Gail's diary and thoughts on her SW journey

[Bess]

I'm a bit confused. Some friends came for supper last night, one is doing SW and has lost a stone, about all she wanted to lose. She said not to do anything special for her so I cooked a chicken casserole,(onions, skinless chicken thighs, carrots, mushrooms, thyme, lemon and ginger in stock), mashed sweet potato with steamed cabbage and courgette. She ate it all and said it was all 'free food', with the little butter in the potato within her 'syns', then she had a second helping.

How can this be a diet? She described the things she can eat on SW, rice, potatoes, pasta - she's doing Extra Easy - but has lost a stone already, in about 8 weeks I think. Diet? Roll on Tuesday!!

 

[gl12282]

Hi Bess,

Sorry for not responding sooner. Well done for making the commitment. I think you are probably doing the right thing. I think you will probably find the group better for you, at least to start with. I don't think I realised how difficult doing it alone at home could be but now I am doing it and have seen results, it's fine but I think I could so easily have fallen off the track and not gone back.

I would suggest that you try to keep your WI day as 'normal' as possible. Particularly for your first weigh in, don't starve yourself or eat any differently because then you can do that every week. It may be difficult stepping on the scales (or maybe not too bad because of where you've come from ?) but just be 'normal' that day.

In terms of your confusion about the 'diet' - don't be. That is how SW works. It's fantastic. It means that you can eat well, in quantity and delicious food. I really hope that this is my 'way of life' for the future. Your casserole sounds delicious though. Can you post the recipe please ! I also do EE which for me is the most 'normal' and I love it but there are people here doing red and green. I would suggest doing the plan you like the look of most (because that's what you are likely to stick to. When you start, I have the following tips (and I'm sure that people will add to these):

1. Plan, plan, plan. Don't leave stuff to chance. If you're going out for dinner, try and look at menu's beforehand to work out what will be best/what you fancy. Try to anticipate times where you won't have easy access to food and either take with you or work out what you will do. Write everything that you eat down.

2. Use your syns - they are what make life bearable and the plan sustainable. You need to eat at least 5 per day but maybe start with more ?

3. Drink plenty. I find that my losses are generally better if I've been drinking. Have a look at Jules diary thread for her stats on when she's drunk more.

4. Stick with it. Post your food diaries. Feel free to post your first few diaries here and we can comment on them.

5. Eat plenty. You should not be feeling hungry on this plan. That's what makes me snack so eat what you need to and if you've had plenty and are still genuinely hungry then have some more. Stick to your 1/3 superfree and try to have it on your plate where possible because it's what helps to naturally limit your portion size.

6. Stay posting here because hopefully you will be inspired by people's stories here and motivated by their help.

Good luck. Fingers crossed and let us know how it goes.

Gail x

 

[gl12282]

Well, for my weekend. I knew this was going to be a difficult weekend for me in terms of food and it was.

Some positives:
Breakfast. I stuck to plan and avoided the sausages, bacon, hash browns, fried bread etc (which I love), toast (because I would want butter), and asked for an apple both mornings.

I avoided the biscuits at coffee time

I had plenty of salad at lunch and avoided quiche.

I avoided alcohol.

The puddings were delicious (as expected !) and I knew I was going to have them.

BUT..................

There were rather a lot of puddings (I'm a bit ashamed to say............1st evening, lunch 2nd day, afternoon cakes 2nd day, 2nd evening, lunch 3rd day, evening 3rd day......oops !). Maybe I shouldn't have had ALL of them

I helped myself to quite a few chocolates yesterday evening and this lunchtime - I didn't need those and definitely in view of above, I should have avoided them

One of the cakes wasn't that good so I should have left it (and I did, but then kept picking at it until it was gone).

Today's evening meal could have been much better. I had fish but then didn't ask for them to leave off the cream sauce. And then even though the sauce came on the side, I still had it. I think that's partly the 'I've blown it already, so I might as well really blow it' even though that's not what I was properly thinking out loud. And that isn't me on the whole.

