Starting the no 'S' eating regime today to lose weight, anyone want to join in?

[standclear]

Hi, have got decidedly porky over the past few years.
I feel tired and lethargic, and none of my clothes look good anymore.
I also need to lose weight for health reasons and increase my (currently woeful) level of exercise.

I want to follow a simple and 'do-able' eating plan that is fairly simple and that I will be able to sustain ie hoping to lose 0.5 kg each week.

I'm planning to follow the no 'S' "diet":

book here

A summary of the basic rules is:

no snacks
no sweets (it's an American book so that covers puddings as well as biscuits and confectionary)
no seconds

except on days that start with 's' ie the weekend, and 'special' days ie birthdays and big holidays such as Christmas.

I've got the book so can answer further questions but that is basically it!

I'm going to be using MFP to log calories and I have also found the free NHS weight loss plan (includes exercise) helpful too

see here

I am planning to post my weight here every Sunday too (but that is not obligatory of course).

The other reason for posting on here is that I don't want to bore my family and friends to death about it in rl!! But it would be nice to have some companions along the way .

Anyone want to join in?

Well done on the restraint eltsiht (and homemade pie sounds lovely!)

I did ok yesterday
B - protein bar
L - salmon sandwich, kale crisps, apple
D - fish finger sandwich, kale, sweetcorn. Blueberries & yoghurt
No booze, bed at 10.30

I didn't see the war on waste thing but heard very good reviews. Did it give any tips for avoiding waste? We have got a lot better since getting a new snazzy fridge which keeps veg fresh for over a week but still waste a lot of bread. If anyone has tips on how to stop it going mouldy they would be much appreciated.

Wanted to add (mostly as a note-to-self really): going for dinner with a friend tonight (Japanese - there will be plum wine ) which is fine but the important thing is that I don't snack when I get in. Key to that, I think, is eating enough at the meal (including protein) and not getting overly tipsy. And strength of will of course!

Sorry to bla on about myself!

Nah, good to hear you "bla" (?!) about yourself helen. Especially when it's about impressive menus and going for runs... Very inspirational.

I had a shocking day yesterday which involved crisps, two hot-cross buns and more cheese - this time in addition to normal meals. Sadly reflected on the scales this morning

But today is another day. I didn't have time for breakfast this morning so I'm planning to have brunch instead, and go for a run at lunchtime.

Random thought: I feel the cold really badly and food is a bit of a warming/comforting thing. I wonder if it would help to turn the heating up??

Ime keeping warm really does help with eating less, Julie. Sitting around at home feeling slightly chilly just makes me want to munch on something! Turning the heating up (or snuggling up with a wooly jumper and a hot water bottle) really really helps.

Yesterday's menu was less great:
B - protein bar
L - prawn & rocket sandwich, nuts & dried fruit
D - lovely Japanese meal, including pudding , plum wine and a vodka martini. Managed not to snack after getting home which was positive though.

A bit irritated with myself for breaking no s with dessert last night. Felt I had been doing so well the past few days and my tummy was actually feeling much flatter as a result of reducing sugar and alcohol. I didn't totally stuff myself last night bit can definitely feel the difference today.

Supposed to be going out tonight too but don't really want to (partly due to diet, and also because dp is a bit unwell and I'd like to be at home with him). Feel kind of obliged though. Gah!

I hope everyone is well. Happy Friday to all!

Japanese meals are generally super-healthy so I doubt adding a dessert to the meal will have set you back too much, helen. From my reading of your menus, you're doing really well and eat very healthily!

Just wanted to say that, if you genuinely don't feel like going out then that's obviously cool, but I do think it would be sad if you missed out on a social occasion because of diet. I've done similar in the past and really regret not living life to the full.

Another bad day for me yesterday. I hit the hot-cross buns, crisps and cheese again (although my actual meals were pretty minimal). And the run didn't happen. I'm finding the comfort food too much of a temptation at the moment - serious problems in my marriage so I'm feeling permanently tearful, tired and angry.

