Slimming World Support Thread (3)

[calzone]

Shiny new thread for us all.......😀😀😀

Emily! I've made the syn free pulled pork before and I've been able to remove the fat I haven't been able to trim off once I've cooked it and I'm shredding it up.

Ooh thanks Heman! Will see if I can do the same! Think some of the fat will have melted though so will need to add some syns, I just don't know how many!

I must confess I didn't bother counting syns. The recipe I used was on the SW website and they said it was syn free. It's a difficult one though because in all the years I've done SW it's the only recipe I've seen or used that uses a traditionally very fatty joint of meat. I guess they are working on the fact that the protein will outway any fat (once you've removed all visible fat) so you will feel very full afterwards. And it is delicious, makes you feel like you've had a treat, which is good.

I've not been on here for a while, but just wanted to pop in and share with you. I've just managed to fit in size 20 M&S jeggings, which means I'm now down 3 dress sizes since starting in April 2015! I've been a bit stuck lately which I'm putting down to stress eating. I haven't really lost anything significant for 3-4 months, but I haven't gained either so I'm happy with that. Once the stress of writing my PhD thesis is out of the way, I'm hoping to get going again with the weight loss.

Tough isn't it, Heman? Got about 20 mins till I see how it turns out, fingers crossed! Certainly smells good!

Nice non-scale victory Emma - love going down a clothes size, feels so satisfying! Good luck with the thesis...

D.....panfried duck breast with sweet potato fries coated in polenta, roasted vegetables and carrots.

Almost snap Calzone! We had roasted veg and sweet potato chips with pan fried kangaroo steaks.

Breakfast was smoked salmon & poached eggs

Lunch: chicken and sweetcorn mugshot & Alpen light

Snacks - Walkers Pops, bag of mini caramel snack a jacks, tiny bar of chocolate (from Lidl - haven't chucked the numbers in the snackulator but suspect it's 4-5 syns, so that's me for the day).

What a piss poor weekend. I have pulled my neck and in constant pain. So yesterday, Some friends of mine came over, to cheer me up. All body builders all eating out of Tupperware. It comp season so they are all food obsessed.

I made my lunch and sat down with them. They always critique my food. But this time they complimented on want it was (butternut squash pizza) I said it was a SW recipe. Which lead to them slagging it off.

I looked in all their boxes and pointed out their meat with veg and pasta or rice was all slimming world food and the quantities were in line with SW too.

Body builders hate the 'free pasta and potatoes' part of slimming world. That's all try hear and know. It's a constant bugbear of theirs even though they don't know anything about it.

They don't know I do SW, they know I used to. I am thinking of outing myself, but know the reaction I will get from them and people I work with. They always compliment the food I put on Instagram, but then bitch about SW.

I work in the fitness industry and fed up of people moaning about it when they don't know anything about it.

Any tips for dealing with SW haters?

I am think along the lines of 'you hate SW I didn't know you had ever done it'

Or am I best keeping my trap shut?

I think all you can say 'I'm happy with this way of eating - you do it your way and I'll do it mine, there's no need to bitch about one another's choices.'

I have just been to help DD today her room as DH is on his anally retentive warpath this morning. Went to today some stuff in the corner of the windowsill and found an empty tub of vanilla buttercream and a spoon.

I suppose I'm going to have to concede defeat and see if I can get her referred for some kind of counselling/therapy as this in not normal - she's 11 FFS.

Can't stop thinking how badly I must have failed as a parent for it to have come to this .

Oh Ava are you ok?

You haven't failed as a parent. Last year when dd start secondary she piled weight on. I felt the same. She is quite sporty so I tackled it from that point of view. To improve her sport and that worked for us.

Not saying you must do this with your, dd just that I know that feeling of failure.

Dd was secret eating, telling us she had had one thing at school then I would find wrapper off a Cookie when washing her blazer. She did start helping herself to food when I was putting ds to bed and dh was working, the pretending she hadn't.

I have no other advice as dd felt rubbish about herself but has come out of the other side.

But just wanted to offer support. You are not a failure. You aren't ignoring it or worrying about it later. You are trying, that's not failure.

Ava you haven't failed the fact you sre supporting her and trying to help her shows how good a parent you are. It would be easy if your situation to ignore the issue/ bury your head in the sand And not see it.
Keep helping her and being there for her.
I imagine her issue isn't food bit something else that makes her turn to food for comfort. Unfortunetly that's my issue and it's a battle to overcome it.
Good luck x

Thank you. I've been locked in the bathroom crying for about 20 minutes which is ridiculous .

I am going to try and continue to support her myself for a little longer. Will read more specifically around the subject and see where we go next.

I've been an emotional eater myself since in was about 15 and we are a very foodie family. I love cooking, DH, her uncle & her Godfather are all chefs, my Dad and 3 out of 4 of her great grandparents were cooks. Every time we go out or have a night in, it's at least 50% about the food.

