My Personal No S for 2012

I have to admit it. I'm a bit 'humbug' when it comes to New Year. I'm have never been much of a social animal, and I'm perfectly happy to greet the new year at daybreak on the first rather than midnight. I don't make New Year's Resolutions, either. I prefer to set goals whenever I feel I need to, whatever the date on the calendar. I'm also much more likely to succeed when I do it that way.

However, it's only natural at this time of year to look back on the year that has past and ahead to the year before us.

Right now you're looking at one of the changes I made this past year. I joined this blog! I haven't written as much as I had thought I would, but I wanted it to be an outlet, not  a chore. I also hoped it would be of help and encouragement to others. We have more than 2,400 views from over a dozen different countries since we began, so hopefully it has been.

As far as No S itself goes, I feel I may have settled into my own, personal version.

The first personal alteration to No S rules is to the first rule: the 'No Snacks' rule. I now do not just avoid snacks on N days, I avoid snacks completely. Sure I might pick up a sample in the grocery store if it's something I really intend to purchase, or like the other day, join the rest of the family in a hot chocolate at Starbucks after a five mile walk in the cold, but for the most part, I no longer 'snack'.

Rule 2 - No Sweets: Long before No S, I was working to reduce  not just my own consumption of sugar, but that of my whole family. Because of this I already had lost much of my 'sweet tooth'. Many foods have lost their appeal because they are too sweet. When I was following the second rule, I actually ended up eating more sweets. So I tried repealing that rule and found that N days or S days, I just don't care if I eat 'em anymore. I do enjoy cooking and baking, so I may try allowing homemade, reduced sugar desserts - as long as they fit on one plate, of course.

Which leads nicely to the third rule, which is, of course: 'No seconds'. I have never had to bother with this rule, since I never was one to take seconds. There is always space on my plate for more food, and it's always enough.

As time goes on, I care less and less about weight, and more about health. When I was younger I used to say I just 'want to be healthy' because that was the 'right' answer. But truthfully, I wanted to be 'thin'. It didn't matter that I already was. It didn't matter that the things that I was doing to get thin were decidedly UNhealthy. Really. I'm amazed when I see photos of myself from that time. All I remember is continual dieting because I believed I was fat.

Now I really am overweight, but I refuse to spend any more of my life fighting my body or feeling like I should be some other size or feeling like I'm somehow 'less' because I weigh more. I want to appreciate my health and my strength. Appreciate the amazing creation that is my body. Appreciate it, listen to it, care for it and use it well.

What about you? We'd love to hear what worked or did not work for you this past year and what your goals are for the year ahead. Please feel free to share in the comments section. Even if you don't feel you'd like to comment just now, consider becoming a 'follower'. If you'd like to write a guest post, or if you'd like to join us as a regular co-author, send an email to nosladies at gmail dot com.

Whatever your goals for the coming year, we wish you the best.

Good-bye 2011

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and your 2012 is getting off to a good start!

I've been planning an update for quite some time, but things keep getting in the way. December was a particularly difficult month for me for many reasons I won't go into just now. My last post will probably give you a hint as to one of those reasons! All that is past now...I hope...

I've been reading some interesting things lately I'd like to share, and I'm hoping some of you will share how your year went and what your goals are for the new year. As soon as things settle down here, that is!

Reason Number 187 to love The No S Diet

It makes it much easier to pinpoint possible food poisoning culprits when you eat only 2-3 times per day rather then 5 or 6..or perma-snack.

Don't ask me how I know.

Foodspiration Friday!

Bored with the usual meals and looking for some inspiration? Maybe you have tried a different restaurant or a new recipe lately and think others might like to hear about it.

Most discussions about NoS revolve around the rules. However one of the most pleasant benefits of NoS is that it allows us to enjoy good meals, including all our favorite foods, without guilt. Foodspiration began as a way to exchange ideas and recipes or share the plate photos of some of our favorite meals with readers and other members of the NoS community.

