Share your SW secrets! Yep, I need all the help I can get...

[DreamingOfADifferentMe]

Having mulled it over for a while, debating the best way to tackle my not-inconsiderable weight but determined to do something, I’ve bitten the bullet (thankfully syn free, fnar fnar) and shuffled back shamefaced to Slimming World.

For the past two years, I’ve hovered around the same point, going up and down by the same half stone, but I refuse to do it anymore. I know I need to lose a lot of weight. At least 3 stones to feel better, but closer to four to be healthy. I'm not yearning to be a size 10, a healthy 14 would be glorious. I just know that being overweight is robbing me of so much joy. It affects everything: the way I dress, the way I feel, my health, my confidence, my happiness and even the way I interact with my husband and children. But NO MORE.

This year I am NOT going to spend the year grizzling about how awful I feel and how dreadful I look, it’s in my hands to change it and so change it I will, hence my walk of shame to yet another new slimming group.

However, despite my determination, I know my real downfall is planning ahead which means I often have to decide things on a whim when I’m led by hunger rather than the bigger picture of a healthier, happier me. So I know planning ahead is going to be essential, but life is crazily busy and finding the time and the inclination to look at meal ideas and make shopping lists can be tricky.

So, what I want to know, SWers, is what are your secret weapons? What do you do that means you stick to it? Is it pictures of what you want to wear, or how you want to look? Do you countdown to holidays or other events? What meals are sure-fire winners that mean you’re full and happy and not scouring the kitchen looking for that pick-me-up that will then make you feel dreadful?

Any little nuggets of wisdom and success stories you’re happy to share would be most welcome.

[deli1976]

Ive started back AGAIN for the what feels the 100th time, ive gone in this time blazing, as i really want it
ive bought a countdown
i stay in groups
i do food diary
9lb lost in 3 weeks.
Good luck to you

[DreamingOfADifferentMe]

Oh deli, I hear you. And bravo on albs in three weeks. I'm determined to really do it this time. Unless I'm careful I'll lose yet another decade to being overweight and I just can't do it.

I've just been online and filled out the food sheet on there, and am just about to have a tasty SW dinner and feel absurdly excited by all the food choices there are, so long may it last.

Thanks for sharing your ideas, and good luck!

[Wisheverydaywasfriday]

Hi Dreaming,
I can relate a lot to what you've written. I started back at SW again a couple of weeks ago, have started and left so many times.... What I've done this time is I've bought a countdown as I know since I've paid upfront, I won't want to miss a week. Being organised is definitely key - I've made loads of dishes like curry and cottage pie and frozen them - so handy to heat up after work. Also have a full fruit bowl - great for a quick snack if I'm peckish. I lost 3 lbs in my first week, and hope to lose about a stone and a half in total. Like you I'm determined, as I HATE this extra weight. Clothes look awful, feel awful etc... Good luck.

[MissBattleaxe]

I know it sounds obvious but I make sure I'm never hungry and I allow myself a non SW meal once a week so I don't feel deprived or as if I'm missing out. So out of 21 meals a week, I have one uncounted treat i.e Sunday lunch in a pub, and for the other 20 I stick to SW. The weights coming off steadily and I feel great.

[beadyboo]

You sound full of enthusiasm, which will go a long way.
I'd say that my tips would be
-cooking double and putting half in the freezer for another day, means that on the days I can't be bothered I've got something nice to eat that I can just chuck in the microwave.
-Try to make one new meal a week so you don't get stuck in a rut and get bored (magazine is good for inspiration)

• always, always try to have veg / salad with a meal. The weeks I've maintained I realise I've lived off jacket and beans, which is free but contains no fresh stuff.
  
• the ready meals / soups from Iceland are pretty decent for an emergency and much better than a takeaway.
  

Good luck.

[MissBattleaxe]

I also find that planning your meals and your shopping stops you raiding the cupboards. I'm spending more on the weekly but less on crap and takeaways.

[wowser3]

I've tried ( and failed) slimming world a few times , usually give up after a week or 2 when I don't see the weight coming off. This time I seem to have nailed it , the weight is coming off slowly but surely , and I'll tell you what I am doing differently. I'm absolutely making sure that I have speed foods with everything I eat, which i was bad at before. If I snack between meals, which I have not really been doing, I make sure it's speed:

[Nectarines]

I lost my baby weight with SW once and hopefully will do the same again soon.

My better weeks were those when is used all my syns!

[nbee84]

You sound like you're in the right mindset at the moment.

I lost 3 stone with sw over 2 years ago and have kept it off. For me;

• going to group and staying every week
  
  
• planning
  
  
• batch cooking at weekends
  
  
• cooking new recipes so that I had something nice to look forward to
  
  
• making sure a third to a half of my meals were vegetables (non starchy ones)
  
  
• not eating too much fruit - yes, it's free but it's also full of sugar
  
  
• increasing my activity levels - whilst on sw this was just walking (got given a fitbit as a present, great motivation) and since losing the weight I now do exercise classes at the gym.
  
  Good luck, hope you keep your motivation going and remember if you have a bad day it's just one day.

[Drquin]

This is maybe a bit cheeky .... As I have no real tips yet ...... I joined SW for the first time this week, and I'm determined this time will be different.

[DamedifYouDo]

Allow yourself a treat - if I really want it then I make sure I have it and savour every bit of it, I don't feel guilty because it was my choice to eat it. I accept that the consequence may be a slower loss but I would rather do this and stick to the plan that eat something feel guilty and then binge because I've lost the plot!!!!
Before I do this I ask myself do I REALLY want it, quite often I decide it's not worth it and don't bother.

[calzone]

I have lost 3 stone in a year.......

I stay to group every week.
Joined the social team.
Buy a countdown to make sure I've committed to the plan.
Meal plan.
Make every meal delicious......no mugshots for me.
Experiment with recipes.

Come and join us on the long running SW thread.

[MissBattleaxe]

I always have a dessert (jelly, yoghurt or raspberries and fat free Greek Yoghurt) and a big drink of sugar free squash or water and I feel really stuffed. if you're full you don't get tempted to pick.

I'm always hungry after doing the school run so I have a Snack a Jack Caramel and an Options hot choc, which is about 5 syns in total, but it really satisfies the sweet craving that used to lead to me eating a big chocolate bar every day. And I'm still losing weight.

[calzone]

I make a huge dessert of sponge fingers 2s, sugar free jelly (0.5s), Mullerlight vanilla, strawberries, squirty cream (4s) and put it in a glass. Blummin luvvly.

[QueenofLouisiana]

I'm 10lbs lighter than I was at end of Dec. I do online stuff as I can't get to a group easily.

I eat salad, laughing cow cheese and Rivita for lunch, lots of fruit too. Then I can have an Alpen bar mid afternoon to stave off the hunger pangs.

My favourite dessert is:
2 big spoons of Quark
3 tbsp sweetener
1 sachet Options chocolate
Mix them altogether. Serve over chopped fruit, add low fat squirty cream to persuade yourself you're really classy! I share this with DH, we count 2 syns each for a decent bowlful.

[pieceofpurplesky]

I have lost 17 lbs in 4 weeks!
Speed food, eating your syns, varying your food so your body doesn't get used to it and drinking lots of water.

I batch cook chilli, pasta sauce, soup ...

[MissBattleaxe]

I had steak, SW chips, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions for tea last night. All FREE. I can't believe how nice the food is on SW!