Everyday Systems

Dawn

I think you can incorp a lot of "diets" into the No-S framework. Good for you finding something that is so helpful, now toss in a healthy dose of No-S and I met you have a real winner.

Good luck

Dawn

Toss out the deadlines and goals. Focus on one day at a time. Break it down and I bet you find that there are only a few areas that give you trouble. For me it was wild S days, so there was no weight loss, which is very un-motivating. And the only problem I had on N days was the late night munchies ...

Dawn

Weekend was just fine. Didn't go quite the way I planned, but I feel very good that I just took it little by little and made good choices bepending on what was going on. I didn't just eat to eat or eat heavier things just because it was an S day. I said I was going to eat my 3 meals and I didn't but ...

Dawn

Great week, couldn't be happier. Still keeping off of the scale. But today is Saturday so we will see how my 6 Ss per weekend work out. Busy weekend planned so I that usually helps. Really hoping after a good 3 or 4 really good weekends I will be on track and not have to work so hard, but rather ...

Dawn

Another great day. I think I will only report on Mondays unless something noteworthy happens during the week. N days are and have always been a no brainer for me so I think I will take more focus off of them by not checking daily since there is really no great benefit and the less I think about food ...

Dawn

[quote="Kevin"]I'm probably being overbearing. I have personal reasons for that, but my experience is not yours. If you are taking care of transportation to and from and don't take undo risks, then you are the very best judge of whether its too much or not.

I'm sorry if I'm being over the top. I ...

Dawn

If you haven't read the book, you should. It explains it all. Not just what to do and what not to do, but soooo much more importantly, why. Once you really understand the why, it is easier to make some trickier decisons on your own. Sometimes we are hit with a dilema but when you truly understand ...

Dawn

Check out the testimonials, they are so motivating.

I am too new to give you results, but I can share my take on this. I think in order for it to work, it has to be slow and I mean super slow. Of course depending on how much weight you need to lose will have a lot to do with the speed of weight ...

Dawn

Well the first S week went well. I counted it as a success. I did great with the S events, but I didn't do my 4 meals as I should have. The weekends are not as routine and I have my family here with me all day interupting my plans, but I will work on it next weekend as I do think it is important to ...

Dawn

The only way you will know if it's working is if you are losing weight. If you aren't then you need to re-evaluate things. If you think the S day drinking is the only iffy thing you are doing then you would need to start there and maybe cut back a bit, wait a few weeks and see where your weight is ...

Dawn

First S day a success. Didn't go exactly the way I envisioned, but I kinda wanted to keep it lose enough that I felt like I was taking a breather, but so lose that I could go out of bounds, due to the fact that I do have bounds, I must or else. So I did stay within my 3 S events for the day.

Being ...

Dawn

So I completed my first week of N days on my 21 day challenge. Everything was fine, perfect in fact. So glad I came back and so glad I am doing the 4 meal thing as that is keeping me sane - I like me sane, it's different, but good, I think I can get used to sane Dawn.

Today is my first S day with ...

Dawn

This plan isn't about being perfect to someone elses standard but more about finding a way that works for you for life, which means that it most likely isn't perfect, nothing doable ever is.

I really try to look at the weight loss as a side effect of changing my habits so that I can relax, enjoy ...

Dawn

Another great day.

Dawn

Amen sister! I think it's the little things in every area of life that count the most.

Dawn

Kevin,

Thanks for your imput, getting another's perspective is always welcome. And yes I tried the beverage thing the first go around with No-S, not milk, as I can't stand milk, but a variety of other options. My favorite was sugar free hot cooca with a splash of sweet cream. It helped sometimes ...

Dawn

Another great day. The hungries didn't have a hold me yesterday so that does help. I ran into the same dilema last night as I did the night before. I was out and got in late - late for me that is. I really could have skipped my 4th meal without too much trouble, but I really am concerned about how ...

Dawn

Did great yesterday. Went shopping and got home late and was thinking about just going to bed and skipping my 4th meal, but I have this feeling that if I skip meals then I will feel entitled to more the next day, or perhaps eat a little heavier the next day and I am working for consistency and to ...

