Hi, I started a few weeks ago at just over 13 stone (and I haven't just had a baby!)
1) I agree with Jeniferous that planning is absolutely key, and I would add writing things down. After each weigh-in I write in my food diary in pencil what I'm going to have each day during the week, including writing in where I think there will be syns, and then I write over the top in pen as I go through the week. I spend a little while each evening doing things like boiling eggs/cooking quorn sausages for breakfast (I'm NOT a morning person), making a big fruit salad, checking I have enough side salad for my lunch so I can pick up more on the way to work. OCD can be a wonderful thing occasionally
2) I try to focus on the superfree before everything else. I'm convinced ensuring I get AT LEAST 1/3 in every meal (I include breakfast in that though not everyone does) is key to me losing steadily despite having hormonal issues.
3) Try to keep it varied. I have a list of all the Superfree fruit and veg, and when thinking of recipe ideas I glance through it so I'm not just eating peppers and tomatoes all the time. Keeps it interesting! Also I make fruit salads because just eating apples or grapes time after time gets dull. Apparently varied food is also good for keeping you full and ensures you get all your vitamins.
4) Search your favourite recipes on the Slimming World site/online - there is usually a low-syn version out there. Do the same for favourite snacks - I love chocolate and ice cream but chocolate mini-Milks are only 1.5 syns which I never would've guessed and there are lots of little swaps like that. Synfree chips are great. I've enjoyed trying new things like Quark as a result.
5) Adapt it to suit your lifestyle. I find it's good to be reasonably steady on the syns, but at the same time I try to stick to 10 max most days so that a day or two going slightly over at a party or something has less impact.
6) Make sure you get fibre and lots of water. It, er, keeps things moving.
7) Keep thinking about little goals. If I'm tempted by a handful of crisps or a glass of wine, I think 'how will I feel with no loss on Tuesday? with 1lb loss? with a 2lb loss?'
Can you tell I'm really enthusiastic about this plan? Think it has great potential to work for me and hopefully you too! Good luck.
