Sashaying into a svelte 2025 with Slimming World

[Wilma55]

New thread for 2025, wishing you all a happy, healthy new year.

I gained 2.5 the week before and this week I lost 1.5 very happy with that. But need to try and stop been up and down so much. I am also still in Obese category. So this week I am going to aim to get into the 11 stone bracket and aiming by the end of August to get into the overweight category.

Having said that I am very pleased with how far I have come. It's the first time I've actually lost the weight and kept it off even with a few blips along the way 😄.

Well done for the weight losses recently.

I gained 1 1/2 lbs on holiday but lost half a pound this week. Plodding on. Got the Take 5 Free recipe book this week so going to try to at least 4 dinners from there. Trouble is, they say serves 4 but the portion sizes are quite small when divided. Will have to add lots of speed. Really want to get to my first stone and am taking twice as long as everyone else, mainly because we eat out a fair bit due to weekends away at a family members place.
Going to try for 2lb loss this week.
Starting Weight 14,4
Current weight 13,8

Well done on your losses xx

Im 1lb above target now

Tbh it's been a struggle getting there again. Having the grandkids here, mum still sabotaging me with biscuits - I hid them last night - hopefully I'll not find them till they are soft and nasty lol. I do well all day, then let the dog out late night and in one pops

The shops here are having supply issues - again - could not get cottage cheese for a week and I live on cottage cheese. I do actually love it after resisting it for so many years

The good weather has been helping with syn free meals - lots of BBQ and salads which everyone is enjoying , even DH has become a lover of grilled veg and grilled fish

@snowsjoke , keep plodding. Ive been plodding my whole journey, its my body, my lifestyle, but Im determined that now its off its staying off - 1/2lb at a time if that's all I manage - its off

Quite liking the new group sessions. Our group has so many members that are long stayers , it's very social so now there's less time going around individually we have more time to talk to each other. We have been beside each other through the tough times and we love to shore each other up

Well done @suki1964 I'm a plodder too.

Just back from group. Last week I put on 1.5, this week I lost 2. Not sure what I did differently, less alcohol maybe.

Now half a pound above top end of bubble.

Meeting was OK, but like the old WW meetings as someone else said, though there didn't seem to be a specific topic.

Hey everyone, can I join. I know I’m late to the party but have been debating joining SW then found this thread and it’s motivated me to start.
Joined a Saturday group last week, first weigh in tomorrow.

Welcome @Mash88! Good luck with your first week.

I lost 3.5lbs this week - over the moon! I got the Take 5 book after paying for a countdown and made the free dinners out of there for 5 nights and leftovers for some lunches. Also, we weren’t away so no restaurant meals and only one takeaway.
Hoping to lose a 1lb this week to take me over the first stone then another 4lbs to take me to the 10% target. Have already blown it a bit though as I had lunch out and a big cake yesterday. Need to double down this weekend.
SW 14st 4
CW 13st 4.5

Absolutely Brilliant @snowsjoke. How did you find the meals ? I have to be honest and say, because I cook for mother, I tend to keep to the ones I know she will eat so tend not to use the books

Welcome aboard @Mash88 . Good luck for tomorrow. Im also a Saturday weigh in, then if Im going to go off plan, its the Saturday so then I have 6 days of being on plan or taking it easy and not much damage done

Follow the plan , stick to the rules and the weight goes.Age does play a part, older you are the slower it goes, but it goes

Thank you everyone.

First weigh in done and I lost 4lbs. Absolutely chuffed with that. @snowsjoke I’ve also got the Take 5 book, just flicking through for some ideas. I did stick with some basic repeated meals last week but looking to be more adventurous this week.

Good luck guys with your weigh ins this week.

Thanks and well done to you all too.
Ive only tried a couple of the recipes so far but my favourite is a baked bubble and squeak dish (I use mostly veg and only a bit of potato for binding, mixed with dill) with smoked salmon on top. It’s really nice and makes enough patties to have for lunch the next day too.
Made the chicken and leek risotto from an earlier book our group leader showed us. It was ok but a bit flavourless. Will try some others out this week.