We always look forward to hearing your comments, but on Foodspiration Friday you're extended a special invitation to join in. Got a question about what other members are eating? Looking for a recipe or just a new idea for meals? Maybe you're just happy to be able to eat a food  that was previously 'forbidden' ?

Whatever it is, if it's food related, tell us about it in the comments.  Submissions of photos have slowed over the past few weeks, so new plate photos would be especially welcome. They don't have to be anything special - just whatever you happen to be eating.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Talking Turkey

Even if you aren't living in the US, you probably know this past week was Thanksgiving for us. For many people it's the start of an all out eat fest that goes on until the first of January. Although for some people, this actually starts with the Halloween candy.

I'm sure there are as many reasons for this as there are dieters, but I have no doubt some of this is because of unrealistic diets that are difficult to live with. People give up and figure they'll deal with it after the holiday season is over. Usually only to try another diet that is possibly even more stringent and difficult to live with than the earlier one.

This is perhaps my favorite thing about No S. It's very easy to live with long term. Which is understandable, since this is how people used to live long term. Those of us who have been around for a few years know this, since we were 'there'. Children usually had snacks - but it was more likely to be 'real food' since the little 'snack packs' so common today didn't exist - but not too close to meals so we didn't 'spoil our appetite'. But others simply ate good meals at meal time and then they didn't eat again until the next one. In some countries, people still eat this way. 

Most people make allowances for big meal holidays like Thanksgiving, and I was no exception. It was an 'S' day for me, which meant I abandoned the rules for the day: In other words, I had pie. That was it. I didn't think about what I was 'allowed' to eat. To tell the truth, I hardly gave a thought to the food. Mostly I focused on family I seldom see. But when it came to choosing food, I only thought about what looked and sounded good to me and put those things on my plate. I didn't have to think at all about how much to eat, since when it's just my favorite foods, one plate is plenty. I had a second plate for my pie. It would have fit on the main plate, but it was neater this way.

No worries, no guilt, no missing out, no trying to 'exercise it off' the next day - and the only thing stuffed was the turkey.

No wonder I stick with NoS.

Feeling Like Myself Again

Do you know that feeling you get when you feel better, and only then do you realise how truly lousy you felt before? That's kinda how I feel now.

I have hesitated to write about this - you know, not wanting to jinx it and all - but for the past week or so I've been feeling so much better, I'm feeling optimistic enough to post about it. My energy and focus are back and I'm dealing with stress better. I'm also feeling that I don't need the extra meals anymore.

It makes me wonder, though, how many 'diets' are there out there that people actually look forward to going back on?

MIA

I know it looks as if I am Missing in Action. Well, life has handed me another detour. I am out of state taking care of elderly parent for awhile....making a change from assisted living to nursing care for the next month or so.  I have been without internet for over 2 weeks...talk about withdrawal symptoms!

The good news is that NoS habits have been my lifeline. The last time I was in this situation (when Dad had stroke)  I wasn't established in the habits and put on 30 lbs. Even though I am having to cook in an efficiency type apartment...induction burner, microwave, small refrigerator, bathroom sink...I have managed to stay on plan. I stayed in the hospital as caregiver 20 out of 24 hours for 10 days and the no snacking rule stayed in place. I claim a huge victory. As others have mentioned, I think the no snack rule is the key to success in weight loss and management.

As I have mentioned before, I don't break the pattern on S Days and that is still working for me too. I enjoy reading the updates you ladies share here. When I can get more time, I will contribute again.

Day 54

Day 54 of the 100 Day Challenge. Well, as Linda the Legalist would tell you it was actually 105 days from Sept 12- Dec 25. But she has given up the obsessive counting of statistics except for a gentle tick on the calendar to indicate days of success.

What's happened in these 53 days?
1. I hit Onderland & have a 65-70 lb weight loss. I've been on a frustrating plateau for weeks.

2. I've redefined the No Snack rule. A snack is ANY non-hunger eating event.

3. I've come to terms with how small the portions need to be to continue to lose weight. I'm 66 and still have about 20lbs to lose to reach a REASONNABLE weight for me.

