweets just cuz'. I'd rather have ONE S (sweet)/ on a Saturday and Sunday and then take S events.

1:D
2:D
3:oops: (I should have planned this as an S event, but didn't...birthday dessert out with friends and came home and had 3 extra cookies.)
4
5
6-S
7-S
8
9
10
11
12
13-S
14-S
15
16
17
18
19
20-S
21-S

My goals for May: No reds for No S indicated by or , Exercise at least 15 minutes/day indicated by (X) and doing the daily assignments in The Beck Diet Solution indicated by . This is helpful to have this page! My one mod to No S is that sometimes I start the S days on Friday afternoon or evening, and finish Sunday aft, or switch S days.
May
1 X :idea:
2 X :idea:
3 X :idea: stressful day, sister had surgery, taking care of her and her quadriplegic husband.
4 X :idea: more stress, so tired... started the weekend at 7 PM again.
5 X
6 X It helps that I'm dog sitting, the dog really likes to walk!
7 X failed for the first time since late March I think. Oh well...
8 X :idea: I found a diet coach today, my friend who has lost over 50 lb. She gave me some good advice already.
9 X :idea:
10 X
11 X
12 X
13 X
14 X Having trouble finding time to do the assignments in the Beck book. So busy!!
15 X :idea:
16 X :idea: Decided to change the requirement for the Beck book to 15 minutes a day. I was putting it off because the one day had a big assignment. It works.
17 X :idea:
18 X Went with my mom to her Sweet Adelines' competition, kindof a vacation, two days and an overnight. I had some chocolate and snacks.
19 X Lots of walking between the meeting rooms, ballroom and hotel room.
20 X Has some sweets at an open house, but I walked around the lake (3.5 miles) with my friend. Nice!
21 X Walked around the lake again today.
22 X Made a special NWS event for our date night. I had homemade popcorn during the movie, and a couple squares of chocolate.
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Me too! Had a bad day today (Monday) - ate ice cream after dinner which is unlike me! However, i think it was a throw back because of my lousy weekend.

I'm declaring a complete new 21 day start as of TUESDAY. I also want to make my S Days more like N Days (with one or two treats and structure) as others have said here. Here goes, guys (yes I am on vacation during this period and that will be a challenge but right now, I am taking it one day at a time!):

1.
2:
3: Tempted by home baking - managed to resist....just!
4:
5: S Day !!
6: S Day!!
7:
8: VACATION! Yikes !!
9: VACATION
10: VACATION
11: VACATION
12: VACATION
13: VACATION
14: VACATION
15: VACATION
16: BACK HOME - phew!
17:
18: weight stayed the same!still 170 lbs after vacation?guess i'll take it!
19:
20:
21:

I'm in, but I can't forget.

1: Success! 50 minutes of The Diamond Cutter!
2: Success!
3: Success! 30 minutes Stand Up workout...
4: Success!
5: S Day 20 minute YRG workout
6: S Day 30 minute Airdyane ride
7: Success! 30 minute Airdyane ride
8: Success! Diamond Cutter Workout
9: Success! Took the day off...
10: Success! Diamond Cutter, Bowling, Golf
11: S Day
12: Success! Diamond Cutter!
13: S Day
14: Success! Strength Builder yoga workout, bowling
15: (Half way there...through May) Fail! I did Airdyne.
16: Fail!
17:
18:
19:
20:
21: (End of my second 21 day challenge...)
22:
23:
24:
25:
26:
27:
28:
29:
30:
31:

I will give this another shot. Goal is No-S + 1 Mod.

1. S-Event at Family Reunion dinner (dessert). Rest of the day was a success.
2. S-Event at Family Reunion dinner (dessert). Rest of the day was a success.
3. Success
4. Success
5. S-Day Success (not an idiot)
6. S-Day Success
7. I didn't eat cheese (my N-Day mod) at work this morning. So I am giving myself two smileys.
8. No mod again today...double smileys!
9. No mod...
10. Failure. Bored at home.
11. Failure
12. S-Day
13. S-day
14. Failure
15. Failure
16. Success
17. Success

1. No "red" days
2. 1 "sweet" (or none) on S Days, no snacks or seconds.
3. Lose about 4 pounds (1 per week) by the end of the month by sticking to goals 1 and 2.

