Reflecting on your
previous setbacks
without shame
or judgement is the
perfect chance to
start afresh, stronger
Last year: You felt other
people tempted you away
from your plan
This year: Speak up for your
slimming dreams
‘Focus on what you want to achieve
and explain to others how important
it is to you,’ says Alexandra. Yes, your
partner might enjoy sharing a takeaway
on a Saturday night, but there are ways
you can both enjoy this time together.
Why not experiment with some delicious
Slimming World fakeaway recipes – ones
that recreate your favourite takeaway and
are Free or low in Syns? If your social life
dipped last year because you avoided
joining your friends for drinks and pizza,
you could suggest healthier meetups –
such as a walk, dance class or dinner at
yours, so you decide what goes into the
meal. And your Syns are perfect for when
you do fancy a drink. ‘Your Slimming World
group can really help here, too,’ says
Alexandra. ‘Other members can share
their tips on how to deal with these social
scenarios and help you feel supported.’Last year:^ You had one big
blowout, felt you’d failed
and gave up
This year: Give yourself a break
if you go off track
‘If you do go off plan, reassure yourself
that you can get back on track,’ says
Dr Arroll. Alexandra agrees: ‘Be kind to
yourself. What would you say to a friend
who was worried they’d ruined their
weight loss? You’d probably tell them not
to be too hard on themselves. So use the
same language when you talk to yourself.’
There’s one small proviso – get straight
back to Food Optimising. ‘Many people
wait until the next week, saying, “I’ll start
again on Monday”, when it’s best to get
back on track straight away,’ says Dr Arroll.
If you’ve gone off plan completely one day,
see it as a chance to think about how to
avoid the same pitfalls in future. If you
overdid it because you were stressed, for
example, make a list of ways you could
soothe yourself without comfort eating –
such as going for a walk, calling a friend
or having a relaxing bath.Last year: You went flat out
on the gym treadmill once,
then never went again
This year: Find an activity that
you enjoy and build up graduallyLast year: You eased off when you were doing so well
This year: Use your Slimming World group to keep you going
Once the weight starts to
come off, it can be easy to
let a few things slide –
perhaps you stop measuring
out your Syns and Healthy
Extras accurately, or aren’t
eating quite so many of the
Speed Foods that helped
to keep the scales moving.
‘I’ve learned to see slimming
as a lifelong change, not a
short-term plan I can forgetabout,’ says Georgina
Wallace. ‘Maintaining your
weight loss is just as
important as losing the
weight in the first place.
Slimming World groups are
really motivating – and you
can help other members,
too, by sharing what works
for you.’ One way to keep life
interesting is by continuing
to set new goals. It couldbe trying a new recipe
each week, posting your
best meal ideas on your
group’s Facebook page,
aiming for your next Body
Magic award, or training
for a K charity run. So forget
what you didn’t like about
and make the
year you achieve your
dreams. Your slimmer,
healthier future awaits! Last year: You missed having your treats and kept losing your
resolve in front of the chocolate machine
This year: Indulge in a little of what you fancy
Using your Syns means you
can still indulge in your
favourite treats – just with
control, so you can continue
to slim down. ‘Food is
something to be enjoyed and
that doesn’t have to change
because you’re trying to lose
weight,’ says Alexandra Clark.
‘If you’re too strict with
yourself, you’ll feel as though
you’re missing out and thenon days when you’re feeling
a bit less motivated, you may
overindulge. Syns are yours
to use however you please.’
Slimming World Consultant
Georgina Wallace from
Feltham, Middlesex, has lost
and regained in the past,
and is now confident she’ll
never go back to being st
overweight. Her tip is to plan
ahead: ‘If I know I’m goingout for dinner and will want
dessert, I make sure I fill
up on Free Food and my
Healthy Extras for the rest
of the day, then enjoy a
sweet treat using my Syns –
and I really savour it. I like
planning in my treats, rather
than just having them on
a whim – it makes me feel
more in control and I enjoy
them even more!’Slimming World’s Body Magic activity
programme helps you steadily increase
your exercise levels and keeps you
motivated. And, while Food Optimising
will help you to lose weight no matter
what, moving more can give your weight
loss a boost – and has lots of other
mental and physical health benefits.
‘Having realistic goals is a proven way
to form healthy exercise habits, just
as with eating,’ says Dr Meg Arroll. Think
about what’s right for your activity level
now and aim to get the balance right –
if it’s too difficult you may get
discouraged, while having a bit of a
challenge will keep you interested.
Look into finding something that will fit
into your life – will you really go to that
class on the other side of town, or is it
more practical to sign up for something
you can do in your work lunch hour? It
also helps to find an activity you enjoy.
‘If you’ve tried the gym before and not
liked it, that doesn’t mean exercise isn’t
for you,’ says Alexandra. ‘There are so
many other things you can do, from
walking or jogging to netball, swimming
or yoga. Learning a new skill at the same
time – such as a particular kind of
dance – can be very motivating.’ You
could also recruit a friend or colleague.
You’re more likely to follow through
with fitness plans if someone else
is depending on you and you can
support each other to keep going –
and have fun along the way.success strategies
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