Starting SW again in the new year (and sticking to it!)....anyone else?

[lorneylou]

I first started SW in 2013, I loved it from the start. Consultant was fab, loved learning to cook new things, food was great and I wasn't hungry!

By October 2013, I'd lost almost 3 stone, felt brilliant, looked great, was very proud of myself.

By this time, I was finding it difficult to get to meetings, they were at an odd time and quite a drive away so I slipped a bit. Then it all went wrong when we went on holiday at the end of October, once in a lifetime kind of thing and I told myself I wouldn't worry about SW while we were away, I would enjoy myself. Well......I did, and I haven't been able to get back on track since.

So a year later I have gained most of the weight back (haven't weighed myself, too scared but fitting back into my stretchy size 16 jeans) and I feel like crap! Tired, spotty and I just can't be arsed!

I felt great from having a much better diet and although it took me a while to realise it!

So....I have found a much closer group that starts at 9.30 on a Tuesday morning, I will be able to get there after I drop DD off to pre-school and stay till the end of the meeting.

I have eaten so much crap at Christmas I am actually craving something healthy and looking forward to something green!

The hurdles for me....

Cost - We are a very low income and I will struggle to afford the meetings every week, but I am willing to give up whatever to ensure I stay motivated. We have had an especially crappy diet in recent months due to money shortages (eating the cheapest of the cheap) so shopping will cost more. I will work this out somehow

New group - I'm shy and not looking forward to a new group but will just have to bite the bullet...I did it before and I'll do it again! I also loved my old consultant and the group was a laugh, hope this one is as nice.

Portion control - I'm greedy, and that's it really. I need to get a grip.

Unsupportive DH - Was talking this through with him and he said he was so glad when I stopped SW, the food was bland, tasteless etc etc. I generally cook the same thing for all of us. Left to his own devices, he would live on burgers and anything that comes from Iceland. If it's not frozen and doesn't have sauce then its not food

Time - I did soooo much cooking when I was doing SW and it was hard to fit it in. I need to be less lazy, batch cook and freeze etc etc

On the upside...DD will eat pretty much everything and my mum and nan are very supportive.

It's my birthday in June and I want to go somewhere nice, looking nice and feeling great...not like this year!

Tuesday 6th January will be the start of me feeling better!!!!!

Thanks everyone we can do this together. Has anyone got the fakeaways book ? I find that a big help at weekends as I used to love a takeaway treat mainly Chinese. Anyway last weekend out of the book I made the double bacon burgers yum yum.

Yay - another six pounds off - those pics are fab laughalot - very inspiring!

Laughalot, what a change and doing it at home!! Good effort.
My weekend survival iggity is not spend all my syns daily then I should get enough for the weekend. SHE SAYS!!! I think I've been over every weekend since new year. I do SP sun, Mon & Tues. I think that balances it out. I can't do carb heavy so a sunday roast with root mash feels indulgent but free and I have soups for lunch which are low density. The weekend is Fri & sat at ours. I say no drinking on a school night. So Sunday is no crap night. Planning a fakeaway helps. I also make sure that I got diet coke and ice, or soda & lime,put it in a nice glass and drink it with a straw. I think I got a cocktail. With a pack of skips.

midori and mickey - brilliant!!!!

Well done everyone on your losses!

Went to my first meeting today and quite liked it. People were nice and I didn't recognise anyone.
So my stating weight is 14st 3.5lb. More than I thought

Well done cookie, one meal at a time now. The only way is down now.x

Thanks Annie. Just about to leave for work but have made and written down all the food for today. Some of it is left overs so I had to estimate for today but I'm sure it will be better once I get into the swing of things a bit more.

So glad you went Cookie! I'm close in weight to you, starting at 13st 10lb. Like Annie says, the only way we can go is down, at the very least we know we are not getting any bigger

Need a rant please.
Oh well, the thought of me in my bikini at the gym pool isn't working today.I won't wear a two piece dh says I look fine.
I've had my syns and probably some!! Its been a long week with dh away since Sunday. Back later on and I'm having nice dinner with wine. Sw dinner obviously.
Today has shown me I'm an emotional eater and a food snob! I shopped at aldi this morning, the store cupboard stuff. The place depresses me. I was so fed up after that I ate 2 hob nobs 2 m&s fishcakes, the soup I planned to eat & some French bread. What a porky!!!
Its all well and good trying to save a few ££ in aldi, but I don't like that shop.

