Hello Slimming World members!

[Arabica]

I'm starting a new thread here as nobody has been posting on our old one(s) for a couple of days. Just wondering how everyone is doing (and if there are any new MNers out there who are also SW members--welcome!)
I've been a member since 15 June and am now just one teensy weensy pound away from my very first stone award. But at times it has been an uphill struggle so it's been great to share my journey with everyone here. Would love to hear from everyone else.

Dh's xmas work do last night. Meal was lovely. Lots of naughty food but piled up the veggies so it was quite healthy really (NOT!). Ah well it is Christmas. Got another xmas meal out on Monday night with Slimming World group. We are all off to our weigh in and then straight to the pub after group. Excellent!

I'm thinking of joining on Tuesday as I just can't stick to WW at the moment, I seem to eat too many points early in the day and crave carbs, so I'm hoping that SW and green days might help for the moment. I haven't been since they changed from sins to syns. Is there much difference in anything, can you still eat as much potato and pasta as you like ? PLEASE give me some motivation to join !!!!!

Yes, you can still eat as many jacket potatoes, cans of beans, and buckets of plain pasta and couscous as you wish! There were a few changes made to food optimising a while back and fewer canned foods are syn free now. It's a great plan if you love carbs. However, motivation's an elusive thing, and mine comes and goes no matter what I can or can't eat. Being on here helps (sometimes only because it's physically impossible for me to be on the computer and in the kitchen at the same time).

I should also add, you get one more 'A' healthy extra than you used to. The meat-eaters in my group were a bit upset cos corned beef isn't syn free any more, and I don't think cans of Heinz macaroni cheese are any more either. You can still eat Quorn sausages though! Although betcha can't eat as many as I can

Kittypickle DO IT!

I lost 6 stones with them a few years back, but the absolute key is finding a group that you like and going to the meetings. They give you support, mptivation, and ideas.

I stopped going nearly 2 years ago and have put back half a stone (which coincided with new baby (not birth though!) but I could lose it agian if I pulled myself together and found time to go to classes...

And i am the greediest person you are ever likely to meet - so yes, eating loads and losingw eight is totally possible with some planning...

I agree peskykids - it's in the planning - and I need a severe kick up the arse to get me back on track and planning my meals. The plan definately works - if of course you stick to it (says she who has just eaten 2 slices of cheese on toast)My Ds has just written off my car - hit black ice this morning and crashed into a house - house fine, son okay, car not and neither is diet. Having been comfort eating all day! Tomorrow is a new day and a new start!

Peskykids, 6 stone, that is amazing !!!!! Thank you all, my motivation is rising. I don't get on very well with the SW style of meeting, but the leader is brilliant, so I'm going to give it a go. I'm dreading it though as I lost 26lbs earlier this year on WW and am going to face facts about how much I've put back on, no more burying my head in the sand for me.

And meant to say, Loobz, what a nightmare day, I really hope today is loads better.

Thanks Kittypickle. Am much more motivated today. Am off work at the moment - just out of plaster (broken foot) and I don't cope very well with a change of routine. I am at doctors tomorrow and hope to get a date for going back to work whcih I know will help. I find when I am at home during the day I drink tea constantly, then it's what can I have to eat with this tea. Today it has been satsumas - long may it continue
Be positive Kittypickle - you've done it before - you can and will do it again!!!

May I ask a delicate question??

Does anyone do more green days than red .. if so do you have problems with reduction in frequency of 'poos' and very noxious farts ..

I'm sure the smelly poofs of air are due to the amount of beans (of all sorts) I am eating but can't work out why I'm slightly constipated

Hi Holly and twiglett. yes that sounds about right for the green plan! I have found though that it does tend to settle a bit when your body gets used to it. You may be constipated because you aren't drinking enough! Our consultant tells us that if we are on the green plan then we should at least double our fluid intake to 'help flush the waste products through'. The things we talk about on mumsnet!!!

thanks loobz .. don't think I can fit in any more liquid .. I'll start sloshing around (I'm over-drinking cos I'm bf'ing too )

any idea how long it takes to settle down

I still get bloating & anti-social symptoms whenever I eat too much Quorn mince and/or potatoes. Interesting re water intake. Will try for 2 litres a day (at the mo it's more like half a litre!)

