Slimming World Secrets

Target week 4: Still clinging on to the Target tightrope!

It’s been a month since I hit my new Target – and I’m delighted to say that I’ve not slipped out of my bubble once. But it’s not been easy – this is like walking on a Target tightrope.

My week

• Average Syns per day: 11.5
• Average Speed foods per day: 8.9
• SP days: 1
• Body Magic days: 5
• Result: +½lb
• Total loss: -5st 5½lbs

After last week’s angelic endeavours, I was equally halo-tastic this week. Over both weeks, I kept my average Syns well within range and stuck to the Slim for Life plan rigidly, having one extra Healthy Extra each day. This was usually an extra HEB – wholemeal bread or pumpkin seeds.

I had hoped to lose 1lb or so this morning, but it was another gain on the scales – ½lb on was the result for this week and last. I NEVER like back-to-back gains, however small.

And while I’m still nicely within my Target bubble, I’m still 1½lb above my actual Target. As I wrote last week, I want to get towards the bottom end of my Target range to give me a nice big buffer ahead of Christmas.

Why I’m abandoning Slim for Life (for now)

So, for now, dear reader, I’ve decided to abandon the Slim for Life Target plan until the new year and revert to the regular Extra Easy plan that I know and love so well.

With a bit of luck, that will help me lose a few pounds over the remaining three weigh-ins before Christmas, without dipping below my Target range.

Trying to remain in this Target range without dipping out of the upper end or the lower end is proving to be tough. As I said last week, it’s like balancing on a razor blade – a proper Target tightrope.

After following one plan for seven and a half years, having to literally learn and follow a new one literally overnight is really hard – I’m not gonna sugar-coat this (or use sweetener).

Getting more devout in the Slimming World faith

I’ve said on here before that Slimming World is like a religion to me. I turn up to the service each weekend, take on board the vicar’s inspiring sermon and chat to the lovely congregation. OK, we don’t sing hymns during Image Therapy – nobody wants that.

Let’s say the Extra Easy plan is like being a regular Christian – Anglican, or Protestant. It’s all pretty relaxed, and there are lots of cups of tea.

Then you get to Target and things get tougher – you switch to Catholicism and get your very own Slim for Life version of the Bible.

You get the burden of responsibility – you’re held up as a shining example of how to follow The Plan, and that can come bundled with a fair amount of guilt if you slip up.

Mind you, Confession seems to be more a part of the regular Plan, at least in my experience, from the days when I just played at the Slimming World and had has many gains as losses.

“Forgive me, Consultant, for I have Synned!”

Tinsel and Target

Anyway, all these metaphors aside, group was fab today – as it always is – even though numbers were down. I finally got my Target badge presented, and that was lovely.

On the down side, our Christmas party was cancelled due to lack of numbers. The thing with Slimming World is that a lot of members are older people – and I think Covid-19, and the new Omnicron variant, has put a fair few of them off coming to group and going “out out”.

But group was cool. Tracy had decorated all the tables with tinsel, and she gave us a good talk about Christmas, going through some of her favourite recipes for the festive season. I’ve taken pictures of some of them, so shall be trying those out soon.

There was no Slimmer of the Week, so the prize was raffled. Guess who won! I now have a bag of fresh fruit and tinned tomatoes. Mind you, words must be had with whoever donated the 11-Syn instant oats! 😉

Magazine feature update

Just finally, I’ve sent over my words for the feature Slimming World Magazine is running about me in the spring, and they’ve got the thumbs up from the deputy editor, Sarah.

As well as the recipes and photos, there will be a short feature about yours truly; plus My Day on a Plate, which involves a snapshot of my meals in a typical day; and a couple of panels full of useful tips.

So watch this space after Christmas, and make sure you buy your copy! I’ll even sign it if you like! 😉

Looking ahead to Week 5 on the Target tightrope

So there you go, another week done, and another week on my Target tightrope. I’ll hopefully feel a little more comfortable ahead of Christmas now I can revert to the regular Extra Easy plan.

In the new year, I’ll see how I go, but it may have to be a mix of the two plans, maybe having an extra Healthy Extra every other day rather than every day. We shall see!