Everyday Systems

The title sounds promising, right?

I am not sure when exactly I "discovered" no-S, but it's a couple of years ago. It made so much sense, like for many people, but I couldn't stick with it at first. I've been on and off several times. I've been dieting since I was a teenager (I am 33 now) and I've followed so many diets. I am not overweight, according to my BMI I am healthy... but I just wanted to lose a few kilos/pounds (my love handles ) and feel happy about my weight and body and to fit my clothes better. But also, to have a better relationship with food again.

I think the reason why I couldn't stick with vanilla No-S is that my results were very slow or not existing at all and it demotivated me to keep going. It felt like I didn't do it right and ate too much, even though my calories said otherwise. I kind of gave up and tried other things (and failed as well). At the start of this year, I did succeed to lose 3 kilos/6.6 pounds but then I lost my focus due to a couple of weeks at home and I gained it back.

I've now been on no-S for a month again, and I am happy to say I had no red days at all, which is a first for me! I had one extra S day because it was my birthday. The result is kind of disappointing to me but I am forcing myself to stick to it and make some healthy adjustments: I added more fruits and vegetables to my diet, and I can eat one unhealthy dinner per week (like pizza or fries). I hardly snack on my S days, but I love desserts. I just buy one serving of something I really like to prevent overeating. I also walk more often and I hope this will ultimately help me lose weight.

I do have to add that even though I had a few failed attempts to no-S, it did bring me something I could only dream about before. For example, I could never say no to food at work when someone brought a cake for their birthdays. I could never say no to a cookie or even food I didn't like that much. Thanks to no-S I can easily resist it now. I don't even want it, because I know I can eat something better on Saturday and enjoy it.

So, here I will update my monthly weight. I do weigh myself every day, but because my progress is a bit slow, I guess monthly will be better.

Monthly weight 2021:
06-01-21 - 64.1 kg = +0.7 kg
05-02-21 - 63.5 kg = -0.6 kg
05-03-21 - 63.2 kg = -0.3 kg
02-04-21 - 62.9 kg = -0.3 kg
07-05-21 - 62.4 kg = -0.5 kg
04-06-21 - 62.5 kg = +0.1 kg
02-07-21 - 62.5 kg = -0.0 kg

Weightloss: 1.6 kg / 3.5 lbs

Monthly weight 2020:
03-07-20 - 65.3 kg = Startweight
07-08-20 - 65.1 kg = -0.2 kg
04-09-20 - 64.2 kg = -0.9 kg
02-10-20 - 63.8 kg = -0.4 kg
06-11-20 - 63.9 kg = +0.1 kg
04-12-20 - 63.4 kg = -0.3 kg

Weightloss: 1.9 kg / 4.2 lbs

Total weightloss: 2.8 kg / 6.2 lbs

Yes you will succeed, welcome

Jx

I’ve tried & left No S too. Lately I’ve realized that a slow loss that sticks is better than dropping weight quickly in an unsustainable way where it just comes right back

Soprano wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2020 2:54 pm

Yes you will succeed, welcome

Jx

Thanks so much, Soprano!

Jen1974 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2020 3:30 pm

I’ve tried & left No S too. Lately I’ve realized that a slow loss that sticks is better than dropping weight quickly in an unsustainable way where it just comes right back

That is so true! How much weight did you lose and what was your starting weight if I may ask?

Hi Ellis! Welcome!

I lost 8 pounds using pure Vanilla S over the course of one year. I was only technically about 10 pounds overweight, so depending on how much weight someone has to lose, I think Vanilla NoS can get us quite close to a normal BMI. Then, tweaking may be necessary - ideally a commitment to eating non-processed/"real" foods is my primary food goal and has helped me reach a healthy weight.

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2020 5:08 pm

Hi Ellis! Welcome!

I lost 8 pounds using pure Vanilla S over the course of one year. I was only technically about 10 pounds overweight, so depending on how much weight someone has to lose, I think Vanilla NoS can get us quite close to a normal BMI. Then, tweaking may be necessary - ideally, a commitment to eating non-processed/"real" foods is my primary food goal and has helped me reach a healthy weight.

Thank you!
And also for sharing your experience with vanilla no-S. I think you are right about that. Your goal sounds very good! My goal is to eat more healthily in general, so I added some fruit and more vegetables and try to move around more and see what it does for now. I used to go overboard at the weekend a lot, but I think I did quite okay the last couple of weekends. Step by step....

