Everyday Systems

Just made the club for the first time!

I haven't lost any weight yet, but here's what I've gained:
* self control
* enjoyment of food
* energy
* sense of achievement
* better sleep
* weight maintenance

Really, the list could go on, but the most important thing is that for the past 3 weeks I have broken the binge eating cycle that I was in prior to starting No-S. Even if I never lose a kilo, I will always be grateful for that.

Congrats! I've said before that I think this is a great program for people with binge issues.

Welcome, Becoming!

The "side effects" of no-s are arguably even more important than its "direct" effects -- which hopefully you'll still experience.

Best,

Reinhard

on 25 March I completed 21 days of Green! Onward!!!!!

That is wonderful! I am so looking forward to being able to say that again. Today is day 7.

Congratulations, mrsj! (And go oolala53!)

I've just hit my 21 days on my NO S restart, after a 3 yr. hiatus.
Started March 13th, 2011 and 21 days later have lost 4 lbs. (which is great for me, a slow loser)

Fantastic! After 3 years off. Wow. There's no place like home.

I'm in! I'm in! I am in the Club!!

I think I found No S in October 2010, but I was "sort of" following it for months (i.e., refusing to use the HabitCal because then I would have to admit that the soda I had with lunch or that snack before bed was a failure) . Not surprisingly, it didn't work all that well, although I was exercising and did lose a couple of pounds.

On March 25, 2011, I started doing actual No S, kept up with my HabitCal, and yesterday was Day 21. All yellow and green, with only one S-Event, and even that was only part of a dessert at the annual church dinner. I have kept up with my exercise, and I am on pace to lose at least 2 pounds in April. Woo hoo!

If I can lose 2 lbs. per month through the end of 2012, I will hit my goal weight exactly. LOL I know things probably won't work out that smoothly, and "goal weight" is a sticky term around here, but I was impressed that the math worked out so nicely (minus 18 in remaining 2011 and minus 24 in 2012 = exact goal weight).

This is great!

16 April was Day 21 for me. Just realized this today as I was updating my post on renew's April Challenge. Time flies when I'm having fun!

Yes, ma'am!

Okay, I'm not just responding to someone else's success today. I made it back in after I-don't-know-how-many months!

21 Days successful! Nice to acknowledge the willpower, but now I need to lose some weight.
I'm going to attempt a 21 day exercise habit next (whilst hopefully maintaining the noS habit). Onward

I'm almost there.....

Twenty One Days!!!!

You made it!

Great to see so much success since I last deigned to pop in!

Congratulations mime, SpiritSong, mrsj, oolala53, karin, and Who Me!

You guys have to stop rewarding me for being so sparing of my presence here.

(Just finished my mobile programming course yesterday, so I'll have a little more time at my disposal)


Reinhard

Does this mean you can program on the fly now?

Was it Groucho Marx who said he wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have him as a member?

Well, stuff & nonsense: I'm very happy to be here!

Now for the next 21 days...

Terrific!

I'm five weeks in, and everything is green!!!

Five green weeks are absolutely awesome, Who me - CONGRATS!

One more week and you'll have two streaks. Yes!

At the end of Saturday, I'll have done 21 twice!

Stick with it today!

I made it to 21 on Monday, 5/9. Whew! I had a hard time getting back here.

TWENTY ONE, TWICE ! ! !

Does this mean you can program on the fly now?

It means you can start bugging me in earnest about why there's no habitcal app yet.

(short answer is that I wasn't able to do it as a course project, ongoing answer is I think I'll still have something by end of June)

Congratulations Who Me? and Hoeka!

Was it Groucho Marx who said he wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have him as a member?

Ah, the other Marx and Engels. May we have as much influence over this century as our namesakes had over the last (and more benevolent).

Reihard

I think the namesakes had benevolence in mind, too, but they didn't have much control over what others did with their ideas. We No S-ers will keep trying to lead by example and let the observers accept the edicts on their own.

I made it 21 days. Feeling great about the new habits. BUT I didn't lose even 1 pound! I'm well over 200#, over 50 y.o., was a sugarholic and grazed all day. The fact that I weigh exactly what I did 3 weeks ago blows me away!

