Really struggling :(

Hi all.

This might be a long post but I will try and keep it brief.
I've been at my current SW group for 8 and a half months now. I've been doing SW on and off since 2006 though.

My current weight loss stands at 8 and a half pounds. I joined 28/2/13, got my half stone award in April, got my stone award 3 months later in late July, and since then I've just been up and down.

It took me a very long time to get to my stone award because I would be having 100% weeks, and my results would be half a pound off, maintain, half a pound gain, maintain... Even having been on plan for weeks on end.

I went to my doctor to have my thyroid tested and all came back normal. So that rules that out!

I do green days as I'm a vegetarian, and I always have my 1/3 superfree. I exercise 2 hours a week minimum but try to add something new to that each week to keep it different.

I can't say I've been 100% for the entire 8.5 months because obviously I've had birthdays, social occasions, nights out and just plain weak moments where I've indulged.

But hand on heart, I have put so much effort into this eating plan and I'm just not getting the results. It's all hit another low point for me this week as I had a 1.5lb gain yesterday. This is after a 100% week bar Saturday, which was a meal out and drinks. I went to this meal fully expecting to have to flexi syn and was pleasantly surprised to have on the menu 'roasted Mediterranean vegetable frittata with salad.' A SW dream! 2/3 of the plate was salad, it was perfect! This was followed by drinks out. My drink of choice is Malibu and these were all taken with diet coke every single time.

In order to do damage control I did a Jillian Michaels DVD on Saturday morning and went on a 3 mile walk on Sunday (on top of my usual Zumba on Monday and Wednesday spinning.)

I understand I probably wouldn't have had a great week due to the alcohol, but 1.5lbs? Really? When I have 100% weeks I only seem to lose half a pound, maybe a pound if I'm lucky.


It's just getting to me now that I've been going to SW 8.5 months and I've only lost 8.5lbs! It's ridiculous. I can't understand why I don't have losses. I don't know if I should go back to my GP because she said that if the problem wasn't thyroid related then she wasn't sure what she could do for me, as I'm already on a good eating plan.

This week I thought I might do EE the veggie way to see if having less healthy extras would help. But I'm not sure if it will or not. I'm really losing hope here. I'm terrified to go weigh in even on a good week because I know the result won't match my efforts. I've sat in on the new members table in the desperate hope that something will click and I'll be able to say 'oooohhhhhh THAT'S where I'm going wrong!' But nothing! I know this eating plan inside and out. If I was at target I would consider becoming a consultant because I know it so well! I just don't know what to do.

Hi Hun,

Please don't be disheartened! Somebody at my group was having the same problems and it turned out she wasn't having her Syns...could this be what's happening with you? Keep at it xx

Sounds like you need a big hug:bighug:. Well done for continuing to stick at it for so long even when it's such a struggle.

It sounds like you do know what you're doing and the first tip people give is usually to make sure you have your 1/3 superfree which you're doing. Just in case, do you have an eating diary you can post for people to have a look over with a fresh eye? Do you drink enough water as well?

As for the exercise, 2+ hours a week is great and will help your health a lot. That said, exercise alone has fairly little short-term effect on weight loss unless you're doing a huge amount, though building muscle will help your metabolism long-term. It's good that you seem to have upped your levels this week; maybe that will help long-term. Given that, it could even be that your muscles aren't used to this amount/type of movement, and are retaining a little water this week to help with repair.

I can't see your stats - do you have a lot to lose? If you're already close to or at a healthy BMI it can take a very long time to shift weight, especially if your body is naturally a large build. But the diet and exercise will still be helping with your health and possibly your measurements.

Are you a woman? Remember hormonal cycles can cause unexplained blips, and not always at the same time of the month for everyone.

Finally, if you don't get any ideas from what people post here, I really would talk to your doctor again or ask to see a different doctor. There are many issues other than low thyroid that can slow weight loss - for example I have PCOS which can be a factor, or you might have some type of food intolerance, or many other things.

Good luck x

My overall goal is to lose 5.5stone and that would take me only just into my 'healthy' bmi, because I'm short! I definitely always have all of my syns!

I drink green tea, water, coffee, squash or oasis light at work, water with exercise and diet coke or water in the evening.

I don't have a food diary but I'm going to do one this week! A paper one for my C and an online one for the helpful people online.

If it helps I can tell you exactly what I will be having today:

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs with 2 slices 400g wholemeal toast (HexB), 1 satsuma, 1 apple.

