Everyday Systems

JayEll

Protein is probably the answer. Try some eggs, Greek yogurt (if you can have that), breakfast sausage, or other protein foods to have along with your bowl of cereal.

JayEll

I dunno, germanherman, if you're firmly against something, why ask the question about its benefits?

You don't provide any examples of these safer artificially manufactured pesticides. You don't provide any references about how eating a pesticide or other synthetic chemical used in food production ...

JayEll

germanherman:

Organic foods are produced without artificial chemically synthesized fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. In this way the groundwater is protected from contamination by these chemicals, and runoff pollution is not as bad a problem as with conventional methods. In addition, we are ...

JayEll

I have a suggestion for you, and that's to sit down and write out reasons to stick with the plan on N days. It would be things like this (you can make your own list):

- No one dies because they can't have candy.
- An S day is not that far away and I can wait.
- I feel better when I stay with the ...

JayEll

Buying organic is good for so many reasons, but in my experience it doesn't automatically lead to weight loss. You can eat too much of anything.

JayEll

I am continuing to drink sufficient water. It makes a difference.

I'm not following No-S at this point. I may ease back into it later on, when I have gotten my weight down again. I think it makes sense for maintenance--but I don't lose weight on it without modification.

My current approach is ...

JayEll

In recent years it has somehow become a general fad to run a marathon or perform in Iron Man-type triathlons or take "Boot Camp" fitness courses. I can't imagine why this is--it doesn't make good sense!

I do think that exercise can be dangerous or at least harmful if taken to extremes. I have had ...

JayEll

If you were a recovering drug addict, would you keep heroin in the house?

For some of us, some foods are just too much like that. Once we start, we keep going, whether it's a pint or a half gallon.

As a general rule, I go out to get ice cream. It doesn't live in my house. If I'm getting ice cream ...

JayEll

"I think part of the problem here in the US is that we've become accustomed to eating poor quality foods and treat foods are no exception."

Umm, I think that's what I was saying, wosnes, so why the big disagreement? The original poster probably didn't eat a gourmet version of pizza and high quality ...

JayEll

In my view, we are supposed to feel sick after eating food like that. It's just that our bodies adapt to it if we eat it all the time.

Don't give up S days. Just choose your foods more carefully. Go for quality foods instead of the "favorite" foods.

JayEll

Diets have worked for me, as long as I've stayed on them. The problem is what happens when I've run out of stamina or just can't stand all the tracking, counting, weighing, measuring.

My experience with No S so far has been one of slow gain, not slow loss. I've found that I'm going to have to ...

JayEll

My weight is dropping, but it's mostly water loss. I realized I had not been drinking enough water, and my ankles were swelling. I got back into my water routine of an 8 oz. glass every hour, and things are improving.

Before anyone comments on whether or not we need to drink that much water, etc ...

JayEll

If I had time to practice getting up to an alarm during the day, I wouldn't need to get up early!

I have a cat who is often very insistent that I arise... Very!

But I'm lucky in that I don't have trouble getting up in the morning.

JayEll

Nope, according to BMI I'm obese. Good thought, though.

JayEll

Yes, TUK, I exercise. Not as regularly as I have done in the past.

Although No-S works for some people, it's not working for me. I can't continue to gain.

First of all, if I'm going to continue without counting, I'm going to have to use smaller plates. Even in my first month, those three plates of ...

JayEll

Back in the day, we used to talk about ditching classes. This was in the U.S.

Sounds to me like you tend to overthink things--like coffee vs. no coffee, how much is too much, etc. Relax! Follow the guidelines! Don't make things more complex than they have to be.

JayEll

Well, it was your dad's Birthday, so that is a legitimate S day. No worries. And, unless my calendar is wrong, today is an S day, too.

Don't think that you have to "make up" for yesterday by skipping the S day today.

I'd say your best bet is just not to go to Mom's except on weekends or special ...

JayEll

I am now up 5 pounds from when I started. :(

Clearly a problem here. But I have to be honest--I haven't done well with the no snacking part.

I don't eat things like fettucini alfredo. I can't even remember the last time I had something like that. So the problem isn't that I fill my plate with ...

JayEll

I happen to be healthy, attractive, and overweight. heh! And, I agree that healthy does not have to equal attractive. Jethro, the way you phrased it, it sounded like you said the poster's goal was lean attractive health, not that that is an ADA goal. Simple misunderstanding.

Once you get into 4 to ...

