38 syns. Seriously.

I don't know what the hell is wrong with me I've been following SW for a few weeks and have lost 3.5lbs I think it is, in 3 weeks, slow but still coming off. My mum dropped some chocs round for the kids earlier, she buys those multipacks to last for a few weeks and I had a frys cream, a creme egg, a snack size mars bar and a packet of crisps utter greedy, gorbish behaviour and there's no excuse for it on SW or on any other plan to lose weight.

I have asked my mum not to bring anymore chocs over but I have ruined the whole week now, my weigh in is tomorrow and I'm just thinking what is the point. It's not the fault of SW it's the fault of me and I don't want to sound as though I'm blaming the plan, I'm really not...but I was thinking after I had the first bar and crisps, well I've blown it now so what does it matter and I don't want it to get worse. The syns total for today was including extra milk I had for coffee and flora in potatoes earlier as well.

I'd really appreciate any advice on how to stop sabotaging myself. I just feel so defeated and full of self loathing.
Thanks

Sounds like you need a hug :bighug::bighug:
You should not feel full of self-loathing because you ate some chocolate. You have clearly done a lot of things right in the first week and kept at it on the whole. Guilt and hating yourself are not fair and you wouldn't beat up someone else this much I think. We all have our reasons for being overweight whether it's what we learned in childhood to having emotions we struggle to deal with to it just tastes damn good and our bodies are wired to love sugar!
38 syns... well I've had MUCH worse. Up to a 100 in a day sometimes after a buffet or wedding, and sometimes into the 40s for no reason at all. And sometimes, I've managed to lose that week. Obviously I have been lucky and often compensated in other ways (like loads of superfree in the rest of the week), but you never know. One blip will not necessarily ruin the week and even if your result tomorrow isn't ideal, all your hard work the rest of the week still counts for something. Imagine if you had followed your old habits all week! Or all month!
I think it's wise to have asked your mum not to bring any more over; I find it very hard if I have high-syn things in the house (or when I pass them at the supermarket checkout after a long day). You are taking steps to protect yourself in the future and that's great. But you also need to draw a line and accept that you're human and that you can do this, even if there are some slips on the way. Over time you will get better at protecting yourself and making good choices and staying in control.
Maybe have a think about how you felt before, during and after your mini-binge. Then think about how you could deal with it differently in future. If you feel tired and want a treat, ask the kids for a back rub or have a bath with some salts. If you're bored, think of a hobby you could try that uses your hands. If you feel run off your feet, see if there are any simple ways you can take a pause and relax. Or if you just wanted chocolate, think about a really lovely chocolate treat you could have within your syns, plan for it, and really savour and enjoy it!

Oh and also, you felt like you'd blown it after the crisps and chocolate. If you get that again, I'd suggest sitting down, counting your syns for the day so far (it can't have been millions for milk, flora, chocolate and crisps) and then count the syns for anything else you're tempted to eat. Then you can see that you haven't blown it and that eating more will make it worse!
Finally, I'd recommend you have lots of water before bed. You might find tomorrow's weigh in isn't too bad, but salty crisps and sugar might make you retain water, which you don't want!

Gwella said:

Oh and also, you felt like you'd blown it after the crisps and chocolate. If you get that again, I'd suggest sitting down, counting your syns for the day so far (it can't have been millions for milk, flora, chocolate and crisps) and then count the syns for anything else you're tempted to eat. Then you can see that you haven't blown it and that eating more will make it worse!
Finally, I'd recommend you have lots of water before bed. You might find tomorrow's weigh in isn't too bad, but salty crisps and sugar might make you retain water, which you don't want!

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Thank you so much for all the very helpful advice and the hug I will definitely do that in future. I'm having some water as we speak and will start afresh again tomorrow xx

Draw a line.
One meal does not a week ruin.

2 of the most useful things I have ever heard in a SW meeting. If you've been on plan the rest of the week you may not see a gain. If you do, you know where it came from. Either way its best to find out the damage and then just get on with the life and the plan, you cant change the past but you can plan the future.

Do you deprive yourself of crisps and chocolates usually or see them as a bad thing to eat? Maybe this is part of the problem and youre just rebelling, one of my favourite ways to tackle this is to make your own treat box. Only have in it things 5syns and under, hot choc, choc bars, alpen lights, crackers, crisps, biscuits, popcorn. There are loads of 'treats' you can have for a reasonable amount of syns. Then if you want something you know you can grab it from YOUR treat box and still be safe.

I've been in your shoes love (Im sure most of us have) these things happen and life goes on. Its frustrating but hey ho, whats the road to target without a little scenic detour.x.x.x.

Thank you so much for the kind words, Abi. I have been trying to cut out choc and crisps altogether and use my syns for things like more milk (I drink loads of coffee) and things like sauce with my dinner etc. If I've gained this week then I 100% know the reason why. I'm just so surprised that it happened. I mean I know it was my fault etc. but the way I just had some and then more and then more, despite trying so hard the last few weeks threw me big time. Line drawn xx

I would seriously consider using your syns on things that you like then. I swear by freddos and hot chocolate to kick my cravings. I think if I tried to stop eating what I like all together I would go out of my way to sabotage myself. Having 2 kids in the house doesnt help either, we always have chocolate and biscuits and crisps in. Its just an unrealistic goal for me, personally.

What kind of milk do you use? If you use whole could cut to semi skimmed or even skimmed? That way you get a heck of a lot more of an allowance and dont need to use your syns on it (Im a big tea/coffee drinker too) Ive switched to skimmed and it made a HUGE difference.