So, I have learnt a few lessons (again) from this weekend and know (again) that I am not infallible on this plan. I deserve the gain that I will have tomorrow (and will accept it with grace !) but I know that the most important thing is to keep on plan. I will try and keep my syns low this week if possible but I also know that if I try and stay syn free I run the risk of 'wandering off plan' so I will aim to keep syns low but if I need to use them, I will. Next Saturday is another big meal out (eeeeek) which will be flexi synned but after that, life gets a little easier and it should be easier to stay on track because I have no really big nights out (just the usual meals out here and there). So I will do my best this week to really stick to plan (which I know I can do) and hope that I can maintain this week (because of the weekend)

Sorry for the long post. I will post my gain tomorrow !

Hope you're all having a good week.

Gail x

 

[julesm]

Hey Gail, don't worry too much about those puddings. I know you've had a lot of special occasions lately and I think you've done reaaaally well- you've been really strong, sensible and have found a good balance. You also seem to be quite relaxed unlike me who gets dead obsessive about a bruschetta which is bordering on an unhealthy attitude I think!! Your puds sound yum and even though you say you realise you're not infallible well who is and I know you will be able to get right back on track once life goes back to normal! X

 

[dancingqueen1987]

It happens to all of us Gail. You're still amazing

 

[valerie11]

I had fish but then didn't ask for them to leave off the cream sauce. And then even though the sauce came on the side, I still had it. I think that's partly the 'I've blown it already, so I might as well really blow it' even though that's not what I was properly thinking out loud
hi gail i had to smile to myself when i read ur post sometimes i have something that i think i shouldn't have (even tho i can count it as syns) but it mucks my whole day up cause then i think sod it i've blown it for today and i carry on stuffing my face but in reality i could have got away with the "naughty" food that i've eaten, you have done sooooo well so far and know with ur determination will continue to. just have to do what u would advise draw a line under it hopefully it will not affect u as much as u think. take care love val xx

 

[Bess]

Thankyou Gail for your long post and advice, all very welcome. I went to the SW meeting this morning, it was fine, pleasant people a bit lengthy perhaps? I was a bit puzzled at the consultant who was leading the group and her manager who was there as well. They were both pretty hefty women and both quite a lot bigger than me.

One member though has lost 9st in 13 months, so it obviously works for her, some other members had lost a lb or 2 and some had put weight on. Odd about the 2 leaders though I think.

I shall have a look at some other diaries on here and then start one myself, to help keep me on the straight and narrow, all comments will be very welcome!

 

[gl12282]

Thanks Val. You may have been right but unfortunately I am drowning in sticky toffee sauce this week which probably isn't great for me - eeeeek.

I think I have been quite lucky so far that I have been able to have the odd flexi syn evening (or at least sticking to plan and using my syns plus a little more (for pudding) on the occasions that I'm out for lovely meals) but this week/fortnight I have had so many that it's definitely going to affect me. I'm going to have to sit and have a long hard think about how I'm going to deal with these kind of weeks in the future because I could well have a large gain again this week (which combined with last weeks gain is going to set me back a good few weeks). I think that all I can do (having stuffed myself tonight) is to stick to plan for the rest of the week, have a lovely evening out on Saturday (which is a special meal out) and then just accept the consequences and try to plan the next few weeks of meals. I think I should be fine for the general day to day stuff but I may have to be a bit more disciplined about my meals out (or rather my puddings out......!). I think I'm going to have to do lots of trying on all the clothes that I've grown out of to remind myself why I'm doing this !

I may also have to join some of my Sunday weighers in the 'one day at a time' challenge !!!!

Ho hum. More lessons for me to learn..............................................


Gail x

 

[gl12282]

Hi Bess,

Well done for going to class tonight. Hope this week goes well for you. I was a bit surprised too that there were people in class who have been going for years and don't lose much (or anything) over time but I guess that if they even remain stable that's a result compared to what would have happened if they didn't attend. You have to accept that everyone who goes to class goes for different reasons.

My own personal opinion is that I'm not actually that bothered about what weight the consultant is, they just need to have done/be doing SW and be committed to it so that they understand what their members are going through. But people's opinions on this vary - there are a few threads on that in the main SW forum.

Anyway, well done for going. Please post a diary and I'll go and look at it and good luck. You'll get loads of help here.

