First, I've been going through a rather stressful period in my life, and have found that No-S has helped a great deal. Under stress, I used to have two reactions. The most common was emotional eating, to avoid whatever-it-was I needed to deal with. The second was an inability to eat at all (rarer, but also not good for health). With No-S, I avoid both of these extremes, and both my weight and my health benefit.
Second, BA just posted on her personal thread a review of some of the stressful times in her own life - some of which are quite intense, in my view - during which she kept up her habit of calorie-counting and logging her calories. She writes:
(She also asks that lengthy replies - especially those that might engender extended discussion - not be put on her personal thread. I am opening discussion here out of consideration for her preferences.)And So Life Goes.
During that time, I also brushed my teeth, combed my hair,
got dressed daily, and used the toilet when necessary..
I prioritize entering my food into my computer journal as equal to,
or more important than, those activities.
Now, though I have a great deal of respect and liking for BA, she and I hold almost opposite views on many, many topics related to this forum.
Artificial sweeteners come to mind. Calorie counting, for sure (here's a prior discussion on that). There's probably more. Yet with these widely divergent perspectives and practices, both of us have been relatively successful at maintaining our weight over time. The common thread here is that both of us have built habit-systems that work for OURSELVES, as individuals, and both of us have worked to make them rock-solid. I see that as the KEY to No-S - developing habits that work day in and day out, whatever else is going on.
And one of the things I value about this board is that, as a group, we accept and acknowledge that there will be individual variation in those habits. One person will feel the need to limit carbs, another MUST have them or feel unsatisfied. One person will choose to eat organic, whole foods, and another will eagerly try the latest low-something food product. We have very, very different approaches. (I suspect that's in part because individuals really do process food differently - at least, that's my conclusion over extended observation. But I digress.) And the tone of most advice is "here's what worked for me, or what I think, but 'your mileage may vary.'" To me, BA's expression that "We are all an experiment of one" beautifully sums up that perspective.
The nice thing about habits is that once they're in place, they're pretty much automatic! I don't even think about snacking any more, even though at one point I consumed far more in snacks than meals and thought I'd NEVER build the no-snack habit. And BA clearly has NO trouble logging her calories, even though I would run screaming at the idea.
And once the initial habits are solid, then you can add another. Then another. When you look back over time, you've radically changed what you do... but the gradual process has kept you from resisting.
All of which reinforces my perspective that the most important aspect of No-S is habit-building. And I'll add to that respecting the "experiment of one" that we all are. Thanks again, BA, for that wonderful phrase.
Just another bloggy post...
