Why isn't it working for me? :(

Hey everyone.
I am feeling really low today as i have just weighed myself and over the last two weeks i seem to have put on 2 lbs

This is my weight loss:

Week1: Lost 2lbs
Week2: STS
Week3: Lost 1lb
Week4: STS
Week5: Didnt W.I
Week6: Gained 2lbs!!

So basically i am almost back where i started!

I joined slimming world because i had heard a lot about it, and it sounded like my perfect diet as i love carbs etc. My reason for joining wasnt that i wanted to lose a lot of weight, only the stone that ive put on over the last year.

I know it doesn't seem like a lot to lose but it is so blumin hard!

I know ive only put on a stone but it really makes a difference, most of my jeans are tighter! And i don't feel as confident anymore.

I hope some one can give me some advice cos i really want SW to work for me!!

I think its slower when you have less to lose, but have you been sticking to the plan 100%?

Hi Lisa,

Like you, I didn't have a lot of weight to lose. I got to my target last week, having lost 9lbs. I actually think if you don't have a lot to lose, it can be really hard. I found I had to not only stick to the plan 100 per cent, I also had to find what worked for me.

Until March, I used to do mainly Green days (cos I love carbs too!), but I couldn't seem to lose any weight at all. So when I switched to doing more Red days, the weight started to come off. (Also Extra Easy didn't really work for me very well.) I also had to eat a lot of speed foods and superfree foods to get any weight loss at all.

I had 2 weeks where I actually put on weight aswel. That was when I had cut my syns quite low in a desperate attempt to shift some pounds. I have since found that if I have around 70 syns per week, this actually helps my weight loss.

Another thing I tried one week was having 2 out of 3 meals per day as purely superfree food, then 1 meal either Red or Green. That week I lost 2lbs -a lot for me!

It may be that some of us just have to really work hard to lose that weight! From the time I switched from doing mainly Green, to doing more Red, it took me 12 weeks to lose 9lbs.

Another thing I learned is that even if the weight loss is slow, it will come off if you stick at it. Keep trying - you can do it!!! xx

Are you eating enough? I know it sounds bizarre but if you cut out meals and don't have your syns you don't lose weight. The last post is what you need to take note of. I love green but don't lose weight well on it, red I lose but I'm hungry, now I'm on EE everythings working for me.
Why don't you post us a days meals and we can check you're doing everything right.

Btw i don't go to a group. I am doing it with the help of my OH's mum, who goes to group so lends me her books etc.

I thought it might be a good idea if i put up my food diary for last week. Today is the start of a new week. I have bee doing green but am thinking of doing also red days this week.

Saturday:

Brek: Weetabix (3) (1 + half B) banana, milk (A)
Snack: 1 Alpen light bar, 1 slice of SW cake (3.5 syns)
Lunch: Spagheti bolegnese, sm muller light
Snack: 1 slice of SW cake (3.5 syns) small muller light
Tea: 2 asda meat free burgers (1syn) mash, beans. sm muller light
Snacks: 2 cracker bread (2syns) cheese (A) Hot choc (2syns)
Total syns: 12

Sunday

Brek: Porridge (B) Milk (A) Banana
Snack: 2 Alpen light bars
Lunch: Pasta, beans, cheese (A)
Snack: Sw cake (3.5 syns)
Tea: Super low fat Batchelors noodle. Muller light.
Snack: Biscuit (6syns) Cuppa with milk (0.5syns)
Total syns: 10

Monday:

Brek: 3 Weetabix (1+half B) Banana, milk (A)
Snack: 1 Alpen light (Other half of B) , 1 muller light.
Lunch: Chinese rice, beans, 2 Asda meat free burgers (1syn)
Snack: Rice pudding, jam (2syns)
Tea: Omlette with cheese (A)
Other syns milk (2syns)
Total syns: 5

Tuesday:

Brek: 3 Weetabix (1and half B), banana, milk (A)
Snack: Alpen light. Rice pudding, jam (1syn)
Lunch: Jacket pot, beans, yogurt
Snack: Biscuit (5syns)
Tea: 3 quorn sausages, mash, peas. Fruit salad, low fat natural yogurt and some bran flakes (4syns)
Total syns: 10

Wednesday:

Brek: Weetabix 3 (1and half B) Banana, milk.(A)
Snack: Alpen light.
Lunch: Omlette with cheese (A), beans.2 asda meat free burgers (1syn) Asda light yogurt.
Snack: Orange, grapes, apple, banana.
Tea:Boiled potatoes, quorn chicken fillets, mushy peas.
Snack: Rice pudding, jam (1syn) Biscuit (3syns)
Total syns: 5

Thursday:

Brek: 3 Weetabix (1and half B) Banana, Milk (A)
Snack: Rice pudding, jam (2syns)
Lunch: Pasta, beans, asda light yog, alpen light.
Snack: orange, banana, grapes, low fat natural yogurt.
Tea: Jacket pot, beans, asda light.
Snack: Biscuit. (6 syns)
Total syns 8

Friday:

Brek: 3 Weetabix, (1and half B) Banana, Milk (A)
Snack: Alpen light
Lunch: Jacket potato, beans, salad.
Snack: Loads of grapes. Little bit of low fat natural yog.
Tea: Omlette with cheese (A) cottage cheese and beans
Asda light yogurt
Snacks: 2 Alpen light bars (6 syns)
Total syns: 6

I havnt read any replies yet btw if anyone has replied, it has taken me so long to type this out! lol.