Dawn

Thanks for the encouragment. I did forget I can have 2 extra S days in a months time, but to be honest I don't think I ever used even one of those in the 8 months that I did this last year. My life is very routine so when the occasional event pops up during the week it's usually a business lunch or ...

Dawn

I am counting yesterday as my first day of my personal 100 day challenge. I am counting Sunday as a failure since I didn't plan my day but rather went about it willy nilly, which never ends well and then I feel guilty. I know you aren't supposed to feel guilty on a Sunday being that it's an S day ...

Dawn

TexArk, no need to apologize for taking space here, that's what it's all about, letting others know they are not alone, sharing ideas and just giving moral support.

I suspect there a lot like us, ya know the ones that are 86.4% of the way there and just need something to get them all the way.

This ...

Dawn

I am counting yesterday as my first day of my personal 100 day challenge. I am counting Sunday as a failure since I didn't plan my day but rather went about it willy nilly, which never ends well and then I feel guilty. I know you aren't supposed to feel guilty on a Sunday being that it's an S day ...

Dawn

Just came back on board last Thursday and I have done just fine on N days, but then again I never had any trouble with N days when I first attempted No-S a while back. It is the S days that derailed me.

So today I started a habitCal and I am going to check in daily for at least 100 days. I see ...

Dawn

Well you either count it as one of your 2 extra S says for the month or it's a failure, but like ThomsonsPier said, not epic.

Only you can determine if a particular day is worthy of being called a special occasion. I would totally count my niece's current boyfriend's b-day as a special occasion ...

Dawn

As I understand the philosophy, the idea is that you're better off with something sub-optimal but sustainable than something optimal but temporary.

You hit it on the head Dave. I'd much rather settle on 155 on a no brainer plan like the No-S than yo-yoing anywhere from 145 to 175, which I have ...

Dawn

Sounds like stress to me too. That time of the month doesn't help either, but I can usually get through that, but add stress to the mix and uh oh.

I know I try very hard to keep my meals reasonable and I consider pizza an S day meal item but maybe during these times it would be better for you to ...

Dawn

I'm back after a long and backward journey. Well I have been up and down and up again. I think I am around the same weight I was when I was here around 2 years ago, so I haven't done too much damage but I have been in that loop that we all long to escape from.

I really loved the No S plan and it ...

Dawn

I used to think turning to water to help hold off hunger was the biggest crock of all time, that was until I started to No-S. So funny how water does help me now when it never did before. I wonder if it's mental, not that it matters since it does work. Or maybe it works now because now when I feel ...

Dawn

My 2 cents: I understand the dangers of deviating from vanilla no-s, but sometimes you get a bug up your wahootie and you just have to see if something else works better for you. How about making a habit cal specifically for this new rule and make sure you are able to do it easily for at least 21 ...

Dawn

Isn't it funny how those pictures don't just motivate the hell out of you? But rather make you feel defeated and sometimes ditch whatever plan you are on. I donâ€™t understand it, yet I am the same way.

Well, I say put it on the fridge, or where ever you will see it often and remind yourself each ...

Dawn

I subscribe to a site called hungry-girl.com and get an email everyday with loads of great ideas for low cal foods. They review all the latest "diet" foods and fast food items and let you know what is actually a pretty good choice and what you should run from. There are a lot of snack ideas, but we ...

Dawn

There is no rule on the amount of meals you eat each day. So maybe you could start out with 6 and then try seeing how you do with 5, then 4, then 3 if it goes well. No rush, but only time will let you know what you really need and not just what you think you need. Habit is strong and if you have ...

Dawn

Ah yes, panic, know it well. But after taking a deep breath and realizing this is the best way to go I usually feel very relieved that I can get back on track without having to do anything drastic. I don't have that "here we go again" feeling. So it takes a little time to undo some vacation (or ...

Dawn

In response to Betty (or other newbies that are stuck) here is what I did to get the pounds moving.

Warning - this is going to be long!!!

Let me start my saying that I really thought I was doing great with my 3 plates. No overloading, no especially high cal foods. Meals were never my problem, it's ...

