Slimming World Secrets

Target week 1: Trying to gain weight for the first time

On the face of it, a 4lbs weight gain just one week after reaching Target is a terrible result. Those not in the know might think: Andie’s blown it! She can’t even last a week!

But, worry not. I shall explain all.

My week

• Average Syns per day: 25.1
• Average Speed foods per day: 7
• SP days: 1
• Body Magic days: 6
• Result: +4lbs
• Total loss: -5st 6lbs

When I hit Target last week, I only needed to lose ½lb. After a few weeks of plateauing, I tried really hard and absolutely smashed it. I got to Target but, instead of losing ½lb, I lost 3½lbs.

This meant I’d lost a total of 5st 10lbs – a full 3lbs BELOW Target, which put me right at the bottom of my Target range, or bubble.

So, this past week, I knew I had to do something to reverse that a little to get back to my real Target of a 5st 7lbs loss.

This meant that, not only for the first time since joining Slimming World seven-and-a-half years ago, but the first time in my life, I was actually aiming to gain weight.

My plan to get back to Target: more Syns

So I upped my Syns. I went way over what I’d normally have, with a daily average of 25.1 (I usually aim for between ten and 15).

I also made full use of the extra Healthy Extra I’m allowed each day as a Target member following Route A.

In previous weeks, those seven extra Healthy Extras would have added up to another 42 Syns, bringing my average per day up to 31.1. So it’s little wonder that I gained 4lbs.

My aim was to have a 3lbs weight gain. In the event, I gained a little more than that, but I’m still nicely within my Target bubble by 2lbs.

An extra Extra has been a revelation

This coming week, I plan to cut my Syns back to the usual average while still having my extra Healthy Extra.

I’m going to try that for a few weeks and see how I go. If it turns out I get another weight gain – and then another – I’ll reduce the number of extra Healthy Extras.

If it turns out I’m losing, I’ll just up my average Syns. After all, Target members are allowed extra Syns on two or three days a week, though I’d prefer to continue what I have been doing by saving them up for a few drinkies on Saturdays.

What I will say is that the extra Healthy Extra has been incredible. One morning this week, I had THREE slices of wholemeal toast smeared with five Laughing Cow Triangles.

It felt so decadent, but it was Syn-free and I still had a fourth Healthy Extra – another HEA – in the bag.

There’s no ONE way to stay at Target

I spent an evening this week reading my Slim for Life book, which outlines what you should do in terms of your one extra Healthy Extra (or more if following Route B or C), extra Syns and Savvy Syns.

That’s the official Sparkly Castle-sanctioned way of staying at Target. But that’s not the only way.

I’ve been a member of the Facebook Slimming World Target Members group since achieving my original Target just over three months ago.

So I asked the folks there for any advice for someone embarking on the Slim for Life maintenance plan for the first time.

And the responses were myriad – everything from sticking with the regular weight loss plan with a few extra Syns now and then to only having the extra Healthy Extra on some days – not every day.

Story of my life: I’ll do it my way

So it looks like I’m just going to have to work out what’s best for me over the next few weeks. If I slip out of the top end of my bubble, I can just revert to the regular weight loss plan and throw in a few SP days to get right back in it.

My method of getting to Target (two Targets, in fact) in the first place was hardly the regular way of doing it – saving most of my Syns for a Saturday blowout and then being angelic the rest of the week.

But it worked. And it worked a treat. So I just need to find out what does – and doesn’t work in terms of weight maintenance.

I don’t mind bobbing about in my Target bubble, but I really don’t want to be bobbing in and out of that bubble week after week.

And that’s one reason I’ll be attending group every Saturday morning. I’ve seen too many members get to Target, stop coming to group and then return months later after having regained all the weight.

One thing I’ve learned in decades of trying to lose weight is that I need the support of my group and my consultant. I can’t do this alone.