JayEll

My way of looking at it is that first of all, I fill the plate to begin with. But if I had done what you did, and there had been empty space to begin with, I would not consider it seconds to get more plantains.

I also don't think it's a matter of time. The idea is to fill the plate once, not set a ...

JayEll

Nothing much to report--I went off the rails for awhile there. Just too much snacking in the evening, in spite of big dinner. Nothing like adding snacks when you're eating big meals too! At least when I was counting, I had some space left over... Or perceived space.

JayEll

This is SPAM and it needs to be removed!

JayEll

Most liqueurs are very high in sugar. If that's the majority of the calories, then I'd classify it as a sweet, myself. But it's up to you.

JayEll

I am not a doctor, but I have experienced exercise injuries. This is my non-medical opinion, and I encourage you to consult your doctor. People on websites can't give you actual medical advice.

It sounds as though you have started using too heavy a weight, and/or doing the movements too strenuously ...

JayEll

I'd say, No, it doesn't. That's kind of a myth, not a "requirement." You could time your workouts to just before meals if you want--but in the old days, people did physical labor all day but still only ate when it was mealtime.

JayEll

I see what you mean--the horse stance. If you look at Reinhard's videos, you'll see that his knees are bent and one foot is forward compared to the other. This is not unlike the horse stance idea, just with feet aligned differently. I have done martial arts training in the past, and the stance is ...

JayEll

Hi! First of all, I'm not a doctor, and I don't know your medical history. If you think it would be good to consult with your doctor, please do!

I'm someone who has to be careful with my back, but I find the shovelglove movements actually help my back feel better--as long as I do not overdo them. I ...

JayEll

Here's an idea for you. Start No-S on a Wednesday. Stick with it completely, no ifs ands or buts. You are only three days away from an S-day. Then, enjoy your S-days with no regrets, and think about how good those extras will be the following weekend, after you've been No-S-ing for 5 days.

If it ...

JayEll

I think the "someone brought it so I have to eat it" idea is just disastrous! And it's also how people who don't want to diet trick other people into going off their food plans. It becomes group collusion to stay overweight! There is nothing wrong with saying no. If someone brought in some heroin ...

JayEll

At least my weight has stopped going up at the moment. It's becoming clear to me that Vanilla No S isn't working for me and I need to modify it.

I am not going back to counting calories. I have tried many many MANY times to go back to that. It makes me mental, and after three days I chuck the ...

JayEll

Thanks, Mimi. I'll keep going with it.

JayEll

SkyKitty and r.jean, I'm no stranger to exercise, but I have been slacking off lately. Thanks for the reminder.

JayEll

I see what you're getting at. :) My mother and grandmother were about the same weight I am, I assume, based on appearance. We didn't talk about actual weight a lot--today everyone seems focused on it.

It's not my intention to spend my life dieting, which is why No S has appealed to me. But slow ...

JayEll

What's your point, wosnes?

JayEll

Yes, older woman. 5'3" 181 lbs.

I lost 50 pounds in 2006-2007 to get to 147. I started to regain after 2 years in spite of many efforts to get back to what I was doing (calorie counting). Last year I lost weight on Medifast, but I was unable to keep doing it because of intolerance to soy protein ...

JayEll

Well, you know what? I'm not tracking it. So I can't really tell you exactly. here is the general idea.

Breakfast is sometimes an egg with some cheese and toast. Other times Shredded Wheat with 1/3 banana, 1/2 peach, 1/4 cup blueberries, and 2% or 1% milk. Occasionally I might have a shake made ...

JayEll

Today I have been doing No S for a month. I am now 3 pounds heavier than when I started.

I'm not someone who caves in and cheats. I've been following the guidelines exactly. But clearly, I am still eating too much. I am going to have to do some kind of modification, or instead of being maintenance ...

JayEll

OK, I'm discouraged. I'm posting in the discussion forum to see what other No-Sers have to say. I didn't want a weight gaining program.

JayEll

Hi, sarahkay. I just wanted to say, and as kindly as possible, that being fat does not guarantee that people like you for you. And being slimmer does not guarantee, conversely, that people who seem to like you are only pretending.

It's good to focus on what you really want for yourself. Do you want ...

JayEll

Don't calorie count. That's what we're trying to get away from--the obsession with "exactly how much." You can never know! All those numbers are estimates and averages.

Besides, it tends to make you think you can eat more, whether it's accurate or not.

Throw away leftover food at restaurants, if ...