Dawn

Hmmm this sounds familiar! My first 10 weeks I didn't lose an ounce. I wanted to quit too but at the same time I was loving the no guilt and not having the inner dialog all day long about what I should or shouldn't do. No-S rules are pretty basic, you just do them, not much to think about and my ...

Dawn

It's going to happen. Don't look back, just get back on track and focus on today. Remember you don't have to be perfect to be sucessful at this No-S, which works out great, cuz none of us are perfect!!!!

Dawn

You are wise to be concerned about getting this weight off now before more kids. Look around, so many of us never did lose our baby weight. Of course a few extra pounds as we get older, have kids, etc isn't a big deal but there is a limit. I had twins in 1995, they were both around 5 pounds and I ...

Dawn

That all or nothing mentality is a killer isn't it? I bet most of us here have it. So what is your plan this time to get around that? I know we don't want to over complicate this and dwell on the past but having a plan for what you know are your down falls is a good idea.

You can do this - for ...

Dawn

Good for you! You just dealt denial a lethal blow. I know for me denial has been a key factor in holding me back. Denial will tell you that itâ€™s OK to have a little taste, that the measly 20 calories in that bite isn't going to make you gain weight. But you know what one bite leads to don't you ...

Dawn

I can't wait to tell my boys that you all cried too! They thought I was nuts. I showed this to them earlier this week when a friend sent it to me and I cried each time I showed it.

Hugging a lion is now on my bucket list, right between donating bone marrow and driving the Oscar Meyer wienie mobile.

Dawn

Lots of luck with that. For me that would be like fries without salt or pancakes without syrup. I'd rather give it up completely if I had to drink it black. I have one cup per day and I measure out 3 Tbs of my favorite CoffeeMate liquid non dairly cream - french vanilla. Its aroud 105 calories and I ...

Dawn

I don't know if it ever really goes away, but it does get easier. And all the fruit, juice and other "naturally" sweet things in the world won't help me. Once I get it in my head that I want something sweet I just push it out or plan a nice treat for my next S day. I am OK today but yesterday I was ...

Dawn

5 months into this and S days are still a problem for me. I am 1/2 way to my goal (I am down 10 pounds), but I am sure I would be a lot further along if it weren't for my crazy S days.

I do know that I do sooo much better when I eat my 3 meals. Also I prolong my first treat as long as I can because ...

Dawn

For me meal skipping leads to trouble. I seem to feel it's OK to over eat at my next meal or eat high cal foods - not the habit I am trying to establish.

Right this second I am eating a bowl of Fiber One cereal. It's much earlier than I usually eat but I am going to have one of those days so I am ...

Dawn

Hey Laff,

We are never going to be perfect but the important thing is that you see what you are doing wrong and are correcting. A slip up in the old days would have been an excuse to throw in the towel all together. You have every right to be proud of yourself.

You've come a long way baby!

Dawn

It takes a while to find your "formula". Eating more at a meal, eating later, eating more protein or fiber are things to try. During the day I just suck it up, my problem is night time. I get through, but it's a nail biter sometimes.

Good luck!

Dawn

Did I ever tell you that you are my hero? Well, you are. As a matter of fact you are the wind beneath my wings!!

Seriously awesome. That's exactly how it should work.

I am going through a plateau right now and your story has inspired me. I want to feel that kind of freedom too!

Dawn

Seconds on dinner tonight. I never have a problem with seconds but tonight it was a killer. I had my husband clean up.

I just keep telling myself when I am tempted that I love how I feel in the AM when I stay strong and how much I hate to wake up with that guilty feeling. That was a huge reason I ...

Dawn

You say you have between 40 and 20 min for lunch on most days, well, that's probably what most of us have. Making the most of 20 min isn't easy, but with a little thought you can do it. I used to pack a very small cutting board and knife because I love to eat apples but only if I can cut them up. I ...

Dawn

Late evenings were the worst for me in the beginning, so I decided to make a habit out of allowing myself one thing at 8PM, but I decided it had to be the same thing every night so that it was controlled and only so desirable. Sugar free hot cocoa did the trick. It's a beverage and as you know they ...

