I am intriguied with the No Diet Diet book i got in the Independent today. Well i need to do something this week so may as well collect all editions, follow the rules and how knows, maybe this time next year i will be less podgy, fitter, healthy, positive and have loads of happiness come my way...... Come on gang lets get to it!

I agree the book was fascinating and seems to make so much sense, I'm looking forward to collecting the set and hoping it will also work for me!

Can't wait for tomorrow's guide will be up bright and early- thus breaking a habit, the bright that is!- it all makes sense, I hate change so should prove a challenge, a creature of habit no more!- I hope x

I bought this book before Christmas and have an idea of what is coming up. Yes, it makes sense and I hope it works. I hope posting on here with a group of likeminded people will motivate me to break my habits....I have found it hard to start over Christmas...
Good luck everyone!

well, what can I say all the familiar stuff about yo-yo dieting (NOT WORKING) loking forward to to morrows paper. It makes sense about the habits. I watched the half-ton mom on tv this week it was so sad and distressing, whilst i am not in such a state it really made me frightened, about my weight and health.

When I saw the advert for this supplement on TV I was thrilled, as I had decided already that 2008 would be the year for me to overcome my overeating habits and have a better relationship with food (and hopefully shed pounds at the same time, it's needed)

I'm wondering though, whether it wouldn't be better for me to buy the book directly, as (althought I like the newspaper) I will realistically not have the time to read much of it - shame on me I know.

What do you think?

I've got my copy with the paper. I figure, give it a go for free and the book's always out there if I decide I like it. No?

I was disappointed that the whole thing does not really include me as I am 63 and the programme seems directed at the middle- aged. I don't even know what URL means-so I suppose I can't join in!

Just read todays booklet I have decided to do the writing task today - Is it alright to swap the order of the task do you think? As long as you complete them all?

Helen - I don't think you should be put off I just ignored the URL box!

Amanda - Of course it includes you, or if it doesn't, that's because you choose that it doesn't. Either you want to change or you are absolutely happy with how things are. Now, given that you have not only read the intro but also gone so far as to post here, I believe something attracted you to the possibility of change so to say you are excluded could be an excuse.
I am 55 next month, by the way, and am regularly inspired by stories from people who are much older than you or I and have done things that would have seemed impossible for me when I was 30 yeas younger - running a marathon, writing and publishing a book, for example.
You have more power than you think, and that begins with your power to choose: Engage. Don't engage. But either way it's your choice and not someone else's prohibition.
Live long!

I was wondering about swapping the order of tasks slightly Helen. Some tasks would be better on some days.

It's really got me thinking about changing habits.

Sorry, just realised my comment about changing the order was to Sonya. I got confused by the position of the posters name which appears below the post not above it!

I am a Changed Grit.

I have read this morning, while lolling about in bed with a bottle of brandy and a box of chocolate biscuits, the Independent guide to being A New Grit.

I realise now that the Old Grit has got into some very bad habits. Lolling about in bed with a delicious selection of broken biscuits from the milk man is one of them. They are bad, Grit, bad. They are a collection of trans fatty things and they are going to do immense harm to your British Museum*.

Right. From this moment on I am A New Grit. I am breaking bad habits. I am following the Independent no diet guide. And if it does not work I will probably ask for my money back.

* bum

Well done Grit I did laugh at you post!

I'm glad you are changing the order of the tasks Colleen a Sunday without TV would be very hard indeed - so I have just spent 15 mins writing a short story about a naughty boy called Stanley. No TV tomorrow!

I am very hopeful that at last this is a truly effective way of doing something about my weight problem.So far the ideas sound well researched and make a lot of sense. I have struggled with WW and SW for years losing then putting back on more! 2 Years ago I lost 7 stones using a product called Lipotrim -a nutritionally complete shake 3 times a day . I lost one stone per month and felt great. Once I stopped them and strted eating normally again it all came back. Good luck to us all this week,

Well I have started today but only got a television last week so today is no mega challenge!! I guess it gets tougher?!! Can't wait to see how it pans out - I ate my normal lunch. I wonder how much weight we will lose this week?

I have just bought the Sunday Independent because I saw the No Diet Diet advertised on the front cover. It looks great but to my horror I missed out on yesterday's free book which explained the principles. Is there any chance of me getting a copy?

Gillian if you collect all the parts I think you will have all the information you need as the book just gives an overview of all the phases.

The second part of the book is on food facts compiled by the British Dietic Assiciation.

Still laughing at Grit's post
..and wondering what Sonya's Stanley got up to!

help please

Am I really supposed to be eating as normal?

PS the book gives a useful looking website by the British Dietetic Association

http://www.bdaweightwise.com/

There are certainly no instructions at all about what we should be eating.

I think the idea is we will all be enjoying the new habits so much we might think less about food!

I read the book yesterday and felt inspired and have today checked out what the tasks are and new things to try. I'm intrigued about not changing what you eat but maybe you get so involved doing new things then food is no longer a major part of your life.
I was also wondering if changing the days you do the tasks makes any difference. I think it will be OK as the whole idea is just to get you out of the habit of doing the same, so it shouldn't matter which day as long as they are acheived daily.
Can't wait till next week to see if anyone has lost weight!

help please

Am I really supposed to be eating as normal?

I still feel guilty, that is the point isnt it, we are all so hung up about food that a little bit of chocolate and we feel that it is not normal and then feel we have blown it!

Well, Alison, that told me-or I, as you would say.

how do i get hold of saturdays book?i missed it.

I am really geared up and feel really confident that this time I will be able to lose the weight and keep it off! Looking forward to buying tomorrow's paper and to getting started. Good luck to you all!

Carolyn, there is no stipulation about what you eat and for good reason, you can eat what you want to, if you read the book from yesterday then it states that its other factors that alter your weight or affect it. Its all other habits that need to be looked at and changed.

I've got a career change coming up and need to lose weight for it so this appeared at the perfect time for me, don't worry about the age thing Helen, as if its aimed at middle-age I'm no way near that one yet, it seems to be something that can work for any age. The book made lots of sense to me as I remember when I was lighter I was a lot happier and carefree than I am now.

Good luck to all.

