10 months in testimonial

(New!) Read (or post) about people who have stuck with No-S for 10 or more months, lost 10 or more pounds, or 10 or more percent for their starting weight. Periodic updates strongly encouraged -- you can think of it as "Yearly Check In."

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Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

10 months in testimonial

Post by Bluebell » Fri Jul 28, 2017 2:27 pm

I am 10 months into my NoS journey and felt it was time to post a testimonial. A little about me, I am 42, I have been married for 19 years with two boys aged 8 and 13. I was first put on a diet aged 12 by my well meaning mother, which started a cycle of yoyo dieting and self loathing which I have never been able to break (until now). I have tried every diet under the sun, some for a few weeks or months, some for a few days, I have lost and gained many pounds, but I have never managed to find a way of eating that I felt I could truly follow for life.
A few weeks into NoS I cautiously posted that this had the potential to be life changing. 10 months in and I can confirm that this is true. In fact I didn't for a moment anticipate quite how much of a difference NoS would make to not just my physical wellbeing, but also and more importantly my state of mind.
I was thinking about how to summarise what NoS has given me and I think it can all be linked to freedom. Freedom from all of these things:
- Counting. Calories, grams of fat, syns, points etc. etc.
- Weighing out portions of food.
- Cutting out food groups.
- Studying packets of food, spending ages trying to work out if I am allowed it, and if so how much.
- Agonising over each mouthful, mentally assessing if I should or should not eat a certain food.
- Berating myself for not being strong enough to stick to a given plan for long enough to lose the desired amount of weight and reach my 'target'
- Despairing over what to try next, and searching desperately for the next magic cure.
- The endless cycle of diet/binge.
- Self loathing. For being weak, for overeating, for gaining weight.

NoS has brought me peace of mind, and an acceptance that it is OK to be me. In fact this is the first time ever that I have felt at peace with myself and my body. I am nowhere near perfect but that's OK. I am me. I don't have to strive for perfection because its impossible, and its not who I am. NoS has shown me that I can be strong, I do have willpower around food, I can cope without eating for a few hours between meals.
As I continue on my NoS journey I know I have more to work on. In particular I am really struggling to find the motivation to exercise. I know I should, I know it will make a difference to my health and my blobby bits, but still I struggle to overcome the mental block and just do it. Also, I am still on S days sometimes overtaken by the desire to eat without thinking, just for the sake of it. I have decided to allow myself this release, at mealtimes and on S days only, as I fear otherwise I will want to rebel on N days. I am learning that I don't have to achieve it all at once, changes can and will happen over time.
I have found so much support on this forum, everyone has been so helpful and understanding. It has been an eye opener to find so many folk who have the same struggles as me, who completely understand where I am coming from. Thank you to each and every one of you who has taken the time to post on my check in and offer their support.
And of course the biggest thanks goes to Reinhard, as you can see NoS has made such a huge difference to me. Thank you so much.
Oh - I have reached the end of this and realised I haven't even talked about weight loss! I have lost 27 pounds in 10 months. The fact that I've only just thought to mention it speaks volumes!
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

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

Post by r.jean » Sat Jul 29, 2017 1:09 am

Good for you!

I agree that the weight loss becomes a side benefit. The changes in our relationship with food is the primary benefit.

I enjoy food (in moderation) more than I ever enjoyed food before!
The journey is the reward.
Maintenance is progress.

splandrea
Posts: 64
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2017 1:21 am
Location: Northern California

Post by splandrea » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:58 am

So wonderfully encouraging :)
07/01/17: 258
Current: 238
Aiming for 180. We shall see...

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Sat Jul 29, 2017 9:30 am

Thank you both for your kind comments :)

I agree r.jean - when you eat this way you enjoy and appreciate every mouthful.
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

ironchef
Posts: 1630
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:12 am
Location: Australia

Post by ironchef » Mon Aug 07, 2017 3:00 am

Wow, Bluebell, that's amazing! Well done you! I look forward to following your future successes!

I struggle with the exercise part as well. Somehow it is much easier to remove something from my routine (snacking) than add something (exercise).

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:44 pm

Thanks
Maybe you've hit the nail on the head, so to speak, regarding exercise. I actually have to do something! I am fine if it is naturally built in to the day, today for example I had a lovely hour's walk along the shore with my two sons. But this is because we are on holiday and it was a fun activity for us all to do. Normally when I am back at work, exercise means doing something extra, which I think I see as an unpleasant chore.
Ah well, onwards and upwards as they say! Thanks for your comments :)
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

AnnaBell
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:15 pm
Location: Midwest

Post by AnnaBell » Tue Aug 15, 2017 1:24 pm

What an amazing testimonial, thank you so much for sharing, so much of what you wrote I can relate to. I am early in my No S journey, but so much appreciate reading about other's more long term success to know it is possible to stick with it long term with so many benefits aside from the weight loss.
AnnaBell

noni
Posts: 613
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:01 pm

Post by noni » Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:31 pm

Congratulations on your weight loss and sanity! A great testament to the No S diet!
"Never go back for seconds. Get it all the first time." - Garfield

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:23 am

Thank you for your kind words😊
AnnaBell good luck as you begin your NoS journey, I am pleased that you have found encouragement from my story, it is most definitely a long term way of eating.
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

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reinhard
Site Admin
Posts: 5918
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:38 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA
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Post by reinhard » Thu Aug 24, 2017 1:31 am

Bluebell, congratulations and I'm so sorry I didn't see this till now!

I'm delighted, of course, at your quantitative success, but even more so at the new "freedoms" you've enumerated.

No-s doesn't just lose you weight, but also, and more importantly, the "phantom weight" in your head. That's been my experience, and it's so great to hear it's yours as well.

Thank you for letting us know and best of luck going forward!

Reinhard

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:43 pm

Thank you for your comments Reinhard and absolutely no need for any apology! I like the idea of losing 'phantom weight', that seems to sum it up very nicely. :)
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

healthyskillz
Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 9:24 pm
Location: Netherlands

Post by healthyskillz » Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:00 pm

This is SO inspiring! Thanks for sharing, please keep us updated!
"Not giving up = winning!" // healthyskillz.tumblr.com
F/30-ish. BED recovered. Mod: pre-dinner fruit.

freeandeasy
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2016 6:29 pm

Post by freeandeasy » Sun Sep 24, 2017 12:18 pm

Congratulations! This is very inspiring, thank you for posting it.

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:08 am

One year since I joined this forum! What a difference a year makes. I am in a good place with my eating. Thank you NoS and all the wonderful posters here. :) :) :)
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

vmsurbat
Posts: 499
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:12 am
Location: Montenegro

Post by vmsurbat » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:44 pm

Wonderful! It is such a delightful feeling to "be in a good place with eating."

Here's to many more years of NoS-ing!
Vicki in MNE
7! Yrs. with Vanilla NoS, down 55+lb, happily maintaining and still loving it!

Bluebell
Posts: 633
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:17 pm
Location: Hampshire UK

Post by Bluebell » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:57 pm

vmsurbat wow 7 years of NoS, that is a wonderful achievement. I certainly hope to come back and post yearly on here, here's hoping I will have as much success as you have! Thank you for commenting on my testimonial :)
"You'll know where the North Star is ⭐️" - Oolala

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