4. I'm really struggling with my new body image. It's been 33 years since I've been this small. All my clothes are swimming on me & yet shopping is still a fearful place for me. My comfortable fat lady store no longer has clothes for me & to figure out ordinary stores & to shop based on what I like instead of by a number ( 1X- 2X- 3X- 4). I really need a new song in my head.

I so appreciate Suncat starting this challenge. It's not too late for others to join in because numbers DON'T MATTER!

Foodspiration Friday!

Bored with the usual meals and looking for some inspiration? Maybe you have tried a different restaurant or a new recipe lately and think others might like to hear about it.


Foodspiration began as a way to generate new ideas, exchange recipes and share plate photos with readers and other members of the NoS community.

Foodspiration is now a monthly feature. It's your opportunity to ask questions or share your meals in the comments, submit plate photos to be included in our NoS plate slide-show, or pass along a favorite recipe so others can give it a try.




We're looking forward to hearing from you.

*** edited to add:

We could really use some new plate photos. Our slide show is looking a bit dated.

They don't have to be anything special - just whatever you happen to be eating.

What? Me Stressed? Part II

I've been putting this off because it's rather a long story and I just haven't had time to go into a long story. Today I decided this had gone on long enough, and a short story was better than no story. After all, it's nearly November!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I work in education, so after a lovely, lazy summer, I went back to work in mid-August. It is quite an adjustment to go from no schedule other what time tennis lessons are or when we want to be at the pool to work commutes and deadlines, after school activities four nights a week and others on Saturday.

In previous years it's taken me a few weeks to adjust, as it does with most people, but there have never been any lasting effects. This year, unfortunately, I cannot say that and I am convinced that the additional stress of my schedule was what put the situation over the edge.

I started out the year taking food to work to have a late breakfast rather than eating at home. After I finished a stress-filled work, (I only work part-time) I had one hour, minus my 30 minute commute, to go home, fix lunch, eat it and be back in the car to be at my child's school for dismissal time.

When I planned this, it sounded quite do-able. I liked the idea of leaving 30 minutes sooner and not having to pack a lunch for the lunch break I'd never taken anyway. I also liked the idea of having a freshly cooked lunch at home instead of something in a lunch bag.

I really thought it was working, too. That is until I started noticing subtle changes. About the third week I got sick and it took ages to shake it. I was exhausted in the afternoons, but couldn't stay asleep at night. And even though I was more active now that I was back at work, and actually eating less, my clothes were getting tight. I weighed myself and found - get this - I'd gained 8 pounds. Eight! This is a significant amount for anyone to gain in one month, but considering I have not gained any weight in 10 years, for me this was monumental. Clearly my body was not happy at all with the recent changes in my life. What else could that be, but my 'wonderful' new schedule?

So I changed it. I started eating breakfast at home again. I packed a lunch and ate while I worked. Not ideal, but I no longer had a scheduled lunch break. I could have asked to have one added back in, but even when I did have one I always worked during it, so chances are eventually I'd do the same again.

I also decided that this extra half hour could be a good work-to-home transition time for me. Since I didn't have to rush home to fix and eat lunch I now had a more leisurely commute home. I took less congested roads and enjoyed the scenery more. I'd stop on the way home to shop which meant one less task for me to fit into my schedule later. Some days I'd go for a walk, or just arrive early at the school and sit in the sunshine and read...or even snooze in the sun.

Another change I had to make was how and what I ate. Going so long without eating then eating quickly was an additional stress that my body did not need. I changed to an eating schedule recommended by my doctor of four-meals-a-day as well as something before going to bed to stop the 3 am waking. I'm also being even more diligent about what those meals are, making sure that the foods I eat will promote good health and stress-recovery.

It's been nearly three weeks since I started making these changes and I'm noticing improvements. I am sleeping most of the night, and I can make it through the afternoon without falling asleep. My thinking is clearer and I can focus better. I've also lost two of the pounds I gained.