That is so true! How much weight did you lose and what was your starting weight if I may ask?
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I haven’t weight myself in over 3 years but judging from the time spent weighing I have about a 10 pound range that I stay in. When I started I was getting closer to the top of that range. I’d guess 5-7 lbs down from there based on how my clothes fit. I wore a pair of my smallest jeans last night. Normally at this point I’d get hungrier but not honor that & “stick to the plan” which would backfire & I’d go through a rebel period that would send me right back up in weight this time I’m working on never making up for an off day & honoring & enjoying extra hunger with bigger meals

So, I decided it was a good idea to do a jump rope workout, I have like a fitness jump rope without an actual rope.... It has little weights on the handles to mimic the movement of a rope and a counter to see how many jumps you did. Very safe indoors. I did 1500 jumps and man.... my legs were killing me the days after. And... no weightloss whatsoever... I think it must be water weight because of the soreness... I hope it gets better, even though day by day weight doesn't mean a lot. It's a habit to celebrate the tiniest little change on the scale.

Another green day/week for me! I did have a couple of very low blood sugar levels this week (T1D) at work and to fix them I grabbed a cookie (I enjoyed it haha). Although it's a sweet and a snack at the same time, I didn't mark those days as failures... Usually, my levels are pretty good, so I don't think I should worry until it happens more frequently. I blame the terribly hot weather... it brings my levels down.

I am already looking forward to tomorrow because I am going to order a delicious pizza with a dessert... hmmm Just one plate though, the leftovers will be lunch on Sunday I guess.

Hi Ellis!

Do you wear a CGM? I have a Dexcom and I love it, although I have to pay out of pocket so I don't wear it all the time.

And you notice that hot weather makes your blood sugar drop? Do you think that's temperature related, dehydration related, or perhaps your appetite is different on hot days?

automatedeating wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:59 pm

Hi Ellis!

Do you wear a CGM? I have a Dexcom and I love it, although I have to pay out of pocket so I don't wear it all the time.

And you notice that hot weather makes your blood sugar drop? Do you think that's temperature related, dehydration related, or perhaps your appetite is different on hot days?

Hi there! Oh, I have the Libre sensor but after a quick google search, it says it's not exactly like the Dexcom (I didn't know much about the Dexcom). It is such a relief in comparison with a finger-stick. I read the Dexcom gives alerts, that sounds super handy. Too bad you have to pay for it yourself! At first, I had to pay for the Libresensor as well, but it's now covered luckily.

Yes, hot weather really affects my blood sugar. It's because the body is more insulin sensitive (high temperatures can cause blood vessels to dilate) so I have to reduce my insulin shots. Sometimes it's a pain to find the right dose. It can be frustrating to eat while you don't want to...

Do you have type 1 as well?

Well, I was actually already disappointed with only 0.8 kg weight loss in 1 month, but now it's not even a half kg.

But... thinking about it... if I will lose that much every month for a year, I guess that will add up eventually. 0.4 x 12 = 4.8 kg / 10.5 lbs.... That wouldn't be too bad.

And I have to be honest too. I did have some red days last month, due to low blood sugar and a family birthday. It was on Friday eve and I told myself to skip the cake but the hostess was kindly persistent and it was very hard to say no. Felt very bad about it though... I had dinner before so my first response was "I just had dinner, so I am good." which resulted in her asking me again later... Guess I had to be more clear. Lesson learned.

But... oh well, on to the next month.

On to next month!

So, time flies! I've lost another 0.6 kg (1.4 lbs). I guess the amount of weight loss stays a little bit the same every month. It's not much, but it's still progress.

I had a few extra S days last month, and I really didn't hold back in the weekends. Vanilla No-S is definitely a lifestyle I can keep because I look forward to the weekends and the food I can have. Sometimes I feel a bit anxious and worry, but then I keep telling myself it won't be that bad. The normal days are going great, not hungry at all.

I still struggle with the slow progress sometimes, but in the end, I can't complain, because I am not feeling like I am on a diet at all. The weigt loss could be going faster if I keep the weekends a bit more strict, but I don't feel like it. Maybe when and if I hit a plateau....? On to the next month!

Congrats Ellis! You sound like you have found a nice balance!

Ellis wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:10 pm

So, time flies! I've lost another 0.6 kg (1.4 lbs). I guess the amount of weight loss stays a little bit the same every month. It's not much, but it's still progress.

I had a few extra S days last month, and I really didn't hold back in the weekends. Vanilla No-S is definitely a lifestyle I can keep because I look forward to the weekends and the food I can have. Sometimes I feel a bit anxious and worry, but then I keep telling myself it won't be that bad. The normal days are going great, not hungry at all.

I still struggle with the slow progress sometimes, but in the end, I can't complain, because I am not feeling like I am on a diet at all. The weigt loss could be going faster if I keep the weekends a bit more strict, but I don't feel like it. Maybe when and if I hit a plateau....? On to the next month!

Ellis, you're doing pretty well, down 4 lbs. in only 3 full months. And at 141-ish lbs., you're relatively lean assuming you're male? When we get closer to an ideal(goal) weight, the pounds(kg.) don't drop off very quickly. I had been a fairly strict low-carb dieter for a good while years ago, and after 6-8 months, it was difficult to get another 2-3 lbs. off in a month, I remember my ave. was about 2 lbs. a month until my goal was reached. And that was taking 3-4 mile walks several times a week.

