Make this
your year!
A
s you launch into the new
year, excited about your
weight-loss plans, it may
be that you’re bringing some
baggage along for the ride. Perhaps
you’ve tried to lose weight in the past,
only to find yourself running into a
roadblock. And if that happened more
than once, it can be tempting to think
that falling off the wagon is your
destiny. The thing is, the past doesn’t
have to be your future – in fact,
reflecting on your setbacks without
shame or judgement is the perfect
chance to start afresh, stronger and
more self-aware. ‘Don’t think of what’s
happened in the past as a failure,’ says
health psychologist Dr Meg Arroll.
‘Instead, see it as a great opportunity
to understand what works for you and
what doesn’t. Looking back on previous
slip ups allows you to find out more
about yourself and anticipate things
that might trip you up in the future,
so you can do it differently this time.’
Whether you’re new to Slimming World
or a seasoned slimmer needing a
reboot, our strategies for turning past
negatives into future positives will put
you on track for lasting success in
.How to put the past behind
you and turn today into
the start of your weight-loss
success story
Words: Charlotte Haigh
Illustration: Jessie FordLast year: You set unrealistic goals, or crash dieted
This year: Make small, simple changes you can stick to
‘An extreme diet can be
tempting because it seems
to promise fast weight loss,’
says Slimming World
nutritionist Alexandra Clark.
‘Ultimately, though, it isn’t
sustainable – crash dieting
is too hard to keep up long
term, which means you end
up falling back into the same
old habits. So go easy onyourself.’ Food Optimising
is designed to be simple to
stick to and to fit in with
your life, so you lose weight
in a safe, healthy and
realistic way, and – crucially –
keep it off. ‘It’s all about
making small switches, like
swapping oil for low-calorie
cooking spray, choosing
fat-free natural yogurt andfromage frais over full-fat,
and filling a third of your
plate with vegetables,’
explains Alexandra. Instead
of feeling hungry and
deprived, you’ll be filling
up on tasty, varied Food
Optimising meals made
from nutritious, everyday
foods – that your family
can enjoy with you, too. SLIMMING WORLDEmoPsyche_zh_v7.indd 36 07/11/2017 12:28