Slimming world help!

[stargirl123]

i have recently decided to start slimming world (I think!!) after going in a clothing shop last week and struggling to fit in to a normal sized pair of jeans (I'm sure they shrink them?!) then choosing a pair and being told 'sorry these plus size jeans are not in the sale' plus size?! It was definitely a reality check!but I'm really worried I will struggle with keeping up with slimming world as i have with other diets and abiding by the food especially as I work in a town centre close to all the quick meal shops! I want something I can stick too and will keep me motivated but won't cost me too much in food as we've just moved into our first home ! Is slimming world for me? Or do you guys have a better idea?! Please help me! And could anybody shed some light on how slimming world works? My group starts on Wednesday!

[FannyFanakapan]

Stargirl, I have found SW to be easy to follow with a family - the rules are pretty much - eat plenty of lean protein, veg, fruit, Fat free yoghurts.

Restricted bread/cereals.

Potatoes, rice, pasta are all OK.

Oils and fats and cheese very limited. Milk quantities limited.

All sugary treats out of bounds - you can have them, but you have to count them. Ditto alcohol.

Weight loss is slow and steady after the first couple of weeks. I average 1.5-2lb a week.

[tabulahrasa]

You eat freely from fruit, veg, lean meat, fish, pulses, eggs, rice, pasta and low fat dairy things like yoghurt and cottage cheese.

You get a measured amount of milk or cheese and another of fibre rich foods like Wholemeal bread or oats and things like that.

You also get up to 15 syns, which is for all your other stuff, crisps, chocolate, wine or extra bread or cheese.

It can be as expensive or cheap as you make it as really it's just about eating foods, it's not about buying specific diet foods, just normal ones that are naturally lower fat and lower in calories.

It can be very hard though for people who use pre-prepared foods as it does rely a lot on you making things from fresh ingredients.

[stargirl123]

Thanks guys :) I fine things so hard to stick to and I'm doing this as a Lone Ranger with support from my parter really ! I just feel at 15stone now enough so enough!
I've been on salad this week for work! Have you any tips for me? What meals worked well for you? Anything you would recommend ? I just want to feel proud of myself if that makes sense! We go on our first holiday in October for my birthday and I really want to be able to buy new clothes!!

[stargirl123]

I'm thinking, if I start planning our meals that may help too, it's just so hard especially when I get home from work and have to juggle the normal family life as well as anything else's! Sounds stupid I know and everyone does it! I started doing the slimming world chips this week, I'm very much a beginner in the cooking department

[tabulahrasa]

I eat a lot of tomato based things, curry, chilli, pasta because they're easy to adapt to being slimming world friendly, don't use oil, bung a bit of extra veg in and maybe eat a side salad with it and DC don't even notice a difference.

SW quiche is good...it's not a quiche, it's basically a cheesy frittata, but it's nice and again, DC friendly.

Roast dinners, do roast potatoes like the chips and cut the fat from meat and have lots of veg.

Baked potatoes are handy for being easy, soups are good for filling up on.

Having fruit salad prepared to snack on especially to begin with is useful.

But it'll depend a lot on your tastes.

[stargirl123]

Tomato based is good idea thanks for that ! I'm going to have a go at doing my own soup to freeze and eat at lunch for work and I've cut down my portion Sizes! I'm doing the little quiches too hope there ok and I don't burn them haha! Do you have to follow all the SW recipes or can it be a case of buying reduced items ? I'm feeling terrified and excited to start properly on Wednesday!

[tabulahrasa]

I use hardly any of their recipes...they're either really odd, or just a bit rubbish.

I try some sometimes if I feel I'm in a bit of a rut, but mostly I just adapt things, so yes you could quite easily just buy reduced things and use them up.

With pasta for instance sometimes it's just a case of, I fancy pasta and so I chuck a load of stuff in and because it's all free ingredients it's fine.

Oh and I ate loads more eggs than usual when I first started, because they're quick and versatile.

[stargirl123]

Yeah I was thinking that when I read it the whole brunch bake was very bizarre! Its too easy to give in for me as well. I have a green groceries that deliver so I get all fresh fruit veg and salad stuff! I suppose after a while it becomes a way of live doesn't it! It's just getting there I'm struggling to find things to snack on especially as I'm running low on food now haha! Is it 18syns a week?

[FannyFanakapan]

15 syns a day, 105 a week, no more than 60 in a day.

I also find the recipes to be bizarre and not really in keeping with the healthy home cooked rule - lots of hi salt ingredients and things like diet coke...

I adapt my own family recipes and basically look at low fat mince, no fat on bacon, cut all visible fat away from meat, eat plenty of fish and chicken, Use fry-light or other oil spray rather than using oil.

if you follow that and fill your plate half full with free veg, you are going to be fine.

[stargirl123]

Well so far so good other than a few naughty slip ups oops ! The whole cut down on milk is what I'm struggling with most haha