Thread: Flexisynning

On Saturday I was going out for a friends birthday so I had to make the choice between whether I was going to flexi syn or have a day off plan. I had used most of my syns for the week already and knew I wouldn't stick to the amount I would give myself and knew I wouldn't count so I decided a day off plan. The next day I counted the amount of syns I consumed and it was way over what I would have given myself. But I brushed myself down and went straight back on plan. Next time I may opt for flexi syn but I knew deep down that this time I would go over what I allowed myself and therefore going against the whole point of flexi syn. I agree that my binge is completely different to deciding on a flexi syn day but think its about how the truthful you are to yourself. If you are truthful and don't hide behind excuses you will easily draw a line under a binge/flexi syn and move on back on plan.
Hope that makes sense, sorry rather long!

Makes perfect sense Amy, and is a really good example of how you stayed in control, even while dipping offplan for a day. You made the choice, you enjoyed yourself, you moved on the next day and got straight back on with it.

Awesome stuff Thats how its supposed to be!

I think the point about this is that there are people who may not be too familiar with SW or people who dont go to group who could easily get confused with all the conflicting posts about flexi-synning. It would be easy for someone like this to post saying that they went over syns by having 2 bottles of wine and a pizza and for someone else to reply saying 'just call it a flexi day'. The first person might then think that this *binge and write it off* technique was part of SW - while I'm sure we all do it from time to time (lord knows I do) this isnt what SW recommends and it doesn't teach useful/healthier techniques at coping with difficult eating situations for the future.

I think either way, all of us on minimins would be there to offer support to someone if they had gone off plan and we'd advise them to draw a line and get back on it, but it's helpful for someone to make it clear what the differences are between flexi-syns and a day off plan. I definitely agree that the most important thing is to get rid of the guilt and support people to carry on!

From reading MLM's posts I think it presents a rather rigid view of SW. I am going out for a Chinese meal on Friday but I have neither looked at the menu nor plan too. I feel like I know enough about the plan to make informed choices i.e. choosing boiled rice over fried etc... without having to plan in advance.

Not only that the next day I know I will consume ALOT of alcohol. I'm not going to restrict the number of syns I have because to me that just ruins the fun of going out...'oh wait, I can't have another drink because i've reached my syn level....'

But knowing this, I can prepare for it. I can make sure that I have very low syn/free days in the week preceding it, and jump on the Wii Fit a little bit more. But even with my preparation and prior knowledge this (from my reading of your posts) would be considered a binge, rather than a flexi syn weekend.

Whilst I won't technically be recording my syn levels am I not still following the plan, by choosing to make sacrifices in the week preceding my 'binge'? I look at SW as a guiding force, teaching you to make choices - knowing that if your going to go a little off track at some point you have to make it up at another - rather than forcing you to plan every little misdemeanour - or if you don't making you feel bad about your lack of planning or lack of control.

Whilst the term 'flexi-syn' might strictly mean what MLM implies, in reality it's all about making sure that we make the choice to stay with the plan and knowing that one little 'binge' won't affect us that much. It's a mental tool for me.

I am not "implying" anything. I am pointing out that the Slimming World Plan includes an aspect of it which allows you to enjoy a social occasion or special event where you might otherwise eat and drink to excess with an element of control that does, yes, involve some forward planning on your part in that you are expected to identify a set number of syns, however many that may be, within your expectation of what that event is likely to involve, and stick with that as a limit of syn consumption for the event. This practice is clearly defined as "flexisynning" in SW literature and there is no other definition that could possibly be substituted for this definition because it is the only one that exists.

It is not by definition "saving syns in a sufficient amount to partly / cover an expected upcoming event" - yes, often people do that, some consultants think this is ok, others advise against it. How you use your normal syn allowance on a daily/weekly basis is up to the individual. If however you use up your whole syn allowance for that day / week - any further syn consumption becomes an excess of your syns and can lead to falling off plan altogether. Not that it WILL, but SW want you to have every chance to succeed using their plan - which is far less rigid than many plans but does have to have some sort of rules and guidelines, or people just wouldn't lose any weight, which is after all what they are paying for.


If you want to do that, and understand the plan with your own interpretation of it, then who am I or Slimming World to stop you altering the plan to suit yourself. If you still get losses, great, good for you. But whatever spin you want to put on it, what you are doing is not Flexisynning and it is, as others have pointed out, giving very mixed messages, which is not at all helpful.

I have to admit flexi syns were something I just couldnt get my head round when I tried SW. I was used to WW saving points for a night out etc and it seemed the way it was explained and portrayed here a lot was really just like 'Youre going out, have what you want, call it flexisyns and its ok'

I queried it several times but still couldnt work out how this could be a good way of working a diet at all.

I wish this post had been around then, it makes SO much sense

I must admit I don't understand flexi-syns.

Well, I do, I just don't understand the point or reason behind them.

