Slim by summer and for good....

Hi everyone.

I start my new weight loss journey with Slim & Save on Monday (23rd February 2015) but I've ordered and tried a fair bit of stock in preparation and I'm chomping at the bit to get going so I thought I'd start my diary now. I would be starting straight away, but I have a big night out on Saturday with food and drink prepaid for so I thought Monday would be a good starting point.

I've had a weight problem since I was 14. I didn't realise it was a problem until I got told so at school () so I went on a diet and lost a stone. That's where it began, I've been on and off a diet ever since. (36 this year) I've had major gains and some big losses, I've been 11 stone and 18 stone (5'9) but I've never maintained at a normal, healthy weight. About ten years ago I lost 7 stone with Weight Watchers and the weight has been creeping on ever since, 2 children later and I find myself at a whopping 14 stone 10 lbs (start weight and measurements to be taken on Monday)

So I've got my 12 initial weeks on Slim and Save to see what I can lose. I'm hoping for a 3 + stone weight loss to take me down to around 11st 7. At this point I will have a birthday night out and want to surprise my friends as I plan to hibernate a bit. I will also have my Mom's 60th and a trip down to London. After the re-feed I might go back on the diet and see if I can crack the 10's.....not been 10st something since I was in my teens.

I'm not silly enough to think this is the solution to it all, I know I'll always have to work on my weight, but I need to give it another push and see if I can crack it again. Hopefully the drop in weight will improve my health, I have PCOS and would like to reduce the symptoms, I'm getting aches and pains just doing the minimum. Also I need a detox from the carbs and alcohol!

My avatar will be 'before' photos.....I've always wanted a great before and after photo! Lets make it happen!!!

Ref the Slim&Save foods.
I've tried the meals Cottage Pie, Spicy Spaghetti, which I loved! But Four Cheese Pasta and Cabonara :sick:
I also like the Dark Chocolate Truffa...very filling.

I've order 2 packs of various meals from eBay and some porridge, plus I've swapped 20 shakes for 20 meals. I am going try a meal planner of
Breakfast - Porridge
Mid Morning - Coffee/Tea and half a bar
Lunch - Meal and Veg
Mid Afternoon - Coffee/Tea and half a bar
Dinner - Meal and Veg
Evening snack - Jelly.

Going to try as many flavours as possible but I really don't want to plan with the shakes as they don't feel like a meal. (going to try them anyway)

I'm also on the Slim & Save forum under the same name.....I'm waffling now I'll be posting for swaps a fair bit I think.

t minus two days till the big diet starts. Managed to swap 20 shakes for 20 meals which I'm quite happy about. I've ordered a few shakes to try, but the flavours I got rid of didn't sound nice. Will be ordering another pack directly from Slim & Save and selecting the items I like so far with a few to try each time. Its more expensive that way but wen you don't get a lot to eat, it's better that what you do get, you like it!

Off out tonight, 3 course meal with wine, that and sundays curry will be my last proper food for a while, going to enjoy it while I can.

So one day to go. Last night was all food, wine and cocktails and I really felt I had to make the most of it, because that's all over for a while now. Did let my friends in on the plan. Turns out one of my friends is also starting on a fitness and nutrition regime tomorrow so we will be able to support each other. I have got our annual Eurovision party to attend which I totally forgot about, but I am going take food for my friends but not partake. No point getting to ketosis to go back again. Curry later, looking forward to that.

Good luck, I'm 8 weeks in and 2 stone down. You sound really positive xxx

Sammysmiles said:

Good luck, I'm 8 weeks in and 2 stone down. You sound really positive xxx

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Thanks! You can really see the difference in your before and after shots, you look great! 2 stone in 8 weeks, that's amazing, I suppose if you put the graft in you see the results.

Ok Day one. As it's a Monday I suppose it's weight and measurements time.

Weight - 14stone 9lbs

Waist - 44.5 inches
Hips - 45.5 inches
Chest - 47 inches
Thigh - 25 inches
Calf - 15.5 inches
Upper Arm - 12.5 inches
Upper Arm - 10.1 inches

Buzzed for today, just sipping a Peppermint Tea. Think I will definitely get the caffeine withdrawals, but hopefully my Keto Sticks will come so I can test when I'm in ketosis and get my tea and coffee back.

I still have 3-4 cups of coffee a day as I couldn't have given those as well. Everyone is different but I haven't had a problem with ketosis. Looking forward to seeing how you get on, I'm sure this time next week you'll be jumping for joy

Hello there!!

I love how hyped up and ready you are for this!! It's a brilliant buzz to really 'want' to get stuck into this rather than having a dull feeling of 'having' to do this. Being so excited and positive means you are bound to sail through the first few days. Once you have a week under your belt you'll really be in the swing of things.
Take it hour by hour and day by day. Everyone has their little tips and this forum is great for support. There's no way I would've stayed on the straight and narrow when I started this without everyone's support. Plus in these early days it's a great distraction to keep hunger pangs at bay when you're catching up on people's diaries and offering support!
It's great when there's no big social things to trip you up too, and hopefully your friends will be supportive when you do have your get togethers.