Looking forward to trying this. Read saturday's book - it all seems to make sense. I always did wonder why the most successful at work seemed to be fairly thin...

i knew as soon as i saw that step one was no television, this was for me. I'm so bored of wanting to change my habits and not doing anything about it. i thought i'd change after getting married, i didn't. i thought i'd change after having a baby, still haven't and caught in the same yo yo dieting traps. knowing i watch too much television and hating myself every evening for not getting out and walking that day, not just for my sake but for my child's sake as well. What a tedious, repetitive cycle. Time for change!

starting tomorrow- mm but that's a Monday...don't all diets start on a Monday? should I break that habit? I know its a no diet diet but confused..have also printed off a food and activity diary from the bda website..bad idea?.....how come its all girls on here then? lol what are we like?! x bon chance

Becca,

Your comments sound so familiar! It's good to know we're all in the same boat. Desperately need to lose some weight and cannot face WW or SW AGAIN!!! So this sounds great and definitely seems to make sense. Can't wait to start feeling happy and healthy again.

I like how so many people on here are so motivated - it really helps me!
I've decided that tomorrow was not only gonna be no TV day, but also no internet! 15 minutes to "check our things" (I've enrolled my boyfriend in this) and that's it! We're such internet geeks, me on my laptop and him on his PC... I'm sure it's as bad as slumping in front of the telly.

Good luck everyone!

Technically Sharon it starts today, as today was the day you got the booklet so you could have done your day without something today and spend tomorrow writing your story, but then as it says you can start it anytime you like and take a little longer to do things if you need to.

I'm going to be cutting down my internet time in general as I spend way too much time on here at the moment! (although plan to keep up with this place a little). I did love the story in todays booklet about Joshua who lost 2.5 stone and helped his child with his Aspergers, now thats something!!

huh? sorry, what has above got to do with the no diet diet?. Yes, Emma I should have started today but had already watched tv- with the kids- before I got the paper...don't like to cheat see! Iam up for this but already thinking what should I eat?!

Morning all! No TV - great. A quiet breakfast - time to think. I'm a school teacher - so enjoying this little oasis of time before the busy-ness of the day.

I have been trying to 'change' various aspects of the way I live my life for many years, so really hoping this approach works. It does seem to make good sense, and for some reason I'm finding it really motivating - in fact I feel inclined to do more than just 2 tasks from the list this week!

Hi everyone

I'm also trying the no TV day today. It's more of a challenge than it would normally be, because I'm working from home and usually like to enjoy my lunch in front of some trashy daytime telly. But instead I've opted for classic fm and reading in my lunch hour. It's amazing how exciting such a small change can be!

I'm really hoping this will help me to break free from the perpetual guilt I feel for being able to lose weight. I too have lost weight with WW only to put it back on again and have since wasted more than £600 a year on slimming clubs and gym memberships trying in vain to lose it all again. Time for a new approach I think...

Good luck everyone!

Didn't watch tele yesterday amazing how much you can do without it.Just completed the 15 min writing task it was brilliant and refreshing . I just love the whole concept of breaking habits and it makes sense. However I'm not looking forward to giving up tea tomorrow aagghhh!!!

Started yesterday with no TV, and ended up with a beautifully clean, decluttered bedroom, a luxurious bath and an early night with a book! Was too busy to graze all day as I normally would, which was the object of the exercise I suppose. Shocking to realise how much time I spend in front of the TV, or with it on in the background. Tuned in to Radio 3 on the way to work, instead of Radio 4, as one of my mini-tasks. Also hard, as I love Radio 4, but the classical music gave me space to think about the writing task I'm going to do this evening. Definitely think there is something in this, as colleagues actually commented on how upbeat and cheerful I seem today!

I am looking at the booklet for week 2, and am finding it difficult to place myself in any of the categories as the way I behave varies wildly depending on who I am with eg I am a real extrovert with friends, but much quieter at work and very introverted with strangers! Guess I will have to work twice as hard to break double the habits!

I went to 3 newsagents yesterday all who had sold out of Independent on Sunday!(is everyone trying this perhaps?!) So can someone tell me how I can acquire Phase 1 - cheers!
(I was hoping it would be on the website but not..)

Sarah- i did the exact same thing, and i cant get hold of it anywhere. i cannot start the plan without phase one (NOT book one) ... could the people at the independant make more available please!

oops! i meant Fiona, not Sarah, sorry!

Sarah, I've also been looking at the next booklet and trying to work out where I am on those tasks, its not easy thats for sure, might have to consult the all knowing (mum) on those! Haven't done my 15 minutes writing yet, but am doing a mini task and reading the paper from start to finish as I never do that (I rarely read the paper full stop).

Amy I too cleaned out my whole wardrobe instead of watching tele last night. Having completed the writing task today I was so energised I cleaned out all the kitchen cupbords too. Hardly thought about food all day just an incredible sense of well being and feeling in control. Still not looking forward to giving up tea tomorrow !!!

Well, I've made a start on reducing from 12 stone (Ugh!). Yesterday I went for a 6 mile walk, cleared out clothes I haven't worn for a year and made up 4 large bags for Oxfam. I cheated slightly on no TV as I just had to watch Sense and Sensibility and can't remember how to make the DVD recorder work (it's one bit of technology this 63 year old hasn't mastered), but it was only 1 hour and I won't watch TV today at all. Today I started writing my life story (half an hour), have done a pile of ironing, and gone for a brisk walk. I'm going to find it hard to do step 5 as I wake up at around 5 a.m. and start wandering round the house. I think getting up at 4.0 a.m. will make me even more sleep deprived. Perhaps I should break this habit by staying in bed for an extra hour!! Can't wait for the end of the week to hear about people's weight loss!

I too saw this advertised on TV and am very glad I managed to pick up the first two books. I actually already pledged to cut down on all the cr8p TV that I have been watching as I agree entirely with the book that it is soo easy to just sit and watch whatever is on like a zombie. So tonight I am going to do the ironing (no change there but must use up some calories!), make a salad to eat tomorrow for lunch and play a board game with my boyfriend. Ruth - just seen your post about sleeping in - if you wake up at 5 and dont fancy waking at 4am (who would?!) then why dont you plan to change the part where you start to wander around the house? Instead, if you can, sit with a cuppa in bed, reading some different (as instructued in the diet plan) and write your 15 mins story or write your plan for where you want to be in 12 months time - all from the comfort of the duvet! Good luck everyone - this is going to turn us into interesting people, as we were born to be!