Snack: another satsuma

Lunch: leftover sausage casserole (free, recipe off SW website) with Aldi steamed veg (carrot, green beans and cauliflower)

Snack: Aldi cupshotz (free) and probably either an apple or satsuma again.

45 min spinning class!

Evening meal: quorn pasta bake made with onion, garlic, passata, dried pasta, quorn chicken, carrots, 30g cheddar (HexA) carrots, beetroot, cucumber, and SW chips.

If there's not enough veg then I will add another Aldi steamed veg bag!

Then in the evening I will have 3 wacko bars from Aldi which are 5 syns each.

It does look like a really healthy balanced diet to me. It is a fair bit of food but all on plan and loads of superfree, so if you have a fair bit to lose it really seems like if nearly all days are like this, it ought to be working. And that's by any sensible diet's standards, and not just based on some blind belief in SW! It's not like you're eating massive amounts of carbs and while there's a fair bit of fruit (which has more sugar than veg) it's by no means ridiculous amounts.

I suppose the only thing I can think of is that if you do have ALL your syns every day, that doesn't leave any room for the odd blip. I have a blip most weeks if I go to a party or something and drink a bit or have a few crisps and therefore have more than 15 syns. I've generally found I can get away with this if I also cut my syns down to maybe 10 on most other days, to give me some leeway. Those little blips really can add up sadly. Only you know though how often that is!

Keep hoping, it's not just SW that is telling you you should lose weight this way but most sensible eating plans, as long as you're not just eating massive amounts of even this healthy food. See what other people and your consultant say and do think about talking to the dr again.

I know that this is not the slimming world way or ethos whatsoever but I am looking at you from what you have said. If it was me, I would just for one week look at my calorie intake daily on an app such as myfitnesspal. At the end of the day, all this healthy food still has a calorie value and If you were, for example eating 2500 cals per day and your set amount to lose weight on mfp of 1-2lbs per week was, say 1800 cals per day, then science would dictate that you are eating 700 cals more per day than what you need. You would therefore find it very difficult to lose weight. I am just talking basic science, ie cals in versus cals out. It is just a suggestion as this is what I have to do or else I would never lose weight as I am a very slow loser. I also have to be very aware of my fat and sugar intake as I am type 2 diabetic so this app helps me in that way too.

I would say that I do have a lot of social things on so you might be right in saying that the flexi syn evenings may add up. So maybe I'll cut back to 10 and see how that goes? 'Binge eater' I've PM'd you regarding my fitness pal. I've used it before but I don't really know what numbers I should be using. Going by an online calculator I should be eating 1,486 for weight loss. So I've put that in.

I know you are supposed to be able to use your syns on whatever you want but I find that if I dedicate them to naughties my losses are smaller. I do better when I in corporate them into meals. That's maybe just me!

I agree with lickthelid above. I find that when I use my syns on things like salad dressings, nuts, oil and margarine my losses are a lot better (2-3 lbs a week) than if I use them on 'naughties' such as chocolate and crisps (0-1 lbs a week). Maybe you could switch your syns around a bit so you're not using them all on the same thing? Also, not sure about the science here and I could be way off the mark but I would think that it would be better to eat some of the chocolate syns during the day so your body can work at burning them off a bit as you move around, rather than having them all in the evening when you'll be sleeping on it and storing the sugars as they're broken down rather than burning them off. Could you spread them out a bit more? Just a thought

Having it all as sugar may cause a spike in your levels too. This won't help hunger.

That's a good point... I usually save them to the end of the day cause it's something to look forward to! I don't know what I would spend them on otherwise... I can only think of naughty things lol!

PinkToaster said:

I would say that I do have a lot of social things on so you might be right in saying that the flexi syn evenings may add up. So maybe I'll cut back to 10 and see how that goes? 'Binge eater' I've PM'd you regarding my fitness pal. I've used it before but I don't really know what numbers I should be using. Going by an online calculator I should be eating 1,486 for weight loss. So I've put that in.

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I just pm'd you there PinkToaster. It allows you to set your own targets ie if you want to lose 1-2lbs per week etc and what kind of activity you do and it will work it all out for you. its just really handy. The other ladies have some really good points. I usually use all my syns for naughtiness so maybe thats why my losses are so slow. Having said that, i dont eat after 6pm at all so i have had them all by this time and I live on 1200 cals per day so dont really know why my losses are so slow. I dont care either way as long as its going in the right direction. My priority is control of my blood glucose and holding off the progression of my diabetes as long as possible without meds. I use my 15 syns on three 100 cal snacks which are always junk because i feel really low without them and cannot continue on with this lifestyle change if i dont have some fun, lol.