JayEll

Mid-week. Been doing fairly well, but I've noticed a tendency to overeat at dinner--or rather, to keep eating after the plate is empty. I mentally justify this by telling myself that the plate wasn't completely full, and I could therefore add a few nuts, etc., in a virtual sense. But that's a ...

JayEll

On one S day a couple weeks ago, I ate the three meals as usual, but we went for ice cream in the afternoon. That was great! And I had real ice cream, not lowfat sugarfree.

Popcorn in the evening is a good snack that I like.

I try to choose one thing that's going to be a sweet, a snack, and a ...

JayEll

Hey there!

You are good to be cautious, but the biggest danger is using too much weight to start. You aren't likely to injure anyone else as long as you have an open space to work in. And, you can use the videos to guide you in terms of form.

I suggest you start with just a pole! for example, a ...

JayEll

But, doesn't leaving sweets for the weekend only make you want them more? Doesn't it just make them seem "off limits" and give them more power? I don't know... for now I'm sticking to Vanilla, but if I absolutely need a mod in order to stick to it, then I will reconsider.

Some of us have done ...

JayEll

Sorry, double post! See below.

JayEll

Can it be that I am actually gaining weight on No-S? Can it be that I am eating MORE by eating this way than I was before? Or at least, I am not eating less?

Pretty discouraged at the results after almost 4 weeks. Should I eat less at meals? Use a smaller plate? dunno.

JayEll

Be careful you don't turn into the food police.

Yes, you can make better choices--even among "junk foods." Does that mean you are "failing" No S? No, it does not. Try to keep things in perspective.

In my opinion, Chipotle is great. Maybe you need to distinguish between "fast food" and "junk food ...

JayEll

Ah--good point! No, anything in a package and with sugar added is definitely a sweet. Only on S days.

JayEll

Fruits are fine. They are not considered "sweets." They go well with any meal--berries with oatmeal, half an apple as part of lunch, etc.

JayEll

On any forum you'll find lots of really old threads the first time you visit. There are more recent posts, and you can find the date of the last post in a thread in the right-hand column.

JayEll

Hey, Gabe. One of the main points about No S is that your food choices can be anything you want as long as you follow the very simple rules. As long as you keep to the no sweets, no snacking, and no seconds rule on N-days, you are on plan.

I'd add one thing to that, though--I guess I would call it ...

JayEll

OK... Today is over 21 days being No S, and my weight is back where I started. I'm not happy with this.

Although I like this way of eating, my thought was to lose weight.

Yes, it's good I'm not gaining, but I was down a couple of pounds for awhile, and now I'm not.

Since this small a change is ...

JayEll

Nothing new to report in my No-S world. No weight change, which is good! It's not going up!

It's so freeing to know that I can eat a full plate of whatever I like, 3 times a day. Reinhard is right--this is more like I used to eat when I was growing up (and had no weight problem).

JayEll

Um... I just noticed a link at the bottom of the OP message. Maybe this is just spam?

JayEll

I see two possibilities: (1) Your message got posted sooner than expected. (2) Your physical fitness abilities are... nothing!

Don't worry about this. Try to walk more during the day. If it's too hot to walk outside, or too rainy, or whatever, then try walking at a mall. No need to do too much ...

JayEll

LOL Well let's see... if I want to think my food is larger, couldn't I just use a regular magnifying glass...??

Or maybe just not worry about the size of a cookie if it's an S Day?

JayEll

Hello, folks. I am not new to weight loss--and I'm burned out on the typical diets. I won't be doing daily check-in or HabitCal because I cannot stand ANY kind of tracking!

I like No S because No is easier for me to deal with than Some. With Some I turn into a lawyer arguing a court case! Can I ...

JayEll

I tend to agree with you about how different forums get a "pack" going all of whom think alike.

I've posted about No S on another forum also, and I find that I've either gotten no response, or reponses that say more or less, "I guess that's fine for some, but this is what works for me so I'm ...

JayEll

Just wanted to add--don't worry about intense exercise at this point. Your task right now is just to get the food part working.

JayEll

Welcome, Sonia! As someone who has a history of calorie counting, going on and off, losing and regaining, etc., I find this program very refreshing! I hope you do, too.

JayEll

I think the Skinny Cow bar is a sweet, technically. Just for what it's worth.

You could have added a salad to that lunch instead of the ice cream bar. Or some other vegetables. Or a small pile of nuts, like raw almonds. Or even more chicken salad.