It's not over, yet. But I feel less pressured, less overwhelmed..just...better. I think part of it is knowing that I'm doing something positive - taking action. Sometimes things can't be fixed, sometimes they can but they are difficult. But this one was relatively easy once I realized it needed to be fixed. And life's too short to put up things that are so simple to fix.

What do you know? It turned into a long story after all.

What? Me stressed?

It's been tough to find time to write an update lately. There is so much going on right now, and being sick last week made it worse. Now I have to play 'catch-up' for all the things I didn't get done because I wasn't feeling well.

I'm determined to be kind to myself, and just do what I can, one thing at a time, and accept that's the way it's just going to have to be. I've been thinking a lot lately about the role stress plays in health - including weight. I'm working to reduce the sources of stress that I can, and moderate my reactions to the stresses I can't eliminate.

It's not always easy, but it is important, so I'm working on it. More detail to follow.

Can You Gym Goers Relate?

You already know I prefer to 'work out' at home, whether it's with weights, or by 'playing and stuff'. But I have been known to go to the gym, and I know a few of you are regular gym goers. Whichever category you fall into, I thought you might enjoy this blog post I ran across recently. Maybe you recognize a few of these people.

The 12 Most Hilarious, Awful, and Real Personalities You’ll Encounter at the Gym

Really, I think nothing more need be said.

One Quarter of the Way

Surely, I'm not the only one finding it difficult to believe we're already a fourth of the way through our 100 days?

Are you following along? How is it going for you?

What has been the biggest challenge you've had to face in the first 25 days?

What has been the BEST part?

Twenty Two Days

Looking back on the past week, one word comes to mind 'comfortable'. That's just how the week was. It was easy, but it was more than that. I didn't have to think about it - I didn't even have to try. It just felt normal, natural and completely effortless.

That's saying something considering what chaos things have been around here. It was great to just be able to take life as it came - and not have one more thing added to the mix. It's still more than that, though. It's this feeling of 'nothing'. Food was just a total non-issue. I just ate at meals, and then the rest of the time I didn't eat - and that was that. I didn't even think about it.

Is this 'Zen and the Art of NoS'? Whatever it is, I like it.

Two Weeks Down

It's a lovely Monday morning. I had a perfect NoS breakfast and reflected on the first 2 weeks of the '100 Day Challenge'. Here are the stats: 10 N's; 2S's; 2 total DISASTERS. I've chosen to look at this sanely and consider twelve out of fourteen days being successful pretty good; no really good. Well done, Linda! Note the ' virtual pat' on my own back.

I just thought I'd check in. I have fresh brewed coffee waiting for me so I'll close my iPad and promise to come back later where you'll have the joy (???) of meeting Linda the Legalistic

N day. S day. N day. S day.

Last week had more than it's share of hurdles. It started out like a normal week. Tuesday I felt ill, and though I tried to make it an N - it ended up turning into an S. Sick is an S, so I didn't feel too bad about it.

Wednesday was another 'normal' N day. Thursday we got unexpected company. You know, the kind you see maybe once a year if you're lucky? The kind you cook special foods for, or that want to take you out to nice places to eat in appreciation? That kind of company. Maybe some other people can cruise through a visit like this with nary a splotch of red on their habitcal - but I'm not one of those. I didn't have plans to go nuts or anything, I just wanted to enjoy my company without stressing all the time about whether I'd be able to stick to the rules. The funny thing is, I ended up sticking to the rules anyway, without even trying. Cool :)

Welcome Monday and NoS structure and sanity.

Friday Foodspiration!

It's Friday, and besides being the start of the weekend, Friday means it's time for our weekly 'Foodspiration' post.

Foodspiration began as a way to generate new ideas, exchange recipes and share plate photos with readers and other members of the NoS community.

 

So ask questions or share your meals in the comments, or submit plate photos or recipes. 

We're looking forward to hearing from you.