Good ideas Anna! If I stay in bed but do some of the constructive things you suggest instead of getting up and thinking about what I'm going to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner I may become less food fixated! I'll start tomorrow!

Hi All
Just started today - NO TV - what a challenge, I'm enjoying every minute of this. I guess it's to do with being in control, all these tasks are showing us that we have choices and it's up to us if we want to succeed. Weirdly though I am thinking about what to eat or not eat, must be years of guilt about food. I'm looking forward to our results.

Started well this morning, no TV with breakfast, listened to Radio 4 instead. No telly on a week day is easy when at work. Just got home and it's not on, feeling good but read the second book and feel a bit daunted by the tasks.

In the paper today it says if you have missed any parts then visit www.independent.co.uk/diet

I checked the link - it looks like there are various online courses on offer also.

You can purchase any copies you have missed:

http://www.read4charity.co.uk/diet/

Am I reading this right though? It looks like £3.99 per part. If that is the case that's ridiculous. You can buy the whole book on Amazon quite cheaply.

Hi
I started to day too, having read the book yesterday. Managed to avoid Tv so far but the real test will be tonight. Think it might have to be a bath and an early night. Can anyone help please - I got to the shop too late to get today's Independent so don't have the latest booklet - what is it about please?

Not many fellas contributing here!! I started today by avoiding telly (obviously) and also not listening to Radio 2 on the way to work. Looking forward to my 15 mins of writing tomorrow.
Good luck all

Am going to start with no tv tomorrow, not too worried as don't tend to watch much anyway. More worried about going a day without fave drink! Really hope that this will work, as like evryone else weary of all the failed diets and guilt. Inspired that you all feel so optomistic.

No TV so far hasn't been a prob - at work. Usually I might lie around until 7 or so in evening after tea watching the box - usually with tea and biccie(s). Anyway just the tea, computer and getting some prep. done for tomoorow's classes. Let keep it going. :) (I'll read booklet 2 later)

I wanted to ask if anyone had actually read the book this diet is based on? So, I know whether or not to buy it as well as the newspaper. I certainly shall try not to miss any part if it is £3.99 to buy any you've missed...!
I am hoping the diet will help me lose (some of) the weight I have put on through having to take steroids. I hope that there's not too much about adding exercise as that is the really difficult part for me as I am disabled and have a full-time job...so finding time and energy for all that is hard enough. although, perhaps if I lose weight it should become a little easier?

just logged on to see if antone else had got suckered into the proise of losing weight without actually cutting back on beloved food. cant beleive how many of you out there! spooky! 1st da going great. managed a custard donut with 5 crunchie hero chocs. tho i did have to walk to the newsagent in my lunch hour to buy the newspaper to get part 2 & the no tv thing today is going great. although does anyone know if liam lived in emmerdale? actually only interested on whether the puppy made it or not! am i missing the point here?

Hi
Really interesting to read everyone's remarks and generally makes me hopeful. Question - I can't work this out, but is the idea that you don't watch Tv for one day, then do another task another day and so on - OR is it cumulative ie you don't watch TV today and then for ever more, you walk 15 mins next day then for ever more? I assume it's the former just to try tings out? Sorry if I seem obtuse!

i read it as just do the tasks once & then move on to next task for next day. otherwise we sure will lose weight trying to rush around trying to fit things in each day.

I feel inspired! This has been good for me and just at the right time. What a simple and good idea to spend a day at a time being a little bit different, and it's infecting me in other areas: I got in my car and thought "no, no chewing gums when driving, this is a nasty habit I will stop." At the moment I really feel like eating something, so I have carrots to nibble, because I know deep inside that biscuits are not the idea. Looking forward to the next day's experiment.

I've been much more active than usual today. The no telly thing was OK - I turned it of at the plug in case I absent mindedly turned it on. Walked out of the room when the kids had their stuff on and I'm in other room now while hubby watches TV. Got loads of chores done haha, they're certainly not habit! I love writing so will enjoy tomorrows I think. I'm still a bit stumped about how I am actually losing weight tho. Bubble and Squeak with a fried egg on top and a Kit Kat does not a skinny woman make?

Soo - I think the idea is that by breaking these habits, we will feel inspired to break other ones so it doesn't matter so much if we all go back to watching TV tomorrow. I intend watching TV i really want to watch rather than flicking through the sky channels looking for something.

Just out of interest, how much are y'all wanting to lose? Personally, I would like to drop about 20lbs - a couple of sizes.

suspect that going on internet should count as telly and feel I'm cheating by looking at any screen- however I have never posted comment in chat room before so this can count as new habit. Cannot really believe food habits will change by osmosis, so to speak, but willing to give it a go. Me- the usual 10lb would do nicely.

Have been planning to get on here all day and have a look at what everyone else is saying! First time ever for making a blog entry - does that count as breaking/changing a habit?! So many of the points in the leaflets so far have struck a chord with me - a real lightbulb moment! Not only do I need to lose 4 stone (can't do kilos - too aged) but I need a radical change in self worth so really hoping that this will do the trick and really be the year that, with help and support, I can make real changes- Very best of luck everyone x

Grit has cancelled the broken biscuit order from the milkman. Dedicated or what?

I agree with the basic principles of the No Diet diet seeing it as a way of changing some unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. I note how this concept aims to encourage open-mindedness and yet Saturday's booklet advised shunning certain complementary therapies. Why? Is this because they are deemed to be a passive rather than an active strategy? If one's approach to life is currently by using active strategies, might not use of a passive one be a change. I intend to check out the references from the original book, if there are any.
I do intend to participate and hope to lose half a stone.

I'm a little concerned about tomorrows task of not having your favourite drink - I only drink water and I can't really see me giving it up all day. Wrote a letter to a friend today which was my task, took a while to fill the 15 minutes but hey I no longer have to read it :o)
I'd ideally like to lose a couple of stone but know that'll take a while to happen, but maybe you never know it could happen in time for early summer, if we get one!