Dang, that is the ultimate test, isn't it. What do I really want? to be free from food compulsion or thinner? I hope you keep working it to see what you need to tweak. Congrats for sticking with it!

I just found this thread

I had 21 days on may 4th but had a fail since then so i am 11 days into my next 21.

I was having great difficulty with binging before finding no s but now i am doing great. I do want to lose 26 more pounds but the habit is much more important to me than the weight. I am confident if i stick to vanilla no s I will lose the weight slowly and permanently, but the peace of mind is worth more than words can say. I feel so free and happy after a lifetime of diets.

I'm glad to hear you say that. Bingeing is my problem, too. I say "is" because I still have some wild S days, but life is so much better. I participate on Sparkpeople on a Living Binge free team, and I know a few people have starting using No S because of me. It's been a mind/life saver.

oolala,
came across a post of yours on spark that said you used shrink yourself as well as no s together. I checked out no s on your recommendation and it has been a lifesaver. I was then on week 7 of shrink yourself and still bingeing, I am now 5 weeks into no s and have lost 5 pounds, and on week 12 of the shrink yourself program.

I just wanted to say a big THANK-YOU. Your post on a message board has helped turn my life around I probably would never have found no s without your post.

Cool! Yeah, I figure my N days are the structure and on S days, I get to try to practice a relaxed version of intuitive eating. It's when I really have to try to put what I've learned from SY and other books on BED to work. However, most of my binge eating in my opinion is now for entertainment/pleasure.

Woo Hoo!!

21 days completed, and on my very first attempt.

I think I always could do it but I needed the structure of No S to motivate myself and take away the excuses for not doing it.

It's helped as well that my hubby has been doing No S with me too, that and the support on this board.

As a testament to No S, instead of celebrating with chocolate today, I bought some gorgeous looking biscuits yesterday (chocolate and caramel in a pack of 4 from M&S for any other UK posters) and will be looking forward to them on Saturday when I get in from work, 2 for me and 2 for hubby.

Neat-torpedo! So nice you have an ally for your new life

I'm back in! I'm back in!! 21 days today.

Thanks, Reinhard, for coming up with something that just makes sense. (Plus I am just too lazy for those other diets. They seem like a lot of work.)

Congrats!

I made it yesterday and had a spectacular failure today.

oolala53 wrote:Congrats!

I made it yesterday and had a spectacular failure today.

Well, Oolala, without a failure, you wouldn't have the chance to start over with Day One tomorrow and join the club yet again!

I forgot to post that I made it again on June 21. It might seem pitiful that I want to post here after all the time I've been on No S, but until I feel very peaceful about my S days, I'm going to keep doing it.

Well I've finally made the 21-day club!

After 3 and a half months, I've had a streak of 21 days with no fails. Technically it's 28 days, but I didn't really feel comfortable counting a week of holiday NWS days as 'success' days 14-21

I've lost about half a stone since I started, and definitely built better eating habits. My main goal has been to stay below the 'obese' BMI category for my health, and that's been a success. It's also been great to be able to say no to sweets and desserts even when everyone around me is indulging, because I know I don't have to eat them to enjoy my food or feel 'part' of a social gathering. I feel ok with making ok decisions Here's to moderation!

This is fantastic! Hanging in there and losing weight though you had slip-ups! Congrats.

21 Days of Success! I don't think I've ever had 21 days of consecutive "diet" success!! This isn't a diet though in my mind. It is an amazing way of living that has just opened up my brain to deal with things other than "weight"!!! That is absolutely huge for me!! My S days have been rough but have taught me a lot. I've been dealing with BED since I was very young (around 6 and I'm 37 now) so I know I have work to do on the S days but I am just thrilled and amazed with the simple wisdom of No-S. And despite the rough S days, I have lost 3 pounds in 3 weeks. I really appreciate the comments and advice of the people who have dropped in my thread. They have helped me a lot. This is just the beginning

It really is just the beginning to a fabulous food life!

Yesterday was day 21, and although I do have a red day on my habit cal it was a technical fail but a personal victory and so I feel justified in claiming 21 days of success.