May
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5 - An OK S Day
6 - Ate too many desserts, three to be exact.
7 - Was so close to a red day. Glad I didn't give in to temptation
8 -
9 -
10 -
11 -
12 -
13 -
14 - (Starting a new slate today! No more "red" days for at least 21 days!)
15 -
16 -
17 -
18 -
19 -
20 - (ate way TOO MANY desserts/sweets. got on a really bad streak)
21 - (sugar hangover, but made it through the day)
22 -
23 -
24 -
25 -
26 -
27 -
28 -
29 -
30 - Starting new on the June Challenge site! Hoping for a lot more green days!

I'm in. Nothing special happening this month, so I should be able to do "plain vanilla" all month! The one thing that I have to learn is how to eat more per meal so I'm not STARVING too soon before my next meal. Also, the literal "one-plate" rule is confusing. What if I eat soup, is soup the only thing I can have for a meal because only it and nothing else can go in the bowl at the same time?

I'm in too! Planning for a perfect month. I think I am going skip S days and only take S events. My goal is pretty simple - no snacking. 3 meals, 7 days a week. A bite or two of dessert with a meal will not count as a fail for me (although I don't plan on doing it, but if it happens, I'm still good).

MAY

1 - 3 meals: no snacks, no sweets, no seconds. Had a cup of milky coffee with a bit of sugar after dinner.
2 - preemptively putting a success icon, because I know it will be! Had a fresh, small homemade cookie after dinner with a decaf coffee. Ended up in a fail.

Christine wrote:I'm in. Nothing special happening this month, so I should be able to do "plain vanilla" all month! The one thing that I have to learn is how to eat more per meal so I'm not STARVING too soon before my next meal. Also, the literal "one-plate" rule is confusing. What if I eat soup, is soup the only thing I can have for a meal because only it and nothing else can go in the bowl at the same time?

Christine, the plan allows for "virtual plating" If you want soup and a sandwich and an apple that's fine. You could also put your bowl on a large plate and put the other food under and around it. I know Reinhard talks about this in his book, and likely on the website too. Did you read all that's on the No S Diet page? (see top of this page.) Welcome to No S!

So I crashed and burned last month. It's a new month!

Goals for May: Three plates on N days, period! Not going to modify S days. Shooting for 21 days of vanilla No-S!!! 9 weeks preggo.....hard not to snack with the nausea, but I CAN do this!

5.3: FAILURE!
5.4: FAILURE!
5.5: S DAY!
5.6: S DAY!
5.7: SUCCESS!
5.8: SUCCESS!
5.9: SUCCESS!
5.10: SUCCESS!
5.11: FAILURE!
5.12: S DAY!
5.13: S DAY!
5.14: FAILURE!
5.15:
5.16:
5.17:
5.18:
5.19:
5.20:
5.21:
5.22:
5.23:
5.24:
5.25:
5.26:
5.27:
5.28:
5.29:
5.30:
5.31:

Goals:
No red days.
No gratuitous non-weekend S days.

5/1-T Success
5/2-W Success
5/3-Th Success
5/4-F Success
5/5-S S day
5/6-S S day
5/7-M S day (watch it!) - UK bank holiday.
5/8-T Success
5/9-W Success
5/10-Th Success
5/11-F Success
5/12-S S day
5/13-S S day
5/14-M Success
5/15-T Success
5/16-W S day (watch it!) - outing with dd. Lovely treats. Now no more non-weekend S days this month.
5/17-Th Success
5/18-F Success
5/19-S S day
5/20-S S day
5/21-M Success
5/22-T Success
5/23-W Success
5/24-Th Success
5/25-F Success
5/26-S S day
5/27-S S day
5/28-M Success
5/29-T Success
5/30-W Success
5/31-Th Success

Made it! And the extra accountability helped. The goal I took for granted but did not originally post was no more than two non-weekend S days during the month.

moving this up to the top

My goal for (the rest of) May is to walk at least 15 minutes every day, and run three times a week. I'm currently doing the Couch to 5k plan, but last week I got totally off track.