Are you a day ahead Emma? Tomorrow's task is the writing...

This seems to tackle mild depression by getting us to do new things and enjoy change.I think depression is probably at the root of some weight gain-feel bad-eat as a treat-feel weak-eat to feel good -and so on and on.Hope it works-love the idea of not trying to eat differently and today haven't eaten too much and done some exercise!

Doing quite well all evening until my brother called - I ended up watching 5 mins of HFW Chicken Run prog. Sorry guys. Honesty is best policy and all that. I keep trying

I saw the advertisment for this on the television and thought that it looked interesting and that i should pick it up and give it a try ,then i forgot all about it untill Monday.So i got my first copy today,i think i have ordered booklet 1 that i have missed but i am not sure,was there something in Sundays paper that i missed too? and where can get hold of that? can anyone help!!
I do hope that this could be the answer for me,trying something new instead of the same old yo yo diets that just result in me putting more weight back on than i started with in the first place.

Hello All, it is me again. I am the one who bought the book that the programme is based on. So, in answer to someone who asked 'should I buy the book?'- the book does not have loads more info than what is being published in the independent. I like the booklets in the independent because (a) the cartoons make it more fun. (B) I might be able to write in the booklet but of course I could never write in a book (because that would be WRONG, even though it is mine! Maybe another habit to break). Also easier to carry around the booklets. And it is brilliant to have other people to communicate with. Great how many people have joined in!!

Regarding the question about swopping the order of days, it doesn't matter. At the end of Week 1, they ask you to score points for how many tasks you achieved. Then they deduct points if you took more than 7 days for the 1st seven steps. I did start before Christmas but took a break because I could not manage to go out for a short walk. Pathetic, I know. I was hibernating OK. If my milkman would deliver broken biscuits, believe me, I would have ordered them!

I have just done my 7th step and my 2 bonus tasks today I think (I must check all this and WRITE in my booklet). Sadly (but not surprisingly) I did not lose weight over Christmas (how many people do??) but I probably put less weight on than I would have done.

My friend reminded me at the weekend of a book I read a few years ago called 'Why nice girls don't get on but gutsy girls do'. This had a task of breaking one rule a day. Do you think being overweight = being NICE??

In the Independent also, they were talking about people with addiction problems but the real problem being that they did not want to face up to their emotions. So, maybe that is what the journalling and the walking and thinking is about??

Oh, I broke a habit and bought a different newspaper. Can I admit to this here? There was a great article in the Daily Mail about a 103 year old man who has just emigrated to New Zealand. He said 'I just didn't want to get to 105 and wish I had done something different when I was 103.' How great is that?? So, 63, is nothing these days.

I work with lots of thin 20 something year olds. I have stopped hating them and myself! I even chatted to one of them today about a trip she had booked, maybe I will copy her!! And I enjoyed my job too because I stopped being such a good girl and took some time out to chat to her about her trip.

The book does not recommend anything about diet. The technical second half of the first booklet was added by the independent. (Probably to avoid complaints that it says nothing about food intake). The book does point out that to lose weight you have to consume less calories than you use up. which we all know - right? I think the programme is about food not being the focus, which is what I remember from when I was thin. It is only dieting that made me focus on food....crazy really.

Well, that must be 15 minutes of writing. Any idea of how long this blog will be available for???

Keep posting everyone...
Teresa

back to work today...everyone on diets..the women obviously...no TV great..went to my yoga class..did some marking , everthing ready for tomorrow BUT I cant shake this feeling that I am on a diet- been very good today, see? very hard not to think in those terms, help!

Sharon - I think it is ridiculous that everyone suddenly decides to go on a diet/fitness regime on 1st jan (inc me) as the failure rate must be huge as u imply! maybe we should all decide to go on our new year's diet in march, when the pressure from everyone around us has faded away and until then just do the No Diet Diet!

STILL haven't managed to lay my hands on copy of Phase 1 from Independent on Sunday! (all the other booklets are for sale except that one..) So would any of you very kind people out there PLEEEASE photocopy theirs for me and send it to me?? If you email me your address I can send you an s.a.e. (and maybe a nice chocolate bar?) How's that?! My email address is fiyoung2003@yahoo.co.uk Thanks in advance!!

Fiona - I will scan it and email it to you now and then I can tick off Step 7: do a good deed for someone!! OK with you?

Anna - thank you!! that is indeed a very good deed! I'm already not drinking tea today as i gathered that's what the rest of you are doing - but must be more to it than that? (maybe not..hey this is easy isn't it?...I can feel the inches dropping off already...)Thanks again Anna xx

Richie, I did my no tv on sunday, my 15 minutes writing yesterday and today is no favourite drink but as I only drink water I'm not sure I can do it. Will be going swimming later though for my mini task.

hi girls!
im anca,im 25 and i think im 8stones.
just want to drop a stone to reach size 8:)
i was heavier but i managed to get rid of it.
the thing is that im bored of gyms so when i saw the ad for the independent i thought this was perfect:)
i have all the booklets but i decided to start on monday:)) so i can have time to read everything and understand where i need to change.
i will also do some tummy exercises because im very obessed with it.
so,hope it works!
good luck to you all and keep in touch!

Hello, it was great not to watch tv yesterday but i missed booklet 2!
I think this is a great idea, basically we are focussing on other things than food so we don't want to eat as much...
Good to see the comments above as well.

Fiona or Anna, still cant get part one either, i must have harassed every newsagent in my area! Could one of you maybe forward it to me please? i would be sooo greatful! My email is brightyellowmatter@hotmail.com, hope to hear from you soon :)

Hi Anne
I dont mind forwarding it on but the file is 25 MB big (I scanned it in colour) so your hotmail account might not like that! I can try, or you can send me an email with a different email address? My email is peelyp79@yahoo.co.uk

Anna - just sent you a wee email, let me know if i need to give you alternate addy :)

When I said I was disappointed with the whole thing because I felt that it,the no diet diet,is not for people of my age, I meant that if you have got to the age of 63 without realising that television rots your brain and you need a booklet to tell you to examine your behaviour in case your habits contribute to over-eating, which in turn
leads to weight-gain, then there isn't much hope for you!If you are a bit younger you might still believe that someone has stumbled on the secret of losing weight without eating less and exercising more. I was hoping for some new insight,I suppose,but that just goes to prove that age doesn't necessarily bring wisdom. There is no magic formula,although The Independent might have found one to sell more newspapers,just what we all know,greed and laziness make you fat, and when I say "you' I mean me too!