Rant all you like Annie!

I totally understand what you mean about some shops being 'depressing'!!
I am on a very tight food budget and get mostly everything in Lidl.
Now...I've never been a food snob and I actually like the food in Lidl, we used it alot when we lived abroad and it was the height of luxury!

But the atmosphere in there......god I hate it! I don't actually go to Aldi at all because it's a million times worse.
I find nipping to Waitrose on the odd occasion though for a few special bits and bobs cheers me up no end...but that's mostly out now because of SW!
I focus totally on the savings though, I keep telling myself that I am managing to bag loads of bargains and get things we wouldn't normally have.

But remember that today is only one day, you are having a SW dinner and can be back on plan tomorrow and have a few low syn days to make up for earlier......all is not lost.

I understand what you mean about the emotional eating too. It must have been tough with your DH away all week, no wonder you are feeling a bit low.
I have a similar problem, I'm an angry eater! When something annoys me I am straight to the fridge . It's such a hard habit to break.

(btw, if you really can't stand Aldi and are looking to save a bit, Sainsburys and Waitrose value range store cupboard stuff is around the same price, and pretty decent)

Thank you lorney, going to make some tandoori lamb for dh and I'm having pork (don't like lamb) a nice rice & I got wm pitta salad & minted yogurt.

I like lidl too and there's a local one here. I will go to sainsbury next time and check out the value stuff then I won't have to step away from the biscuits!!

Awww Annie its so hard isn't it. Our Aldi is not to bad and I get a few bits out of their and then nip next door to Sainsburys to get other bits. Its so easy to let food rule us when we are stressed. I have had a pig of a day at work today and nearly grabbed a bag of my favourite crisps but I was good.

I try to shop in Aldi a bit as we have a holiday booked and it needs paying soon

Annie - that sounds gorgeous! You mentioned it was a SW meal? Would you mind sharing the recipe?

I have had a huge notion for a curry recently but have no idea how to make a SW friendly one....all the SW recipies just seem like a tin of tomatoes with spices added . They could be lovely though, I've never given them a try but your Tandoori Lamb/Pork sounds fab.

Whats everyone else having tonight??
I'm having Linda McCartney Rosemary Sausages, SW Chips with a little bit of celery salt sprinked on and salad (lettuce, yellow pepper, toms, cucomber, red onion and sweetcorn) with balsamic vinegar. Very yummy and all free

I am having tilapia and steamed broccoli. Had all my syns already. First day seems hard somehow.

So... im invited to pizza express on Sunday. And am going out for dinner next weekend too. Not sure what to do about this week - as it's my first week I really want to stay on track.

Annie, I find Aldi/Lidl depressing too and they never have what I want! I usually shop at morrisons as it's cheap but bearable and the reduced section can be fun. I got a huge pack of asparagus yesterday (easily enough for 6 large portions) for £1 and I'm just making it I to a vegetable and cheese risotto. Sounds grim, but discovered to when using the fridge contents to make the DC dinner and it is lovely!

Cookie Monster, well done for getting to a group! I'm glad you liked it.

Lorneylou, I agree with you about the SW curries, although the chicken, spinach and potato one is surprisingly nice. someone at our group brought in a chicken korma recipe which was very authentic and lovely. I'll find it later post it.

Oh I forgot to say. I got a new slow cooker today. Does anyone have any recommended recipes? Planning a food shop for the weekend.

Your all being so lovely. Thank you

My tandoori marinade is
100mls no fat yogurt
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon ginger paste
1 teaspoon cumin & 1 garam masala
1 tablespoon corriander
Big pinch of paprika.
Juice of lime.
Teaspoon corriander paste.

Put it a a plastic bag and rub all over your meat. Leave for a couple of hours over night if possible.
Griddle or oven bake.