Well done to Amy for just having a night off plan. Then again I've never understand people saving 7x15 syns for 105 syns of wine on a Saturday night. - mainly because I never believe it because those syns have only been used for wine! - the other syns, bread, a bit of chocolate, the odd biscuits, right down to the spread on the sandwich, the "bit of mayo" on the tuna, the "splash" of gravy etc. are not counted (trust me it happens).

The reason I choose to mention this is because a lot of people wonder why they are not losing, or worse gaining more weeks than they lose etc. and it is clear why! - in group people often add as a comic aside that it may have been the gateau, or the bottle of Smirnoff, or the tub of Ben & Jerrys - almost as an afterthought.

I'm sure every group has witnessed the above and is usually accompanied by laughter - it happens, it is human nature.

All I think Madam La Minx was highlighting is that it should not be used to mask a pre-planned day off plan or some way to salve the conscience.

To be honest, though I am a little obsessive, admittedly, I would not even mention it, or bring it to public notice lol. I wouldn't be able to ease my guilty conscience and I'd go away and beat myself up for a week and sulk like a spoiled brat!

Right, I'm off to take a chill pill 'cos I'm taking this way too seriously

I think if it wasnt for this forum, a lot of us would do exactly that, and fall off plan and jump back into the circle of be depressed, eat nonsense, put on weight, get more depressed, eat more nonsense.

I applaud SW for putting this valuable tool in place that allows us to leave that guilt behind and step out of the cycle of behaviour that lets us self-sabotage. I think it is a very clever and innovative psychological tool.

And I can completely understand the mentality of wanting to write bad spells off as a "flexisyn". I have considered it myself in the past, but the simple act of talking to others, confessing that I have lost control and being reassured that it is going to happen occasionally to all of us, and the important thing is not to beat ourselves up, but to get right back on with the plan is enough to get me personally to do exactly that.

I consider myself very fortunate in that regard, I HAVE learnt that I can fall off plan, for example, there is at least one day a month where I really lose the plot emotionally, its like a massive peak of hormones in my system and I am emotionally ragged, have no ability to be tolerant, am raging at myself inside and will blindly stuff chocolate and carbs down my throat at a rate faster than I can reasonably cope with.

At the time, I just DONT CARE. Stuff SW, STUFF the world, I am raging inside and I have to keep control of that emotional feeling because I have other people to consider that I live with and who would be upset if I started exhibiting the feelings I am experiencing. So I cant, so I end up raging through the cupboards instead.

It doesnt happen every month, but when it does, its pretty bad. However, the change in me now, means that I can wake up the next day, draw a line under it, and get straight back on with the plan and I have yet to see a gain as a result. But I cannot write it off as a flexisyn day because it isnt one.

Knowing that people understand, knowing that people care, that they are willing you on to succeed, and want to help you get to your goal, is so valuable. You do not need to hijack a specific SW term in order to achieve the ability to break that cycle of eating = guilt. You just need to come here and talk about it, draw that line and move on from it.

I am really glad that so many people have been helped by this thread and I know it hasnt sat too well with some, but I can tell by the response that it has helped a great deal to clarify and make things more understandable. And basically, thats what we are all here for, to support and help one another to get to where we want to be.

I hope I havent upset or offended anyone that has participated. That was never my intention. I just wanted to make sure that the message was clear and that people get the right message from all of us.

Going off plan - is ok.

Using the flexisyn aspect to stay on plan and enjoy a special occasion, thats ok too.

But getting to where you want to be - thats the best thing in the world, however long it takes you to get there and by whatever route you choose.

Well I put on 0.5lb tonight

Please disregard everything i've said on the subject as I'm officially an eejit

I'm going to stick to body magic and leave the controversy to others lol.

Originally Posted by Maximus

Well I put on 0.5lb tonight

Please disregard everything i've said on the subject as I'm officially an eejit

I'm going to stick to body magic and leave the controversy to others lol.

Ah a bit of controversy is good for the soul.

Your stats look fab over all those weeks. The half can soon disappear again.

Unexplained gains happen to all of us!!! They are a bit of a knock when they happen but its half a pound, not half a stone, or half your body weight.

Dont doubt yourself off the back of one miserly tiny gain. It equates to a bit of a poo, or half a pint or so of liquid. It will be gone and more besides it next week. *hugs*

***Bumping for informational porpoises.***

I do have to agree, it is so easy to lose the correct mindset.
We went to center parks last week, and I was worried about what food I was going to eart. After visiting the restaurants I realised it was impossible to stay 'on plan' for the week and chose what I wanted.
I had fish and chips on the first night and removed the batter, then the next night I had a burger and added mayonnaise! The third night we ordered pizza with a side of onion rings!!! and my the forth night we had a curry with all the trimmings. So with each successive day of not following the rules, I got worse and worse with my control and decision making.
Once we left, it was so so hard to get back into the plan. Blow outs can be really really dangerous and if you can just say, oh hell I'll flexisyn it, it becomes too easy to make yourself feel better.

*bumping* again as a reminder, it seems to be happening a lot more again lately!

Thank you, MLM. I'm so new that I haven't even tried to figure out flexisyns yet and now your clear explanation means I don't have to. Much appreciated.