wondering how normal this is

No Snacks, no sweets, no seconds. Except on Days that start with S. Too simple for you? Simple is why it works. Look here for questions, introductions, support, success stories.

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alice2002
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:36 am

wondering how normal this is

Post by alice2002 » Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:58 pm

I've not posted in a while! I seriously got started with No S a week into January. I've only managed to get through 2 weeks perfectly (well...I do have a dessert Friday nights...so technically it would be a red day).

Most weeks I only had small failures, and other weeks it would be a full day or two off. So, after 3 months of that, I'm not seeing much progress. Not terribly surprised by that, I guess. I know that I am eating less than I normally would, so I have made progress as far as my eating habits go.

I thought my jeans felt looser a couple weeks ago, but now I'm not so sure. My problem is that I get movited to do better, and then I end up adding more rules, like taking smaller portions, or really trying to add in veggies each day. But I think I'm not being patient enough.

I have set aside March and April to focus ONLY on the habits. Not worrying about my serving sizes as long as it's just one plate. And if I can get (hopefully) a LOT of good weeks, maybe then I can think more about what I'm eating, and not just about how much I'm eating.

I have about 20 lbs to lose (or from size 10 to size 6), so it's not a very large amount. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has gone through similiar things as they start No S. I am fully committed to this for life, but sometimes I get a little frustrated with seeing no results yet. I guess I just need some encouragment that I'm on the right track! :)

automatedeating
Posts: 5305
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:16 pm

Post by automatedeating » Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:33 pm

I know it's hard to be patient, but it does pay off in the long run! I started out with my size 10 jeans getting pretty tight! And I have lost ~9 pounds since last August. It's something like 150 calories less/day than I was eating before. Just remember, slow and steady is for keeps; quick and dirty never lasts. :)
Month/Year-BMI
8/13-26.3
8/14-24.5
5/15-26.2
1/16-26.9; 9/16-25.6
8/17-25.8; 11/17-26.9
3/18-25.6; 8/18-24.5; 10/18-23.8;
3/19-22.1; 10/19-21.8
6/20-22.5; 7/20-23.0; 9/20-23.6
4/21 - 25.2

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:19 am

Hi Alice,

Patience is the most important thing. And I advise against any mods until you're at least 6months to a year in. If you add pressure too early, you'll fall off the wagon. The goal is green N days.

I also think it depends on where you are. I know nothing about your weight and height but for me sticking to NoS with a successrate of 80% meant I lost over 20 pounds. I'm now at a healthy BMI and find that if I want to lose more the success rate has to be a bit better so I'm aiming for 85%-90% now. See what I mean? The bigger you are at the start the less compliance you need to lose weight. All that said: I believe NoS is not about losing weight but about so much more so having a good compliance is a great thing anyways and I will strive for it to fortify the habits, not to lose weight.
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

germanherman
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:49 am
Location: northern germany

Post by germanherman » Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:04 am

I was not patient when i started.

Let's be honest: When i started i was a fat (275 pounds), a male and was eating all the time. Just by stoping to push burgers in my face i would have lost weight fast.

But i wasn't patient.

But you don't have to be.

My most beloved word regarding everyday systems is: Baseline.

The Systems are your baseline. So never do less, but do sometimes more.

So don't tinker at the "diet" part. It is fine. It is your sane minimum already.

But you can spend more calories. Raise the expenses!

So move a bit more on somedays. Do SG as an example. You will spend more calories= faster weightlos.

Take a nice walk everyday = faster weightlos.

If you can lose weight with No S by doing nothing else, you will lose faster by doing something.
Spend over 450 Dollar on some Systems, Gadgets and courses = Zero Results

Spend 15 Bucks for a Shovelglove + NoS-Diet= ;)

German by nature

MJ7910
Posts: 504
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:17 am

Post by MJ7910 » Sat Mar 15, 2014 2:26 pm

i actually gained about 8 lb the first 2 months on NoS. but i discovered it was because i was really depriving myself before and i was probably underweight for what my body wanted to be. i was only about 130 when i started NoS because i was desperate to get away from calorie counting. I went up to 140. but then a great thing happened, my weight has been maintained in a 5 lb range for over a year. turns out i was a normal weight before and i just didn't realize it. if you haven't gained weight and your clothes are a little looser that is definitely some progress. keep in mind we are all different with our starting out. i was a diet addicted person and this has been really helpful for me.
Current BMI: 22.9. Height: 5'4.5"
Highest BMI: 25.5 in August 2011.
Lowest adult BMI: 20.8 in February 2012.

