Members of iVillage's Slimming World message board share their tried and tested tips for success

Be honest with yourself
It's really important to weigh and measure Healthy Extras and Syns properly or you will be disappointed with your weight loss sooner or later. You may get away with it at the beginning but at some point you will be getting gains when you think you've been really good all week and that can be upsetting.
consultant31

To make sure I weigh my food properly, I bought some electric scales that weigh in grams and ounces. I got mine from Tesco and they were about £15. The jug that goes on top can also be used as a measuring jug. I couldn't live without mine. I like to make sure I get exactly 28g of cereal in the morning!
zeldagirl

Diversionary tactics
My husband has a lockable filing cabinet and the key is on his key ring. I put all the low Syn chocolate treats in there and I have to ask him for the key. He takes the keys to work with him so I can't get access during the day.

I have also put a chart in the kitchen with my Syns on it so my husband knows how many I have had that day and in the whole week so he can give me a slap if I go over (metaphorically speaking of course!)
zeldagirl

My old consultant gave everyone in our group a coloured pebble to put in our purses... the idea was that when tempted in the sweet shop / supermarket / garage, we would see it and think twice. Sounds silly, but it worked for me!

Sometimes stopping at the corner shop is simply a bad habit but having the pebble in my purse reminded me that I was potentially jeopardising my diet every time I stopped to buy sweets.
rocky100

Lose the scales
I used to be obsessive about weighing myself on my scales. I'd be hopping on and off them after every meal and worrying when they showed a gain. Then, if they did, I would become moody and depressed so I tried locking them away in the garage but that didn't stop me. The only solution was to give them away. The first few days without them were terrible (I sound like an addict now going cold turkey!) but now I only get weighed at class and feel 100 per cent better for it.
iv_shelly

To stop me hopping on and off the scales all week I get my husband to put them in the boot of his car and not give them back to me until Monday morning.
zafira

Be prepared
Don't know what to have for lunch at work? I bought a wide-mouthed flask and occasionally I bring Batchelors Savoury Rice. I bung the rice dry into the flask, add slightly more boiling water than it says on the packet, put the lid on and give it a shake. By the time I am ready to eat it at lunch time it is cooked to perfection! You could even add things to it, such as cooked chicken or prawns, and they would cook too!
buxomwench

Be realistic with free foods. Do not go hungry but treat them with respect. (SW does say eat everything in moderation, even free stuff!) Vary foods regularly and drink plenty of water every day.
chrissey2004

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