Never really thought about it before but guess it does happen to me on green too. Weigh in last night. Stayed the same. Pleased though as had dh xmas word do at weekend and drank and ate loads. Got weighed and then went to pub with SW group for lovely christmas meal and loads of wine. Sore head today. SW consultant came with us too - she's great! We all sat together piggin' out it was great. Back to healthy eating today.

Whenever you go carb heavy (ie green) you retain a lot more water so feel a bit more bloated. Which is why alternating with red (protein heavy) works well. Breaking down protein requires the body to use up water at quite a rate which is why things like Atkins give massive weight loss quickly - such a lot of the 'weight' is actually the water your body is leeching out. SW balances that with sensible carbs and fibre via the A and B options.

I s'pect most plans work as long as you can stick to them - you just need to find the one thatw orks for you...

Hi guys

Quick question from slimming world novice. Anybody know if Splena sweetener is sin free? thanks

Hi joanneg, according to the blue book, all artifical sweeteners are free.
Peskykids, thanks v much for interesting info re water. Am trying to drink as much of it as can possibly cram in and swapping some of my many daily coffees for green tea.
Am pleased that after indulging in some very flexible days this past 2 weeks, I have lost another pound! So that means, just 2lbs to go for my '5lbs by Xmas' target. DH just asked if I want pizza. Not on your nelly--I'm Ms Motivation tonight!

Hi Arabica. Well done on your weight loss. I thought I was having a good day yesterday until last night when I ended up in KFC with dh and dds. . Very yummy though. Went to visit dsd in hospital last night and made myself walk up five floors in the hospital and back down again. My punishment to myself for having something really bad to eat. Gonna do it again tonight as I haven't had time to go to the gym recently. Trying the original days for a change yesterday and today. (ah so maybe KFC wasn't so bad!

Stairs are a brilliant workout so well done! I think the occasional KFC won't harm your diet so long as it doesn't lead to that self-destructive mode where you think, I've eaten too much so I may as well carry on eating too much. It's those extra treats that really put the weight on.
My consultant says there are some changes to Food Optimising coming in the new year, to make it a little more flexible. Whether that means KFC are syn fee however, is another question

2.5 pounds down so according to their scales have lost 4.5 lbs in 3 weeks (not that impressed but at least going in the right direction and I am in it for the long-haul)

We'll have to call you 'The Holly and the Twiggy' soon! I think 4.5lbs in 3 weeks is excellent, very healthy rate of loss. Well done Christie, you get those 3lbs off, and we'll both have achieved our Xmas goals, because I am definitely getting my 2lbs off this week, I am sure the extra water I'm drinking is doing me lots of good and washing away the pounds...

Hollyandtwiglett - your weight loss is EXCELLENT. The point is to get it off slowly, while not making yourself miserable, and be able to keep it off. Honestly, be proud of your achievement - you'll have dropped half a stone before Christmas which is fab!

Also, those who are in for the long haul - take your bust, weight, and hip measurements. I never did and I really regret it now. Plus I think it's motivating to see the inches go as well as the pounds...

But if we're confessing, dinner for me last night was 4 slices of toast with peanut butter and then 9 marshmallow teacakes that someone had given me to look afetr for a nursery party I am arranging on Sunday oops... )

On the way back from school drop off this morning I bought 2 chicken breats, some tandoori paste, and a huge bag of posh slad - maybe that'll go some way to make up for it...

Thanks guys

Just can't help feeling that the first couple of weeks should a big weight loss and then it evens out to 1 to 2 pounds a week rather than starting from there