Dawn

Congrats! And I love that you have made some adjustments to fit your needs but are still staying within the spirit of No-S.

Dawn

Thanks for sharing. It's so good to hear that it happens if you just let it.

I understand about kids slowing down the weight loss process. I found it too hard to come home and see them and then leave again to go work out or walk, but I found I could come home 30 minutes later without feeling too ...

Dawn

Boy, eating right and exercising! Whodda thunk?

Keep up the good work, you inspire us all!

Dawn

I have come to the realization that if I can't do this plan then I surely can't do any of the others that are far harder and more restrictive. Also 20 years of trying and failing those plans pretty much tells me that is true. So it's either keep working at this or be happy with my current weight ...

Dawn

Can't stress enough - get the book and read and re-read it.

I rarely take S days outside of weekends, as a matter of fact in 5 months I have only had maybe 2 total. But I will take the 4th as one since I will be having guest over. I will enjoy it and I won't feel the least bit guilty. Guilt isn't a ...

Dawn

The simplicity is crazy. We all say we have tried everything under the sun over the years to lose weight. But I guess we never did try to make small changes and see what happens. Always in a hurry weren't we?

Dawn

I drink one cup a day and it's around 100 cal with the sweetened cream I put in it. I drink mine just after I get the kids out the door and I can sit at my desk and begin work. I don't think there is anything on the planet that I enjoy as much for only 100 calories. Then I have breakfast when I get ...

Dawn

Easiest - no seconds - super easy at breakfast and lunch - those are meals where seconds aren't really an option. Dinner is harder as there is always something left over and the smaller the left over the more tempting to just polish it off. But I try eat a good amount - always round out dinner with ...

Dawn

I wouldn't call myself a binger, but I have gone over board (in the past), but I was wondering what some of you mean when you use the word binge in regards to your (past!!!) behavior.

Just currious I guess!

Dawn

Dawn

Laff, sounds like you are really getting it - good for you! Funny how long it takes though huh? Part of the baggage us serial dieters carry with us.

You need a default meal for breakfast since so many plan B's are sweets and not very good at holding you over until lunch. I love Fiber One bars. 150 ...

Dawn

For me the best part of this has been not having to deal with guilt and worry. Once I got rid of those the rest just fell into place.

I did not lose an ounce in the first 10 weeks! But now 4-1/2 months into this I am down nearly 10 pounds. My goal when I started was to roughly lose around 20 ...

Dawn

I still get a snack attack ever day at the same times (3PM and 8PM) and I have been doing this for 4 months and have not cheated - not once! But habit is strong. It gets easier and easier to push aside my cravings, but I can't lie, they are still there.

Truly understanding the difference between ...

Dawn

The book should help you a lot. I thought I was doing great the first month or so but then I read and book, and man what a difference. When I am struggling I pull out the book and randomly read some it and it brings everything into perspective.

Good luck!

Dawn

Don't you feel wonderful? Although it took me 4 MONTHS to do that, I can't get over how great it feels to say that I did it without dieting.

Keep up the good work!!!!!

Dawn

Everyone is different. My sister in law and I both went on Jenny Craig at the same time and I lost about 15 pounds in 6 weeks (translation $600) and she lost closer to 20 pounds. I exercised very regularly and she not once. We are the same age, but body type is very different. We both sit on our ...

Dawn

If you find with your lifestyle that eating out happens often, then embrace it.

Personally I do great in restaurants; itâ€™s at home that is hard for me. At home I want to pick while cooking. I want to have "just a little more". And I want to pick while cleaning up. In a restaurant I don't those ...

Dawn

That's great to hear. If you can focus on you and your health at this stressful time then you can do just about anything.

Yeah you!!!

Dawn

Grey area, hands down. ;)

So...
Is it a problem?
Do YOU think of it as a sweet? (Versus part of a meal?)
Is it a "gateway food"?
Can you eat it on occasion and be satisfied?

Consider the answers, and make your best call... and remember you can always reconsider.

I agree with KCCC all the way ...