I tend to waffle a lot on my daily check in about the freedom no s is giving me and the ways in which I am learning about myself and my food related behaviours so I won't repeat it here what I will say is that although so far I don't seem to have lost any physical weight (although to be fair it's hard to tell because I don't own a set of scales):

NO S ROCKS!!!!

I love it. Thank you so much both to Reinhard for his brilliant inventiveness, and to all of the lovely supportive people on this forum who are an invaluable source of advice, encouragement and inspiration.

Congrats! I'm pretty confident that the lessons in discipline, hunger, satiety, freedom, etc., with serve you well whether you lose weight quickly and stay with No S as is, or decide you need more serious mods.

I'm in, as of Sunday!

I am so happy to say I am in the 21 day club. Today is day 21, I know its not over yet, but its an S day!! I lost 3 pounds the first week one pound the second, this week I gained a pound, but I'm working on habit not the scale. So I have lost 3 pounds and kept it off.

I am really enjoying No S. Telling my friends about it. My DH has been doing it with me.

I am walking every day, at least 30 minutes. The weather has been fantastic, and I have a beautiful lake 3 blocks from my house, so this has been a pleasure. I can feel my energy and metabolism kicking up a bit.

I am doing the daily check-in. The support of my new No S friends is encouraging.

Congratulations to the many new and returning members since I last popped in here!

Reinhard

Well Im part of this club as of this evening! 21 days on No S. One red day, all the rest was solid green and yellow on the weekends.


My wieght I have been putting in daily on a moving average and according to wieght chart.com the moving average is 1.17 lbs down from around 2 weeks ago. But overall, my moving average is 3.64 lbs down from my starting wieght 199.2, right at around 1 lb a week. I hope I at least continue to lose 1/2 lb to a pound a week.


I have graduated to 9" plates, and I am exercising 3 miles daily on N days now.

Congratulations Herbsgirl!!
Keep on keeping on!
I'm thinking about also getting a smaller plate. 10 inches is too big... I gained back most of the weight I lost. I have some 8.5 inch plates, perfect for breakfast and lunch, but too small for dinner. This week I'm going to focus on leaving room on my plate.
Welcome to the 21 club!

I'm a member now! Yesterday was 21 days all green, no red. Yay! I have several neat things that happened in the last few days. You can read about them on Threadbenders Check In.

Yay! I have lost 3.4 lbs, and am reallllyyy happy with NoS.

Cathy B

Cathy B,
Good for you! I am loving No S as well. I know it will work.
I'm pulling for you,
Patty

I started my Habitcal in April 2011. I was pleasantly surprised.

April- 1 failure day
May- Perfect !
June- 1 failure day
July/ August. No Record
Sept- started 100 Days of Success challenge on Sept 12
- 14 Success Days so far

Yesterday was Day 22 of fail-free, vanilla No S for me. Go me! I'm really loving the lack of food obsession.

I am adding a tweak for my next 21-day cycle, allowing a certain type of afternoon snack on days in which I run in the evenings. I have mild gastroparesis, which means my stomach takes longer than normal to empty, so I can't really eat big meals; as a result, I've been unable to eat large enough lunches to fuel me for my evening runs. Of course, I can't run after dinner either, because then the dinner food will still be in my stomach. So I'm thinking I'll eat a protein/carb balanced, non-Sweet snack around 4 in the afternoon on run days, something like peanut butter crackers or a pre-measured portion of nuts and dried fruit. I'm planning to come up with a short list of acceptable snacks (and only eat them at 4 on run days) so that this doesn't turn into a snacking free-for-all.

Welcome Syim, herbsgirl, and Threadbenders!

(and welcome soon linda45!)

Syim: tip for you snacking mod: what you call it matters. If I were you, I'd avoid the word "snack" and declare it an additional meal of sorts. Why? One, to keep it contained. Two because you'll feel less like your twisting the rules. Just a suggestion, of course.

Reinhard

Good idea, Reinhard. I think I'll call it a mini-meal.

ETA: Forgot to mention I'm also at three weeks of exercise at least 5 days a week! It's beginning to feel like a real routine at last.

