Paul McKenna would be so proud of us on THREAD 9...No Pain, NO PAIN!! The Non Diet for those who really want to lose weight. No calories, no syns, no humiliation, just shedding stones amongst friends.

[Solo]

The Golden Rules that will aid you on your journey with our like minded support system:

1. Eat what you WANT
2. Eat when you are HUNGRY
3. Eat CONSCIOUSLY
4. STOP eating when you are satisfied and full

This weight loss system is about re-educating your body; learning to listen to it and in doing so losing weight and inches. So forget diets; they may work for a while, but they aren't permanent solutions. This is a new way of living for your brand new life!!

The Paul McKenna system works and is easy to maintain.

I've C&P'd our previous threads links as they are helpful.

Here are the book choices on AMAZON which is all you need to get started! they aren't compulsory, but they do help! it's something to refer to and listening to the cd's can really focus you.

This is the tapping technique EXPLAINED - this can be useful to combat cravings.

Please feel free to join us, whether it's 10lbs or 10 stones you want to lose.
We are friendly, supportive and successful, but we're not hungry OH NO we're not!!! so come on in and start living your new life today!

Hi Mem :-D I often don't start stuff for fear of failing. With this one though, where's the harm in trying? It's not really failing as it's not really a diet!

I have had a mixed day today. I ended up doing an emergency run to tesco this morning and didn't get breakfast until 11am which was a cheese pastry I picked up there (eat what I want...). Then that threw out lunch plans and I was due at school from 1-3pm. but I know that if I get too hungry I faint (which is part of my eating a lot thing too I think) so I panicked and bought a pick & mix before going into school. I then had 'lunch' at 3:30pm and since my DH was away, dinner at 8pm. When DH isn't here I start to take a naughty "oooh, can eat like a pig and nobody will know" thing for some reason. I always have - even as a skinny child I'd steal chocolate and eat it in secret. No idea why as it was rarely denied.
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I have technically eaten when hungry, but not really stopped when full! I had nachos for dinner and was full after half the plate but I was totally enjoying them and had to finish them! Then an hour ago I decided I was going to have a wispa even though i wasn't hungry. But it tastes weird and I have put it down after 2 bites - what's that about? Mind you, that's the kind of PMcK mojo I'm needing!

The main reason I prefer this whole 'mindset' thing to dieting is that about 10 yrs ago I read Allen Carrs "easyway to stop smoking". And found I had quit and have never looked for a ciggie since. So I'm hoping the same eventually works with food, though it's been an emotional dependency for a lot longer than smoking was.

Hi Mem and FartBlossom (I read your name as FatBosom for some reason Welcome to your new way of life :) it's easy and no guilt allowed. Just dive in and follow the rules.

Hi all

Just a quick hello as I am so busy today. I have already weeded and watered part of the garden, got the dishwasher and washing machine on, roast chicken in the oven and pasta soup with chicken livers simmering on the hob. Still lots to do. Had 2 slices of fresh wholemeal bread and butter and 2 extra strong mints. Not hungry yet since having those.

Hello all - please can I join thread? I started the PMcK plan 2 days ago, am listening to CD, trying to follow golden rules etc.

I have a question, though, that I can't seem to find an answer to. Namely, how do 'treats' and 'snacks' fit into the plan? For example, if I am actually hungry, then I want to eat something that will satiate hunger (such as pizza, pasta, sandwich etc). If I eat something like a cookie, or a piece of cake, or some chocolate, none of these things are going to fill me up. I eat treats because they taste so good, not because I'm hungry. Therefore, how do they fit into the plan?

Freckled I would just eat, but only if you feel yourself getting hungry. Then again I know nothing of what to actually do just yet so I may be wrong.

Also a question, what do you drink?

I realise I need to get the book and will look for it in the local library or order it if I need to.

Does anyone here have the app on their iphone? Is it essentially the book in a slightly condensed version? Is it worth paying for in addition to the book?

Drinks-wise, I have water, Robinson's sugar-free squash, diet coke, fruit juice. Diet drinks only because I like them, rather than because they're 'diet' IYSWIM?

