Slimming World Secrets

I missed my Target at Slimming World – again!

Another weigh day and (once again) I’ve missed my Slimming World Target. This is getting frustrating – but I have a plan in place to lose that final half a pound over the next week.

My week

• Average Syns per day: 11.5
• Average Speed foods per day: 9.3
• SP days: 5
• Body Magic days: 5
• Result: -½lb
• Total loss: -5st 6½lbs

The past week has been a really good one. Loads of Speed foods, five SP and Body Magic days, and coming in way under my average of 15 Syns per day at 11.5.

I had hoped for a 1lb loss this morning. That would have got me to my new, lowered, Target of 5st 7lbs.

But it just wasn’t to be. The scales showed a ½lb loss and, while that still equals my all-time PB of -5st 6½lbs, it wasn’t quite enough to get to the promised land of shinies, certificates and badges.

In one way, I’m not too disappointed. Yes, I missed my Slimming World Target, but I still feel I’m “at Target” even though I’m not.

While I’m not technically a Target member, that’s only because I lowered it: I hit the Target I set myself (and never really thought I’d get to) in 2014. And then lost another 6½lbs.

So I’m doing alright!

I wish I’d bought a Countdown!

Despite today’s loss – and equalling of my personal best – I admit to feeling a little disappointed this morning. I’d hoped to have been at my new Target by now. It’s been 11 weeks.

Why didn’t I buy a Countdown?! Why?! Why?!

Anyway, I had a little chat to myself and reminded myself that this journey is all about the long game – the bigger picture. Even the best slimmers in the world won’t get the results they want every single week.

I’ve spent the past few weeks with mainly alternating gains and losses as I try to lose those extra 7lbs.

On the face of it, a gain/loss/gain/loss pattern is not great. But I’m near my new Target, so weight loss becomes far harder, as there’s less fat to lose.

And the losses have far outweighed the gains in terms of size. I tend to have a big losses of 2.5lbs or 3lbs, but only tiny gains of ½lb.

After last week’s gain, again, of ½lb, I thought this week would be T-week, with another decent loss. It wasn’t to be.

Don’t sweat the small stuff

But I’m not gonna sweat the small stuff because I missed my Slimming World Target. In the past, I might have gone away really disillusioned, frustrated and annoyed that my hard work hadn’t paid off.

I’d have more than likely reverted to my old ways and smashed the panic button, which results in a release of Syns into my body as though I’ve just hammered a piñata full of wine.

Now I’m just looking at the positives. I’m the lightest I’ve been for many years, and what’s ½lb (or 8oz) anyway?

8oz weighs the same as half a pint of milk, a cup of sugar – or an adult hamster.

A bloody hamster! That little sh*t is all that’s keeping me from my Target weight!

Fatty!

My secret weapon to get to Target: Prunes!

One thing that’s held me back the past couple of weeks – and many other weeks besides – is constipation. And I assure you, this is nothing to do with the hamster!

TMI alert: I’m one of those people who might only “go” two or three times a week. After a good clearout on a Sunday/Monday (thanks to wine!), I can easily then last until my Saturday weigh day without going.

So, naturally, if I’m (ahem) “full of sh*t”, that’s gonna show on the scales. Well, in a manner of speaking anyway.

I mentioned this to one of my group pals, Emily, last week, and she suggested prunes.

I’ve always avoided dried fruits of any kind because of the Syns. Unlike undried prunes, aka plums, these are not a Speed food and they’re not even a Free food.

However, Emily checked the app and pointed out that prunes could be used as a Healthy Extra B. Seven-plus years doing Slimming World and I did not know this!

You need to be careful of those in syrup as they contain extra Syns, but 65g of regular dried prunes – about eight – will count as a Healthy Extra B.

So I’ve bought a packet of dried prunes and will have those with some fruit and fat-free Greek yoghurt on four of the next seven days as a HEB to give my digestive system a shake-up.

That means I’ll have to go without my much-loved wholemeal bread (unless I Syn it – fat chance!) for those four days, but that will be worth it if it means becoming more regular and getting to Target.

Wish me luck, folks!