Newbie...

[Matymus Prime]

Hey guys,

I'm new here...kinda. I've started & stopped No 'S' a few times, only to go back to the horrible and evil world of dieting.

I have absolutely no excuses. I've blamed everything for my weight woes--except for myself. No longer. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I refuse to write things down, keep a tracker of any sort. Uggh...that's not how life is lived. That's not living--that's something else entirely. What I do need is support & encouragement. I'm sure I will be tempted to throw in the towel at some point---probably often. However, my health isn't the best, and I desperately need to lower cholesterol, weight, etc. You guys all know what I'm talking about, I'm sure.

BTW, my name is Matt and I live near Syracuse, NY.

Blessings!

[mimi]

Welcome, Matt!
I'm glad you decided to give NoS another try. I think you will find it very freeing and sustainable, however, please don't be fooled into thinking it's easy because of the simplified "rules." It is by no means easy, but I believe you'll find that as your habits strengthen, it becomes easier.
You will fail at times and the first thing you must do is rid yourself of the "all or nothing, black or white" type of thinking...in other words, I'm either on a diet or I'm off a diet. You have to stop in your tracks after a slip up, dust yourself off, and continue on, or as many posters here say, "Mark it and move on!" Don't drive your car into a wall just because you put a dent in it (as others say).
Post often, read the boards daily, and when you get discouraged, read some of the great testimonials. There are lots of kind, supportive, and helpful folks here who know exactly what you're dealing with. Best wishes on your NoS journey.
Blessings back to you,

Mimi

[oolala53]

Keep all these thoughts in mind. You don't want to go back to the evil diets. You don't want to count calories and track. You do have health concerns that merit targeting moderation. You've often felt sick and tired, either physically or morally. These will all fade in intensity at times, but you must have them in the back of your mind until momentum gets you going.

And keep your eyes on the prize: a spring in your step, pride in having turned an enemy into a friend, enjoyment of delicious food, a sense of peace in all food situations, probably greater ease in finding comfortable, good looking clothes-- come up with a few of your own. Make a habitcal for reviewing the disadvantages of overeating and the advantages of moderate eating, along with keeping track of the other habits, at least for the first few months.

If you have to reread this, too, from a diet review site (Don't go read their review of diets; this quote along should be fair warning): "But with most of the diet companies in the world telling the consumer exactly what they want to hear, there is little hope. Research has shown 95% of those who lose weight eventually gain it back within three years. Beyond 3 years that failure rate is even worse. In reality, almost no one loses significant weight and keeps it off. The FDA has declared that not one single company in the entire weight loss industry can show a record of long-term success. This is an incredible indictment of an entire industry. Can you imagine the trouble for the automobile industry if a vast majority of vehicles quit running within three years of purchase? But the world is completely oblivious to the astounding failure rate of the diet industry."

And then go look again at a post I put up recently about a book on willpower. Based on research: Don't go on a diet [that targets calories]. Don't give up certain foods completely. Do determine specific behaviors in specific situations.

No S. Three plates, three times a day. Sweets and extras on weekends.

[Matymus Prime]

Thanks for the welcome, folks! Making life-altering choices is impossible with a dieting mentality.