Gail x

 

[gl12282]

Having a difficult week. Feel fairly certain that I'm going to have a gain again this week (2 in a row eeeek) mostly because of Saturday's 'gourmet fest' where I'm going to a posh restaurant for a several course meal plus wine. I have been on plan most of the week in between however definitely not all of the week (which is what I usually do). Sticky toffee pudding on Tuesday and then a 'mini binge' today - the first for absolutely ages and ages and ages. Ate quite a few biscuits (albeit most quite small biscuits) and some chocolate (as well as yorkshire puddings and pudding with my meal at my sisters house) - I feel a bit ashamed because it's really the first time I've done that since very very early on in my SW journey. I think maybe when I'm totally back on plan next week I need to do a bit of reflecting about what I could have done to prevent that.

So tomorrow is a new day. I'm away for the weekend however I am going to try my hardest by (a) taking lunch for the train tomorrow, (b) taking fruit to snack on if I need to and (c) trying to stick to plan at breakfast in the posh hotel ! I don't think I am that worried about getting completely back on plan after tomorrow night (certainly far less so than when I first started my diary) but clearly the proof is in the pudding (or no pudding ideally !).

Fingers crossed.

Gail x

 

[julesm]

Good luck Gail! I hope you have a really lovely time. I'm sure once everything gets back to normal you'll be fine! Enjoy!!!xxxx

 

[Kenco]

Thank you Gail for coming over to the queensize thread and posting.The support on here is so brilliant and really helps.Hope you have a lovely weekend.Your weight loss is brilliant.xx

 

[gl12282]

Thanks Surreygal. I appreciate that.

I totally agree with you about the support here. It has REALLY helped me (doing it mostly alone at home online) and kept me at it. It has taken me from someone who a couple of months ago felt as though I would fall off plan at the drop of a hat (even though I didn't) to someone who knows that won't happen as easily. I still have moments but they really don't happen often and weaknesses that I'm much more aware of and try to avoid if poss.

So thanks to all of you on Minimins and hope I can do the same for others.

Gail x

P.S. Surreygal - do you have a diary thread of your own ?

 

[dancingqueen1987]

Hi Gail
Hope you're having a good weekend. I hope if you have a gain it doesn't bring you down too much, I know how rubbish it can make you feel. I think it's easier if you're expecting it and also if you've had a lovely time and it was "worth it" People keep telling me I still need to have a life and can't let losing weight take over by not going out etc. And they're right. As long we stay in control as much as we can then I think we're ok! You've done so amazingly well if you do have a gain it'll soon come off again!
Have a lovely time
Sarah x

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins

 

[Spanx]

Hi Gail - finding a way to fit SW into our lives can be one of the most difficult things! You have done so well so far, losing consistently even though you have a social/work life that involves lots of eating out etc. Don't let a couple of hard weeks de-rail you (I know you won't!) - enjoy your weekend and get back on track from Monday!

I think that sometimes, a mini-binge can actually help by jolting your system a bit!

 

[julesm]

Hey Gail hope you're having a nice weekend and posh meal!!!! Xxxx

 

[Gaggle]

Hi Gail
well I'm a Gail also and have been very low today searching the web looking for insperation and I have just read your post and it has done just that! Thank you I have now decided to start using this site for support. I shall order my shop online and get started.

 

[gl12282]

Hi Gail2 !,

Welcome to SW and Minmins. I love it and am sooooo glad I started it. It has led to my 4 stone 4 lbs loss so far and the beginnings of what are hopefully long term good eating habits and an improved relationship (albeit still a very fond relationship !) with food and myself.

There is a very active Sunday weighers thread for some of us home weighers. Most (but not all) are doing body optimise online and we post our weekly result there. There are also a couple of 'pretend' Sunday weighers who are also very valued members of our group ;-). Feel free to join us there (although I won't be posting mine til Monday because I'm away for the weekend).

Keep posting and please feel free to ask for help or advice. If I can't help, someone else will be able to.

Good luck.

Gail x

 

[Gaggle]

Thank you, I shall join online as I find it hard to go to the groups as mine would change from one week to another with work but will sure log my weight with you all. I can relate to one thing you said in your earlier post about not wanting to bump in to old friends. Thanks again I feel more positive x

 

[Bess]

Gail, I've been reading your recent posts and wondered if you might find a book I've been reading useful? It's The Beck Diet Solution by Judith S. Beck. I've read quite a few books on this subject but find this the best. It really addresses the 'head work' we all need to do to stay slim.