Welcome all the newbies. I have been on the plan for just a year and have lost 4 stone. My losses are very slow but I am happy with it as it means that I can maintain the loss longer - I am not after a quick fix. This is a life style change and not a fad diet. I did not attend a group as I felt that I needed to discpline myself to make changes rather than feel because I was paying someone else to weigh me I had to lose. I used old books that I had from many years ago and put the weeky group money in a jar each week and trea myself to something (non-food) when I achieve mini goals.
This plan is the best I have ever used and love it as it allows you to eat healthy, variety,eat as much as you want (until full) of free food and some treats. I use the principals of the plan but tweak to suit me. eat when I am hungry and stop when full.
If I could give you some advice here:
- eat what suits you best. We are all different and our bodies can tolerate certain things and not others.
- Try different plans (Green, Red, EE) and see which is best for you
- Drink plenty of water and fluid
- Avoid artificial sweetners and processed food as much as you can. Chemicals and additives in them obsorb food and water
- Have between 10-15 syns initially and later on yu can cut them down if you hit a plato. They are there to give you a balanced diet. You can have them as treats or build them into your meals. You get 105 syns a week, you can use them daily (best way) or use them as and when you feel like within the week.
- Cook your food from scartach if you can. Make big pots of curry, soup, casserole, etc so you can freeze some for when you are busy and no time to cook or want to take to work
- Do not starve yourself. If hungry then snack on free or superfree food
- On this plan the more of free & superfree food you have the better your losses will be
- Do not worry if someone elses losses are greater than yours. As mentioned before we are all different and burn food at a different rate
- Expriement with food
- Plan your meals so you always have something ready and not tempted by takeaway or calorie laden options
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. They are good for fushing the system
- Initially, your portions will be big but gradually your stomach shrinks and want less
Everyone on the forum is lovely and helps as soon as a question is asked and we are all here for the same reason and support each other.
Please feel free to look through my diary (link is on my signature).
Good luck and hope to catch up with you soon.
I will try and remember to update it, im not at uni atm so i have lots of spare time, but when i go back im so busy that i need to remember to spare 5 mins just to update and catch up with everyone! 