Anti222 said:

I agree with lickthelid above. I find that when I use my syns on things like salad dressings, nuts, oil and margarine my losses are a lot better (2-3 lbs a week) than if I use them on 'naughties' such as chocolate and crisps (0-1 lbs a week). Maybe you could switch your syns around a bit so you're not using them all on the same thing? Also, not sure about the science here and I could be way off the mark but I would think that it would be better to eat some of the chocolate syns during the day so your body can work at burning them off a bit as you move around, rather than having them all in the evening when you'll be sleeping on it and storing the sugars as they're broken down rather than burning them off. Could you spread them out a bit more? Just a thought

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That's an interesting idea, I've never thought about that. I'm going to do some experimenting and see what affects my losses! With PCOS and conditions like diabetes controlling blood sugar is key. I didn't have any alcohol this weekend so that might help account for why I had such a good loss this week as I definitely get the munchies when I drink.

Remember olives and olive oil are really good for you and high in syns.

Balance is key. Treats are also needed to keep us on plan!

Has your C offered you an SAS forms to record everything you eat and drink through out the week? It's a more indepth food diary, I haven't tried it but I know a few in group have and it's picked up the extra little bits they haven't noticed they're putting in their mouths, may be worth a look at I too have had very slow results, 20lb since jan, the first 14lb by March then up and down since then, I suffer from pcos and hormonal problems!!

I'm afraid I don't have any further advice pink toaster. I would mention that I do EE and don't eat meat.

The reason I decided to comment is because I am so impressed and proud (not sure thats the right word, but a good one none-the-less) of all of the love and support provided on this thread. I've picked up a few tips myself too but I'm just really chuffed that minimins exists and I really really hope that some of the advice that these wonderful people have given you will spur you on in the coming week.

Wishing you the best of luck!!! xxx

I can't help you out from a SW perspective as I am only just about to start myself BUT my initial thought was something like PCOS, sorry if that's a little rude but it's something I am 'suspected' of suffering with myself and I struggle to lose weight, even when I am doing upwards of 5 hours exercise a week and keeping a good tab on my calories.

I think you have some great ideas for food choices and changes here so fingers crossed that will work

To be perfectly honest, I think some people can get away with being off plan for the odd meal out etc and some people have to be 100% on plan 100% of the time to see the results they want. Unfortunately it seems you might be one of the latter.

As someone else has mentioned already, if you know you have a flexi-syn occassion coming up, maybe have less syns in the days leading up to it. Also have you tried success express at all? There's stickies on here about it, but it's basically 2/3 superfree and only snacking on super free. My leader always says to try meals 50% superfree to make up for any over indulgence.

www.losingemma.co.uk here's my photo food diary if anyone is interested!

Hi Pink Toaster,


Sorry to hear you are struggling. Well done for sticking with it because it's very disheartening to feel that you aren't getting anywhere. You have had some great comments here already. Here are my thoughts:

I agree with writing things down (everything). It is so easy to put things in your mouth without thinking or to have a few too many 'flexi syn' nights without realising.

I looked at your diary and pictures - I only looked at the two most recent days and know they might not be entirely representative of the 'norm' but I would definitely try to increase your superfree. I don't think peas and sweet corn are superfree so make sure they aren't included in the 3rd. I know you don't HAVE to have 1/3 superfree with green but it's a very helpful way of portion controlling which of course SW doesn't strictly speaking do.

Be careful of your snacks - I would suggest that if you snack on free food (mugshots, potatoes etc) you need to have 1/3 superfree for your snack too. Could you replace these (or some of these) with fruit/carrot sticks etc ?? I personally am a bit wary of mugshots as a snack (my own personal opinion though).

Are you drinking enough ? I am terrible for not drinking enough esp with meals. This means I eat more/get full less slowly and I think I sometimes eat when I am thirsty because I don't recognise the signs well enough.

Could you serve slightly smaller portions (maybe get a smaller plate) and then go back for seconds if you are still hungry ? I will almost always eat everything on my plate that I have served but am aware from offering colleagues part of my lunch on occasion (when they haven't got !!) that I often have/serve myself up to 50-100% more than will actually satisfy me enough to feel comfortable.

I will try and keep an eye on your diary if I have time (I haven't been here for ages and apologise - my stats are way out of date) but you have had some great advice already.

Good luck x

2.5lbs lost this week. EE obviously agrees with me more than green! Even though I did have 2 green days. Very pleased! Thanks everyone