First time I have ever posted on a blog too! Feel so inspired by this whole idea after years of guilt/failure over being overweight. No TV was a revelation and I gained so much just from that one change it has motivated me for the coming challenges. Must go and by todays paper before it sells out. Good luck everyone - it's so good to know your all out there!

Helen, I too am 63 and know what's good and bad for me, but I just make excuses for not acting on this knowledge. I moan to all my friends that I can't lose weight, and I continue to eat too much and take too little exercise. I'm giving this a go because I can see the sense in breaking habits and I like the fact that there's no psychological mumbo jumbo attached. I'm regarding the tasks as a framework for challenging myself to keep on the go and do things differently. Some of the tasks don't quite work for me as I only work a couple of days a week and some of that is at home. So I'm adapting them in the spirit of the thing. I hereby publicly declare that I need to lose 3st or 42lbs. This is the first chatroom I've ever posted to and I think it's a great incentive! If I don't lose weight, I won't be disappointed with the Independent, just with myself!

Brilliant! my other half and I started this yesterday - the telly wasn't switched on and the usual radio station playing in the background was switched from sport to jazz, we sat at the table and ate our dinner rather than on our laps in front of the telly and played 5 games of Rummy by candlelight (I won!)& played endless games of Pass the Pig (I lost!)
I've started walking in my lunchbreaks since returning to work last week and IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE! so this has come at a perfect time. Good luck to you all and wish me well on my pile of ironing i've been putting off since the new year!!! PS - would love to hear people's 'random acts of kindness' - what a lovely touch!! x

just sent you the booklet to your hotmail account -let me know if you cant download it!

just popped out at luchtime to get walk to shop & get todays copy. SOLD OUT! Can you beleive it? have had to text my husband on his sick bed to go & get a copy, dont worry as only man flu so not proper poorly. sat at the dining table last night for t as didnt want to slouch in front of tv without it being on. temptation too much! husband seriusly disturbed now as i shouted at him NOT to turn tv on last night in bed room. wont be long before he suspects an affair! does this count as 15 mins of writing then as like some of i am also a blof virgin - so to speak!

If you missed any of the booklets so far you can buy at www.read4charity.co.uk/diet - they had mistakenly not put the Indie on Sunday one up but it is there now. Could be better to do that and support the charity than share photocopies? Just a thought! Good luck everyone, as soon as I get the Sunday one delivered - fairly vital no. 1 - I'll be steaming ahead.

I have to confess I haven't started yet, as I weakly gave in to hubby's desire to watch TV last night! But I am inspired by everyone's determination and I am going to try again tonight and if he doesn't want to support me he can watch it by himself while I do something more interesting!! Can't believe how many people have lost their blog cherries, i am another - is this a record for the Independent?
In answer to the sceptical comments of a couple of people, I would say that none of us are daft enough to think we can still eat pie and chips every night and still lose weight - the idea seems to be that we try and make our meals reasonably healthy without losing sleep over every calorie, and also address behaviour patterns which may lead us into an unhealthy relationship with food. I certainly eat more (and think about food more)when I am feeling less confident or less in control of my life, it is those feelings that I need to tackle rather than simply counting points. I don't want to be able to eat whatever I want without putting on weight, I just want to rid myself of my obsession with food. I am not vastly overweight, i only want to lose half a stone or so, but I am fed up with it being my number one priority!

Sarah - I am with you. Starting today, spent yesterday evening reading through the stuff but gave into the news on TV later. As this is dull or depressing in equal measure (last night was just depressing!)maybe it doesn't really count as TV. I have also the same issues as you with food and it seems to be getting worse. I always said I would be thin (for me this means size 12/14) by the time the children went to school but the youngest is now 10 and it never seemd to happen. I ahve just come back from my appraisal at work and it seems like a good self-focused time to start afresh. New goals, new challenges, maybe even a new shape!
I love the feel of this blog so thank you everyone.

I started on Monday and actually found giving up tele quite difficult - I'm semi-retired and at home a great deal so the TV has been an easy retreat from boredom. Yesterday I listened to the world service (it's usually Magic) and Woman's Hour. Sadly, though, i still snacked - though i did get off my butt to do the ironing which is usually left for eons. Back in the 80s i gave up smoking by using the Alan Carr book which was similarly about habit breaking. Having now read the first three phases, I do wish the No diet was a little more food related. I'm so undisciplined that I need to be ordered not to snack and to reduce my alcohol intake. Still, I've done the 15 minutes writing and will be giving up Diet Coke for Wednesday....

Hi, I too could not get saturday or sundays part anywhere and was really disapointed. Is anyone out there kind enough to send me a copy by email you would really make my day.

Thanks in advance you lovely people

helen_crawford@yahoo.co.uk

Irene - not sure who you need to order you to do it, but if we on the blog all order you to snack and drink less, does that count?!! If you drink less, you will sleep better, smell better, look better, feel better and weigh less! Here is something to persuade you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_alcohol.shtml

And I love wine as much as the next person, but if you want to be persuded then I hope that helps! good luck!!

I too missed yesterdays edition, I think someone had been in the newsagent's taking them out but not buying the Indy...very naughty!! I have since stumped up the £3.99 on the Read4Charity site. (Hope that makes you emailers feel guilty!! Only joking)
Missing the telly was a cinch(sp?) last night and toninght I'm going to finally make a start on the novel I've been meaning to write.
Just to be a little more sanctimonious, I have also not drunk for 2 days, not smoked for 2 weeks and significantly reduced my snacks...:)
I have a long way to go though. Apparently someone of my height should be 11-14 stones and I'm 18....
I've just bought some posh scales that measure in increments of 50g so I can tell if there is ANY improvement at all!!
Happy writing tonight!