Dawn

Gail,

The late night munchies were the hardest for me too. After 4 months I still get a twinge every night at 8PM, but heck after 20 years since I quit smoking I still crave a smoke now and then. Habit is strong. Good news is that good habits are just as strong as bad, I guess they just aren't as ...

Dawn

I remember seeing something like this on TV once, maybe this is exactly what it was, I just don't remember what it was called. Anyway, there was this skeletal guy going on and on about studies showing how much longer we can live if we barely eat enough to exist. He was the dullest person I have ever ...

Dawn

I wouldn't dare weigh myself after some of the weekends I have had. Actually most weekends since starting this 4 months ago have been less than perfect. Although I am not sure what a perfect weekend is. The point of them is to keep you from feeling deprived thus keeping you on track the rest of the ...

Dawn

Welcome!

With a baby on the way you are wise to get in shape physically and mentally.

I found that I wasn't quite the disaster I thought I was going into this. There really were only about 3 times of the day that I really struggled with those snack attacks. I found I was able to just push through ...

Dawn

I didn't lose an ounce the first 10 weeks. I did however get the No-S habits nailed down during that time. I thought I was doing so great with my 3 meals, but after closer inspection I thought maybe I could cut back a bit more. I did and it was actually easy. I wouldn't have had the strength to do ...

Dawn

Sorry to hear the PMS thing is that bad for you. Even with all the jokes about PMS it's good to see that it is being taken more seriously over the last so many years. Hopefully the great new habits you establish with No-S will make dealing with this very real problem a bit easier. No-S isn't a cure ...

Dawn

Welcome! You sound like fun, and I am a big fan of fun. Also I think DVR is the greatest invention of all time. This common sense you speak of has me intrigued. I will have to Google it as I am not familiar with it.

As for eye tearing out fits, you had me at count, but you did leave out one of the ...

Dawn

I think this plan helps you focus on what your real problem areas are. I narrowed down the biggest culprits for me. Late night sweets, the 3pm munchies and picking while cooking dinner. The one that I though would be the hardest to kick has ended up being the easiest. I mean the late night sweet ...

Dawn

First of all you are doing great. The No-S plan is a multi part plan in my opinion. And you can't get to the next step until you fully nail down the previous step.

Step 1. No-Sing M-F (don't worry about meal size or content until this is fully nailed down)

Step 2. Cut portion size and make better ...

Dawn

I think what you are talking about is more of a fluctuation rather than yo-yoing. I don't know if itâ€™s realistic to think that once you get to your "happy" weight that there will be no fluctuating. Maybe you should give yourself a "happy" range. That way you have the freedom of going a bit crazy ...

Dawn

When you look at someone and are asked how they look. Do you say, "Gee I don't know, what does her scale say"? Or "well that depends, what size are her pants"? Of course not, we just look with our eyes and determine if they look nice or if maybe they could stand to slim down a bit. So why can't we ...

Dawn

A lot of people have reported that the routine of the No-S is very calming in the midst of a lot of chaos, and girl your life is the definition of chaos right now.

You will only feel worse if you let yourself slip back into that old bad habit of medicating with food. It sounds kinda cold but you ...

Dawn

A beverage, even a sugary one is better than chomping into a real food snack. It doesn't really interfere with your goal to make not snacking your new habit.

But most of us No-Sers use a beverage like hot cocoa, milk or juice as an emergency maneuver when we are having a tough time. I used the hot ...

Dawn

Me too! All my clothes are fitting nice now. Next step is for them to be a bit loose!

Jeans are a way better gage than that damn scale.

Dawn

Besides what everyone else has already said, remember you will be job hunting soon and need to feel confident. Getting back on the S wagon right away will give you confidence. Honey if you can get through this, you can get through just about anything.

Good luck to you with work and with S.

Dawn

Always step back and look at the big picture.

What is the point of no snacks on N days? It gets rid of that nasty snack habit most of us have and are out of control with.

The idea that a beverage is OK is because you are still getting the no snack habit in place. In the beginning we all find we ...

