Becoming visible

Hi everyone,
I say everyone, I hope at least someone actually reads this, ha! I'm new to minimins, I've just joined after weeks of googling slimming world syn values and this forum always answering my calls for help!
I'm not really sure on how everything works, but I've just googled it (again - google is my crutch!) and I've briefly read that you need to post in order to be able to make a profile?
So here it goes,
As I've mentioned I am doing slimming world, I'm doing it from home at the moment and have the books for the extra easy plan (that I bought off eBay). I've been at it hard for 5 weeks now and have lost 11.5lbs
I've got to grips with the basics of slimming world but the thing I'm struggling with is not feeling guilty for using syns my brain just won't stop telling me that I can't possibly eat the things I crave on a diet and if I do I should be punished by the diet gods! and also snacking - at the moment I'm mainly snacking on fruit and muller light yoghurt (the dark chocolate variety is my absolute favourite) while I love it, it's kinda monotonous and I'd love to find other food to keep me going through the day.
I decided that I need to try to take back control of my life after a year of ill health and being in constant pain I've recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which is an invisible condition, so it can make it quite hard to explain to people that even though I don't look sick, I am. I'm trying to have a positive outlook on life and start to enjoy it again after a year of basically hating my body and pitying myself. I've started doing yoga (again, just from home...again, eBay to the rescue!) although it's often hard for me to move because of the widespread pain I'm slowly trying to build up my strength and love for exercise again! Over the past year I've put on weight from medication and just not being able to physically move much. It sucked. But I've recently turned 27 and have promised myself that 2015 is going to be a lot better than 2014 was, so here's to a year of positive changes, one step at a time!
I'm after all the help I can get really, slimming world goddess' (and gods) of minimins, I'm at your beck and call.
Looking forward to exploring the sure more and finding good threads to read,
Thanks,
Alison

Hi Alison welcome to sw and well done on the loss so far. Don't feel guilty about using your syns that's what they are for enjoy them. Sorry to hear about the ill health losing weight will hopefully help x

Well done on what you have done so far. Hope you find your way around ok

daisygrubber said:

Hi Alison welcome to sw and well done on the loss so far. Don't feel guilty about using your syns that's what they are for enjoy them. Sorry to hear about the ill health losing weight will hopefully help x

Click to expand...

Ah thank you do you find you lose more if you have more syns or less? X

Nanny Doreen said:

Well done on what you have done so far. Hope you find your way around ok

Click to expand...

Thank you I'm still a bit confused in parts but I think I'm getting there! Are there any threads you would recommend in particular? X

I will come back to you on that. One food thread is -- Delicious meals with Minimum Ingredients.

Morning Hun, and welcome! This really is a great place to come for support and ideas.

Syn-wise, I find it's better to have them (though obviously if you're not hungry, don't force yourself) purely because you have something to play with should your losses plateau, you can start on 15 and lessen them as you lose weight, if you start off having none you might find yourself very deprived. They are part of the plan and there to be used. I found 15 was too much for me, so I'm on 10, but if you really need something and it's driving you mad, it's nice to know that going up by 5 isn't going to do much harm.

Remember though that you can use your syns on healthy goods if you're worried about feeling guilty, a handful of nuts, a fruit bar, a smoothie, or even extras in your meals like a bit of butter in mash.

You're doing really well!

alisonjm said:

Ah thank you do you find you lose more if you have more syns or less? X

Click to expand...

If im honest I'm really not sure I always have at least 8 but can go up to 15 some days, but I never not have any.

sorry no help I know lol x

Llamasoks said:

Morning Hun, and welcome! This really is a great place to come for support and ideas. Syn-wise, I find it's better to have them (though obviously if you're not hungry, don't force yourself) purely because you have something to play with should your losses plateau, you can start on 15 and lessen them as you lose weight, if you start off having none you might find yourself very deprived. They are part of the plan and there to be used. I found 15 was too much for me, so I'm on 10, but if you really need something and it's driving you mad, it's nice to know that going up by 5 isn't going to do much harm. Remember though that you can use your syns on healthy goods if you're worried about feeling guilty, a handful of nuts, a fruit bar, a smoothie, or even extras in your meals like a bit of butter in mash. You're doing really well!

Click to expand...

Ahh thank you that's so nice and really helpful! I'm turning over a new leaf from now on and I'm gonna accept syns! I don't know why I didn't think syns could be used on good foods! Ha! I guess it was just a mental block! Thank you x

Llamasoks said:

Morning Hun, and welcome! This really is a great place to come for support and ideas. Syn-wise, I find it's better to have them (though obviously if you're not hungry, don't force yourself) purely because you have something to play with should your losses plateau, you can start on 15 and lessen them as you lose weight, if you start off having none you might find yourself very deprived. They are part of the plan and there to be used. I found 15 was too much for me, so I'm on 10, but if you really need something and it's driving you mad, it's nice to know that going up by 5 isn't going to do much harm. Remember though that you can use your syns on healthy goods if you're worried about feeling guilty, a handful of nuts, a fruit bar, a smoothie, or even extras in your meals like a bit of butter in mash. You're doing really well!

Click to expand...

Ahh thank you very much, that's so kind and really helpful! From now on I'm turning over a new leaf and I'm gonna start accepting syns! I don't know why I didn't think I could use syns on good food! I guess it was just a mental block for me! Thank you so much! x

So, it was weigh in day today! I lost 3.5lbs over the past week and that's my biggest loss in a week yet! total weight loss over the past 6 weeks is now 1stone 1lb so I can finally get that haircut I promised myself for getting the 1stone award!
I've put it down to embracing the syns! I've had up to 10 syns per day and loved it! This week has been a real turn around in my mental state towards syns so thank you everyone who helped! I've just been shopping and bought some asda's own mini meringue nests, I think they're 1.5 syns for 2 from what I've read..but the only post I've found was from 2011 so I'm not sure if that's right..anyway, I'm celebrating my weight loss this week with a slimming world eaton mess tonight! Looks amazing, so I'm hoping it tastes as good! I've also bought some more jumbo snack a jacks - salt and vinegar (2 syns each) and chocolate chip (3 syns each) I was torn whether to buy the barbecue variety because I didn't have my phone to check the syn values but I've since found out that they're only 2 syns each so I wish I'd got them! Oh well, next shopping trip and they will be mineee!
Long live syns!

congrats on your first stone and embracing syns You are doing great x

tamkat said:

congrats on your first stone and embracing syns You are doing great x

Click to expand...

Ah thank you that's really kind! I'm starting to enjoy the slimming world journey now that I'm not punishing myself for syns! X

They don`t call them `nests` on line but they should weigh 5g each.

Well done on your weigh loss. You are doing fantastic.

If you are looking for food threads - recipes that is. You need Petes (bilsat) recipes or Meals with minimum ingredients by Chocko. I feel that is my favourite.
If you go on it start from the end as there is a link you can use that is not on those at the beginning.

I am afraid I am not computer savvy enough to put a link on here for you.

As for looking for diaries you might like to check out, it is trial and error just looking through lots.

Thank you for your rep comment xx

Well done on 1 stone, that's amazing! I second Nanny Dorren's advice with the Chocko thread, great for ideas.