Jeeeeej, since yesterday I'm a member too!
It took me seven months to get here, so I think I am going to stay for a while haha

bjalda wrote:Jeeeeej, since yesterday I'm a member too!
It took me seven months to get here, so I think I am going to stay for a while haha

Congrats and welcome to the club! Go for the Green!!

Since October 7th I have had 21 days, of appropriate S and No S days. I guess I quit thinking about it, and focused on other things.

Some differences since October 7th, 2011: Fewer antacids at night, wore my belt on the 3rd notch today, I weighed 184 on October 6th- last Saturday I was at 176.5, I slept last evening, for the first time in...without Ambien.

Thank you Reinhard.

Day 21 for me today! One red day, strictly on-track for the rest, AND...I've gained half a pound! Hooray! Uh...wait. Is that how this is supposed to work?

Anyway, I'm sticking with it. It seems like, seeing as I was maintaining before no-s, cutting out an at-least daily dessert and a soda on most days and overeating at most meals should get me losing weight. It wouldn't make much sense if it didn't. Maybe my body is just adjusting in some way? Does that happen?

Will check in in another few weeks. Hopefully, things will have started happening by then.

samhandwich wrote:Day 21 for me today! One red day, strictly on-track for the rest, AND...I've gained half a pound! Hooray! Uh...wait. Is that how this is supposed to work?

Anyway, I'm sticking with it. It seems like, seeing as I was maintaining before no-s, cutting out an at-least daily dessert and a soda on most days and overeating at most meals should get me losing weight. It wouldn't make much sense if it didn't. Maybe my body is just adjusting in some way? Does that happen?

Will check in in another few weeks. Hopefully, things will have started happening by then.

Could be just a glitch in the scale that it shows that you gained. The first 21 days the goal is to have a new habit. You can work on portions next if you choose to. So Hooray for you on achieving 21 days of a new habit. The scale goes down AND UP at times on No S, but over the long haul it goes slowly down.

Thanks for the encouragement Sweetness. Just finished my fourth week and I'm on a downward trend, so that's very encouraging.

Popping my head in to say that I've made it past 21 days! Woo-hoo!

The weight has not budged much, if at all, but I feel much better about my food habits. No more mindless snacking or heaping seconds. (Sweets were never my downfall. )

I'm liking this way of eating so far, and I'm probably going to add a few mods in the next few weeks, but I'm mainly happy to be much more aware of the food going past my lips.

Okaybear,
Good for you on the 21 days!!! you have a habit now, isn't No S great?

What a great foundation for the holidays! My first try, I fell apart at Thanksgiving and it took me more than a year to get ready again. I guess you just can't rush these things.

I'm posting here early because I'm rebooting No S and will be exposed to some fearsome food over the next two days. This is day 18 and I need two more green days to get to 21 on Saturday. I have opted not to use either one of them for a NWS day to preserve them for when I'm off work.

Oolala, you can do it!!

I changed my mind about adding an NWS day, and I'm fine with it. I enjoyed the treats given by our PTA. I don't have a lot of events this season, so I think it will work out fine to stay with S days and possibly one other NWS day, though I won't look for one. So, this means I made it to 21! This is a great way to go into this last week before Christmas.

I changed my mind about adding an NWS day, and I'm fine with it. I enjoyed the treats given by our PTA. I don't have a lot of events this season, so I think it will work out fine to stay with S days and possibly one other NWS day, though I won't look for one.

I've been online for too much of the day already but I plan to review some of Reinhard's podcasts on choosing habits to change and such. I already know I have to somehow get more consistent on the exercise goals, but there are other areas I really need to look at as well. I've been experiencing too much misery that's to some degree of my own doing, and I have to come up with some strategies to combat it.

oolala53 wrote:I changed my mind about adding an NWS day, and I'm fine with it. I enjoyed the treats given by our PTA. I don't have a lot of events this season, so I think it will work out fine to stay with S days and possibly one other NWS day, though I won't look for one. So, this means I made it to 21! This is a great way to go into this last week before Christmas.

Congratulations on 21 days! Merry Christmas!