Dawn

I think your doctor's heart is in the right place, but his head is up his butt. When will these health professionals understand that scolding us like children will result in just the type of behavior that they are scolding us about. Stress out a smoker, what do you suppose they are going to do once ...

Dawn

I think you should do whatever works for you, but don't forget this plan is about habits and building good ones. Is drinking 2 meals a day the habit you are hoping to build? If so, great. But if not, then why not just do something that you can make a habit everyday. I find myself slipping back into ...

Dawn

Blueskighs, I have to admit I think I am past even thinking "what's the point". I truly think I am at the point where I just dismiss the S in front of me and don't give it another thought. I can't remember the last time I really was sad about having to say no, or bitter or pissed off or whatever my ...

Dawn

Fkwan, so you dumped Dr McDougall for guacamole? Tramp!

Oh, well I once had a three way with Weight Watchers and Dexatrim, and I do beleive that puts me in the dirty skank category.

Maybe it's crazy to eqate these diets with relationships, but when you think of the amount of time, thought and ...

Dawn

I have always said it's not the diet it's me. I pretty much beleive that all diets work, for awhile at least. Sticking to it is the problem.

All these years I have been searching and searching for my "soul mate" plan an now I have found it. Sure it was exciting sneaking around with Atkins, and ...

Dawn

Youâ€™re getting ahead of yourself. I know you are excited that this could the "one" and at the same time you are scared that you can't do it.

If you are starving out of your mind 3 hours prior to your next meal then you are clearly not eating enough at mealtime - sorry I know you were hoping for ...

Dawn

Although I do love a nice pat on the back, the main reason for this post is to assure others like me (20 or less to lose) that it will happen if you stick with it!

I just broke through my 2nd plateau since starting this in early Feb. I guess the first wasn't really a plateau, it was just the ...

Dawn

Betty: Great idea. You are managing your problem, not letting it manage you!

Laura Ann: I think you make a good point about excuses in general. As I go further into this I am discovering that I am way sneakier and trickier than I even suspect I was. Of course we all have things that we can't avoid ...

Dawn

Once I had the No-S's nailed down I did have to re-evaluate what was on my plate since I was doing great, feeling great, but I wasn't losing any weight yet. I only have 15-20 pounds to lose so just cutting out the S's wasn't cutting it for me. By this time I was strong enough to take it to the next ...

Dawn

Peggy, lots of us exercise strenuously or just due to our lifestyles have to go many hours in between meals. Since snacks are out of the question (no matter how healthy) on N days, you will need to figure out how much you need to eat at meal time and what types of food you need to eat to keep up ...

Dawn

The only problem with in home equipment is just don't know if you will use it or not. I had a treadmill and loved it but when it died I just couldn't afford the $700 to replace it. I since have tried a stationary bike, which totally hurt my back after only five minutes. Tried adjusting it everyway ...

Dawn

Debbie , I have been doing this for just over 3 months and I have not snacked once on an N day. That is more than a success to me, it's a down right miracle! But I don't think the desire ever goes away. How can it with food all around us, if not in person, then on TV or in magazines etc. I could be ...

Dawn

I think anytime you have a plateau that lasts longer than 4 weeks you should do something to shake up your metabolism. Nothing drastic. If you exercise 1 hour a day, still do it, just do something different. If you eat 1,100 calories, still do that, just mix up the menu. But then again, you are so ...

Dawn

KCCC, I just think remembering what I felt like as a child has been helpful to me as a Mom. There are a lot of things that are non-negotiable and I have had to the pull the "because I said so" card. Although I do try to explain why I am doing something, where my folks never found that necessary ...

Dawn

I have 3 teenage sons and I find if they eat 3 good meals they don't go looking for snacks. And they only ask for dessert once in awhile. Thank God they are naturally like their Dad. But when they were little they had tiny little appetites and I am sure they were truly hungry a few hours after ...

Dawn

Yup that was my hardest time too. I can think of nothing better and more enjoyable than having the house quiet and TV to myself for just a little while at night. Just me, the TV and my dessert/snack. It's what I look forward to the most on S days.

That's where I did have to use some good old ...

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