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:39 pm

If you are not actually overeating, then you don't have any weight to lose, not matter what size you think you should be.

I agree that you should concentrate first on higher compliance first for at least six months. Then see if it makes sense to experiment with plate sizes or the ratio of dense foods to light ones, IF you really believe you are not eating moderately.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

alice2002
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:36 am

Post by alice2002 » Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:49 pm

Thank you all for your responses. I am 35yo, 153lbs, and 5'5". My goal is about 135...or comfortably in a size 6.

Is there any chance that my Friday date night "cheat" could be holding me back? It's hard to believe that one thing is the only thing that is keeping me from losing this weight. Especially since I've not been consistant enough on the other days to really see how No S will effect me.

I am happy to say that I've just made it 2 weeks in a row with green days! Very happy about that!! If I am able to make it through March and April with green days (with at least 80-90% success) and I'm still not losing, I'll cut out my Friday treat.

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Blithe Morning
Posts: 1220
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:56 pm
Location: South Dakota

Post by Blithe Morning » Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:07 pm

It sounds unlikely that one meal could prevent you from losing weight.

I would suggest habit compliance and movement first.

osoniye
Posts: 1257
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 2:19 pm
Location: Horn of Africa

Post by osoniye » Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:31 am

alice2002 wrote: If I am able to make it through March and April with green days (with at least 80-90% success) and I'm still not losing, I'll cut out my Friday treat.

OR... I don't know what your Sunday evenings look like, but you might consider doing S days from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
-Sonya
No Sweets, No Snacks and No Seconds, Except (Sometimes) on days that start with "S".

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:02 pm

Although it's never stated explicitly, S days are supposed to begin in the morning and end the next evening/night, so they are more like a 36-hour window rather than a 48-hour one. If you start your S day Friday afternoon, your S day on Sunday should be over after an early breakfast.


This often works out to sound like a good idea on Friday and a bad idea on Sunday! But something has to give. Only you can in the end decide what and when.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

alice2002
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:36 am

Post by alice2002 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:42 am

I've tried the Friday evening to Sunday afternoon thing...and it doesn't work for me. It's super hard for me to switch gears in the middle of a day like that. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

biggirllosesweight
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:16 am
Location: california

Post by biggirllosesweight » Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:09 am

Hi Alice,
I actually do Fridays and Saturday. So I do all day Friday and Saturday.
That works really well for me. I usually find that on Sundays, I can't wait to go back on my diet and eating only three meals a day. I can't stand eating soo like I do on S days.

eschano
Posts: 2642
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Post by eschano » Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:27 am

I'm doing Friday - Sunday (sleeping time) and am still losing weight. It depends. But Fridays for me are not mental. It's just a shared dessert when I'm out or something smallish.
eschano - Vanilla rocks!

July 2012- January 2016
Started again January 2021

r.jean
Posts: 1653
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:47 pm
Location: Midwest

Post by r.jean » Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:08 pm

"The Systems are your baseline. So never do less, but do sometimes more."

Well said by German Herman. I really think this statement embodies the spirit of No S!

Obviously I am catching up on posts because Herman's post is from almost a week ago, but it just really struck me. I have found that following No S rules with no modifications is best. Is the exception for the Friday night dessert worth it or could you give it up? It seems to be holding you back. (No judgment here by the way. I have done my share of trying to bend the rules.)
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

alice2002
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:36 am

Post by alice2002 » Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:47 am

I honestly don't think my Friday evening sweet is holding me back. I'm currently on my 3rd successful week! (yay!) In the past few months, up till now, I've only had 1 good week where I got through it all without messing up. So I think that is what has been holding me back so far. :)

If I were to stop my Friday evening thing right now, I think it would feel very stressful. I do hope to cut it out at some point though.

I could try the Friday-Saturday idea. I figure since I'm in this for life, there's no reason not to experiment to see what works best for me!

Thank you all for your input!

r.jean
Posts: 1653
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:47 pm
Location: Midwest

Post by r.jean » Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:52 pm

You do have to do what works for you! I just wanted to pose the question as something to think about.

I tried the Friday/Saturday thing for awhile and have tried other small mods now and then. I always end up back on Vanilla No S, but many others on this board are successful using mods.
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

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