5/8 Fail. Boo. I did not manage time well during the day, and by the time the evening rolled around we had to attend my son's piano recital and I had a killer sinus headache so I didn't even try to work in a walk when we got home from that. I did do 14 minutes of an exercise video in the morning, and had a good N day (I'm doing plain Vanilla No-S) as far as diet, so it wasn't a total bomb out day.
5/9 Success! Took a 20 minute walk. Also did 14 minutes of Callanetics. Still suffering with sinus/allergy stuff, though. Ugh.
5/10 Fail Got an early morning call about a very sick family member. Worried and let the stress of the whole situation drain my energy. I didn't even try to get my 14 minutes in or walk.
5/11 FAIL Visited sick family member in the hospital and ended up skipping lunch. By the time I got home in the evening I was famished and exhausted. No walk and no 14 minutes, either. I went bananas with pre-dinner snacking while I was trying to cook supper, so NO-S failure as well.
5/12 Success Took a nice long walk through the woods with my husband - over an hour long. Have had a good S day so far, no crazy stuff.
5/13 Success Had a happy Mother's Day. Enjoyed my S day (pot-luck after church - yummy!) and took a nice 20 minute walk in the evening with my family.
5/14 Fail
5/15 Success
5/16 Fail
5/17 Success
5/18 Success! Did my C25K run/walk!
5/19 Success
5/20 No walk Otherwise, a nice S day.
5/21 FAIL
5/22 FAIL
5/23 Success
5/24 Success
5/25 Success
5/26 Sick - and sad day today. The family member that I mentioned visiting earlier passed away last night. He was my uncle, my father's youngest brother, and we will miss him very much. Then, I got sick on my walk, felt like I was about to pass out. My husband was with me and he had to go get the truck to take me back home. After a lie down and some ice water, I started to feel better, but stayed inside for the rest of the day. What a weekend.
5/27
5/28
5/29
5/30
5/31

I'll take a hug and a high five and make it 18 of us I need the accountability to keep me strong. I'm going for Vanilla No S for the month of May. Don't need to mess with what is working.

5/1 - Success
5/2 - Success
5/3 - Success
5/4 - Success
5/5 - S Day
5/6 - S Day
5/7 - Success
5/8 - Success
5/9
5/10
5/11
5/12
5/13
5/14
5/15
5/16
5/17
5/18
5/19
5/20
5/21
5/22
5/23
5/24
5/25
5/26
5/27
5/28
5/29
5/30

Ems1203 wrote: 5/8 - N day, 50 minutes walk on treadmill (technically counting this as an N day, even though I had crackers and an apple for dinner. note to self - need to plan healthier meals!)

Glad you didn't count as a failed...there are just going to be days where we sit with a plate of crackers and an apple for a meal. I have eaten chips for lunch two days in a row once, just chips...it was better than binging on them at night. Funny thing, it sure does leave you wanting healthy food.

Welcome!!

NoSnacker wrote:Went to dinner for my birthday and had what they call a shot glass dessert (small piece of cake)

Happy Birthday! And good idea with the shot glass dessert.
And Liz had a birthday dessert on the 3rd too. Do you guys know eachother or just share the day?.
Oh, and Gobble did on the 2nd!!! I guess it's birthday month!

Happy birthday everyone!

Argh! Red is filling up my HabitCal! Although I have walked a few times this week, I have not run at all, my N days have been failures (I've had seconds, snacks and sweets almost every day) and I haven't done 14 minutes of anything at all. I'm feeling a bit out of control.

Today I'm going to be kind to myself, but firm about No S on N days, as soon as I finish posting this I'm going to get in 14 minutes of some sort of exercise, and my run/walk will be this afternoon before I start supper.

Go hikermom! Don't be too hard on yourself. Maybe you are trying to do too many things at once??? Just a thought.

No snacker!!! You almost made a third round. Pick yourself up, brush off the crumbs and continue. Doesn't that one red stand out? Mine was bugging me, along with all the yellows so I decided to make it more green and help cement the habit that I felt was slipping. I'm doing 10 straight N days (I hope) to give myself a boost before the kids are all out of school and snacking right in front of me.

There are many of us with just one or two fails... lets keep going and finish up green!

You have that right, that one red I had this 21 day challenge really bugged me, so close. This time around is much better than when I was here last June...I refuse to let the red days bring me down and take control of my green playing field

Have a great weekend everyone! I'm hoping to have a sane one...we'll see, it is just nice to not have to worry about if I want a treat...I can have it....

I'm still here...seems like a lot join and never come back here...