AM TOTALLY HOOKED!! Even after only one day of not watching tele my brain suddenly kicked into action..down side was had to make conversation with other half!! Never mind, perhaps I'll consider that my good deed??? Bounced out of bed this morning and made brekky before leaving for work...totally mental, usually just about manage to drag a brush through my hair in between feeding cats and zipping up boots! Really excited about the wall planner as it'll hopefully keep me going after the 28 day plan.

I am now on start of week 2 and was more assertive with people today. Including grumpy husband. Also I wore make-up which I don't normally do, but someone told me I looked tired yesterday and today said I looked much better. I have just sent an assertive email to a boss at work, inviting him to discuss the office accomodation at the next meeting. Instead of moaning about why people want work at home, why not ask people why they can't get any work done in our open plan office?

I see the indy is linking to two subscription websites to keep this going. See http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article3289746.ece
Has anyone considered them?? Not looked yet.

Keep going everyone!
Teresa

I am breaking the habit of doing the research and then not doing anything with the results. There are 2 offering to extend the No Diet Diet programme from 28 steps (in the booklets) to a year long programme.

The first one is to sign up www.nodietdietway.com use the promotional code INDD003 and get a 25% discount of the normal monthly cost of £22.95 This website seems to be run by the Professors responsible for the programme. They offer a newsletter, online and telephone support and a forum for support and shared stories. Not sure how active this is though, it says somewhere they have 400 entries but over what time period. There are probably 50 messages here over 3 days....

Alternatively, there is the website www.habitdoctors.com you can currently sign up for a free newsletter. In a months time, they say they will be offering a support forum to share stories and receive help. They also offer updates and weight loss tips. This will cost £4.99 per month or £12 per month. At the moment, this link goes to newsmonster which is a site set up by journalists. One of the journalists collaborated in writing the No Diet Diet book. The website does not seem to be there at the moment though...

If they are monitoring this board, which I am sure they are, I would suggest that you offer a free months subscription to people, so that they can see what they are getting. This is the offering from lots of other subscription services e.g. the Which consumer organisation. I just happened to look at their website yesterday.

If I got the first month free, I would be more likely to subscribe, what does everyone else think??

Teresa

PS Assertive, aren't I ;-)

actually can someone just tell me what steps 5, 6 and 7 are please, i managed to get 1-4 on the habitdoctor website

thanks

It's so good to see how people are thinking, where there are in the steps and what they think of it! I was a bit concerned about a post I read, someone who was weighing about 8 stone and wanted to loose some weight to get in a size 8...? I calculated their BMI, and if this person is 5"5' then their BMI is just in the healthy zone... If they are any shorter, then it goes into the underweight zone.

I don't mean to be judgemental, after all the person talking might well be 6"3'... but I'm pretty sure the first booklet talks about how the no diet diet should help your body attain its natural weight. Surely wanting to be a size 8 doesn't fit in this description?

cant beleive how many people are doing this, no wonder i couldnt find a copy of paper in shop at luchtime. sitting on other sofa tonight so thats one of my tasks. gonna try to write a poem in a bit maybe about being fat or about the gale blowing outside! nice to see lots of people of all ages & sizes doing this & although i can olny dream of being 8 stone like anca its reassuring to know that even you slim people are as fixated on food as us more curvy lot. i myself seem to be hovering under 14 stone & although i can eat pretty much what i want dont seem to manage to lose or gain! have done the gym & diet thing to death & to be honest am bored with it & just want to live a normal life. maybe this is the answer, wouldnt that be great!

Patricia- I agree with your comments but my gut feeling is that this 'diet' would not be a lot of use to someone who is already a racing snake. The weight loss is quite gentle so if you're already thin then I can't see it doing much. It will however give someone a positive outlook and improve their life....Prob'ly....

Don't know what you mean Helen...
Teresa

Really interesting to see how people are doing. The day not watching TV was fine. In fact, ticking it off made me feel i'd achieved something which is rather bizarre! Perhaps I ate less because I was successful in a small task???!!! Just finishing up some work then instead of turning Tv on tonight I'm going to make a start on that novel!! What did other people write about?
First time on a blog for me too, which is interesting.
I, too, have 4 stone to lose and am the wrong side of 50. No longer willing to diet - but think this looks interesting and different, so prepared to give it a go. we shall see!!

Hi everyone - just reporting I was also impressed with the difference no radio (not a great TV fan so that wouldn't have been enough) made yesterday- felt as if several hours more in evening and I found myself thinking properly about what I wanted to do. I found it very hard not to switch radio on- quite shocking. The writing today less ispiring but then I write a lot for work so that did not feel so different. I have discovered others at work doing this too- it certainly fits the mood after Xmas. Am dreading having to forgo coffee tomorrow - I know I'm hooked.

Do we need the nodiet web subsription? wonder if this blog could work as well if people feel able to give constructive criticism?

just did my 15 mins writing & think its kind of a therapy actually as started writing random words down bout how i feel bout being over weight. started with the usual muffin tops,bloated belly & after 5 mins ended up with words like craving acceptance, inadequacy & despair. what on earth is that all about. maybe its just the dram queen in me but then again when have we ever been able to admit these feeling to ourselves let alone in a slimming group. silly really as think we all know what we should be eating & what not to eat so thats what these groups offer. what about counceling to see how we feel now & whats actuall stopping us from being the weight we want to be because it just can be that can it? we are supposed to be the superior race here so why cant we control it all?!

i just meant could someone tell me what steps/tasks 5, six and seven are as i missed sundays booklet

Can anyone help

Day Three draws to an end. Created a new habit for this week, driving twice as far as I normally would on my way to work, trying to find a newsagent with an Independent newspaper left on the shelf at 8.15 a.m.! Luckily this counts as a mini-task ("take a different route to work"). But is terribly bad for the planet...guilt, guilt. (And yes I do need my car for work, before you ask!) Have been drinking water all day - pleased about this as drinking more water is a habit I have been meaning to start for ages. Only one technical fault - had to take a few sips from a cup of tea that a colleague kindly brought me. Felt it would be rude to refuse it!
Used the writing exercise to ponder the effect of the no-diet so far. I suppose, like most people, I already know that healthy eating and exercise are the key, but it's too easy to put off a whole life-style change until tomorrow. This takes the pressure off by breaking things down, and I find I'm happy to give things a go "just for one day". So far everything I've done has given me so much food for thought that I've been doing a lot less "automatic" eating and more questioning if I'm actually hungry. Maybe I'll shift that 3-4 stone at last!