Eating gives me a bit of comfort and energy - and you can't cry with a face full of cake...

Hello all. Can't believe it is Friday again! Hope everyone is doing OK.

Julie so sorry to hear that you and your dh are going through such hard times atm and that you feeling so low. Just wanted to say that you are doing brilliantly with your diet, particularly considering everything you are going through xxx Be kind to yourself and pat yourself on the back for any small dieting achievement and don't be hard on yourself when you succumb. We can't ignore the emotional aspects of eating (their wouldn't be a need for a diet industry at all it weren't for the difficult psychological factors involved in food and dieting). Hope things get easier for you xx

And Helen ditto what Julie said about not apologising for 'bla-ing on" That is what this thread is for!! (I think I read somewhere that we have a much higher chance of succeeding where dieting is concerned, when we have support around us.) Still impressed by your healthy menus and hope your dp feels better soon! Oh yes, and hope you enjoyed your Japanese meal last night!

Well done for resisting surplus steak pie EltsihT (which sounds delicious btw and perfect for this November weather).

Hope you enjoyed your days off Rivier!

Ditto Grumpy I used to have much loved gps (sadly now deceased) but now have two rabbits to eat up the veg trimmings!!

So sorry to be awol from thread. DD has been ill again (had to collect her from school owing to high temp/dizzyiness/fatigue/spots/nausea) and although I am not as ill as her, I don't feel quite at my best (again!) and also (strangely) have a few spots as well!

I feel a bit of a fraud posting on here tbh because I have been eating as and when and the no S diet has gone to pot this week, as I feel starvingly hungry and shaky when I don't eat.

Sending apologies to everyone because I really did not think that I would be quite this hopeless and feak and weeble when I started this thread!

I haven't given up and am still determined to lose weight, but I just wanted to be honest and state that dieting isn't happening this week.

Apologies for such a woeful performance, particularly when you are all doing so well!

Big waves to Uphill anyone else I have missed!

Onwards and downwards everyone!

Btw, on the issue of cold, we live in a really old, cold, drafty house which is miserable in winter. Although I don't think that in itself makes me eat more, it definitely makes me less active as I tend to sit in one warm spot of an evening and am reluctant to move around! Am definitely much more active in th summer! Of late have invested in a few jumpers from John Lewis which have definitely made a difference even though they make me look like a brick! And I think not waiting too long before putting the central heating on (ie putting it on, even at a low level,before the house cools down too much) definitely helps.

oops

there would be no need for a diet industry

Time for a (hopefully) cheering rabbit picture ie my walking veggie waste disposal units!

Keep going everyone!

They are totally gorgeous! Here are my veggie munchers. Well, technically they belong to DD, but I am their 'gran'. Back later for more chat - a bit busy this afternoon.

Gosh Grumpy how did you get them to pose like that? [grin They are fab and make me feel rather wistful for our late pair. I love rabbits but they are very "silent" compared to gps!

SC I have to admit that it isn't my photo! It was taken by the lady we adopted them from (rescue centre). They generally run and hide when I show up as they think I've come to pick them up (which is usually right).

Check out this link hazelcroftrescue.weebly.com/guinea-pigs-for-re-homing.html

They have absolutely the cutest guinea pigs and they all pose so nicely.

Sorry to everyone else for hi-jacking thread with small pet chat!

Oh Julie I'm sorry to hear things are so tough. As sc said: be kind to yourself. Healthy eating is great if it makes you feel good but of course there are times when only cake (or hot cross buns) will do. xxxx

Sc - you need to be kind to yourself too! Sick days are still days so you are not actually breaking the "diet". Hope you feel better soon though.

Sc & grumpy - you are making me jealous with your pet pics! I want one!

I took Julie's advice and went for the post work drinks. Far too many beer-calories but the right decision I think as I needed a vent/moan after a frustrating week. Now just need to make it through the rest of the evening without snacking or other s's and them it's Saturday - woo hoo!! Xx

Helen Thank you - that makes me feel better!