Today is my 22nd day on Vanilla No S. I am officially a member of this club!
And in the beginning I was very resistant to no snacking – I did not want to commit to it. In October I got sick of my cravings and compulsive eating, and I decided to do something. I started herbal cleansing program and modified No S: I ate fruit and nuts for snacks. But then I realized that my hunger is stronger before the next meal if I had a snack after the last meal! Strange, but true. It probably has to do with a release of insulin when you eat. So, eleven days later I started Vanilla No S.

I feel great, so calm and in control, food no longer has power ower me! I enjoy my meals more than ever before. I love the feeling of ‘normal’ hunger before the next meal, and I’ve learned that I can endure it for quite a while. A few days ago I was very stressed out and upset, but I did not reach for food to calm me down! I am in love with life again!

This journey is about so much more than food! I feel like I am starting a new relationship with myself. I am excited to discover how to love myself more each day. And when I love myself more, then I have more love to give.

I lost 20 pounds in the last month (from 218 to 198; my height is 5 feet 8 ½ inches)! And I was not exercising (except yoga once a week). Never before did I lose that much weight in a month, even when I was exercising 5 days a week. I attribute it to no snacking. My body now releases insulin only three times a day, compared to 10-15 before. You are a genius, Reinhard!

I am eating three solid meals: cooked cereal with almond butter for breakfast, vegetables, beans/seafood, grains, and fruit for lunch and dinner. I don’t eat gluten and dairy (allergies), I eat meat only occasionally. I eat much less fruit than before – one to two pieces a day. My S days are almost the same as my N days for now. One of the reasons is that I am on herbal cleansing program that does not allow sweets. Now on S days my treat is eating more fruit than on N days. I’ll allow myself more freedom later. I see that’s a different approach is than what most people here are doing, but it works for me.

Other positive changes:
•I brush my teeth after every meal, and it helps with my gums (I have
gingivitis)
•I take my supplements regularly
•I now feel a need to exercise; I am not kidding – I feel so much energy in
my muscles that I have a need to run

For the next 21 days, I am including another habit: do some form of exercise each workday.

Freegirl is finaly free

This is fabulous! I wish you continued peace a pleasure with food in 2012 and beyond.

I'm back in the 21 day club for the first time since February 2010

idon'tknow wrote:I'm back in the 21 day club for the first time since February 2010

congratulations!

What a coup! so wonderful

I'm officially in the 21 day club. I've been green since January 1, 2012.

ChubbyBaby wrote:I'm officially in the 21 day club. I've been green since January 1, 2012.

congrats on the green!! You now have a habit established.

Hi Guys! I guess I'm eligible to join since I've been No S-ing since Dec 2009! However, I'd like to recommit myself again to see if it might help me on my still slightly generous S Days! Fingers crossed guys .....

I keep looking in here and being overwhelmed at how many new "members" we have since I last posted. This is only going to get more overwhelming, so I might as well dive in now and start congratulating:

welcome/welcome back NoSRocks, CubbyBaby, idon'tknow, freegirl, oolala53, Okaybear, samhandwich, over43, bjalda!

(did I miss anyone?)

Hope you are all satisfied with your membership!

freegirl wrote:

I lost 20 pounds in the last month (from 218 to 198; my height is 5 feet 8 ½ inches)! And I was not exercising (except yoga once a week). Never before did I lose that much weight in a month, even when I was exercising 5 days a week. I attribute it to no snacking. My body now releases insulin only three times a day, compared to 10-15 before.

Wow! You could have cross posted that to the testimonials forum -- congratulations!

Reinhard

Since the membership is free - we're satisfied.

A bargain at twice the price.

I felt it personally necessary to renew my membership as I have been totally unable to do more than a couple days in... oh, about a year and a half. So, I'm here to say that I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I I did it I did it I did it did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it I did it II dI did it I did it I did it id it I did it I did it did it I did it I did it I did it II diI did it I did it I did it d it I did it I did it did it I did it I did it I did it!
I finally did 21 days straight vanilla NoS! Wooohooo! Total strictness was the key!

