Everyday Systems

Hi Everyone,

I am back again. I'm not sure how many failed attempts I've got under my belt. But I'm finally getting it: diets don't work unless what you're after is weight gain.

The no snacking part is hardest for me. I tend to stray because of that, and because I'll get a bug that I want to lose fat. I get a lot of exercise, and would really love to see my abs better. But then there's the other part of me that is just sick and tired of counting anything, and wants the liberation that No S gives.

I posted mid Jan last year, and listed some reasons why No S is so appealing, which I'll copy below.

"Here's what appeals to me about No S and why I keep coming back:

1) no weighing, counting, or measuring anything
2) it will allow me to stop obsessing about food. I have my meal and forget about it until the next time
3) it's easy to fit in with holidays, eating out, etc
4) it's do-able long term "

Anyway, I am back. I've got 3 days under my belt. Already I have a lot more time and mental energy that I would have spent thinking about food. I just need to hang in there until the no snacking thing becomes more ingrained.

Oh, I should mention that I am going to have a mod this time. My S days will be Sun, and one other day of my choice (might vary by week, depending on my schedule). Waiting each week until the weekend was making my S days too wild. I think I'll do much better if they are spread out.

Comments welcome.

Kathy

HIi Kathy,

It really doesn't matter how many times you re-start. I don't think you are really going all the way back to the starting line each time. Although I understand it may feel that way, I think that each time you cycle through an attempt, you are actually learning a little bit more about yourself as well as the process.

(evening) Snacking is my nemesis as well. Gentle yet firm persistence is slowly paying off. Patience is key with this system.
Good luck,

Good luck to you, too.

Actually I think it's good I've re-started a few times. It makes my resolve that much firmer having tested and rejected the alternatives.

You've hit the nail on the head for the possible value of failures: seeing what is fair to ask of ourselves in this moment as well as getting more clear about what we want to accomplish- in this case, surrendering to living WITH food, not at war with it. I guess thase lesson never goes away. They just shift from topic to topic.

I've seen people very successfully start eating more than 3 times a day and whittling down as time goes on very easily. Cold turkey is an option, and often the quickest, but it's not necessary.

If you gave weekday N days a real run for the money- a few months, at least-, and you feel you can modify without panic, go for it.

When you feel your program is fair, it makes it a LOT easier to ride out the bumps.