Counting carbs/calories is a drag. Obsessive scale stepping is a recipe for despair. If you want to count something, "days on habit" is a much better metric. Checking off days on a calendar would do just fine, but if you do it here you get accountability and support. Here's how. Start a new topic in this forum called (say) "Your Name Daily Check In." Then every N day post a "reply" to that topic as to whether you stayed on habit. A simple "<font color="green">SUCCESS</font>" or "<font color="red">FAILURE</font>" (or your preferred euphemism if that's too harsh) is sufficient, but obviously you're welcome to write more if you want. On S-days just register that you're taking an S-day. You don't have to do this forever, just until you're confident you've built the habit. Feel free to check in weekly or monthly or sporadically instead of daily. Feel free also to track other habits besides No-s (I'm keeping this forum under No-s because that's what the vast majority are using it for). See also my <a href="/habitcal/">HabitCal</a> tool for another more formal (and perhaps complementary) way to track habits.
I've been trying to do the No S Diet for several weeks now but have not been very consistent. I really feel that the No S Diet is just what I've been looking for to help me overcome my obsession with food. I'm tired of all the exhausted wasted time I've spent contemplating what I should or shouldn't eat.
I hope to complete 21 consecutive days. I'm on the starting line and I'm not looking back!
Day 2 - December 9, 2008 - Success
Meal 1: Done
Meal 2: Done
Meal 3: Done
No Snacks: Done
No Seconds: Done
Meal 1: Done
Meal 2: Done
Meal 3: Done
No Snacks: Done
No Sweets: Done
No Seconds: Done
Thanks Blueskighs and Janie for your encouragement!! It really helps!
I'm feeling so much more committed since I decided to post a daily check-in.
I,m just concentrating on establishing the habit of 3 meals a day with no snacks, no sweets and no seconds. If I need to make adjustments to what I'm eating I will deal with that latter. I'm not going to weigh myself for awhile, I'm more interested in getting over my obsession with food and to try and train myself to stop using food as a way to deal with my emotions.
Meal 1: Done
Meal 2: Done
Meal 3: Done
No Snacks: Done
No Sweets: Done
No Seconds: Done
Husband suggested after dinner that we get something sweet - I immediately said it is a No S Day. So we didn't get anything sweet. I was pleased with myself.
Well done Linda! These first days are tough, but when you hang in there & feel those successes, it'll confirm what you already figured out...this is exactly the right way to make changes on the inside that will completely change your way of eating.
Thanks Blueskighs and Janie for your words of encouragment!!
December 13 & 14, 2008 - S Days
Looking back over the past weekend I realize I need to maybe make some adjustments to how I handle S Days. Allowing snacking on S days opens up for me issues I have with using food for comfort. I'm not saying I'm going to eliminate snacking but I just need to be more aware if I really need a snack. I think I can handle the sweets and seconds, it is just the snacking that seems to bring a feeling of being out of control and negative emotions.
I'm going to have to be more selective as to what I choose to snack with on S Days. I should try to keep to the 3meals a day and allow sweets and seconds just be really careful with snacking in between the three meals. I guess I'll just have to experiment with this, I definitely do not want my S Days to get out of control.
But it is Monday and I'm back to the start of a No S Week!
Linda
I've had some problems with "S" days over the past two months & have just decided that I need more structure. I don't want to change the plan, but I was just grazing and by Monday I was fighting feelings of discouragement. I've decided to allow myself one of every "S" on "S" days...one snack, one sweet, and one second. I'm not going to beat myself up if I choose to have two sweet or two snacks...nor am I going to feel deprived if I choose to have none of them...but I needed some goal to reach for on the "S" days & this seems to be working for me. I'm not saying that everyone should do the same...just sharing what seems to be helping me. As you think through the weekends, I'm sure you'll find a plan that helps you with the snacking too...
Thanks Janie for the advice on S Days! I'm sure I will be doing some of the same things to better control my S Days and see what works.
Thanks again!
December 16, 2008
Day 9
No S Day: Success
Meal 1: Done
Meal 2: Done
Meal 3: Done
No Seconds: Done
No Snacks: Done
My boss at work made some fudge and wanted me to try it. I just had one small piece at lunch so I could tell him how delicious his fudge tasted. But even though there was plenty more fudge and sweets left out I did not eat any. So I'm still going to call today a success. I'm sure this will get easier once the holidays are over. No one really brings any sweets into work except at this time of the year.
Day 11
No S Day: Success
3 Meals: Done
No Sweets: Done
No Seconds: Done
No Snacks: Done
I was very pleased that I kept focused today despite some stressfull situations arising and the constent array of sweets put before me. I'm surprised that the sweets really haven't interested me. I tell myself that come Saturday or Sunday I can have something sweet if I really desire. I tell myself if I eat it the enjoyment will only be temporary but the feeling of guilt and regret will last much longer. I just realize that eating the sweet just isn't really worth it.
NoS Day: Success
3 Meals: Done
No Sweets: Done
No Snacks: Done
No Seconds: Done
The more success days I have behind me the easier this becomes. I don't fight with myself as much as in the beginning. The little negative talk just fads away quickier than before. Just really becoming calm about food issues. Feels really good!!
These past two S days I tried to be more conscious of what I was eating and try to evaluate whether or not I really wanted something. I tried to ask myself do I really want this or am I eating this sweet or snack just because it is an S day. It really helped me to not going crazy with my eating and in turn I felt so much better for it.
3 Meals: Done
No Sweets: Done
No Snacks: Done
No Seconds: Done
Struggling a little bit with temptations and stress but staying focused. Keep telling myself that eating out side of the plan will only add to my stress.