What do you think of the programme so far? Is it working for you? Does it all make sense to you?
Give us your feedback and, just as important, share each other's reactions to the No Diet Diet. Mutual support can be a major aid to successful habit-breaking. Just as many of your bad habits and behaviours may be partly kept in place by other people, so a new circle of friends - who don't expect you to carry on behaving as you have always done - can help you to break free.
So: come here when you need encouragement, or want advice on particular concerns; but come here also to give encouragement and share tips. The more support you can give each other, the easier you will find it to achieve your goals.
(If you would like to join in the programme but missed the book given away with the paper, click here to purchase a copy.)
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.
Posted by: Chris | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 06:01 PM
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.
Posted by: Colleen | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 06:07 PM
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?
Posted by: Joan | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 06:12 PM
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
Posted by: Richie | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 06:52 PM
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.
Posted by: Cindy | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 07:01 PM
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)
Posted by: Maury (a fella, Richie!) | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 07:14 PM
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?
Posted by: Elayne | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:12 PM
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?
Posted by: angela | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:21 PM
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!
Posted by: Soo | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:22 PM
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.
Posted by: angela | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:25 PM
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.
Posted by: Susanne | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:45 PM
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?
Posted by: Caz | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:54 PM
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.
Posted by: Richie | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:54 PM
Just out of interest, how much are y'all wanting to lose? Personally, I would like to drop about 20lbs - a couple of sizes.
Posted by: Caz | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 08:59 PM
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.
Posted by: catcat | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 09:06 PM
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
Posted by: Jo | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 09:31 PM
Grit has cancelled the broken biscuit order from the milkman. Dedicated or what?
Posted by: grit | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 09:32 PM
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.
Posted by: Liz | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 09:37 PM
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!
Posted by: Emma | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 10:01 PM
Are you a day ahead Emma? Tomorrow's task is the writing...
Posted by: Richie | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 10:04 PM
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!
Posted by: bananas | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 10:06 PM
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
Posted by: Maury (Co. Antrim) | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 10:12 PM
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.
Posted by: Lesley Duncan | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 10:14 PM
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
Posted by: Teresa Rice | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 11:10 PM
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!
Posted by: sharon Roberts | Monday, 07 January 2008 at 11:32 PM
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!
Posted by: Anna | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 08:45 AM
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!!
Posted by: Fiona | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 10:34 AM
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?
Posted by: Anna | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 10:37 AM
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
Posted by: Fiona | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 10:48 AM
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.
Posted by: Emma | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 11:10 AM
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!
Posted by: anca | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 11:29 AM
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.
Posted by: Maria Petersen | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 11:38 AM
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 :)
Posted by: Anne | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 11:42 AM
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
Posted by: Anna | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 11:53 AM
Anna - just sent you a wee email, let me know if i need to give you alternate addy :)
Posted by: Anne | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 12:11 PM
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!
Posted by: helen maclenan | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 12:19 PM
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!
Posted by: Trina | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 12:41 PM
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!
Posted by: Ruth | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 12:48 PM
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
Posted by: Jen | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 12:54 PM
just sent you the booklet to your hotmail account -let me know if you cant download it!
Posted by: Anne | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 12:57 PM
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!
Posted by: angela | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 01:00 PM
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.
Posted by: gill | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 01:26 PM
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!
Posted by: Sarah | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 01:31 PM
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.
Posted by: Pippa | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 02:10 PM
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....
Posted by: Irene | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 04:13 PM
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
Posted by: Helen Crawford | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 04:19 PM
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!!
Posted by: Anna | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 04:29 PM
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!
Posted by: Richie | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 04:46 PM
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.
Posted by: Francesca | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 04:56 PM
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
Posted by: Teresa Rice | Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 05:14 PM