I made yogurt with jar mint & teaspoon sweetener for dressing.

A nice classic chicken curry sw style.

2lb boneless chicken thighs
Salt & pepper

1 onion
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
1 teaspoon of each
Cumin
Corriander
Cinnamon
Paprika
1tablespoon curry powder
¼ teaspoon tumeric
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 chicken stock cube.
1 cup water.

Season the chicken & fry gently in fry light.
Remove add onions & soften add garlic ginger & spice powders. Cook gently for 2-3 minutes.
Add the chicken stir well, add tomatoes water & stock cube.
Simmer for 30-40 minutes.
Check salt & pepper taste.
Add some fresh chopped coriander & fresh chillis to serve.

Yum Annie we are out tomorrow night for a friends birthday that will mean curry and lots of wine eeek.

The fakeaways book is good for different types of curry.

Cookie I would just go out enjoy yourself and get back on track the following day. We still need to have a life other than SW :)

Hi all, a late update but weighed in on Tuesday and lost 5lb :)
This week isn't going as well. I'm on maternity leave so meeting other mums for lunch etc, avoiding cake/chocolate but by the end of the day I still seem to be over my syns by 2-3. I don't know why it's happened this week... it's the odd thing like the butter on my sandwich at lunch, or the side of coleslaw with my salad. I'm going without the snacks/desserts so feel a bit low about not being able to enjoy lunch out without the guilt. Am I likely to put on weight going over my syns by 2 or 3 a couple of times a week? Feel like I'm being so good... but not good enough! Desperate for a big chocolate brownie!

Sugarsinner, well done on your 5lb loss! That's fantastic!

I don't think going slightly over your syns will affect your loss much, it wouldn't me, but it does for some people. I suppose you'll just have to see how it goes. You could try making swaps to save your syns though. I use the kraft low syn dressings like thousand island or cesar in sandwiches instead of butter. Or if you were having a ham or smoked salmon sandwich you could try quark instead of butter? I also make my own coleslaw as asda lightest mayo is only half a syn a tablespoon and although I use it sparingly and it's never as 'mayonnaisey' as shop bought, I prefer it as it just seems sort of fresher, if that makes any sense at all? There are usually little swaps you can make. I know some people use the butter fry light on toast, I haven't tried it myself though.

Oh, for something sweet and low syn I mix a bit of Splenda and some vanilla with fat free Greek yoghurt then mix on some thawed or fresh berries and crush a meringue or two on top (2-3 syns each depending on brand)

Annie - thank you for the recipies, tried the curry one tonight....it was lovely ontop of chips
Reminded me of a Massaman type curry and I will definately make again, maybe even with beef!

I will also be tryng the tandoori later in the week. I hope you had a nice Friday night meal with your DH!

If anyone has any other nice recipies, please keep them coming.......I haven't got the Fakeaway book yet!

Sugarsinner - That is a brilliant weightloss, congrats! I doubt a few sins over here and there will matter but I always try to stick to free meals at home, so I know I have at least a days worth of syns if we do decide to go out last minute. It seems to even out ok.

I've got s nice beef curry I'll dig out asap. Its 1 pot or slow cooker friendly too. & only 1 syn.
Hope you're all had a good one.x

Costa brownies have 18.5 syns! Who's have thought! At least tomorrow is a new day and also weigh in day! Am thinking of trying to find one to weigh in on Friday......Monday is tough:)

Thankyou for the tips lovelies! Will definitely try some of your syn free ideas fir sandwiches midori. I tend to save my syns for chocolate at the end of the day (massive chocoholic) so dont really want to be using them for spreads and sides etc. I tried the muller light mint chocolate fix pot tonight- 5syns and gorgeous!
I think I've managed to average out my syns a bit over the weekend. Made sure Ive had under 10 syns both days and had an SP evening meal on each day to try and boost a loss for this week. Will do the same tomorrow and fingers crossed.
18.5 syns is ridiculous Iggity... but makes me want one even more! ;)
I'd hate to weigh in on a Monday too... sending lots of luck your way for tomorrow