Fancy trying out the No Diet Diet?

[MrsThierryHenry]

I found this as a freebie in the Independent in Jan...since then I've bought the book and it's really great. I lost half a stone in three weeks without focusing on my eating or exercise, but by following the simple life challenges which the book describes. I'll paste my description of it which I wrote in a previous thread:

"...I am doing something which is amazing and:

1. doesn't leave you feeling hungry
   
2. doesn't require willpower
   
3. will help you refocus your whole life, and
   
4. lose weight at the same time, and
   
5. apparently people who follow this keep the weight off for good.
   
   Well I've only been using it for a few weeks so I can't confirm whether point 5 has happened yet! It's a book which was serialised in the Independent in Jan - I bought the book a few weeks ago.
   
   It's called the No Diet Diet. The principle is that we all get into bad habits (not just connected with eating) and that even if we lose lots of weight by following a diet, if we still keep our old behavioural habits they lead us back to where we started in the first place - i.e. overeating and underexercising .
   
   I've learned (through changing my habits little by little) that I can be more confident, I can demand what I want of people without being apologetic, I've discovered a whole range of foods I wouldn't have tried before, and I've learned that I can get loads more done throughout the day than I realised. Yes, this is still the same weight-loss programme I've been telling you about.
   
   I can honestly say that it's helped me lose about half a stone in 3 weeks without consciously changing my diet, so I've not had that horrible guilt/ yearning about foods you shouldn't eat. You can buy it on Amazon - the book details a very simple, positive course which lasts 5 weeks. It's only about £7 quid, I think - I'm sure it's cheaper than WW as well!"
   
   So - anyone want to join me?

[BitTiredNow]

can you tell me more? what changes have you made?

[MrsThierryHenry]

Yup! Here are a few:

I'd got into the habit of going to bed around 1.30; now I'm always tucked up by 12 (I'll be tootling off soon, actually!).

When people speak unclearly or talk plain bullsh*t I no longer pretend to ignore it so as to be 'polite' (no, I never understood why I did that, either!).

I frequently tackle my tasks faster and consequently get more done (doesn't affect my efficiency). By the way, for someone who's a speedaholic the book would recommend that you learn to slow down and smell the flowers instead. It's all about doing what's different for you - not a one size fits all prescription.

I managed to clear the kitchen table of all the junk that was crowding it!

I no longer put off making difficult phone calls but leap right in with confidence.

I drink more water and have far, far fewer cravings for sweet foods.

I went to my local play centre committee meeting and learned about how the place actually runs.

I went running with my buggy - something I've been meaning to do for months!

I've started doing yoga at home every other day, and I actually feel more supple now.

I've made time to paint my toenails and they look gorgeous!

That's just a taster. It's very gentle and I think it's radical - by making small changes to lots of areas of my life, there has been a knock-on effect on my diet and exercise as well. I'm basically getting used to creating newer, more positive habits. Fab!

So what's going on with you? Are you feeling mentally as well as physically tired, or is that just your MN nickname?

[BitTiredNow]

thanks for that - I enjoyed reading it and you sound very positive. I am currently doing the India Knight diet and HATE it - it's making me really grumpy, so I was looking for something else to do instead. So how does it work then? Is it just that doing other things takes your mind off food? Were you ever the type of person that liked to sit down in an evening with a drink and a packet of crisps? Can you still do that but have the tools now, metaphorically to stop after that and not go on to a box of choccies afterwards?

As for the nickname - it started when my DH (Army) was away for 7 months in Iraq and I was on my own with 3 children under 4 and when people asked how I was doing, I was usually surviving on 3 hours sleep a night, so that's what I would say. I must change it now....> Thanks so much for your lovely post - I would love to hear more if you have time.

[Jacksmybaby]

wow this sounds awesome! Have been exercising about 3x week (dvds) since beginning of Jan, to release happy hormones to combat pnd rather than really lose weight, so this kind of holistic, confidence building life changing approach sounds amazing. off to look for book on amazon now! Is it the sort of thing you have to read all the way through before starting it or can you read as you go along?

[MrsThierryHenry]

Hi, and welcome Jacksmybaby!

I can't write for long now, but you don't have to read through it all at the start. Did I say it lasts 5 weeks? After that they say you should have the tools to keep going with the life transformation - and keep losing weight at your body's ideal pace (gently - about 2lb a week) until you reach (and then sustain) your body's ideal weight.

Will write more at the weekend.

xx

[MrsThierryHenry]

Hi girls, can't write for long as I'm snatching time for the computer while my DH has popped out on an errand.

Welcome SML - glad to have you join us. You said you've been reading the NDD and also Paul McK (I've not read any of his stuff so all I know is that it involves hypnosis). How are you finding things so far?

I'm really pleased to say that I lost 3lb last week! Wasn't expecting it at all as it just didn't feel like I was doing anything special.

Got to go!

[MrsThierryHenry]

Hi there, anyone still interested in this? xx

[Jacksmybaby]

Ok, my goals are basically:
Increase energy, fitness, general health and wellbeing, and lift mood.
Decrease stress, anxiety, fatigue.
Tone up body and maybe lose a few pounds but NOT a great deal of weight.
So do you think this is the right "programme" for me or is in more focussed on the weight loss side, in which case it wouldn't really be for me?

[MrsThierryHenry]

Great goals! I'd say we share the following:

Increase fitness, general health and wellbeing.
Tone up body (but I do need to lose just over a stone now).