My 3 round with you!! Let's keep on keepin on...

Yes, still going. I've never done one of these challenges before, and it does concentrate the mind.

Too solid flesh - you are doing fantastic!!!! It sure does, it is a no pressure accountability

Keep up the great work!

Thank you, NoSnacker. You're doing brilliantly, and on so many fronts! As a short-distance cycling commuter, I'm particularly impressed by your cycling distances.

Thanks for the encouragement Reneew!

Finally I have had a week with more greens than reds on my HabitCal. Yay.

Regarding trying to do too much: I actually thought I had the diet and 14 minutes of "anything" exercise down pat and I really only needed to work on more walking and doing my C25K workouts for this month's challenge. Well, I've struggled on all fronts this month, but it has been a learning experience and I really don't think I'm trying to do too much at one time.

I'm still here!

Too solid flesh - funny when I was 37/38 for 2 years in a row I did 150 mile mike treks for the Lung Association, 50 miles a day..my hinny was really sore!

Now that I'm 55, I go on shorter rides...I guess I could do it if I wanted to, but at this age I'm not out to kill myself or prove anything to myself.

You ride to work? You mentioned short commuter...I would think that is much better for you then the occasional riding I do...I try to mix up my exercise between walking, elliptical and biking. Haven't biked in a couple years, but when I knew I was doing the 17 mile trek, I dusted off my bike, filled up the tires and made a commitment to practice so I'm not dieing to early in the ride.

I think key to when one gets older is to keep moving, too often women tend to slow down which only adds to the weight gain..so I've heard.

Deb,

funny when I was 37 for 2 years in a row I did 150 mile mike treks for the Lung Association, 50 miles a day..my hinny was really sore!

Now that I'm 55, I go on shorter rides...I guess I could do it if I wanted to, but at this age I'm not out to kill myself or prove anything to myself.

You got my funny bone here! You were 37 for 2 years in a row! That must be why you're younger than me. I tried to repeat years to stay young, it didn't work for me!!

BTW, I picked up a bike at a yard sale last year and hadn't been on a bike for about 10 years. I think I rode about 2 miles and my bottom was sore. I bought a gel seat after that, but haven't installed it yet. I'm 57, good for you for riding!!

Hey Patty, didn't realize I was adding an extra year to my life there , fixed it

So what kind of bike did you buy? Does it have gears?

I wear a helmet, as from my trekking days you could not participate unless you had one. Most cyclist die from head injuries from falling and hitting their heads on the curb.

Have a good one!

I have done crappy on my May challenge, as I have all along trying to get exercise going. This is how it must be for those who can't establish some consistent green weeks. Man, I feel for them! It's just 14 minutes a day! But I have to eat and I don't have to exercise... oh, well, the month isn't over yet and there is June coming up.

I issued a 21 challenge for June. I hope you'll join me. I need a bit of strictness too to get it going and keep it going with the change in the household (4 kids out of school and SNACKING WITH FRIENDS ALL OF THE TIME!!!!)
I also need to get off my butt and move. At times I've set a 15 minute minimum for myself. Either that or 1 hour a week total, but I'm thinking that to get the habit, I may need to shoot for 10 minutes a day. I just can't get motivated. I guess that 6 days of 10 minutes would hit the same goal, so maybe I'll do it. 1 hour can either come in 10 minutes for 6 days, 20 minutes for 3 days or trudge through the hour last minute because I put it off... or any combination. That's a plan!
Maybe I should issue a "get off your butt challenge"...?

10 minutes 6 days a week is worth a lot more in terms of estblishing habit than one day of 60 minutes.

I'm talking to myself.

I agree. I usually shoot for 3 days of 20 or 4 days of 15 minutes, but if I really start procrastinating, then I at least can make up for it and still keep on a roll. That is, once I'm on a roll.

Exercise can become quite addicting over time, once one gets over the hurdle of talking ourselves out of it. Going thru that right at this moment...do I really want to go on my elliptical this morning...?? Yes, No, etc....but I most likely will tell myself just 15 minutes that is all and end up going the 30. It feels just as good as an accomplishment once it is over and then you feel good for the day knowing you did.

Trying to encourage here

Move girls, move...

K, now I have to go to the basement...I rather be outside riding or walking, but on in the office days I have not choice but the basement..