Checking back in :)

I've been on and off the thread for a bit and with the busy end of school summer term and then a week away in Spain all inclusive last week (home scales show a gain of 3lb), im still eating rubbish and need to get my head back in the game.
WI is Saturday, I rarely stay to group but sounds like the changes to IMAGE therapy are positive, i'm always in a rush at weight because the previous group ALWAYS runs over.

Over the next couple of days I'm going to get my books out and have a read and get my head straight.
Anyone have any recommendations for meals they have tried recently? I think i'm also in a bit of a food rut.
And also, can you send me your syn free low syn snack ideas too! Saves me reaching for the bourbon biscuits every 30 mins!

@ListenLindaits always the worst heading back to group after a nice holiday. Hopefully you haven’t put on as much as you think.

For snacks at the moment, I’m snapping up a couple of ryvita’s into bite sized pieces, adding a small dollop of 0% Greek yoghurt, then a bit of smoked salmon and a thin slice of radish on top. I use the healthy extra B allowance for the ryvita. I get about 4 pieces to each ryvita and it has that satisfying crunch you get from crisps. My favourite sweet thing at the moment is a meringue nest with halved fresh strawberries and 0% Greek yoghurt - a couple of tablespoons all mixed together. Similar to an Eton mess. The meringue is 2 1/2 syns.

I’d welcome any other snack ideas too.

I lost half a pound this week so first stone award at last. It’s taken me a long time but I’d rather not rush as the plan needs to fit into the lifestyle I lead ( I like a meal out/takeaway and wine!). Next goal is the 10% weight off so I need to lose another 4lbs. Then aiming for one and a half stone off. I think if I lose another half stone, I’ll be into another dress size which is motivating. My waistbands don’t feel quite so tight as they did.
SW 14st 4
CW 13st 4

@snowsjoke , I think you are going at it with a sensible view

Make it work around your lifestyle

Im an alike so I dont eat syns. Also a lady of a certain age - weight loss is hard so 1/2 a pound loss a week and Im happy enough

I also have to cook for DH who is a builder, and mother who is 86, tastes buds gone and would rather eat cake. Not a mission I can stick to plan all week unless I cook different meals for everyone.

So I do what I can, when I can

My favourite snack - and main meal sometimes and brunch is yoghurt and fruit. Mostly I make my own yoghurt but I always keep in the free greekstyle mullers

A tub of that , a bowl of frozen fruit nuked, and if Im not using my HXB, sprinkle of granola

I also have light baby bels that I stick in pockets and handbags. Loads of times I go 8 to 10 hours without eating and they come in handy for a energy boost rather then a pack of crisps

Get your meals balanced and your need for snacks diminishes. But it's that bit that takes its time.

I think what is not helping is i’ve come down with a bad case of sinusitis. So congested, blocked nose, cant taste a thing. I’m jjst eating whatever because whats the point if i dont enjoy it.
maybe I should flip that mentality though, and eat nutritious things rather than bowls of cereal. I cant wait to weigh in and get back on plan.

Does anybody syn protein powder - I am reading different things online.
I am going back to SW in a few weeks, the group is on Saturday and I have things booked so having to leave it until end of August but want to get my head back round it before then.
I have porridge for breakfast and add plain protein powder to it but can't find correct syn value. Some say no syns for plain others are saying syned. Help please. It is plain protein powder from Grape Tree.

Is it this?

Thanks for that - looks like it.
so that's - 4.5 for powder - 2 for chia seeds - 2 for Highlights drink and hex B for porridge gone for breakfast. Only free is my plain yogurt.
Really must have to rethink breakfast as I like a couple of Ryvita with my hex A cheese mid afternoon.
I have something free for lunch with a large salad plus syn dressing.
Dinner the same with veggies but need a sauce or gravy.
So no room for a choc bar or glass of wine in the evening.
Breakfast has always been a problem for me as I do like something like a nice sandwich with salad or cheese on toast with soup for lunch but had my B for breakfast.