Can anybody please send me via email the part 2 booklet. I am trying to mobilise a family here to be more active, starting with myself and wondering will I be the pebble in my own pond! I have found the psychology behind it all really interesting. It explains a lot to me about why I suddenly lost a lot of weight in my early twenties. I fell in love and food got relegated to a different place!
keep on trucking everyone. pls send to edward.hunter1@ntlworld.com

helen if your still on the 1st week i guess step 5 would be to get up an hour early, step 6 is to make a list of what you ant to achieve by this time next year & step 7 is to do a good natured deed for someone else, one that could change their life for the better.after that you need score yourself over the tasks you have done this week. multiply by 3 the number of tasks completed. double the number of additional tasks you had to to (1 or 2) & add the 2 scores together. if you took a break in the week you need to deduct 4 from total. if your final score is less than 15 then you should repeat this week, if 15-20 you need to complete another task before starting phase 2 either one you skipped or an additional task. if score is 21 or more then proceed to phase 2. hope this helps!

Helen, Angela left out a word. Just in case you think step 7 is rather daunting, the guidance says "So your task for today is to do a small good-natured deed for someone else. It doesn't have to be something big..." You only need to change someone's life a LITTLE. Hope that sounds less scarey!

ah but think how revolutionary my version could be! i could have world peace in a day! not that i am over asserting myself here. maybe thats phase 2. dealing with my ruling the world ambitions...

sorry helen that does make more sense than my version. also we have to try & not tell anyone about what we do as that might defeat the object although if you do see world peace by friday it was me, me, me....

Hi lads and lasses,

I hit New year with the obligatory 'must lose weight' resolution. I am 4 stone overweight and have 3 kids. I have now finished breastfeeding so i cant 'not diet' for that reason anymore, however i am crap at dieting and cant get out in the evening to go to WW etc due to the kids.
I hit 15 stone after christmas and this was a complete shock to me and so this looks like a good way to start working on the habits. I quit smoking 10 years ago new years eve so i know i can do it if i set my mind to it.

Luckily a good friend is also keen to lose weight so we are going to buddy up on this experience and whoever loses a stone first gets a night out courtesy of the other one!!

The tasks :
I dont have tv and dont listen to radio so i went internet free yesterday (although i did check my email last night so technically i failed ;c( )
Today i need to write for 15 minutes. I dont think thank you xmas letters are the way to go as they arent really 'freeing your mind' much so i might do a blog somewhere after this to finish off the 15 minutes. Sometimes touch typing is a curse - its only taken me about 3 minutes to write this!

I love baking and am desperate to try out some recipes from a book on cupcakes i got for christmas so my random act of kindness will be to treat the chaps and chapesses at our local library to cupcakes - they are always so helpful and friendly to my kids, above and beyond the call of duty. note to self - do not eat all the extra icing!

Anyway, i didnt get to the newsagent to get part 3 today due to torrential rain and no buggy cover when we were out - doing a detour to the newsagent would have resulted in 2 very angry kids!! If my friend cant find one tonight i may come back to you chaps for the part 3 steps. It's good to read all the things out are doing.

have fun folks

nicky

angela and ruth thank you thank you thank you thank you i'm all excited now. What are the additional tasks?

AAARRGGHH this no tv thing is hard!! does you tube count? :)

I agree Helen, yesterday without TV was very hard, whenever I turned it off one of the kids or my husband turned it back on, I read my daughter a long bedtime story then read my new magazine before having an early night, so I killed 2 birds with one stone. Spent today without tea which wasn't too bad, not sure I'll be able to fit in the 15 min walk tomorrow but I don't fancy having to get up at 5:45 either!

well done sonya you have more willpower than me!

He he, yesterday I had difficulty finding an Independent at 12 noon in this hick town. One shop had 5 copies but no booklet - I felt so sorry for the shopkeeper who had been up since 4 as his paperboys have done a runner that I bought a copy anyway.
Then just outside in the wet street I found a dropped booklet. 'Twas a bit muddy - but it'll do.
No tv was easy (nothing much on anyway - hick country choices) and I went to bed early after reading through quite a lot of the mags and books on my bedside table for the last 3 months.
Today I wrote my life story up to 2 3/4 (I only remember from 2 1/2) but tomorrow HOW am I going to do without tea?????????

Was enjoying this up til today...didn't watch telly, did my 15 minutes writing, (still seemed to eat the same tho') but no coffee all day - that has been hard - can't wait for breakfast tomorrow but am looking forward to my 15 minute walk....

Well I already feel a failure. First time I have logged on here. I have all the booklets so far and have read every one except todays. I have not started though. I have tried so many diets, slimming clubs, tablets from Dr. I lose a bit, put it all back on again plus a bit more. Have been overweight since I was 10 years old. First slimming club at 15, lost a bit but soon gained it all back! I am now 46 and have at least 9 stones to lose. I feel apprehensive at starting yet another 'plan' to lose weight (even if it is a 'No Diet' diet) I could be just setting myself up to fail again. I do not normally feel so sorry for my self, but over the past year I have become more and more down about life. To the world, work and family i appear positive and supportive to everyone. Inside I am crying and scared of what I am doing to my body - a slow suicide. People who do not have a weight problem do not always understand. I have an addiction to food, which is stronger than my love of life. I so hope that I can do it this time. Sorry to bring the mood down on this site. Hope everyone does really well.

I can't believe how many blogs there are!
I feel great so far. Yesterday I sat grinning inwardly and relishing every moment of the forty-five minutes I made my telly addict husband switch off the TV while we ate dinner. We talked more than we usually do in a day! Today I amazed myself with how energetic and efficient I was at work. What's going on?
Loving it!
I'm weighing in at 14 stone 6 lbs. There, I've said it. I've been too ashamed to declare my weight recently, I know it's been out of control.
I hope this is the last I worry about weight or food. I guess that's the point?