From the comfort/anxiety POV, DH & I have a very up and down relationship and she is aware of this. I nearly left 5 years ago but took the decision to stay and stick it out until I can leave without a/ being dependent on him financially, and b/ she would be old enough to make her own decisions freely about who she spends time with without court involvement (DH would not make it easy from either POV if we split).

I'm now questioning whether I made the right choice, but we're no nearer the stumbling blocks being removed.

I should add that DH & I can & do go along for weeks/months quite (sometimes very) happily, but we hit a bad patch it (well he tbh) is awful.

It's terrifying when you see them displaying behaviours that you have, when those behaviours make you miserable, isn't it.

I can't comment on your decision to stay. That is your decision and I will still offer any support you need. But do think about wether it's causing her to seek comfort from food as she feels she can't come to you as you already have a lot on.

Not sure what you have tried yet, so not great with the advice.

You can go see your GP without her for advice. I did and he was great. X

terrifying is exactly right.

I know staying when things aren't 100% is 'not the done thing' these days but there are multiple complications that I'm convinced would make leaving much harder & more traumatic than staying put (and believe me I've done the thinking and the research).

50% of the time we muddle along amicably, the remaining half the time is a fairly even split between things being really great or absolutely horrendous.

We still have to see the GP to get her to sign off DD coming to SW so might see if she's comfortable talking to her about it then. I am also having CBT atm so might chat to my therapist about it.

The decision to say or go is yours.

God knows me and dh were rocky. I left we almost divorced. But we got back together and things are great. I know many people would have told me not to go back, but in my case it paid off.

Have you talked to her about why she sneaks food?

Is it comfort? Mine was just any excuse. Food for comfort, food to celebrate, food because I was bored, sick, happy etc.

I once went to a new hair dresser and my hair looked amazing and I was so happy I went and bought a massive bat of chocolate to celebrate. Sounds so odd when I say it now.

On my dds case I think she was slightly addicted to sugar. Which made it quite easy to break. After careful food management she broke her habits and doesn't enjoy sweet stuff as much and often says no.

It's so hard trying to walk the tight line between doing something but not so much it causing an eating disorder.

Is she sneaking food out of your kitchen?

Ss to hear about your dd, can't be easy.

I wonder if it's worth you talking to her about your struggles with emotional eating and highlighting the damage it can cause? Just thinking if she hears it from someone she trusts who's been through the same it may help?

Today's meals:

B - fruit

HexA skinny latte while out for a walk earlier

L - pulled pork egg fried rice with loads of added speed (leftover pork from last night)

D - chilli con carne with rice and salad (mixture of beef mince and yet more pulled pork from yesterday!)

Hifi bars as HexB, Syns will be for Asda chocolate frozen yoghurt and maybe a hot chocolate before bed...

Oh Ava, I really feel for you and DD. I was the same at 11 I think. Some sugar addiction as it always got worse at times when lots of treat food was available like Xmas at my Nana's, and becoming hormonal when started puberty, certain times of the month did and still do drive overeating . I think finding ways to eat guilt free, which SW is great for is key. I've got 2 DC and worry too about getting it wrong with food. It's really hard to know what to do

Things improved for me when I went to uni and life became more fun with plenty to look forwards too. Even now emotional eating takes a back seat when I've got exciting things going on and to look forwards too. It's difficult as a teen , so much pressure with school and friendships. We didn't have much fun as a family, but it sounds like you are focused on that with your DD Ava, you've mentioned one to one time together, shopping and the planned photo shoot. All these things will help to 'fill her cup'. Perhaps as well as weekly food planning the two of you could make sure to plan your 'adventures'!

Never really had food in wetherspoons, what is best healthy option to have or low syn meals.?..might just go there tomorrow with my daughter

to all of you struggling in different ways.....

Went to a SW meeting to learn about being a consultant.

Goodness me! What a commitment it is. Not sure I could do it.

B.....bacon and egg thin
Fruit
Hifi (3)

L....pasta with turkey bolognaise
Fruit and yoghurt

D.....pulled pork, coleslaw, SW chips, salad
Another thin! Dammit. Forgot I had one this morning. (6)
2 sm glasses wine (10)
Maltesers :-(

Thanks for the support everyone - really needed it this morning but feeling much more positive now.

It does at least appear now that there was a reason behind buttercream-gate which makes it a bit easier to get my head around.

DD has a few friends who are very into Minecraft. One of them has become friends with someone online who they don't know in RL and she is concerned that they are not what they seem. This person also fired off a stream of abusive language at her when they were all chatting online the other day. She's been worrying all week but has only told me this evening and the quick google I did appears to bear out her concerns to some degree. She has got screen shots of everything and I've contacted her friend's mum so hopefully she will take it from here.

It's been quite a day! Ok food wise but not feeling like I've really been on it this week so not holding out a great deal of hope for Tuesday.

DD sounds like a lovely girl Ava.
Been off plan this weekend at mother in laws but feeling organised to get back on it tomorrow. Already made some baked oats for breakfast and some soup for lunch , and done prep for dinner, Monday's are manic here as we have 40 mins to cook and eat dinner in between DD's ballet and DS's cubs . Have good week everyone