kw313's Check-In 2011

[kw313]

I'm reposting my 1st post here, from 7-24-11, so I'll have my recording keeping all in one place.

I’m just finishing day 21 of No S today and want to say Hi. I’m still astounded by the ease with which I’m doing this, and the great results I’m experiencing.

Amazon recommended the book to me (they know how many diet books I’ve bought!) and, in the course of reading the reviews, I could feel my body relaxing, with a silent, “Well, of course.†The irony now being that Amazon will never sell me another diet book! I actually feel like I’ve heard of the book or website before, but must have been in the midst of some high-tech diet “miracleâ€, and likely pooh-poohed the idea of moderation as a quaint, old-fashioned concept that was way too slow with results. This time I was ready for the message.

I started on Monday, July 4, 2011, which in itself is unheard of, not being the first of the year, the first of the month, a Sunday, or even an N day. That outraged my perfectionism immediately! I love that my personal freedom is tied to this date forever now.

I’ve dieted on and off my whole adult life, with a steady gain of 100+ pounds to show for it. I remember weighing 116 in high school and thinking it should be 108. I’ve mostly favored low-carb, with its emphasis on good & evil foods. But, even more unhelpful, was the emphasis on eating all you wanted of the good foods. The concept of calling just one plateful of food per meal has been a revelation. I did make the switch to 9†plates several years ago, so that’s my fence around the law for this requirement.

By far the biggest change for me has been the elimination of snacking, meaning that I actually allow myself to get hungry before a meal. I eagerly anticipate my meals now and appreciate every bite. And I’ve really started to demand they be delicious, satisfying bites. I want no mediocre food on my plate anymore; that real estate is too valuable!

I haven’t counted carbs or fat grams or calories for years, but my perfectionism was outraged (again!) by the idea that I didn’t need to keep a food journal. It turns out that Habitcal is just right as a way to document my forward progress, in just a minute or so of time. Love to see those greens!

Just as my inner child loves the Habitcal reward each day, she also secretly loves the boundaries set by No S. Children may whine and complain about the boundaries their parents set for them, but they know in their hearts that having rules and limits placed upon them means that their parents love and care for them. I have felt very loved and cared for by my inner parent as I’ve learned the No S way of eating.

Over the years I’ve concluded that eating is very personal, and it’s almost never useful to comment on what or how others eat, or to talk about one’s own plan or choices. In the case of No S it’s hard to stay mum, as I feel nearly evangelical about the ideas. As the results become more obvious and people begin to ask what I’m doing, I’ll share the secret of my success to the degree anyone wants to listen. This is the sort of great idea that can reach a tipping point, I think, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of the change.

Thanks to all of you for your postings to this board. I’ve gotten great support from my reading here each day, and many a laugh-out-loud moment! I’ll be back in touch soon.

_________________
Karen

Measurement at belly button level:
Start: 52 inches
Current: 50 inches
Goal: less than 35 inches (a Dr. Oz suggestion I like)

"And I think to myself...what a wonderful world."

[kw313]

I'm just finishing up my 6th week of No S and things continue to go well. Picked up my 1st Reds during a couple of days of vacation last week, mostly because I couldn't decide whether to call them S days, so didn't, noted the Fails and moved on. Already, this is so very different than my behavior in the past, where only perfection would do, and the whole enterprise would be abandoned the moment I first deviated from the plan. Eating the No S way is so much KINDER to myself.

I've lost consistently each week, and am at minus 20 pounds as of Saturday AM (remembering I started with 100+ to lose). The plateau may come one day, another cause for abandonment in the past, but I already feel like it will be a different, more relaxed and easy-going person who faces it next time. I really do feel like time is on my side and that each day that passes represents progress even when it's not visible.

I'll continue to keep up with my Habitcal on a daily basis, and plan to check in here weekly.

[Who Me?]

Wowie! Sounds like you're doing wonderfully.

[NoSnacker]

I felt the same way when I found out about No S..no more diet books on my shelf. Actually someone from this site was on Sparkpeople and introduced me to the concept..and I fell in love with it right away.

I was so burnt out on counting calories and being a failure because you can never be perfect when you are a perfectionist! Dropping that as well.

I have since gotten off of Sparkpeople as too many people just don't want to give no snacks a try..we are so brain washed that we have to have them..

Nice post!

[kw313]

I finished up my 9th week yesterday. Still going well. Lost only 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks, but a slowdown was to be expected. Still trending in the right direction, and just graduated to next lower size jeans, so VERY happy about that. Thanks to the poster who created the mod, NEP, No Eating From Packages. That's done more to regulate my S day treats than anything else, and I'm grateful for that good idea. Even with that, have made note to self: No Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Wafer Cookies in the house! Found it too difficult to keep to single servings with them.

Have been climbing stairs at work during my lunch hour. I'm up to 9 floors now. Don't intend to do more than 12 floors, in keeping with a 14 minute limit. I hate doing them, but I love knowing that I CAN do them. Also, want to be in good condition to do a "Secret Stair" walk in LA when I attend the AARP convention there later this month.

[herbsgirl]

Kw313 you are coming right along with NO S!!

Keep going!

[kw313]

I've hit a major landmark here at the end of my 11th week: 10% of my body weight, gone! Have many more percentages to go, but what a good feeling this is, to have stayed with the program, through Greens and (more importantly) Reds, practically painlessly, with such rewarding results. That "all or nothing" attitude, that killed so many of my weight loss efforts in the past - it's gone, too!

[r.jean]

WOW! That is a fantastic result for 11 weeks! Keep it up!