No Snacks, no sweets, no seconds. Except on Days that start with S. Too simple for you? Simple is why it works. Look here for questions, introductions, support, success stories.
This is a great group, and you'll get a lot of support here.
On the Ovaltine... a lot of things fall into "gray areas." The usual dividing line is to ask yourself "is it sweet enough to be a dessert?"
I also ask myself:
- Is it a "gateway" food (leading to craving more sweets)
- Is it a problem in current quantities?
If the answer to those are "no," then enjoy. The rule is not "no sugar," it's "no sweets." (I have two cups of coffee with a teaspoon of sugar in each every morning, and don't worry about it).
If it's "yes," then think twice.
And remember, you can change your mind. You might decide you need it now, when you're cutting out so many other things, and later decide to give it up. Or you might decide that you want to go "cold turkey" now, and later decide that it really does fit your diet.
One of the beauties of No-S is that it allows incremental improvements over time.
Thanks for the welcoming. I am going to need lots of support. Just posting everyday makes me feel more accountable. I like the idea of tracking the days to 21 to establish the habit.
And you are right, it's the incremental part I like also. There is no failure - just try again until the good habits are formed.
Good Morning and Bienvenu! Most of us here post daily to keep us in contact with each other, to offer support and encouragement, and it helps keep us focused and on track, glad you are with us. Have a blessed day.
The talk about accountability intrigues me. I used to think that I needed to have someone to be accountable to (as in having a food sponsor in OA), but as I'm doing this (No-S) more I'm realizing that I only need to be accountable to myself. Because if I put too much faith in having someone else keep me of track, I can find an excuse if I want one to not have to talk to that person any longer. If I think that this forum is the reason I keep going, I may decide in the future that I don't want to come here and have to say I failed.
On the other hand, if I come here to offer my support and to learn tips from what's worked or is working for others, then it's a great supplement to my habit-building.
Bottom line for me is that I need to have trust and faith in myself and my ability to take good care of myself all by myself, if necessary. That, and knowing that I am worth the effort.
PS to MB Did you decide to go with the Ovaltine? Why or why not?
Jill
The food I eat today is my choice! What price am I willing to pay?
"There are no failures, only feedback." ~~ Robert Allen
Good work, MooseBerry! I think the indulgences do taste better since we wait for them! I'm glad that you had such a successful start! Just keep adding one more day, then one more day...you can do it!
Also, back to my previous post: when my grandkids came down and went to cold stone creamery, would that have counted as a S day since it was so special (we don't always go there when they come down)?
and if it did count as an s day, does that make it a red day and would I have had to start over in counting my days??????
mooseberry....if the day your grandkids came down..was not actually a Sat. or Sun. Then you can mark it with a yellow square on your habitcal and call it an NWS...which is a non weekend S day. Reinhard says you should take 2 of these a month anyway. Yellow days are exempt days and are not a failure.
You can read about these in the book...if you have it.
Creating and sustaining the No S habits are the only thing that will take me in the direction I want to go!
Mooseberry,
I know what you mean about seminars/conferences where they serve all sorts of delightful foods. I just completed a two week summer institute at a major university where the order of the day was coffee and sweet rolls & bagels, etc. before it started; two 30 minute breaks mid-morning and mid-afternoon in addition to the substantial lunch break.
I handled the mornings by eating the bagels and fruit for my breakfast there on site and did a little socializing/networking then; during the two breaks, I headed to a computer station and checked email, etc. to keep myself away from the temptation of the sweets and snacks provided. (this was an opportunity to be a weekday luddite for a good reason!) I must admit I wasn't always as successful as I'd like to have been, but it worked most days!
I used the lunch time to make a quick trip to a nearby city pool to join some friends in our daily water aerobics class for 45 minutes. I still had time to eat a QUICK lunch (no time to eat too much!) and got back to the next session.
So hopefully you can manage your time at OU and stay true to your No S's!