Finding SW hard going

[Greenrememberedhills]

I started slimming world three weeks ago and am sticking to the plan.

I list 0.5lb on week 1, 1 lb last week and 0.5 today. So 2lb in three weeks.

I did the plan 6 years ago and got to target - 3.5 st, but put it all back on.

This time round I just can't seem to work our what I'm doing wrong. I'm averaging 70-80 syns, and definitely at least one third veg and usually at least half or more.

My exercise levels are low-ish as I work from home these days, but it should matter much, should it?

I've been making up puddings from quark which are free, but a pot of 250g pot of it is still 130 calories plus fruit. Maybe it's that?

Sheesh.

[JimmyCorkhill]

Are you keeping a food diary? My consultant always advises this as she says sometimes there's something obvious that you think is free/low syns but isn't.

Are you doing extra easy? I actually found the original (red) plan was better for me losing weight.

[Greenrememberedhills]

Thanks for replying. I did great last time on the Red. Why doesn't the extra easy work for some, though? I don't get it.

I am keeping a food diary. No negative comments so far. Though she did wonder last week if I was eating enough but believe me I do, and I did fill it in right.

I did also wonder whether say a dinner of prawn salad plus a large quark pot 250g plus option hc in it (2 syns) was more calorific than having a more substantial dinner?

Or eating less plus too much fruit.

My portion sizes are probably bigger since I gave up smoking 7 months ago, and also since I stopped drinking a glass of wine or two on weekday evenings. Maybe it's that too? But I am keeping to the plan.

[Poppiesway]

Hi, I started sw last night.. Aren't we only allowed 15 syns a day?

I don't get this extra easy start week. Is it not the same as normal weeks? I'm confused over it all..

I also lost 3 stone last year (by myself with excersize and my fitness pal) and have now manged to out it back on plus some more! :(

[Greenrememberedhills]

Yes, 15 syns a day or 70-105 a week.

Extra easy is the type of plan .

[RedorBlack]

Are you drinking enough? I find if I don't my weightless really slows down, but by having 4-5 pints water/ squash a day it really goes.

Also make sure you count daily rather than weekly sins, as a big blowout can have a huge effect.

Stick with it, I'm 4 months in and 2 1/2 st down with very little exercise. It does work!

[annielostit]

I lose less if I eat fruit and yogurt, forme it seems added food for no reason. I look at the calorie angle too, even though we're not supposed too.the diet yogurts have sugars/chemicals to make them taste nice. All these things don't help.
I'd have the more substantial meal than salads, then you might not want anything else.x

[Greenrememberedhills]

Thank you. I think I do drink lots but usually weak coffee with skimmed milk. And I don't use my syns evenly at all- wine at the weekend.

I might need a rethink.

Thank you.

[fairylightsintheloft]

I have kept my weight in check (ish) for years with lowcarb but sis and friend have done v well on SW so I joined recently. The first week I hd lots of pasta which is free but only lost 1/2 and felt heavy and bloated. The 2nd week I reduced the carbs, did more like the red plan and lost 1 1/2. not amazing, but better, and felt better on it to. I had GD when pregnant so have got used to keeping carbs low for blood sugar reasons. Maybe try that? Also my group leader advised against seeing the syns as 105 over the week but my sister does that and it works fine so I am now taking that approach. Most work days (4 a week) I can get by with virtually zero syns but I like to relax at the weekend and have a few glasses of wine or a treat with the kids. I think the "gist" of slimming world really is just to make you more aware of what is in food and and what you are actually eating (hence the food diary). Within that, tailor it to what suits you best

[piscivorous]

I gave up SW as the extra easy did not work for me and I just felt confused by it. I moved over to low carbing as it fitted well with the old red days which helped reduce my appetite and sweet cravings

[Greenrememberedhills]

Thank you both. I'm taking the low carb advice, and trying to stick to wholemeal/high fibre too.

[Doristhecamel]

Are you following the latest plan to a T? And not taking it for granted that certain foods from when you did the plan last time are still free or the same syns or the same amount a HE choice?

SW is frequently changing. It seems to change more now than it ever did 12 years ago when I first discovered it.

I know someone who follows a very oldd sw plan where tinned chilli/corned beef is free, which it isn't now. She follows the old plan to the letter ignoring new food syn values/freeness etc. She still gets great losses but her 19yo daughter has gained weight on SW because she follows some of the old plan and mixes it with the current on; in other words taking the "best" frim both plans and not getting good results.

You need to be sure you are 100% following the rules whether that's one of the older plans or the current one. Obviously, product recipe and pack sizes change over time so best results will probably come from following the most upto date plan.

Another reason for slow loss can be constipation. I cant believe how bad I get on sw considering all the veg fruit and salad I eat but that is something definitely worth looking at.

[Greenrememberedhills]

I might be confusing them. I always use 350ml skimmed milk as an A choice and either 35g brand late or tesco wheaties or 2 slices of hovis 400g for a B. Always.

I don't have 105 syns.

I suppose I'm not careful on the fruit and veg list but then apart from parsnips, potatoes and avocado is there really anything I can't have? Peas I'm careful with.

If there is, that might be it.

[MrMacadoo]

are you doing extra easy (sorry if you have said already)? if so you can have parsnips and potatoes

[Greenrememberedhills]

Yes, I am. I did know about potatoes but not parsnips. I'm not a fan of lots if potato but I'm still too fat

[MrMacadoo]

things my consultant recommends if you are at a bit of a plateau include varying your a and b choices every day, i try and do this, especially with the b choices. also write food down the second you have eaten it as otherwise you might accidentally forget something with syns.

they also have something called a SAS log which stands for slimmers against sabotage. i have never used one myself but from what i can tell, it has pointers and tick boxes on and makes you focus on identifying key areas you may be subconciously slipping up. it might be worth asking your consultant for one?

hope this helps. the plan does work so don't despair, you will find what works for you.

this is my second stint, i lost a stone and a half in 12 weeks but then found out i was pregnant again and there were only certain foods i could stomach. been back on plan for 2 weeks and have lost 6lb.

[TheOnlyPink]

Are you using your syns weekly? If so that's the first thing you should change. Slimming world do not recommend you do this, to protect your loss. I know an awful lot of people do use them weekly and still lose, but its not strictly the plan because it doesn't work for everyone. The week I did it, no other changes, I gained 2lbs.
Try using 10-15 a day for a week and see how that works.

Good luck!

[Kernowal]

I've been a member for ages & you do get blasé about what you can & can't eat. I picked up a complete new pack the other day and read it from cover to cover to see which bad habits I've slipped into.

I definitely agree with doing the food diary and checking your syns daily. Do you actually measure out your milk at the start of each day so that you're not estimating it and that you don't let any other synned dairy produce slip in?