Its so easy to blame yourself and think well the damage is already done, may aswell keep going. Trust me, I know, I did it not long ago! The thing is your still here, you know what you have done, you will see the outcome and your still determined to go on. THATS the important thing, it happened but its didnt break you.x.x.

abisaurus said:

I would seriously consider using your syns on things that you like then. I swear by freddos and hot chocolate to kick my cravings. I think if I tried to stop eating what I like all together I would go out of my way to sabotage myself. Having 2 kids in the house doesnt help either, we always have chocolate and biscuits and crisps in. Its just an unrealistic goal for me, personally.
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I agree. I think it is difficult if you have lots in the house as you might get tipped overboard, but I like planning a treat a few times a week. I find that when I know it's in my syns but I also know there is a limit, I spend time really concentrating and enjoy it more than if I was bingeing!

You can just put them down to flexi syns!! That's what their there for! Good luck for tomorrow xx


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meme said:

You can just put them down to flexi syns!! That's what their there for! Good luck for tomorrow xx

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This wouldnt be flexi-synning. Flexi syns are something you do in advance. You have a number in mind and stop when you get to that

Just draw a line under it hun. We all have bad days/weeks/(months sometimes in my case)! LIke you said if the numbers don't go the way you want them to you will know why I agree about using syns on thinga you enjoy... thats what keeps me going!

We all have bad days hun dont kick yourself n start fresh x maybe do a little exercise this week may give u an xtra push for ur next weigh in x good luck x

Flexi-synning is also about removing the guilt and wagon-falling, so this could be done as a flexi day. Why not I say! My record is something around 150 in a day but don't let it bother you, onwards and upwards. 38 syns is about 750 kcalories and that does not a pound of fat make

Let us know how you get on at weigh-in

OP - there is a sticky on Flexi- synning which is might worth reading so toucan get an accurate idea if what it is. Good luck for weigh in xx

As others have said don't beat yourself up about this, just draw a line under it and start again.

I think you need to plan for things you enjoy like chocolate & crisps that's what Syns are for and if you don't have them you won't stick to the plan because you'll feel deprived. You need to remember this is a change of lifestyle not a diet.

Denise

Oh Hun, don't beat yourself up. I'm sure we've all had worse, look at it in the way of - how many Syns would you have had BEFORE you started doing this? In one day I'm sure I managed to tot up well into the thousands!!

38 isn't too gut wrenching, and can be easily fixed, everyone has off days, SW is a lifestyle change, not a diet, you can't go your whole life without a few treats and slip-ups and even days to weeks off, it's just being human. You need to be kind to yourself, realize that you've had a blip and get back on it, it doesn't mean you've failed or ruined your diet, doesn't even mean you've let yourself down - it just means you've had a day of treats and a little too many Syns. Draw a line under it, call it a delicious accident and move on, drink lots to keep yourself hydrated and flush it through, jump back on plan tomorrow with extra superfree, I'd honestly be surprised if you gained a lot, maybe even anything with few choccies and crisps.

Even if you maintain it'll still be a step in the right direction. What have your syns been like the rest of the week? I'm sure you've got a couple spare for wiggle room, try not to be too hard on yourself.

The treat box is a brill idea, use them on things you enjoy, that's what they're there for!

Let us know how WI goes, sure you'll be fine.
X

:grouphugg:Thank you all so much, everyone! I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply to me. My weigh in is this evening so I will check in then but I feel a lot more positive today and have started afresh. I'll read the flexi synning thread as well as I'm not entirely sure about how that works. Thanks again xx

The easy way to stop sabotaging yourself is by stopping & thinking how will I feel during & after eating the foods....
Is the nice taste worth the guilty feeling?

At work I have just started at a new office & my desk is next to the biscuit & sweet barrels. I have told everyone I'm doing SW & they haven't moved the barrel. My point is you must have self control fuelled by motivation.

I have two cards stuck to my PC screen that I look at when I have an urge....

BELIEVE - You need to believe you can & want to lose weight, without belief you will fail....

NO EXCUSES - I've got Christmas choc's left in the house, I've had a bad day at work, I can't be bothered to cook, all that effort this week and I've stayed the same, the list goes on....If you are determined to lose weight, the excuses must be the first things that go!!

These are working for me at the moment & I feel strong enough to control what I'm eating.

Good Luck for the coming week!!

Remember....Believe & No Excuses!!

Pompey77Gav said:

The easy way to stop sabotaging yourself is by stopping & thinking how will I feel during & after eating the foods....
Is the nice taste worth the guilty feeling?

At work I have just started at a new office & my desk is next to the biscuit & sweet barrels. I have told everyone I'm doing SW & they haven't moved the barrel. My point is you must have self control fuelled by motivation.

I have two cards stuck to my PC screen that I look at when I have an urge....

BELIEVE - You need to believe you can & want to lose weight, without belief you will fail....

NO EXCUSES - I've got Christmas choc's left in the house, I've had a bad day at work, I can't be bothered to cook, all that effort this week and I've stayed the same, the list goes on....If you are determined to lose weight, the excuses must be the first things that go!!

These are working for me at the moment & I feel strong enough to control what I'm eating.

Good Luck for the coming week!!

Remember....Believe & No Excuses!!

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Excellent advice, thank you! I'll remember this for certain this week. Managed to lose 1lb, happy enough. Thanks again everyone xx

That's great, well done! And FWIW, I've done the same thing a few times on wine (especially the night after WI).