In my experience, big losses come if you make dramatic changes (eg cut all full fat dairy to fat free) as well as following the plan. If you're already 'trying' or 'dieting' you probably won't see those whopping first week losses. Its misleading of any consultant to say that you will/could. Also, if you are only having 5 syns a day and sometimes having none, then you aren't following the plan 100%- in order to get 3lb losses every week in my experience (5 years) you must be 100% on plan which means: weighing all syns and healthy extras every time, cutting all fat off all meat before you cook it (even a roast chicken) , have 1/3 speed veg with every meal (and all second portions too!), finding F and S symbols and working those foods in regularly, using your syns and not 'saving' or 'banking' them for the weekend. Most people don't do this after the first few weeks which his why weight losses trail off to 1/2 or 1 lb a week. Even if you do do all these things, its unlikely you'll lose 3lb dry week though. I hate to say it and will probably get grief for this, but even though sw promotes the 'not a diet' ethos, in order to have big, consistent weight losses you have to still be quite strict. For me this involves all of the above, plus I don't eat Muller's, hi fis, mugshots, or fruit. I've lost 1.5 stone since Jan and have 2 stone left to go.