A brief history: I started becoming overweight around the age of 9 and made many vows throughout my adolescent years to lose weight, although I never actually did any of the major fad diets that have sprung up through the years. At my heaviest I was about 250, and after being diagnosed with PCOS almost eight years ago I started taking Metformin, which I believed helped me to lose about 40 pounds. After that, it seems like I gradually lost a little weight over the past few years by making other small changes, although I was still often snacking and eating lots of sweets. Last fall, after I had decided to devote myself to an Intuitive Eating program, I came across the No-S website through a search engine and started reading the posts, thinking that it sounded good but there was no way I'd want to give up my snacks at work or the concept of eating every time I was hungry. As the months went by, I noticed that because I was letting myself eat whatever I want whenever I felt the least bit hungry, I was actually tiring of some foods. I even noticed that I had lost a few pounds.
In March, I finally came back to the No-S website one night, and after reading it through again I decided to give it a try. I was tired of always trying to figure out what to eat mid-morning at work that might or might not leave me hungry at lunch and trying to fight the feeling that maybe I enjoyed the muffins down in the cafeteria a little too much. So, I went a day without snacking or sweets and only eating three meals. The hardest part was that mid-morning work time, but once I got through that I told myself I could do it again. And here I am, enjoying the benefits of not having to worry about snacks. I'm already noticing that my S-days are calming down. I lost about 6-7 pounds at first, gained a little back, and am ready to see results over the long haul. My clothes are fitting better, and I love that I can do this program without having anyone notice any big change in my eating habits.
I've had a few red days, and I am under no illusion that there won't be more. This way of eating has made me feel calm about food for the first time in my life, and I feel I can more easily ignore all the advertising for other diets that I see and feel good about the decision I made. I can't deny that the Intuitive Eating program did help me to curb some of my sweets cravings, but it's No-S that has been pivotal in helping me to end the secret shame I often felt in snacking or eating lots of chocolate, cookies, and cake while being alone in my apartment.
I don't really have a clear weight goal in mind, although I have lost about 65 pounds since I was at my highest weight many years ago, and would probably like to lose about 20 more from where I am now. I do exercise fairly regularly (usually walking/aerobics 5-6 days a weeK) and am no longer taking the Metformin because I feel better without it now. So here I am, committed to No-S, and looking forward to reading more of the stories from people on here who have committed to it as well!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)