Hello everyone - beautiful day again! Welcome to all the newcomers, lovely to have you here!

suzi2 I also have 'secret eating' issues, also not really sure why
justfab blimey - I had a strenuous day of erm well mostly shopping really
freckledleopard great name btw! Treats and snacks are one of the things that will disappear as you change your mindset. You can still eat these things of course but when you are hungry rather than as a 'treat' so say you are feeling peckish and want a biscuit or four then you would eat them, then if you werent hungry at your next 'proper mealtime' you would skip that food. The theory is that in listening to what your body really wants and needs rather than what your emotional mind craves you will eventually start to want healthier stuff more often and unhealthy stuff less (also most junk food doesnt taste as nice as you think when eaten slowly and consciously apparently) It is slightly voodoo in as much as you kinda just have to try it for a while and then it clicks. Also I have the iphone app - honestly dont use it much really - maybe see how you go with the book first? There is nothing different on the app just makes it easier than trying to copy the cd onto your phone if your a technophobe like me
fartblossom fab name again! Drinks comes up regularly on here. Without wishing to generalise too much or offend anyone Im willing to bet my considerable arse that most people on here arent overweight because of what they drink Same theory as food eat (and/or drink) what you want, when you are hungry/thirsty.

Sorry if any of that sounds bossy or rude etc am in a mad dash but didnt want to leave you new people unanswered. Give it a try and keep coming back here particularly if you get stuck we are all lovely really xx

Just checking in.

Freckled
"I eat treats because they taste so good, not because I'm hungry."
If you're doing it right, they'll taste shit when you're not hungry. And why shouldn't they fill you up if you are hungry - they're food aren't they?

It is tricky to get into the habit of distinguishing genuine hunger from mouth hunger as some call it on this thread, but if you can do that, I bet you won't be craving as many treats.

Thanks for the information arfur and Mardy It sounds easy yet complicated at the same time. I think the idea sounds easy (ie not to eat when full or to eat when hungry), but there are little bits that you have to think about a bit more (ie the mouth hunger ) Looking forward to having a read of the book :) Though until I get my hands on a copy I will just eat what I want, but not eat too much and to chew and really taste my food.

fartblossom you are absolutely right - it is easy and difficult at the same time! Of course the golden rules are ridiculously simple - its just following them them which can prove tricky because you need to change the way you think about food. That's not easy because most of us have been thinking about it the 'wrong' way for years, I guess if someone came along and said we had learnt to tie our shoelaces the wrong way and if we tied them the right way now we could run faster, we'd struggle as badly to relearn that too! The other thing I think people find tricky is that there are so few rules with this eating plan it can feel a bit scary taking the responsibilty for everything yourself. When you do SW or WW etc there are so many rules and things you cant eat, things to eat a certain amount of and in some cases things to eat as much of as you can that to suddenly be faced with eat what you want when you want can feel a bit frightening. I know that being on a 'diet' used to make me feel in control because I could check everything in my book to see if I was allowed it or not, which is I guess where the whole thing falls down because as soon as you 'stop dieting' you lose all sense of control. This eating plan makes you learn how to control your eating yourself by listening to your body not some loon preaching at a class each week It is scary in a way but it make sense for long term health (and in my case I honestly think mental and physical health). Sorry for long posting I am truly telling myself this stuff just as much as anyone else

Am in desperate of chocolate following half an hour of dd being as aggressive as only she knows how, followed by her telling me to 'fuck off'.

We had a call yesterday afternoon from one of the boarding supervisors - the girl couldn't come home with dd on the bus, as she isn't registered with the school transport system. So, I was going to get them both......then, the cpe told me that, if the girl went out on her own in the town, went to a bar and returned to college drunk, I would be legally responsible as I'd agreed to her coming out. Decided that I wasn't going there. The cpe very kindly agreed to put the blocks on it herself as Angelina couldn't get the bus with dd. As her df abandoned them and then her mother died, no doubt she is classed as being 'vulnerable'.

Cue one dd saying that the cpe/children's home/I or all 3 were lying etc etc the girl hates alcohol/drugs etc etc would never drink. Then denied that she was being agressive.

I must really get my arse in gear to write the letter to the regional autism centre begging for an evaluation against the criteria for pda.

On the bright side, am generally eating less (apart from home-made dulche de lait - necessary to taste) and today we ordered an armchair.

We have instigated a new punishment for obscenities - loss of her phone/camera. Only trouble was that she thought she was being clever by taking the sim out of her phone and using her blackberry instead.

Won't see her until Friday night - dh started having palpitations. According to the village sw, we don't maintain boundaries, and are crap parents.

Just had really nice baked salmon fillet with oven chips and peas/carrots.

Wish the euro going down the drain was on again - having to make do with great British menu tonight.

Waves to all the returners and newbies.

Hope you've all had good days.

Oh and also

tb - don't have the chocolate now. Remind yourself you can have it when you are hungry. Don't let your dd derail your Pauling.