Good luck!! And my number one tip would be delay the start of your packs as late as poss and space them out so you always have something left to have in the evening. Distractions the key!!

Also everyone's different - it takes me 7 days to get into Ketosis but some people only 2 or 3... So don't be panicked or dismayed if you're not in the ketosis zone, and don't give up!!


Woo Hoo - I'm excited for ya!!

Xx

Thanks Sammy's Good tip about delaying the packs, I'm up quite early with my two little ones so I can usually make it till 9 till I eat, which doesn't sound great but I'm usually up 5.30-6 ish. Had a bar today for breakfast which has filled me up to the point of nausea so I will definitely be splitting them. I've ordered shakes to taste but I really think the way forward for me is the meals. That will probably change. If I could lose 2 stone in a month I'd be jumping for joy.

I could never split the bars as I found them too tempting!! Obviously part of my actual eating problem in the first place!!
Give the shakes a go, I love them. I put extra water in to make them last longer and adds to the daily water intake too!! Ice makes them thick n frothy and some of the shakes are yummy hot!! With a shot of coffee it's like your very own Starbucks!! Mmmm!!
I personally didn't get on with the soups but then I'm not a very 'soupy' person! Lol.
My vice was the dark truffas.......... Xx

The dark truffa is lush, I don't even like dark chocolate normally! Looking forward to trying some more.

Breakfast - Truffa Bar
Brunch - Spicy Spag and peppers....loved this
Lunch - Spicy Spag and wilted spinach
Dinner - Cottage Pie and broccoli
Evening snack - sugar free jelly
Drinks - camomile tea and Ribena Plus
Water - around 3 litres


Well that's the first day done, I felt quite hungry at times and a little light headed, but I think that was down to a weekend of indulgence more than anything. I had a bar for breakfast, big mistake, I will be saving them for my evening treat once the squids are in bed. Got a bit of a headache and feel tired but other than that it's been fine. Need to get busier from tomorrow. Thought far too much about food today.

Day one ticked off! Yay. 100%.


Distraction is definitely the key! If you have some time you could go for a gentle walk or do some yoga stretches to get some toning underway.
I got into 'clear out' mode of cleaning and sorting house stuff to defer my shakes.

Good luck with day two.

Thanks Sammy. Yoga is a good call, feeling a bit groggy this morning without my usual coffee. Did you cut out caffeine?

Breakfast - Truffa Bar
Lunch - Cottage Pie and broccoli
Mid-Afternoon - Porridge
Dinner -Spicy Spag and wilted spinach
Evening snack - sugar free jelly
Drinks - peppermint tea and Ribena Plus
Water - around 3 litres

Not a great day, but made worse by my lovely parents who decided to have their lunch at mine....chippy dinner. I was so hungry at that point I literally felt like my tummy was going to eat itself! But later in the afternoon I started to feel better and I've been fine since, just very thirsty. Not sure whether to listen to my body and drink or I should be careful as I'm already drinking a lot. Porridge arrived at 1pm so I tried that, not sure how filling it is but it tasted lovely.

Yes the thirst!!!!! I remember that!!
Drink so you're comfortable. That insatiable thirst will eventually subside.

I didn't cut out caffeine but then again it took me 7 days to get into ketosis. Saying that, I didn't drink much in the way of caffeine. Think it's just the way my body is.

Well done on avoiding the chips. You have to remember that you know they taste nice, but the actual thought and smell is nicer than the actual taste. The things your brain does to you is crazy!
It's not like you'll never get to eat a chip again... Just not right now.
And can those chips taste as nice as the feeling you'll get from buying new smaller clothes?
Of course not.
So massive pat on the back for avoiding that!!

That's another day ticked off! Well done.

I'm having supernanny battles with my little one at the moment so I'll be busting into the caffeine today for sure!!!!! Xx

Oh dear how old is your LO? Ive got a 4 year old girl and a 1 year old boy. The boy is a little angel, but the girl tests me! Far too clever and a little devil at times, they do 'thinking time' at nursery it's naughty step all the way here, to be honest it's usually the threat of no soft play every Friday that gets through to her!

Well onto day three and I feel better this morning. I've jumped on the scales and I've lost 3.5lbs. This is far more than I expected as I've been doing Weight Watchers up to this point so didn't have much water to shed. I've tested my ketones and if the sticks are to be trusted I've gone up to 1.5 which apparently is the beginning of ketosis. I also don't feel as tired or as hungry as day one and two so hopefully I can delay my breakfast a little. Ordered a two week pack of Slim & Save products to celebrate

Yay that's brilliant news. You should get an energy buzz soon once ketosis fully kicks in. And a sneaky peek on the scales does do good to keep the encouragement going!!



My Daughter is coming up to 2 this Spring and is just going through a unsettling at night phase (I hope it's just a phase!) as we've had some changes and upheaval and I think they get effected more than we realise!!
Yes at home I have the naughty spot!!

Good luck with today, hopefully tomorrow ketosis will be in full swing!! Xx