Anonymous: I look like one of those "P90X" guys

(New!) Read (or post) about people who have stuck with No-S for 10 or more months, lost 10 or more pounds, or 10 or more percent for their starting weight. Periodic updates strongly encouraged -- you can think of it as "Yearly Check In."

Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating

Post Reply
User avatar
reinhard
Site Admin
Posts: 5918
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:38 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA
Contact:

Anonymous: I look like one of those "P90X" guys

Post by reinhard » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:01 pm

I got the following email yesterday and received permission to post an anonymized version here. I'll be sending him this url, so rest assured he'll be reading any comments and congratulations you care to post.

I'll start: thank you, Anonymous, for letting me post this impressive and thoughtful "testimonial!" Coming from someone with your track record of self-discipline, it's high praise indeed. The point of no-s isn't to get "ripped," but it's sure nice to see (in conjunction with exercise) that one can (and sustainably!).

Another thing that just jumped out at me: you lost this weight not only in a short time (< 3 months) but at not exactly the easiest time of year for this kind of thing. Very impressive!
Reinhard-

I am one month short of my 58th birthday and have been an avid exercise enthusiast my entire life. Having said this, I had inadvertently lowered my training standards over the years and as a result I began to carry an unnecessary layer of fat.

On November 21, 2011, I put a stake in the ground to really get back into shape - like the good old days - and on a whim I decided to do a Google search on diets... I can't remember the specific search terms, but suffice it to say I stumbled on your "No S Diet." I was intrigued. It made the most sense of anything that I have ever read - and reinforced two things that I have always known: 1) to lose weight, caloric output must exceed input and 2) much of my eating was gratuitous.

When I ran marathons back in the early 90's, I used to put myself on a diet that a face value sounds similar to your diet. I called it the "No meats, no sweets, no junk" diet and it worked, but I was also was running 8-16 miles/day, so I suppose just about anything that I tried would have worked. In retrospect, what my diet lacked was moderation and it consisted of a long list of restricted foods. I worked out like a fiend - and loaded up on foods that weren't in one of my prohibited groups - but my diet never addressed a sustainable, lifelong eating "habit."

On November 21st, I committed to the "No S Diet" and it has absolutely worked! (Now I must also tell you that I committed to riding my bicycle in the basement using a stationary trainer and I continued to lift free-weights.)

I have gone from 164 bs and a 34 3/4" waist to 150 lbs and a 32 3/4" waist. I look like one of those guys on the "P90X" commercials except that I didn't have to shell out $$$ to make it happen or eat eat special foods. And I have absolutely no doubt that my approach to eating has changed forever.

I know that what I am about to write is not a revelation to you, but take it as a testimonial - a reinforcement - to what you already know.

The "No S Diet" works because it does not consist of a long list of "Do's" and "Don'ts."
It works because of its simplicity.
It works because it makes sense: We just eat too much and too often.
It is not a diet, but a change in thinking.
It is about forming one good, life-long, life-changing habit.
There is no fear of "stopping" a diet, because the "No S" really isn't one. In fact that is my only beef with the program... it is not really a diet... it is really just re-thinking the approach to eating.

I have not changed what I eat. I have stuck to the "No snacks", "No seconds" portion and I have lost my desire for sweets - even on "S" days.

Thank you for your website and for your wisdom.

Sincerely,

Anonymous
Undisclosed Location

Too solid flesh
Posts: 639
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:22 pm
Location: England

Post by Too solid flesh » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:40 pm

Congratulations, Anonymous! That is really impressive, and I particularly enjoyed your list of reasons why NoS works.
Be kind, for everybody you meet is fighting a hard battle.

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:41 am

I love hearing that a man my age looks like one of the P90X guys, and I envy your lack of desire for sweets. Plus, free is very good!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

User avatar
gratefuldeb67
Posts: 6256
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 pm
Location: Great Neck, NY

Post by gratefuldeb67 » Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:26 pm

fantastic news!!! congratulations!!!
and may i say, after one hits 40... boy is it harder to lose weight... it takes me 10 times the amount of effort to lose weight that it did years ago, now that i'm in my mid forties..
so great job!!
keep it up and perhaps you will join our forum some day to continue to inspire and be inspired :wink:
There is no Wisdom greater than Kindness

User avatar
NoSRocks
Posts: 1137
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:51 am

Post by NoSRocks » Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:47 am

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
No S-er since December 2009
Streamlined S Days: 6/25/12
SW: 170 /CW: 127
Weight loss to date: 43 lbs

vmsurbat
Posts: 499
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:12 am
Location: Montenegro

Post by vmsurbat » Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:06 pm

Congratulations! It is amazing what commitment+moderation can accomplish!
Vicki in MNE
7! Yrs. with Vanilla NoS, down 55+lb, happily maintaining and still loving it!

Sweetness
Posts: 1152
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:54 pm
Location: Fall and winters in Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico and summers in St Paul, Minnesota

Re: Anonymous: I look like one of those "P90X" guy

Post by Sweetness » Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:32 am

The "No S Diet" works because it does not consist of a long list of "Do's" and "Don'ts."
It works because of its simplicity.
It works because it makes sense: We just eat too much and too often.
It is not a diet, but a change in thinking.
It is about forming one good, life-long, life-changing habit.
There is no fear of "stopping" a diet, because the "No S" really isn't one. In fact that is my only beef with the program... it is not really a diet... it is really just re-thinking the approach to eating.
I like this! thanks for posting! 8)
Patty

Anxiety in a person's heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy. (Proverbs 12:25 NET)
I'm a glutton for encouragement.

Post Reply