Reneew, What can I say, you did it!! Oh wait a minute, you said that! I look forward to rejoining you here, I think its been 6 months since I was here before! Congratulations! I love your creative colors! Here's a 21 day salute to you!!!

Great work! An inspiration to us all!!

CONGRATULATIONS RENEEW!!!

And guess what? I DID IT TOO!!!!!!!!!!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!

ONWARD TO THE NEXT 21 DAYS!

Renew, you've fulfilled your name. ZippaDee, you've given everyone a reason to shout yours. Hurray for both of you! And welcome HOME.

day 21, Success!!! I met my goal!!! Woo hoo!!!
It's been about 6 months or more since I was here the first time I've been sticking with No S the whole time, but averaging about 2 or 3 reds per month. It took me 35 days, because I had to restart after 14 compliant days.

21 days of vanilla No S has definitely solidified the habit for me. I love No S!!!

Nice work, Sweetness!

Oolala, thanks!

I started in June 2011, after letting my S days get the best of me, I left my membership

Came back on March 19 and have had 2 successful 21 day cycles!

I'm on my 3rd round of 21 days..who would have thought..not me..I came back in a different frame of mind this time.

Nothing at this point in time is worth my breaking my streak of 38 greens..

Now, I'm not talking about my S days...those need work

No Snacker Deb, You go girl!! Here's a 21 green smiley salute to you!!

21 days!!!!!!!!!! That means 63 good, healthy meals that I was hungry for, and that I felt satisfied for hours afterward. 21 days of not fearing that my habits will cause me to be 10 pounds heavier next year without even trying. 21 days of not thinking up how to diet without feeling like I'm on a diet. 21 days of delicious food. 21 days of turning down a suprising, eye-opening tide of food being offered to me between meals from our permasnacking society.

Can't wait for the one-year check-in. I don't expect to lose, but it's so comforting to know my current clothes will fit and that I will really enjoy my meals.

finallyfull wrote:21 days!!!!!!!!!! That means 63 good, healthy meals that I was hungry for, and that I felt satisfied for hours afterward. 21 days of not fearing that my habits will cause me to be 10 pounds heavier next year without even trying. 21 days of not thinking up how to diet without feeling like I'm on a diet. 21 days of delicious food. 21 days of turning down a suprising, eye-opening tide of food being offered to me between meals from our permasnacking society.

Can't wait for the one-year check-in. I don't expect to lose, but it's so comforting to know my current clothes will fit and that I will really enjoy my meals.

good for you, love your comments! welcome to the 21 day club! Here's a 21 Mr Green salute to you!!!

Congrats, finally full. Yes, a year of sane eating, enjoyment of food, and clothes that fit are great payoffs.

I'm a 21 clubber!!! Tried NoS before but never made it this far. loved the wisdom but crashed in practice. Now flying high!

lost @ 10lbs in 4 weeks (to believe my evil scale). Can't believe how much I used to snack! So I plan to stick to this diet for another 60 years or so I hope!

My S days feel like a lot of food and ice cream but really it's kinda how I used to be all the time. And N days are sensible.

thanks Reinhard. I now see people eating "treats" and think "what? it's not an S day. Must be one of their mods."

Working on stringing a few 21 days together. It's a workable goal.

Woot woot!

So, I've made it into the 21 day club - all green except weekend S days

This has been without doubt the easiest eating plan I've ever tried. I've lost a fair bit of weight in the past with calorie counting and writing down all my food, but just could never keep up the effort.

I've lost 6 pounds, which is more than I was expecting. It just shows how much I was snacking, considering that my S days have been pretty heavy and although most of my meals are healthy I've been enjoying the odd meat pie, pizza or duck main meal on N days.

Treats are much more exciting when I keep them for weekends and take the time to think of and get something really special.

Feeling hungry an hour before a meal is interesting. It actually reminds me of being a kid again, and my mother saying not to snack "don't spoil your dinner". Also, I've found all my meals more tasty and satisfying because I'm really hungry for them. As the old adage says, hunger is the best sauce!

From here I'm hoping to keep on going with another 21 days, plain vanilla. It ain't broke, so I'm not going to try to fix it!