But take heart! I think you're heading in the ...

JayEll

I agree with oolala53. You need more food in that breakfast. Two eggs, toast, bacon, and hash browns is a good plateful of food. Or, Kashi cereal with almond milk AND some ham or sausage or eggs, plus fruit.

You get to eat real meals on this program. Don't make the mistake of skimping on meals ...

JayEll

wosnes, so true about Shredded Wheat, if you make sure to get the "Original" version.

JayEll

Hey, that's great! I'd say you don't need to add anything else for now.

JayEll

How about Quaker Oats? The kind without added sugar. Or some other kind of faster-cooking oatmeal. You can make Quaker Oats in a microwave using a deep bowl in about 2-1/2 minutes.

Special K cereal, while not no sugar, is fairly low in sugar compared to other packaged cereals. Raisin bran contains ...

JayEll

I did--but I tried the Shovelglove movements to see what they were like pretty quickly. You can start just with a pole of some kind--no need to buy a sledge hammer right away. I use a real garden shovel--weighs about 4 lbs. Even then I have to take it easy.

Walking is a better way to get started, I ...

JayEll

...but I feel like I've been trying really hard to "talk myself into" the No S plan, and now my energy is just gone. I can't make myself believe I like it anymore.
I'm thinking that you shouldn't have to talk yourself into anything.

Perhaps it's time for you to explore some alternatives. Maybe ...

JayEll

Did this happen before the weekend? I guess it must have because on my calendar, I see three S-days in a row, Saturday through Monday (Memorial Day).

How long have you been doing No S? --Oh, never mind, I see by your profile.

Perhaps you're just testing the waters. Or perhaps you just need more ...

JayEll

I am someone who used to exercise 5-6 times a week at the gym for an hour and a half each time. And then after a couple of years I started to have injuries. Arthritis flared up in my back, bursitis in my shoulders, and so on. So after a point I realized that constant daily exercise at the level I ...

JayEll

Welcome, runlibby! I am relatively new to No S also. My weight went down the first week, but then it went up the next. The good news is that it hasn't gone up beyond where I started, even though I'm not counting anything.

I'm sticking with No S for at least a month--and also, I realize that right ...

JayEll

I believe it's true about the calories. Some evidence indicates that frequent, severely restricted dieting can slow metabolism (or make it more efficient--which is a more positive way to put it I guess). In the worse case, it can become a vicious cycle of: start to gain --> restrict more--> eat too ...

JayEll

Somebody kick jenna off here!

JayEll

I know Dr. Oz is very popular, but I don't like him. I don't like any doctor who goes on TV wearing scrubs, labcoats, etc. (the "sacred robes") and especially when they start pushing expensive supplements. I don't think Oprah would have still been fighting her weight if it were just a matter of ...

JayEll

I think part of how No S works is that without snacks to raise blood sugar, the body has to use something to keep blood sugar constant between meals and ensure the brain gets enough glucose. So, the enzymes for burning stored energy (glycogen, fat) increase. Add in some exercise, and those enzymes ...

JayEll

For me, I am totally sick of counting, weighing, and measuring, and all the head-games I put on myself when I'm doing it. I no longer want to know any numbers about what I am or not eating. I just like eating meals when I'm supposed to and not worrying about it!

I also am amazed at how adding in ...

JayEll

Gosh... as someone who was a calorie counter for YEARS and only ate 400 cals MAX for most meals... I find it hard to understand 1 full plate not being enough! :D I feel like I'm in heaven.

I agree with the poster who said, slow down. Since you have kids with food challenges, you may not be used to ...

JayEll

I'd say, make sure your meals are big enough! Are you unconsciously trying to skimp? That will make you hungry for sure... It does me! So remember that the 1 plate rule doesn't mean a small plate or a plate with half the space empty. Fill that 1 plate. Then you won't have to resort to sugar...

I ...

JayEll

I am using an actual shovel--the total weight is 4 lbs. This is just about right for me--but I overdid it a couple days in a row and made my shoulders quite sore (bursitis). Now I've had to stop completely for awhile to let things simmer down. Really, one must go slow at first.

You could also just ...

JayEll

Reinhard, the thing about your tracking and spreadsheet idea is that it's "accounting," right? Only instead of counting calories it's drinks?

I can see using a calendar for tracking days on habit, but I just wonder whether the need to count drinks on paper isn't a little retro... :)

In my case ...

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JayEll's Irregular Check-In and Commentary