No hex b breakfasts.....

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/slimming_world/4510112-Ideas-for-no-hexb-breakfasts

Thanks for that - there was one post on there that is really me -
" I sometimes consider returning to SW but couldn't manage with just one HEX B. SW should bring back Red and Green day's and 2 HEBs"
Porridge and 2 slices of bread each day would be ideal for me without trying to fit the syns round everything else.

@FishPie2 do you actually need breakfast?

It's a meal I do without but then Im at work @5;30 , far too early to be eating for me. I finish at 10, take the dog out for a walk, come home and have a coffee then decide if Im starving or can hold on till lunch time ( which is what I normally do ) and then have a seriously high protein /high speed lunch using my HEB then - either a warbutons thin or pitta or a slice of rye bread piled high with salad and pickles and protein or something like roasted veg and couscous or rice , its been ratatouille this week . A jacket spud or air fryer wedges with beans - using dairy lea lights instead of butter in the spud ( HEA )

If I find Im hungry whilst in work ( I cook for a deli counter - all pasty and sausages /bacon etc ) I'll go lift a packet of chicken and munch on that to tide me over. Or I often have baby bell lights ( 3 is a HEA ) to hand

If you do need breakfast, think outside the box. When I worked lunchtime shifts Id be tucking into a bowl of Dahl at 10am - high protein/high fibre , or a huge 4 egg omlette stuffed with veg and topped with ham and cheese ( HEA) , anything other then bread or cereal If I reached for the bread/ cereal for handiness , Id be hungry within an hour and start picking at whatever was at hand. Ive learned that for me bread doesn't work, it has to be protein and fibre else Im hungry all day and eat uncontrollably

Weigh in for me today According to my scales Im 1lb below target, which means by theirs I will be just over which is ok by me. As long as Im within target range Im happy.

Weighed in this morning, 1lb on which having the few days between coming back off holiday & weighing in helped, no doubt with no longer drinking the AI lager every day 😂

just had a pocket sized food tracker delivered, its a bit small but will work with it, just done my food shop, lots of speed and low syn snacks in there.

the pooch is going to be having extra time on his walks which will please him immensely no doubt.

anyone else weigh in today?

I also weighed in today, down 3lbs (7lbs in total), had a couple of days of no motivation - not sure what to cook. Didn’t find the Take 5 book that great for ideas so bought the Street Food book which has some amazing recipes I will try this week (also helps with getting my partner on board with planning meals).

@ListenLinda I try not to snack as I could graze all day but tend to stick to fruit, seafood sticks, carrots or babybels, I also need to find some exciting snacks. Currently have been having rice or corn cake with cottage cheese, black pepper and cucumber slices or sliced strawberries.

Are people finding it harder to keep on track during summer holidays? I know once the weather this week turned showery and chilly I was craving soups and vegetable stews.

I did think about making a vegetable souo this week…

Yayyy - back to target

Only taken a year to get there lol

I was at target this time last year then I had my family from Australia come stay and it was my 60th so lots of off plan days, lots of wine, lots of snacks and rubbish and not going to group and within 6 weeks a 10lb gain and Ive been battling that ever since. Getting to within a pound off target, then gaining again with Christmas and holidays etc

Lesson I hope is learned, Im going to be that person who needs to go weekly to keep on track

Holiday in October booked, so hoping that between now and then I can shift another 3 pound so I won't have such a battle when I come back. I find it very hard shifting a couple of pound , I still have that wee voice that says, sure look at you , there's nothing off you, a few pound won't kill you.

Well done on getting to target @suki1964- that must feel fantastic. Yes I think regular attendance is the way to keep a check on things.
Great news about all of the other losses and commiserations to those who put on.
Not having a great food weekend here - cake, wine and burgers at a bbq. Will need to rein it in so I don’t put on this week.

Well done @suki1964 for getting back into target.