No advice for anything else as I am rubbish at this parenting lark but I would say consistency is the key 10 years too late for me

Hi everyone, hope everyone has had a good day. My first day has been good, although I don't think I am eating enough, if that makes sense. I don't eat until I am full, I think it is going to take a while to get it into my head that I have to eat until I am full, instead of stopping because I 'think' I have eaten enough!

Mem x

Mem -I'm like that. I stop halfway through a meal and then 10 mins later I'm hungry for the rest (which is now in the bin!). I guess it takes a while to work out portions and stuff. Though it's good you're listening to your body and erring on the side of caution.

Freckled -You fancy a bit of chocolate cake. Chances are it's an emotional hunger at the point it enters your head and you're not genuinely hungry. So tell yourself you'll wait until you're genuinely hungry. When you are, you can have the cake if you want and it will fill you up as it's food/calories. You just have to enjoy it and stop once you're full. However, I found last time I did this, and this time, that when I was genuinely hungry I wanted something 'proper' and not just a bar of chocolate or whatever. I'm the biggest junk eater in the world, but I seem to find myself turning down chocolate/crisps that I've promised myself, for some pasta or something. It's weird. Main thing is to not obsess about food and just take each meal/snack as it comes.

tb - Sounds like you're having a tough time. Sorry I've no advice (mine are still little and trainable) but hope you breakthrough soon.

A bit off topic, but Nothing why do you sign off with Mem? Are you usually known by another name? It doesn't take a lot for me to look like this

I am looking to go back to work and thinking about returning to the office, was trying on my size 14 clothes and to say they are a bit tight is a bit of an understatement. On the plus side once I do get a job I get to buy a whole new wardrobe also it gives me something to aim for.

I'm a crap parent too...
Had a crap day today, but I think it's the pre menstrual munchies (if it arrives this month) and I hope they stop soon...

Catch you properly soon.

No one on here is a crap parent. If you were, you would be being rubbish and not care. We all do our best. You take lessons to drive but not to bring up another actual human being. Don't be so hard on yourselves! I didn't even know what to do about my under the weather child this morning without advice. We all need support!

Hello everyone :) Plodding along here.

It is tooooo hot here, bleugh.

Hi everyone. Also hot here, but stuck in air-conditioned office looking out at the sunshine and blue skies.

Question - how important is it to stay awake during the hypnotherapy? I listen to it in bed, at night (no real chance to listen to it during the day) and invariably fall asleep within ten minutes. Should I at least try and listen to it and stay awake for the duration from time to time?

It is too hot isn't it?!

Sitting room front curtains shut to keep out the sun. Just light from the rear patio doors where the garden is north facing so quite cool but I really need to go up into the study in the loft and it is a furnace up there even with the windows open.

DS2 couldn't sleep last night because of the heat and didn't go to sleep until midnight. No evening for me as he doesn't want to suffer alone!!

On the plus side hot weather is a real appetite killer for me. On the negative side it is the munchy time of the month so when it does cool down I roam the house for things to eat.

Flipping back to the positive - no evening yesterday meant no time to roam!!

Stay cool ladies!

Oh and Solo - you definitely are not a crap parent, you are a human parent with human children. We aren't perfect but we do our best. If it makes you feel any better, I had cause to berate DS1 yesterday morning for not packing up his Food Tech ingredients himself and leaving me to do it seconds before he was going to leave the house and he left the house in tears (with DH so not cast out alone).

Not quite sure what I said to upset him so much but he doesn't like being late and rushing so that might have been part of it. I doubt he will have learnt his lesson for next time though.

It wasn't helped that 'D'H said I should have got up earlier to sort it out. If it weren't for the fact that they were going to be late I might have had more than a word or two to say about that!

Freckled - do you wake up when PMcK says you should? If you do I doubt you are properly asleep.

I don't think you are meant to consciously hear the CD actually, at least not all the way. It is supposed to be affecting your unconscious.

Don't forget, when you see stage show hypnotists, the participants have no recollection of being made to peck around like a chicken or dance around naked or whatever it is they get told to do. The CD has just the same effect, even if the motivation and content are serious.

I do wake up when he says so. Glad that my subconscious is hopefully taking it all in as right now I'm bored and cannot stop thinking about chocolate. I'm not hungry - I just want a Cadbury's Caramel .

BBB at your DH!

Freckled - I try to listen when I'm not going to fall asleep fully occasionally because I think it does help - 90% of the time I'm asleep within minutes though, and I don't always wake up when he says to, and it still seems to work.

BBB - words can be had tonight with your not so dear husband!