Slimming World Secrets

Reclaiming my 4st award after four years

Such mixed feelings this week. As you can see from my vital statistics, I worked REALLY hard to get a loss – but the scales didn’t exactly give me the result I was after. However, on the flip side, I regained my 4st award, which has eluded me since that sunny summer of 2017.

• Average Syns per day: 0.4
• Average Speed foods per day: 9.6
• SP days: 6
• Body Magic days: 7
• Result: -½lb
• Total: -4st 3lbs

First of all, the negatives. I had half an eye on our group’s Greatest Loser 2021 prize, I must confess. I thought that, if I could have a really good week and nab a really big loss, I might just sneak it. There were three of us in contention, with just 2lbs separating us.

So I worked my butt off – I worked out every day (mainly step aerobics), I kept my Syns allowance to an average of less than half a Syn per day (sounds crazy, but still off the booze so not too hard actually) and did six SP days.

As an aside, I won’t be mixing Body Magic with so many SP days again. If you’re working out, you need carbs – or you lack energy and begin to feel rather dizzy by the end of the workout. Or at least I did! But it was a one-off – pulling out all the stops to try and get a big loss.

All that work for a measly ½lb loss

Then, at weigh-in this morning, just half a pound was lost. Not sure why – maybe it’s that I’m getting closer to Target now, so there’s not so much fat to burn anymore. Maybe it’s because I’ve had more than my fair share of constipation issues over the past week or two. Sorry, TMI!

Anyway, I came third in the Greatest Loser stakes, only 2lbs behind the winner – but she was a worthy victor so I didn’t mind. Well, not too much. 😉

So that’s the negatives out of the way. My main aim this week was to get my weight back down to 10st 3lbs, which was my all-time PB from back in July 2017. After that, “life got in the way”, to say the least, and Slimming World became less of a priority.

This time, it’s a big priority. I have a bridesmaid dress to get into later this year, so having that big day in my sights has really helped. To equal my PB – with a ninth consecutive loss – is actually pretty impressive, if I’m being honest.

I got my 4st award back – at last

That also means I got to reclaim my 4st award, which I promised I wouldn’t do until I reached my PB. I’ve now lost 4st 3lbs – 3st 10lbs of that since “restarting” in January last year.

So despite the teeny loss, I still managed to equal that PB – and just over a year ago, that would never have seemed possible. So, looking at the big picture, and not just one weigh result, I’m actually really pleased. Also, I’m only 4lbs off my 4½st award.

I must confess that I’m nervous about what my journey to Target holds. I’m worried that I might never get there and I’m worried that I might blow it again, like the last time I got to the weight I’m at now.

Hard work ahead to reach Target

At the minute, I’m keeping the Syns low – even before this past couple of weeks, I’ve kept them down to an average of five or six a day (women are allowed up to 15).

But what happens when the pubs reopen after Lockdown? I don’t want to stop drinking permanently – but abstaining since New Year’s Eve has made Slimming World far easier. If I reintroduce alcohol, that’s a heck load more Syns I’ll be taking on board, so I’ll have to work even harder with low-Syn and Syn-free foods, SP days and Body Magic to keep the losses coming.

So there you go. I worry too much – but I do it so well! However, I’m more determined than ever to get that Target badge later this year, along with that beautifully designed, black and gold, super-sparkly certificate and shiny sticker. Onwards!