Sorry, Tina, your blog must have uploaded in the time it took me to do mine, so now mine looks completely insensitive. I really hope this approach helps you - it is a completely different approach and it's got to be worth a try. I really am starting to think it's all about having enough going on that you don't eat out of habit or for comfort... I am encouraged by how positive I'm feeling already. I know I have been in a rut and feeling hopeless about my weight. Good luck!

It's CBT innit? ;-)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Whatever it is, it's working for me. I feel freer than I have for ages.
Might do a painting tomorrow. Something I haven't voluntarily done since I drew a picture of a new born calf when I was 9 years old.

Good morning everyone. What a beautiful morning it is, there is not a single cloud in the sky. I blogged yesterday for the first time, I even managed to not watch Tv (although Shameless is on tape!) Today I am going to start writing the children's story I have had planned in my head to do since my kids were little; they sorta got big somewhere along the way! Like you Tina C I am 46 and have exactly the same issues with food including significant alcohol intake always with large amounts of nuts/crisps etc. I feel so ill. The outside world thinks I am assertive, in-control, organised and self-confident but inside I really wish they would all go away and leave me alone! Every year I do the same thing - promise myself the earth and then put it all off until tomorrow! My incentive this time was half catching sight of myself naked from behind in the full length mirror - yuk! I have stopped drinking alcohol totally I simply can't risk half measures (oops sorry!) and I have had real difficulty getting to sleep for the past few nights but once it happens it is so wonderful and I have woken up feeling sooo good - and alert. I am not sure about today as I am working at home so no one around to chivvy me -I guess this is my first real test of will power. I promise not to snack and I will go for a run-walk-run! Have a good day y'all. :-)

apart from the obvious and oft stated but ignored fact that less food plus more exercise equals weight loss, why don't all those who really want to lose weight just sit down and read about and listen about and watch about all those in the 'undeveloped' world who are as thin and scraggy as mme beckham, but who wish to god they were not; then get a big glass jar and put money into it every time you pig out and every time you realise how gross it is to make such a fuss about losing weight in a world where millions are losing so much weight that they die from lack of food; watch the money build up, watch your waistline shrink down, and then send all that money to oxfam or similar...; don't claim psychological frailty, that you'll self harm if pressed to feel guilty- grow up and face up to the facts - what you need is self respect and self empowerment, not sympathy; best wishes and good luck!

I wrote a poem last night... about a tree....!
The drink I'm giving up is wine this evening... which is a first for a LOOOOONG time! I'm dreading it really (I know I know, I worry about it too) but it's an opportunity that means I can't make excuses and give in to temptation which is my downfall. It also doesn't help with my weight - apparently 1 bottle of wine a day is the equivalent to 2 cheeseburgers!! McWine!!!

Good Luck today everyone with whatever phase you are at!!

My husband came home with the Independent and the booklet was missing and so I sent him out again to get another one.I was determined to have a go at this diet because it isnt one! Enjoyed turning off the TV walking around the block a different way and tried a "Guava" for a different food.
Put a teaspoonful of brandy in the coffee before setting off to do a painting. This is the best way I know of for casting off the January blues-ticking the boxes and not thinking about food all the time.
I seem to have extra energy and need to loose a few pounds before Saturday.

jella, I too had real difficulty sleeping last night, but although I thought I would feel dreadful this morning I feel great and full of energy! I hope there are come copies left when I go for my walk at lunchtime.

I have recently lost some weight, but need to get the final ten kilos off, so will be following the plan from today.

Good luck with it!

Afternoon all, will be off to get todays paper in a bit. Just wondered if anyone had some words of wisdom? I'm doing ok at most things with this but have a slight problem in the fact that I'm not currently working and have little to occupy my time, I live alone and don't have many friends that live nearby. I think if I'd done the no tv thing as a no computer/internet thing it might have had more of an impact but that could involve me not interacting with anyone for an entire and thats a little depressing. I'm trying to break my habits (and to get a job) but it feels so much harder on my own. Any thoughts please? Thanks x

Hi Emma - your situation sounds a tough one! My take on the whole thing is that its all about breaking bad habits and the old routines we are all stuck in. What you could do is tailor the programme to yourself a bit by sitting down and listing your bad habits, thinking about how you have been trying to get a job and how you could change how you are going about it perhaps? and also, u could make lots of plans to meet up with friends for some company and make sure you all carry out your plans? you could also see if one of your friends will do the plan with you?

hi emma
i'm sure it must be harder on your own. i do have a little one to keep me company but i'm too enbarassed to tell my partner and friends about weight loss or exercise plans for fear of failing! I keep a scrapbook together of articles and old photos of how i once looked as a reminder to stay on track and remind myself why i'm doing trying to improve my health, and now this includes the no diet diet booklets. i make sure i look at this every morning as a boost, it may help? I remember when i was working and very busy i used to wish i had the time as you do now. Perhaps look at this time as a golden opportunity to spoil yourself by taking good care of yourself. you'll be wishing for this time once you start working again...good luck!

Louise - I have emailed you book number 2!

I started this on Monday with the no TV day, I thought it would be hard as it was double coronation street but I actually enjoyed the thought of not watching it! Usually have at least 2 glasses of wine per night, but none has passed my lips this week and again, its not that hard surprisingly. The no tea/coffee doesnt bother me as I dont drink it, instead I drink hot water with lemon and fresh ginger - no I am not a health freak! I wrote a letter to a friend who was feeling down as my 15 mins of writing and took her some flowers (act of kindness perhaps??). Tonight we are having guinea fowl for dinner (my new food) and I intend to purchase an obscure magazine to read. Oh yes and during my change of radio shows I heard about a book called Labyrinth by Kate Mosse and have purchased that - so looks like no TV will be here to stay. I expect I will loose quite a bit of weight this week but mainly because I have the sickness bug that is going around. Next week willbe a challenge as I couldnt get a copy of the Indie with week 2 - however, I have purchased the full book for £7.99 from play.com. Wonder if it matters if I do week 3 next week????

I've lost three pounds already. go for it!