Hi Ellis, my results are similar - I started a bit heavier than you (starting back on No S in July after a break) and I’ve only lost 3lb. I keep on remembering the story of the tortoise and the hare...we can get there in the end!

Automatedeating: Thanks! I guess I have!

Whosonfirst: Female here! But I am sadly not lean at all. Even though my BMI is in the middle of a healthy weight, I feel I have too much body fat around my waist and legs. I don't feel comfortable with it, so I guess I either have to tone up or lose a little more weight. And you are right, the last pounds are the hardest to lose... But I am already at my lowest weight in years, so I feel pretty good about that.

Octavia: Yes! Good thinking! And I did lose weight in the past quicker and gained it back, so I think this is the way to go!

Ellis, I'm sorry for that mistake. The only Ellis I've known was the guy in Die Hard. I'm not even sure what my bmi is, but you are the best judge of that.i think we are all somewhat dissatisfied with our body composition, but I just try to find small incremental improvements and keep the momentum going in the right direction. If I'm lucky to reach my goals, I know that they'll probably get moved a little further down the road. Hang in there

Haha, no problem. Yeah, I guess we are the most critical about our own body. Your plan is the same for me. Small steps... we will get there! And I feel so much more comfortable about eating in general with No-S. I assume most of us here had a somewhat difficult relationship with food, and fixing that is already a win.

October was a bit with ups and downs regarding weightloss. At the start of the month, I went down to 63.3 kg but had a few dinners with family and overate. But still lost a tiny bit of weight, so I am happy. And I don't hold back a lot on my S days. So I probably could lose more haha. But I am happy how it goes so far.

Great update! Thanks for posting.

As you can see, I lost just a tiny bit. (I actually consider it as no weight loss at all, haha) I guess I hit a plateau... or I didn't pay enough attention to my red and/or green days. I have a calendar on my desk which I would mark red or green every day, but last month I kind of forgot. I think I had 2 or 3 red days. December will be challenging with the holidays, but I think I can manage. Stay positive right?

Yes, stay positive!!

It's been a while and here is my update finally. So December was actually going pretty well, I even dropped to a weight of 62.8 kg / 138.5 lbs until the holidays... hehe. The last two weeks of December I lost focus and I received so much food from work to take home. I gave most of it away to prevent binging, but I couldn't help myself for too many days.
I wasn't able to weigh myself in January and when I did I actually gained some. I was back at 64 kg /141 lbs and felt bad about it. I decided to update next month and skip the January update. I went back to my normal routine of no-S and now I am back where I was at the beginning of December. The slow progress makes it hard but I am sure it will be fine a few months later! We keep going!

Edit: Kind of interesting to see how I have to fix two "bad" weeks with a whole month.

Good on you for getting back on track so promptly.

Yeah, why is it I can gain 5 pounds in a few weeks, and then it takes 6 months to get it gone again? No fair!

It is kind of frustration that my weigh day is on monday, that is basically my highest weight of the week. It's going up and down at the moment. I hope to have results next month!

That's why my weigh day is Friday

Jx

Soprano wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 02, 2021 5:49 pm

That's why my weigh day is Friday

Jx

Haha, that is better! My weigh day is the 1st of every month, but the day of the week switches. Maybe it was better to update every four weeks on a fixed day of the week.

I vote for the last Friday of the month!

Changed it to the first Friday of the month! Luckily I weigh myself every day, except in January haha.

Yeeh, finally 62.9 kg! I am going to have light dinners on monday and friday. I already had a light dinner on friday, but I don't think it's enough. This way I can compensate my weekend.

Congrats!

Down 1 lbs last month. I am now on a total of almost 3 kg = 6 lbs. It sounds so little... but I am happy I reached my lowest weight since many years.

Hi Ellis - your rate of weight loss sounds about the same as mine - I am down 6 lbs since last Dec, about 1 lb a month. Patience, patience, patience......

ladybird30 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 07, 2021 5:43 am

Hi Ellis - your rate of weight loss sounds about the same as mine - I am down 6 lbs since last Dec, about 1 lb a month. Patience, patience, patience......

Sometimes it's difficult to keep the focus for me with such a slow progress...

So here I am, one year into No-S! I have to say, the last two months were tough. I did reach a weight of 61.9 which felt awesome! Sadly, I couldn't keep it on weigh day... And to make it worse, I have two weeks off and I forgot about the one-year mark of No-S, so I ate way more than usual. That is why I did not lose any weight. The total amount of weight loss is not much, but then I realized it's not over yet. I will keep going. I might as well keep track of the rest of the year. I am going to enjoy the last day of my vacation and continue on Monday again.

Happy Anniversary! When looking at results, I always thought about where I would have been without No S. I knew that people who "diet" usually weigh MORE two years later, so even if i still weighed the same after two years, I was ahead. I had mostly plateau in between bouts of losing. Maintaining is a crucial skill!