Stressful Seven

It's a beautiful September Monday in my part of the world, and to make it even better, I have the day off. Work, anyway. I always have plenty to do at home. I thought I'd start it though with a quick review of my first 7 of 100 Days of Success. 

As I mentioned the other day, it was a particularly busy and stress-filled week. There are pros and cons to being busy. When we're busy  time flies and sometimes that makes it easier to keep to eating goals - unless we are so busy we don't have time, or simply 'forget', to eat properly. For many people, being unusually busy is more likely to interfere with exercise goals. 

This is exactly what happened to my goals. I was so busy I didn't think about eating most of the time, but I missed one of my three days of exercise. I did get in a family walk on two days, though, so it sortof evens out.

At times in my life I've been under stress that caused me to eat more - and other stress that left me nearly unable to eat. The particular stress in my life right now is of the first type. I have found myself more than once this past week thinking of eating. Each time, however, I managed not to. 

Perhaps it's the fact that I've committed in public to these 100 days of success and I don't want to mess it up at all, let alone the first week, that helped me stick to my goals. Or maybe  I'm just stubborn. Whenever I started thinking of eating this past week, I reminded myself that the person who's causing all the problems for me is totally not worth all this stress and I was not going to allow the situation to cause me to eat when I don't want or need to. I don't know if this will always work for me, but for now it seems to be. I just hope the situation improves soon and I don't have to keep testing my resolve.  

I had a nice weekend, though. We got out of town on Saturday, and had a lovely walk outdoors, finishing up just as a huge downpour hit. Sunday we caught up on some shopping, went out to lunch and watched a movie together in the evening. Everyone else is out today, so I'm enjoying a peaceful day on my own, catching up things around the house and getting ready for the week ahead. Here's hoping it's a more peaceful week. 

If you'd care to share, how do you keep to your exercise goals when life gets busy? What are some ways you deal with stress in your life? 

Friday Foodspiration!

Every Friday at LWNoS, we will have a post dedicated to 'Foodspiration'. It's a chance for readers to share menus, meals, recipes and even post plate photos to be included in our slideshow at the top of the page.

There are many ways to participate:

• share any or all of your meals for the week in the comments 
• if you plan meals in advance, share your menu ideas for the coming week
• submit a recipe or a plate photo with information explaining which meal it is and what is on the plate, to nosladies dot gmail dot com.  Photos will be added to the slideshow and recipes will be available in google docs. 
• if  you have a No S blog, share a link to your blog, or 
• just check in on Fridays and have a look around. To get details on any of the slideshow photos, just click on the image. If you see a meal that inspires you, feel free to ask for details and recipes in the comments 

So try a new recipe. Snap a plate photo or two. But most of all, share and enjoy! 

4 of 100

I meant to write this yesterday, but a) I wasn't feeling well, and b) someone was borrowing my computer for homework.

Monday, the first of '100 Days of Success', couldn't have been a worse day to start if I'd planned it that way. I had a difficult day at work, and three appointments afterward. I didn't even get a real lunch - I just grabbed a Tanka Bar when I was out grocery shopping between appointments at around 3 pm, and called it lunch. It'd never had one before, but I might buy a few to keep around for other busy days.

I got home around 7 and fixed chili for dinner. it's a popular choice in our house for a busy monday. So, somehow I made it from my yogurt at 7 am, to my dinner at 7.30 pm with only a Tanka bar in between. I think it's just one more indication that my body is adjusting well to both No S and my new schedule.

Tuesday was pretty average, then Wednesday I woke up feeling ill, but not enough to declare it a 'S'ick day so it was a normal N day as well. Today (Thursday) has been a tough day, and there are still a few hours to go. I don't plan to mess things up now, so I won't be 'consoling' myself with food. A hot bath and a good book will do the job just as well. Maybe even better. I'm reading 'The Help' and I'm finding it as 'unputdownable' as everyone else I've talked to. It's probably one more reason I'm not thinking about food. I'm too busy reading.

How have the first  4 out of 100 days gone for you?