If you're new, welcome! Please introduce yourself. You can start your own thread to introduce yourself, but you're welcome to do it on this one so that the "old-timers" can welcome you as a group. This is a wonderful community of helpful people.
Here are some things you should know (and I expect the "old-timers" can add to my list, and hope they will)...
1) Everyone does "No-S" a little differently, and that's okay - but you should be aware of that when asking for and getting advice.
For beginners, the recommended starting place is "Vanilla No-S" - the basic rules with no changes or additional restrictions. However, people who have been doing this a long time often add "mods" - modifications based on their own lifestyles, preferences, and what they have found works best for their individual bodies and circumstances. (General rule of thumb: The more dieting you've done in the past, the longer you should stick with Vanilla No-S before attempting mods. This is very, very different from most diets, and you've got a lot to un-learn!)
Most old-timers are careful to indicate what "mods" they're doing when they give advice, to provide context, but some forget. So, just be aware that we all have slightly unique paths here.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
2) There are a LOT of resources here - check them out!
- If you don't have the book, it's worth buying.
- Check out Reinhard's podcasts. I particularly recommend the one on "Strictness" for beginners.
- The sticky threads up above have useful info in them.
- If you want to read testimonials, there is a separate forum for them.
- To track your own progress, there is a "habitcal" calendar and the "Daily Check In" forum where you can start your own personal thread. Others may read it as well, but it's kind of "your" space.
I'll try to add some "Frequently Asked Questions" below, and hope others who've been around a while will chime in.
Best wishes to all of you!
KCCC