Everyday Systems

Okay, so I'm intrigued. I like the no-excuses, no-calorie-counting, no-nonsense approach. It's simple, it's sensible. You know all of this - I am preaching to the choir.

But I could use some help getting started... I'm preparing for a 10-day visit to my hometown, to see my family, and this sort of visit has come to be like a food minefield. We're big eaters - big on "esses" of all stripes - which, of course, is why we're big people.

I'd LOVE to make some change before I go - I'd love to be able to enjoy my family and their food with moderation and a sense of control, without guilt and anxiety - but am not sure whether it's unrealistic to imagine that I might be able to stick to the program under particularly challenging circumstances.

Should I wait, and make this lifestyle change only after I return to my "real" life in the city, my own kitchen, my gym? Or can I hope to implement these changes even under a barrage of temptations?

Suggestions?

I vote for leaving it till you get back, as long as you're honestly going to start once it's all over. I'd say you ought to do fine with such things once you get going, but when you're working on the initial willpower I'd give yourself all the help you can get.

Yea, that definitely sounds like a case where you'll have to wait until you start. That sounds like a big clump of S-days to me.

Hi Tall girl
Welcome!

Good luck with this and, really, there's not a "best" time to do this..
It's up to you... If you feel really commited to trying it, even on vacation, then just be sure you are clear about what days you will delegate as official "S" days.. I'm sure you can make this work, and it's not as hard on a vacation as you might think... Even if you only get this to work 50%, then it's still practice, and in all likelihood you won't gain extra "vacation weight"... I know that's worth something too...
You can have some extra S days... I mean a special trip with family should definitely qualify as S worthy, but watch the intake of general impulse S's...
For example, don't hit the soda vendors and stock up on candy when you are gassing up at the gas station.. etc.. If you know you will be having nice meals, you can mentally postpone the snacking on extra stuff, so just try your hardest
Have iced tea or water or juice with meals out, instead of soda..
And plan on a few discreet S treats, like perhaps a nice dessert with the family when you go out, but then watch yourself on regular days of the week..

Peace and Love,
Deb

I just read M and Francois posts..
I really want to encourage you to try it..
(sorry guys! LOL)

When you get back you can try it again
No reason to postpone it..
Good luck!

Hi Tallgirl, and welcome!

My thoughts on the 10 day vacation with the family:
What if you decide to eat 3 plates of food/day, it doesn't matter what's on the plate or how high it's piled! Just start getting into the habit of no snacking and no seconds. As far as the sweets, see if you can enjoy 1 dessert/day, but ask for a smaller portion than you would normally have. In this way, you're taking some control but there's no deprivation. On my S days, I do not snack, I allow 1 dessert/S day, and if I do have seconds, it's always salad or vegetables. Basically you eat whatever you want, you are just working on a new way or habit with how you eat.

By eating this way, I've dropped 16 lbs in 4 weeks, although I'm a large person to start with, and I expect my weight loss will soon slow down. My plan is to weigh myself once/month (a few days after my period's started).

Whatever you decide to do, the good thing is that we will see you here at the No S site, and you will find yourself enjoying the best and sanest way to eat!

Hi Tall Girl~ I agree with operababe. Establishing the habit is the hardest part. Using the 10 days awy from your normal routine to establish a NEW rouine will be a blessing! I'm 3 weeks on and 10 pounds down. I'm just now feeling comfortable with the no snacking. The other two no-no's are taking a bit longer to embrace, but all in due time. Welcome and good luck! ~Mia

I say start right now. Even an 80% success rate produces results. Dare I say even a 60% success rate produces results? Of course the closer you are to 100% the more noticeable the results, but even small steps are a good thing.

You may not be able to turn down everything (I know about social food!) but avoiding the peanuts on the credenza and only eating one plateful at your meals will help.

We all fail all the time, it's dusting ourselves off and continuing that is our goal. Getting in the practice of noticing Esses as they occur is a valuable "pre-habit," and as long as you don't get discouraged it is very useful thing to practice. Forgiving yourself for mistakes and moving on (not ignoring the mistakes, but not beating yourself up in a depression-causing, counter-productive way) is also something that you may need to learn (or re-learn). If you think you can keep to No-S for even 60% of the time I think it would be a good plan to do so.

Also, this plan is for the rest of your life. Life does contain family reunions, parties, etc.... Better start figuring out how to implement things during the "difficult points" right now!

On the gripping hand, if you know yourself to be easily discouraged and think that setting yourself up for failure is a bad idea.... Well you know yourself best and I wouldn't second guess you.

Welcome, tallgirl.

My guess is it will be much harder to start while you're surrounded by unusual vacation temptations. Yes, this is something you're going to have to learn how to deal with eventually, but going up agaist it now is a little like throwing raw recruits into a pitched battle instead of training them first. The odds of failure are much higher, and if you take failure hard, well, that might be it.

If you think you can handle the higher probability of messing up, give it a shot. But try to view it as an experiment, so you don't get too discouraged if you can't pull it off just yet. Even under optimal circumstances it takes most people a few tries to get this new habit down.

Best of luck, whatever you decide,

Reinhard

In my humble opinion...

Give it a go. You will not be perfect. Know that now, before you start. See it as a trial run, just getting the sense of it. When you mess up, pick up again at the next meal and continue as usual. I have noticed just trying on this program produces results. Once you get home, you can then really get in the groove on it and have already had some practice.