So glad to hear that you got to go out in the end; an evening with friends (however much one doesn't want to go initially) usually ends up being very cheering! Good luck resisting snacks tonight!

Ooohh Grumpy just as well I live across the Channel - would have already claimed Toby and Hugo by now - they are all too gorgeous. Have fond memories of how ours used to squeak in chorus when we opened the fridge!

[Sorry everyone - promise to cool it with the small furries now!
Um, back to dieting .... ]

Yesterday:
B - protein bar
L - salad with beans/grains/eggs, cuppa soup
D - fish pie, vegetables, blueberries & yoghurt
2.5 pints of beer . Managed no snacks in the evening (did have 2nds of veg but reckon that's not a disaster).

Really chuffed at managing 3 weeks of not drinking at home (I know I've massively cheated this week by going out 3 times but it seems kind of different iyswim). Now just need to not fall back into bad habits which could happen very easily!

Have a good weekend everyone!

SC our gps also squeak when they hear us coming (they are not near the fridge). If Toby and Hugo were girls, I would be on my way to fetch them.....they are gorgeous....but boys+girls=disaster!

Anyway, on a more sensible and relevant note, hope you are starting to feel better.

And a {hug} for everyone who has had a difficult week one way or another.

helen you definitely get the prize for the nicest sounding menu. And well done on the not drinking at home.

I have had wine on 5 out of the last 7 nights, all at home But no sweets, not even last weekend. Actually I think its somehow easier to not have sweets at all than to have some on the weekends, then get back on track on Monday. But that might be because I get hopelessly sugar addicted (which was the main problem before I joined this thread)

Morning!

Weighed in at 82.7 kg this morning (before a drop of liquid or morsel of food passed my lips! I am sure the weighing scale will rocket past 83kg once I do eat and drink!) No great shakes (should have lost much more by now) but at least I haven't put weight on and I'm determined to have a serious week of no "s"-ing this week!

Grumpy think I must be similarly addicted and agree with you about it being almost easier (not that I do mind!) to go "cold turkey" re: the sweetery!

Helen congratulations on resisting the !! Very good going!

Good morning,
I am weighing in at 70.7 kg, which might be a teeny smidge less than last week (half a pound maybe, scales don't seem very sure), but I think ok as it maintains last weeks loss.

Am now on a mission to get under 70kg before the pre-Christmas obligatory eating kicks in!

How is everyone?

We have been away on holiday, and everyone has had a cold.

I ate a tonne of bread on Friday night and had a twix while we were travelling as dh driving was making me queasy.

I also normally weigh in first thing in the morning rather than at night. Anyway enough excuses 65.8kg up from 65.1kg

Weighed in today instead of yesterday, as I was on call (24 hours, drove up and down the coast all day in torrential rain and incredibly strong winds).
Down a bit on last week. So that's good at least. A normalish week this week, finally. Though lots of deadlines looming, so not unstressful and have to do the car insurance rigamarole tomorrow which should be fun.

Everybody seems to be heading in the right direction really, slow and stready!

Yes, slow and steady is the best way

extremely slow in my case

but know, seriously, that it is the best method for sustainable weight loss!

Congrats to everyone on the losses!

Glad you have a slightly less hectic week ahead Rivier

Hope you all recover from your colds soon eltsihT

Grumpy good luck with your pre-Christmas goal

Waves to Helen Julie Uphill and anyone else I have missed!

Well done all!

Eltsiht - weighing later in the day always makes a massive difference so don't get too down heartened.

Grumpy - ha, thanks for the compliment! I should come clean though and admit that very very little of my food is home cooked. Lunchtime salads are invariably from tesco salad bar (surprisingly nice & good value), fish pie is from sainsburys..

Good luck making it through Monday everyone.

Waves to Helen! Good luck to you too!

[And agree that scales are horribly capricious things!]

Starting today with renewed determination and vigour!

Only 38 days until Christmas - yikes!!

Have a good week everyone! We CAN do it!