Thankyou for all your advice. I have decided that since today is the beginning of a new week i am going to from today change things, i am going to have less syns, around 5 a day at most. And i am going to try some of your suggestions, such as having maybe 2 meals of just super free food (anyone got any suggestions for meal ideas using just superfree foods?) and then 1 meal with carbs etc. i am also gunna try do more red days!! i am off to the gym now so will be back online as soon as i get back!

Where are your vegetables? I see some salad, but carrots, cabbage etc? I adore fruit but I have to watch that I don't OD on it because a lot is full of water which I just retain. Veg adds bulk, making you feel fuller.

Your diet doesn't seem to vary much - beans figure a lot. Your body needs some variety otherwise it starts storing. And an omelette with cheese really isn't very much for dinner (Monday). I have an omelette for breakfast - usually with a grilled tomato and some fruit too.

Personally, I wouldn't use my syns for cake and biscuit (wine, yes ) but each to their own. Actually, advice seems to be to aim for around ten syns each day (I do 70 a week) rather than less. SW is bizarre as eating less actually slows down weight loss (I know. My first two weeks were horrendous until I came on this site and had my menu completely destroyed! I was eating nowhere near enough).

And like Julia said, sometimes when you have less to lose, it takes longer. It took me several months to lose 13lbs. Oh, and don't forget the bad influence of Aunty Flo on some of your weeks!!!!!

I agree with Harrie, there seems a distinct lack of free veg, and you're eating alot of cereal bars. Do you really need 3 weetabix? You could have another heb which would give you more variety. I would concentrate on getting more variety into your diet than cutting back on syns. Why don't you have a look at some of the diet diaries at the top of the SW page to give you some ideas, or go to the SW website where you can download a weeks eating plan for free. It's the EE one now I think.

I totally agree with both of the above. There is a distinct lack of veges. You could have a massive stir fry of superfree veges and that would cost nothing. I also think you need to mix up your Hex's as well. As Judi says maybe just have 2 weetabix. Omelette for breakfast is lovely! If not you could use a HexA on a green day and have a big fry up with bacon (or quorn bacon if you're a vegetarian), eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, bubble and squeak (mash potato) very filling and no syns. What about making a quiche with veges in? Loads of recipes on here, also there are dessert recipes if you need something sweet that will give you more than just a biscuit, for the same syns? keep trying as i'm sure it's more difficult the less you have to lose!

Thankyou for all of your advice. I know i should be eating more veg it's just i don't really like much veg!! I am gunna try though! I have already started lol. Today for lunch i had 2 quorn sausages, mash and lots of veg! (peas, broccoli and carrots) Was kinda dry though, anyone have any ideas what i could have had with it to make it less dry? I miss gravy I am gunna look through some of the recipe ideas at the top now. Im not very good at cooking but i am gunna try!

Oh and yes i am gonna just have the 2 weetabix from now on, and then maybe ill have a yogurt or some fruit afterwards, it was just that i wasn't feeling very full after two lol.

Great idea about the fruit and yogurt. I have two weetabix, then a bit later (when the kids aren't bothering me!) i have 0% greek yogurt with a tsp sweetner and somefruit. It gives me a sweet fix and fills me up! You can have gravy ( i love it too) 142ml for 2.5 syns (1/4 pint) i always have it on a roast on Sunday, you're right too dry without! Well done for adding the veges today

Hi Confusedgirl..

Sorry for the gat crashing as on CD.. but do you drink much water? It does actually speed up your loss on all diets and its good for you too

Thanks Chuffy Ooh i will probably start having gravy in that case

Does the sweetener in the yogurt make it taste much nicer? As i usually get the good for you low fat natural yog from asda and pour it over my fruit, but i don't really care much for the taste of it tbh lol.

Hi Eternal flame I have been trying to drink more water but do find it hard sometimes!! I have been filling up a 2ltr bottle in the morning with Robinson's no added sugar juice and trying to get through this throughout the day cos i find i drink more if i do it this way.

yep the sweetner makes it much nicer, otherwise i find it a little dry tasting! I'd recommend the gravy!

Thanks i will be adding sweetner in future then haha!
I might have some gravy 2moro if i have a sort of sunday dinner

Hi, try this for gravy.. I can't remember the syn value but I think it was pretty low. Just mix bovril (the jarred variety) with mint sauce and boiling water - come out pretty thin but tastes good and is a great alternative!

Don't forget we can have stock cubes now so maybe you could make gravy from that. I wonder what it would be like with some instant mash mixed in?! You definitely need more veg, and try to vary the foods you eat more. I love tofu stir fries with noodles.