2018 Year Long Challenge

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.

Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating

MaggieMae
Posts: 589
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:53 pm
Location: Ohio, USA

Post by MaggieMae » Fri Mar 09, 2018 9:29 pm

Hi everyone! Just popped in to catch up and see how everyone is doing with the challenge.
I haven't been active a lot lately on here or100% faithful to NO S but not giving up! plugging on. Haha.

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:07 pm

Update below.
Last edited by elegantportions on Mon Apr 16, 2018 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

User avatar
Merry
Posts: 1658
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:14 am

Post by Merry » Sun Mar 11, 2018 4:09 am

I've been crazy busy with work lately but am still keeping on and will check in from time to time!
Homeschool Mom and No S returnee as of 11-30-15.
2 years and counting on No-S.
29 lbs. down, 34 to go. Slow and steady wins the race.
Respect Moderation

Chotzinoff
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:41 pm
Location: Austin Texas

Post by Chotzinoff » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:51 pm

I just looked at four months of habit cal and noted:

--I accomplished a 21-day compliant streak at the end of December/Early January.
--February was about half green, half red. I got sick and everything fell apart. This is not an excuse, just an explanation.
--In March I decided to be way more honest about marking days red. Sometimes I'll have a great day, but eat a few bites of something after dinner. I used to mark that green, so I don't know about the validity of the 21-day streak mentioned above.
--Due to the new honesty in record-keeping policy, March has splashes of red in it, but for some reason, they have helped me get back on track much faster.Something about lying to myself made it easier to start over-eating.
--My goal is to get a 21-day streak for real. I have 3 days so far.

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

Post by oolala53 » Thu Apr 05, 2018 2:09 am

Bumping this up in this first week of the second quarter of 2018.
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)

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Mon Apr 16, 2018 3:51 pm

Update below.
Last edited by elegantportions on Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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

Post by oolala53 » Thu May 17, 2018 5:34 am

Good or bad, let's check in. If you've been posting regularly to you thread, feel free to copy and past the link here.

I've been experimenting with changing what's on my plate for only the first three days of the week. I am doing it for other purposes than weight loss. It's a change that would be painful if I thought I had to do it every day. I'm committed to it until the summer solstice. If I don't feel it's worth the result, I'll stop then. Given that it's only 3 days at a time, and that I want to see if it will really do what I'd like, it's been pretty easy to stick to. It makes going back to my regular routine seem like a party! It's been only a few weeks so it might feel easier and routine as time goes on.
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)

Marina
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2017 2:37 pm
Location: Brazil

Post by Marina » Thu May 17, 2018 11:59 am

Hello all!

Would it be weird if i were to join this challenge now, in MAY?

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Post by Soprano » Thu May 17, 2018 5:46 pm

Not at all just join in.

I only started in March but am pleased so far with how it is going


Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

Dalia negra
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:48 am
Location: Barcelona (Spain)

Post by Dalia negra » Fri May 18, 2018 4:51 am

I thought that I had aimed for this challenge. Maybe I saw it too far for me and I did not know if I would be able to stay that long in No S.
Now I am sure that I am capable and I ask the same as Marina. Can I join now?

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

Post by oolala53 » Thu May 24, 2018 2:03 pm

Welcome! I think it's a perfect time to join. We still have half the year to go. And to "train" for the holidays Never too early to get ready for them.

You can participate any way you like, but most people have started an individual thread and check in here only periodically. Or they track on the monthly challenge. But you don't have to do that, either. You can just keep track on your own and catch us up once in awhile.

Finish May as green as possible!
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)

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:45 pm

I have committed to check in here at least once a month for the year.
If I have not posted again by July 15, then someone please PM me & ask what's up.

Jan - post-holiday mania, solid red
Feb - first half still red, but then solid green
Mar - Solid green except for 1 NWS - made 21 Day Club
Apr - A real slog, but I survived with only 4 reds.
May - Still a struggle, 6 reds, but last half of month was solid green.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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

Post by oolala53 » Thu Jun 07, 2018 10:11 pm

Dat's a lot of green for the year, it seems to me. :)
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)

MaggieMae
Posts: 589
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:53 pm
Location: Ohio, USA

Post by MaggieMae » Sun Jun 17, 2018 11:21 pm

Checking in! I keep saying I'm going to get back into the monthly challenges but never do. Been doing too mch emotional eating! Boooo! Not giving up. I'm trying to stop watching and reading about diets but it is truly an addiction! The past week I've been doing better though.

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

Post by oolala53 » Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:59 am

MM, go on a "diet book" diet. And a media one, too. It IS a kind of addiction. It feeds this fantasy of the perfect body and all the admiration and approval we believe will come with it. This makes our brain feel good! But then, we need more and more, and the discrepancy between what is and what we think we should have gets stronger and we feel worse and worse!

