Daily Archives: July 10, 2006

Encouragement and a warning


Posted by katiebird

The author of The Hacker’s Diet, John Walker, has generously given me permission to discuss his diet in detail using some quotes, with links back to his site. (Earlier E4T articles on The Hacker’s Diet)

Floats and sinkers

Next, consider the trend line along with the daily weights from the scale.

The trend line is drawn in as before, and each day’s weight is plotted as a diamond. I’ve drawn lines from each weight measurement to the trend line to show the relationship between daily weight and the trend that day. Remember, in an exponentially smoothed moving average the most recent day’s measurement has the greatest influence on the trend line. Recall also, that since the moving average looks back in time, it lags the actual trend. Consequently, when the trend is falling, most of the daily weights will be below the moving average trend line. Think of the trend as a fishing line in the water. Daily weights that fall below it are sinkers, pulling it down; the further the weight is below the trend line, the stronger it pulls the trend line down. When the trend is rising, most daily weights will be above the trend line: floats, tethered to the line, pulling it up. Continue reading →


Eat4Today, everyday


Posted by katiebird

I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. Just today. And I’m going to try this for a year to see what happens.

I think I’ve been too focused on the changes I’ll make after the end of July. And I’ve been counting on the boost I’ll get once I really get going on The Hacker’s Diet (It’s amazing how I’m drawing that process out, isn’t it?) I’m sliding into that mental state that I’ve fallen into during “The Holidays” when I suspend all common sense and allow myself to eat in a way that I know is stupid.

In this case I’m following the rules (raising an eyebrow – really?) but…

  1. There have been too many desserts
  2. I’ve been eating a piece of toast (or two) with dinner every night
  3. I think I’m eating too big a bowl of cereal (but I haven’t measured it in a long time)
  4. I think all my meals have gotten generous (because I haven’t measured in a long time)
  5. And maybe I’m not being totally honest about not eating between meals.

It’s so stupid because I know what works for me. DO NOT eat between meals — Just Today.4 And DO NOT take seconds. Fudging on these rules — claiming emergency exceptions — has never resulted in anything but backsliding and disaster.m And I can see it coming.

I took a day off from Eat4Today on Saturday thinking that I would start taking one day off a week. But I don’t think I’m going to do that (I don’t think I can do that).o Eat4Today isn’t a 6 day-a-week responsibility. I’ve got to Eat4Today everyday.o And part of why I started this blog was to make sure of that. It’s not always easy to think of new ways to think about and discuss the Eat4Today strategy. But the process of working on these stories has been a valuable part of my day. And the days I slack off or delay posting tend to be a struggle with my commitment.

So — just today — I’m not looking ahead.o Just today I’ll follow the spirit of my affirmation to the letter.

  • I will not eat dessert
  • I will not have toast with dinner
  • I will measure my portions for the rest of the day
  • And I will be honest about the difference between a mini-meal and a snack. (If I actually require a mini-meal, that’s OK.> But I usually don’t. And that makes it a snack.)