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

One year testimonial

Post by jenji » Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:46 pm

I thought it is a good time to post my one-year results. When I started, I was 47 years old, almost 48, and although I exercised and tried to eat "healthy", I had gained a little weight every year of adulthood, except when I was grieving. By spring 2017, I was at my highest non-pregnant weight, 189 lbs. I'm 5'7.5" tall.

In June 2017, I had a doctor's appointment, and for the first time, I had a slightly high blood glucose. That got my attention. She suggested losing 10 lbs and coming back to recheck my sugar in a few months. I started a daily running habit and lost five pounds that summer, but I knew that I would not be likely to keep up the daily running during the school year, when my job is very busy. So just exercise was not enough.

In September 2017, I googled no sugar diet, and the No S Diet came up. Unlike diets that involved throwing out the damn ketchup, this seemed do-able and sensible to me. I felt immediately that I could keep these habits. I started that day, September 25th, at 184#. In the year since then, I've lost 17 lbs, and kept off the five I already lost, and I am now hovering around 167-168 lbs. I've lost 9% of my weight, in a SLLOWWWWW, steady manner. This is despite falling off the daily running habit. I do still exercise every day, but not always running - sometimes it's yoga, sometimes walking.

I also have had normal blood sugars at my subsequent retests.

One thing I had going for me is that I don't drink soda or sweet drinks, and I do eat meals. At first it was really hard to wait for mealtime, but now it feels normal. In the beginning, I was more likely to resort to milk or kefir between meals. Now I go for tea or coffee or water between meals.

My best advice for someone starting this method is that if you don't already know how to cook, learn how to make a few meals that you like. In particular, learn how to make some vegetables the way you like them. I try to have fruit or veggies on every plate. If the heart of this plan is meals, try to give yourself a nice meal.

I weigh every day and record it in the Happy Scale app. That keeps me honest. I still have one or several red days each months, but they tend to involve small cheats, like tasting my roast when it came out of the oven, or eating some dried mango when I get the groceries, not a whole day of debauchery. I also often have too much food or sweets on the weekend, but it is at least confined to those days.

All in all, a good first year, and as I said, the best part is that I am not waiting for the diet to end so I can gain the weight back. I feel happy with the idea of eating this way for life.

I was wearing a US size 14 at the beginning, and now I'm wearing 12s and some 10s. I'm at the awkward moment when the 12s are too big, but the 10s are a bit tight.

I should also mention that I entered menopause during this time, a time when women in my family often gain a boatload of weight. So losing 17 lbs. while working full-time at a stressful job, parenting, and beginning menopause is a victory in my book. I still have more weight to lose, but if I maintained here, it would be content. I will wait and see what next year brings.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for this community.
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

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

Post by automatedeating » Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:35 am

Yay Jenji! So well said! And my goodness you nailed it for me -- your advice to learn to cook vegetables in a way that tastes good -- spot on!

So neat to hear that Habit is Queen for you, especially when you were beginning menopause!

Thanks so much for posting!
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

ladybird30
Posts: 1118
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 10:41 pm

Post by ladybird30 » Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:10 am

Congrats on your success in establishing the No S habits, weight loss & normal blood sugar. Good tip about the vegies.
Three meals a day - not too little not too much, but just right

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

Post by jenji » Wed Sep 12, 2018 11:22 am

Thank you, Auto and Ladybird!
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

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

Post by Soprano » Wed Sep 12, 2018 11:28 am

Wow, well done you, great to read posts like these. My journey is similar to yours, I'll post a yearly update when I get there. :)

I've learned so much from these boards and about myself whilst following NoS wish I'd found it years ago.

Good luck for your second year. It's great to know it can work

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

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reinhard
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Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:38 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA
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Post by reinhard » Sat Sep 15, 2018 10:21 am

So great to read this, Jenji!

Really quite an accomplishment given all those usual diet "dealbreakers" you listed.

I love how you put your finger on the positive heart of "No" S:
If the heart of this plan is meals, try to give yourself a nice meal.
Congratulations and thank you for letting us know!

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

Post by jenji » Sat Sep 15, 2018 2:01 pm

Thanks Soprano and Reinhard! I also posted on the Facebook page with photos and a graph.
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

michelle42571
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:01 pm
Location: US

Post by michelle42571 » Sat Sep 15, 2018 6:50 pm

I am so happy for you for your success! This also reassures me that this is the best plan for life. I am 47 and knocking on menopause myself. Your post lets me know I can do this during this season of life and be successful, and keep my sanity. :) Can't wait to hear how this next year goes for you!

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

Post by oolala53 » Fri Sep 28, 2018 4:06 am

Bravo!
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)

sharon227
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Post by sharon227 » Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:03 am

Wow, congratulations! Impressive and very inspiring. And I got a chuckle out of not having to throw out the damn ketchup :D

dropfiftyfast
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 11:15 pm

Post by dropfiftyfast » Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:01 pm

Congratulations!

aikigypsy
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 2:03 pm

Post by aikigypsy » Thu Jan 03, 2019 2:25 pm

Congratulations! It's good to see others in a similar situation having success with this -- I'm also in my late 40s and have been gaining slowly through a lot of my adulthood. I sort of started no S a year and a half ago but have gotten back to too much snacking and sweets lately so am re-committing and joining the forum now.

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

Post by Dalia negra » Fri Jan 25, 2019 6:03 am

Congratulations Jenji! Your testimony is absolutely inspiring, I'm very happy for you!

jenji wrote:Thanks Soprano and Reinhard! I also posted on the Facebook page with photos and a graph.

May I take a look at it? I think I'm in that group, how can I find it?

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

Post by jenji » Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:57 pm

Dalia negra wrote:Congratulations Jenji! Your testimony is absolutely inspiring, I'm very happy for you!

jenji wrote:Thanks Soprano and Reinhard! I also posted on the Facebook page with photos and a graph.

May I take a look at it? I think I'm in that group, how can I find it?
If you scroll through the photos on the Facebook group, it’s there. My name is Jen Fries.
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

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

Re: One year testimonial

Post by Dalia negra » Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:22 am

Hi, jenji!

I forgot to tell you that I saw your photos and you are awesome. Congratulations!!!!

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

Re: One year testimonial

Post by jenji » Thu Feb 07, 2019 5:41 pm

Dalia negra wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:22 am
Hi, jenji!

I forgot to tell you that I saw your photos and you are awesome. Congratulations!!!!
Thank you!
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

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