You can do it!
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)

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:21 pm

June - still plugging away. Down 7 lbs. since Jan 1.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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

Post by oolala53 » Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:30 pm

Almost half done. Good going!
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)

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:02 pm

July - Yikes! 7 days of funny stuff. Not sure whether to count as red or NWS since we had out of state guests. NoS is definitely easier for me when it is just a normal routine day with no social temptations. Oh well, there were still 15 days of green, so I made a good effort.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

jenji
Posts: 661
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:00 pm
Location: Cambridge

Post by jenji » Wed Aug 08, 2018 7:24 pm

I have not been commenting here, but I'm still in. I mostly do my daily check-in thread instead. My one-year No S anniversary will be in late September.

I've been using the HabitCal to track my success and failure days.
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:33 pm

Aug - Only 2 Fails.
When I follow NoS rules, I see & feel results. It's still hard, but the commitment to check in here publicly makes it more doable for me to comply.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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

Post by oolala53 » Wed Sep 26, 2018 10:55 pm

A little over 25% of the year left, and probably the most important two months: last chance to "train" for the holidays.
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)

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:14 pm

Sep - off to a bad start but finished the month solid green

jenji & oolala, thanks for commenting.
I was starting to feel like the Lone Ranger.
Maggie Mae, I hope you are still on board.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

MaggieMae
Posts: 589
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:53 pm
Location: Ohio, USA

Post by MaggieMae » Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:57 pm

I am still on board, EP! Haven't been faithful the whole time, but trying to get strict now so I don't go completely off the rails during the holidays!

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Post by Soprano » Sun Oct 21, 2018 4:55 pm

I started in March and have pretty much stuck to the plan so far

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

jenji
Posts: 661
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:00 pm
Location: Cambridge

Post by jenji » Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:55 pm

I've logged a fair number of red days, but many greens as well. I have finished a year on No S, and I am all-around happier with my eating as a result, despite still working on solidifying the habits.

I seem to have one fail per week. Maybe I should do a 21-day challenge to shoot for all green weekdays...
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:06 pm

Oct - 5 red days, some worth it, most far from it. Still struggling but still losing when I do keep with the plan.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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

Post by oolala53 » Tue Nov 06, 2018 6:29 pm

I'd bed compared to where you were a year ago with your eating you are way ahead of the game. :)
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)

jenji
Posts: 661
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:00 pm
Location: Cambridge

Post by jenji » Wed Nov 07, 2018 6:19 pm

oolala53 wrote:I'd bed compared to where you were a year ago with your eating you are way ahead of the game. :)
This is absolutely true for me. I could have continued the pattern of gaining one or more pounds last year, and saying the words "I am trying to lose weight" as though they were a magic spell. Instead, I have a plan to follow, habits that are starting to solidify, and I am down 17 pounds, which is not everything I need, but not nothing. It is a visible difference.
I'm a 53-year-old mom and non-profit CEO
I am 5' 7.5"
Began No S at 184#, BMI 28.4 - 9/25/2017
Current weight: 181#, BMI 27.9, 12/19/2022

MaggieMae
Posts: 589
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:53 pm
Location: Ohio, USA

Post by MaggieMae » Wed Nov 28, 2018 10:39 pm

Way to go on losing17 pounds jenji! That's awesome! I have been missing from the forum, trying to escape diet mentality. I realized my disordered eating and thoughts were deeper than I thought and even the sane rules of no S were causing me some issues so I have been working on just trying to love myself, and eating more fruits and vegetables and walking the dog a little more, etc. I am also thinking about weighing myself on new year's day and then having my hubby hide the scales. I actually stared at my section of diet and nutrition books today....they have they're own giant section on my book shelf. And I actually thought the someday I might be able to get rid of them. Not yet, but maybe someday. I want no s to be my habit, but I'm trying to get there without it becoming just another " diet" that my brain feels like it needs to rebel against. I'm tired of eating a snack or having a sweet and having that Last supper mentality..... I'll get back on the wagon tomorrow so might as well live it up this evening!!! And I've also been working on trying to want these habits, even if it means I never lose weight. That's sooo hard for me. But I need to get sanity around food more than I need to wear a smaller size. Whew, sorry I unloaded all of that on you guys but guess that's my update.

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:50 pm

I am glad to see the end of this challenge.
The accountability helped me to keep plugging along, but it was a real chore.
The yearlong commitment was a good exercise, though, and I am glad I stuck with it.
I much prefer the monthly time frame and will continue those as long as I feel the need...
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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