I can tell you what the NDD approach has done for me:

I feel so much more positive in general about my life and where I can take it (bearing in mind the past six months have been the most traumatic and stressful - ever!).

I feel that I am gently developing the tools to tackle all the small and big issues in my life and to tackle them well - thoughtfully and successfully.

I feel that these changes will stick with me...well, forever! I think this is because it's such a gentle approach that you don't feel you're being blasted with some dynamic, overwhelming programme which you're going to forget 2 months later (in fact, it doesn't feel like a 'programme' at all). Then when you see the results - fairly instantaneously on the whole - it's a real motivator and you realise that (a) you've learned something, and (b) you've changed.

The idea seems to be to change your behaviour first and then your thought changes will follow. It certainly works for me!

Oh - and I'm losing weight and exercising a bit more.

So in answer to your question, Jacksmybaby, ultimately you are the only one who can decide whether it sounds right for you. I can unequivocally say that there is very little focus on weight loss in the book as the writers believe that as you change your habits the weight loss will follow naturally. This has certainly been the case in my experience. If you choose to do it the least you'll achieve will be that at the end of 5 weeks you'll have a clear idea of what your bad habits are (in terms have getting stuff done and how you relate to yourself and others) and you'll hopefully have discarded those habits in favour of new, more effective ones.

Give it some thought...xxx

[MrsThierryHenry]

Oh, one more thing, JMB - my nutritionist told me once that PND is massively helped by taking a good supply of omega oils - they literally build your brain back after babymaking has sucked it to nothingness. You may be already doing this, but I just wanted to make sure you know.

This comes from the 'Mind' website:

"There is some evidence to show that a lack of certain nutrients during pregnancy can lead to depression; these include omega 3 oils (found in oily fish, seeds and nuts), magnesium (leafy green vegetables and seeds) and zinc (seeds and nuts). Poorly controlled blood sugar levels ? caused by irregular eating or omitting the right types of food ? can also have the same effect."

Here's the link: PND article

You sound so positive and determined to get back on track, I really hope that whatever you choose it takes you where you want to be.

xx

[Jacksmybaby]

Thanks for all this MrsTH, you've convinced me, it still sounds really amazing so off to order the book today.

[Jacksmybaby]

p.s. forgot to say, thanks for your encouragement and well done on your achievements so far!

[Candlewax]

I have just ordered the book and hopefully it will be here next week. I could do with changing some of my habits and losing a few pounds in the process. I need to do more, sort the house out, sort paperwork etc so, hopefully this book will encourage me.

[MrsThierryHenry]

Aww...anytime, and thanks JMB!

Hi, Candlewax, and welcome! Glad you're on board and I really hope it helps you sort out the areas of your life you're looking to change.

One new development for me is that I've realised that I often worry about 'inconveniencing' people because I don't want to bother them with stuff that I need. I've traced this back to my father not really being all that available when we were little - not that I'm blaming him as such, but it's useful to see how this sort of thing has developed in me over time.

Well this week I had to call up a former colleague to find out about a job which I want to apply for. Normally I'd cringe at the thought of networking and endlessly procrastinate, but today I didn't give it a second thought. I think this is because (1) I've become so used to doing new things and (2) I now believe in myself much more - so I no longer shy away from asking for what I want.

(I didn't actually get through to my ex-colleague, by the way - only his PA's answerphone! But I still feel that I've jumped the biggest hurdle by ridding myself of silly fears!)

How are you all this week?

[Candlewax]

Still waiting to take delivery. Fingers crossed it will be here tomorrow. You sound really happy Mrs TH.

[Jacksmybaby]

Ok I have the book... now just need to find a few spare minutes to start reading it!

[Candlewax]

Hurrah! My book arrived this morning. Now I too just need to find some time to read it! Looking forward to starting it though.

[Jacksmybaby]

Have read the first 6 chapters (up to & including the phase 1 bit). It's making a lot of sense. Ready to start I think!

[MrsThierryHenry]

Hi, sorry I've not written for ages. You guys still doing the NDD?

I managed the first 3 weeks okay, but since then have been unable to keep up with week 4 - so far I've restarted it and then stopped half way through again. What's really annoying is that since stopping, I've regained all the weight I lost. Am still doing things differently, though, and I find that nowadays my default seems to be to try something I've not done before, rather than going for what I already know.

How are the rest of you managing?

[Candlewax]

Hi Mrs TH. I am just starting the phases. I have already managed this morning to do two things differently. I need change in my life so hope this helps. I also spend all day and all night on my bum, so I am hoping to get the 15 minute walk in at least every other day.

[MrsThierryHenry]

Well done and good luck with your resolve to walk regularly! I've started dancing in my kitchen! Half an hour of solid boogying about 2/3 times a week makes me feel fantastic and at least I'm getting my cardiovasc exercise in as well.

By the way I think I've realised why my weight loss recently failed...Once I stopped bfing I cut down the quantity of food I was eating but I may have gone too far. I read somewhere the other day that if you're eating much less than 1500 calories a day, your body goes into starvation mode and starts conserving all your energy (i.e. fat). Oops!

In keeping with the principles of the NDD I think I should try eating something different...such as profiteroles, perhaps?!

[MrsThierryHenry]

Oh, and Candlewax, what were the two things you did differently today?

x

[satine]

MrsThierryHenry - am I right in suspecting that you are somehow connected with this book?

[MrsThierryHenry]

Only in that I've been reading it. I suspect that what you're asking is whether I have a commercial interest - the answer is definitely not.