I've tried loads of 'quick fixes' before - shakes, drinks and pills - whether it be Bootea, Skinny Medical or ActiDerm shreds/wraps. Those were fine to lose weight quickly, but give it a week or two and I was straight back to where I was before. Whilst they provided great short-term results, they weren't the lasting solution I wanted.
My cousin has been doing Slimming World for a few months now and has seen the weight drop off her. She often posts on Facebook how much she's lost or shares photos of food which doesn't look like your typical 'diet' food. She looks amazing now and was definitely my motivation to go for it and give it a try myself (Thanks Leanne! x)
As I walked into the group last week I felt sick to my stomach with nerves. I felt totally out of my comfort zone and even a bit shy which, those who know me will know, is not like me at all! But once it all started I felt totally relaxed. Everyone was so kind and supportive and I could tell I was going to enjoy going to group.
My first day of 'food optimising' and I was a bit daunted by the whole thing. Working out meals and syns and free foods and healthy extras made my mind boggle but, after sitting down and reading the book thoroughly, I soon understood - and I was determined to kick off my first week well. What it took me a day or so to understand, though, was that I'm not on a diet. I can still eat pretty much everything I did before! It's all about food optimising (but I won't go into all that now!)
Everyone I have told that I have started Slimming World has all said the same thing: "why?" or "what for?" Whilst that is a bit of a compliment, as people obviously don't think I need to lose weight, it did make me wonder whether people were just being nice or whether I really have imagined how much weight I've put on. (I definitely haven't, FYI - the scales never lie!) I've felt so uncomfortable and so flabby the last few months and, when my clothes started to get too tight or to not fit, I knew it wasn't in my head. Tom, bless him, said he'd not been able to tell any difference - but I could.
I joined Slimming World because I want to lose the flab and the big, wobbly belly, slim down a bit, and feel happy in myself again. I want to be able to wear skinny jeans again (and fit back into some pairs that I've outgrown *sob*) without worrying about a huge basket of muffin tops hanging over the top. I want to be able to feel confident wearing a high waisted skirt and a crop top again (maybe not in this cold weather, mind). I want to feel happy and confident in myself again, and I can already tell Slimming World is the way to help that.
I've set my target to lose two and a half stone, which will take me back to where I was last summer.
Last night was my first weigh-in and in my first week I lost 4.5lbs! It might not sound like a lot, but I can already tell a difference. Besides, it's a marathon not a sprint.
I wasn't expecting my body to change so dramatically in just one week. I could notice a difference by Tuesday (day six) when I wore the same trousers that I'd worn the previous Wednesday on my first weigh-in. When I first bought said trousers, I couldn't wear them without a belt as they dropped down all the time. Just before I started Slimming World, they were quite snug (the belt was long gone!) Now, they're back to dropping down again - in a matter of days!!
I really wish I had measured myself (hips, belly, chest etc) before I started so I could really see how much I'd lost, but never mind.
If I lose just 2.5lbs this week, I'll get my half a stone award next week. This next week will be tough as we're off for an Indian for Tom's leaving do tomorrow night and out for a meal for my dad's birthday on Saturday, but I am so determined to get that first half a stone shifted and be one fifth of the way towards my target. I've already chosen what I can have at the Indian by working it out on my syns calculator (Saturday will be much more difficult, though!)
Here's my food diary from last week so you can see how easy it was! I was quite strict and some days didn't have as many syns as I could have had or as many adventurous meals (I was still learning the ropes and getting to grips with everything!)
Day One
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with one third of a tin of chopped tomatoes and chopped red and yellow peppers.
Dinner: Tuna and salad (lettuce, spinach, peppers)
Snack: Apple
Tea: Grilled chicken breast with broccoli and carrot and parsnip 'chips'
Snack: Mini Twister lolly (2 syns)
Day Two
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with one third of a tin of chopped tomatoes and chopped red and yellow peppers.
Dinner: A tin of baked beans on wholemeal toast (HEB) with two mini Babybel lights (HEA) grated and sprinkled on top.
Snack: Apple and a pear
Snack: A small slice of caterpillar cake (8 syns) [there's always cake at work :( haha]
Tea: 'Pizza topped chicken' (SW recipe - chicken breast topped with chopped tomatoes, garlic, red onion and peppers with 25g of reduced fat mozzarella (2.5 syns)
Day Three
Breakfast: Two poached eggs on wholemeal toast (HEB) with half a tin of baked beans.
Dinner: A jacket potato with tuna mayo (1 syn for extra light mayo) and side salad
Snack: Apple
Tea: Bacon Double Cheeseburger (SW recipe - less than 5% fat beef mince with onions made into burgers and grilled on George Forman, two Dairylea light cheese slices (HEA) and lean back bacon with all fat cut off.)
Snack: 100g of vanilla ice-cream (8 syns) with Sweet Freedom chocolate sauce (2 syns)
Day Four
Breakfast: Two eggs scrambled with one third of a tin of chopped tomatoes, two rashers of lean bacon, and two slices of wholemeal toast (HEB).
Dinner: Jacket potato with half a tin of baked beans, 40g low fat mozzarella (HEA) and salad.
Snack: Apple and pear.
Tea: Caribbean Pepperpot Stew (SW recipe - Lean stewing beef, sweet potato, passata, green beans, garlic, and peppers.)
Snack: Stawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and blueberries with 100g of fat free natural yoghurt
Day Five
Breakfast: Two poached eggs with half a tin of baked beans on wholemeal toast (HEB).
Lunch: Leftover stew from last night's tea
Snack: Apple and pear
Tea: Chicken supreme (SW recipe - one chicken breast, two lean rashers of bacon, quark, onion, mushrooms and garlic.)
Snack: One fondant fancy (5 syns)
Drink: 250ml of milk (HEA)
Day Six
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs on toast (HEB) with one third of a tin of chopped tomatoes and chopped green pepper.
Dinner: Tuna and salad
Tea: Cheesy Broccoli Bake (SW recipe - broccoli, onions, tomatoes, fat free cottage cheese and reduced fat cheddar (HEA) served with carrots, sweetcorn and peas.)
Snack: Mini Milk lolly (1.5 syns)
Day Seven
Breakfast: Three poached eggs on wholemeal toast (HEB) with a whole tin of beans.
Dinner: Homemade leek and potato soup
Tea: Cottage pie (SW recipe - mince, kale, passata, garlic, onion, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, passata, fat free natural yoghurt, cheddar cheese (HEA) and mashed potato served with carrots.
On next week's menu (aside from the eating out) is a roast chicken Sunday dinner, Jerk chicken skewers (SW recipe), chicken curry with spicy broccoli and green beans (SW recipe), and a chicken and veggie pasta bake.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
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