Slimming World Secrets

From feasting to fasting: the 72-hour fast that got me closer to Target

I’ll be more than happy when this week’s over. A death in the family and a bout of suspected food poisoning that led to three days of fasting meant I wasn’t exactly following the Slimming World plan. Yet, somehow, I’ve come in with a 1½lb loss – and I’m just 4lbs away from Target

I’m not even going to list my usual weekly figures here because there would be no point. Suffice to say, I barely followed the plan at all.

The weekend was a write-off as far as Syns were concerned. I broke my golden rule of only drinking alcohol once a week because a birthday party for one of the girls on Friday was followed 24 hours later by Eurovision.

And you have to drink vast quantities of pink prosecco and Shiraz on those nights because it’s enshrined in law, isn’t it? It’s stated very clearly in the Birthdays and Eurovision Act 1973. Honest.

The birthday celebration also involved a meal out and, despite TRYING to make healthy choices, my starter and main course still contained a fair few Syns. These were in the form of batter, olives, peanuts and various sauces.

Pink prosecco, chips and mayo

And then the pink prosecco kicked in. Tipping point well and truly reached, I Hoovered up leftover chips and mayo. Then one bottle of fizz turned into two, then three, then four (between us all, obvs). I could post the video of my pals singing Hey Jude at the tops of their voices on the railway station platform afterwards – but they would rightly kill me if I did.

An interim weigh-in on Sunday night showed that I’d gained more than half a stone in just four days. I felt so annoyed with myself – I’d undone weeks of hard work and I was guaranteed a big gain, even if stuck to the plan, did SP days and exercised like a demon between then and weigh day.

However, as luck wouldn’t have it, I developed a horrible sickness and diarrhoea bug on Monday (I suspect a packet of ham may be to blame). As well as giving me horrible stomach cramps, it also destroyed my appetite – I ate literally nothing for three days.

72 hours’ fasting: did try this at home!

I probably don’t need to tell you that 72 hours of fasting is not part of the Slimming World plan. The good burghers of the Sparkly Castle would be clutching their pearls if they knew.

But it was completely unintended – and it’s something I never want to repeat. While it was quite easy as I had no hunger, I could never do fasting – especially for so long – in times of rude health.

Anyway, along with no Syns, I had no Healthy Extras, no Free food, no Speed, nothing, nada. Body Magic wasn’t happening either. I won’t be trying fasting again – I love food too much.

And then I got two lots of bad news – the first that my auntie had died. The second I won’t go into here, but it was crushing.

Yet somehow, despite everything that could go wrong doing so, I managed a loss on the scales. That puts me just ahead of schedule.

Slimming World target is Slimming World Target

Back in early January, my original plan for this year was to get to Target. I didn’t particular care when I did it. If it took me all year, fine – it would still be something I’d never achieved in the previous seven years.

Then, a couple of weeks into the new year, Slimming World increased its prices. And, although it’s still great value for money and this was the first price rise in 12 years, it was still a 20% increase, which is a lot.

So, I re-evaluated my plans and bought four six-week Countdowns at the old price. ?

As well as helping out my consultant in tough financial Covid times with some dollar, it gave me something new to aim for: instead of reaching Target by week 52 of the year, I’d aim to do it by week 25.

If I didn’t, no problem, I’d just by a new Countdown or two at the new price. If I did it ahead of schedule and had a Countdown voucher spare, I’d sell it to another member at the old price. Winner, winner, chicken (skin removed) dinner.

Four weeks to lose 4lbs

Apart from last week, when I just snuck out of my Week 25 Countdown Target range, I’ve been just ahead of schedule all year.

What all this means is that I have 4lb to lose in the last four weeks of my fourth and final countdown.

Duh-duh, duuuh-duuuh! ?

Sorry.

Though it would be amazing to get to Target it in the two weeks left before our group closes down and I join a new one, I think two consecutive 2lb losses so close to Target would be beyond me.

But four consecutive 1lb losses is just about doable, so long as I am absolutely angelic – which means no more mad weekends for a bit.

*Checks calendar*

Oh, great, it’s a bank holiday weekend, what could possibly go wrong?!

Nic celebrates her Diamond anniversary

Finally, massive congratulations to our fabulous Target member Nicola, who’s become, I believe, only the third member of the Night Owls ever to win her Diamond award – given to those members who stay at Target for a year.

A former Woman of the Year, she has overcome one or two pretty massive personal hurdles over the past few years and has really inspired me on my journey, especially with her commitment to Body Magic. Her Strava profile puts mine to shame.

Well done, Nic. ? Haidee would be proud!