This week I've reached my 4stone lost! In just over 6 months!
I'm currently on Weight watchers and I'm really enjoying it! Ive asked around on a few blogs and lost have asked me to share my tips etc. So here i am!
Please note:- I do not work for, nor am i being paid by weight watchers. These are just my tips on what has helped me lose my 4 stone so far.
So grab yourself a cuppa and settle down.....
1) TAKE A FULL LENGTH BODY PHOTO
This is one thing that i really regret not doing! As daunting as it may sound.....so it you will thank yourself when you have your before and after photos to compare side by side.
2)MEASURE YOURSELF
Get your tape measure out and once a month jot your measurements down! I've done this and I'm so glad that I did because the results were amazing! I measure bust, waist, hips, bum, tops of each leg and around the top of each arm.
3)ALWAYS KEEP WEIGHT WATCHERS MICROWAVE MEALS IN YOUR FREEZER
I'm a big fan of the frozen meals because i find them quite tasty! if you have had a horrid day or a rubbish time in work and when you get home you cant be bothered to cook....TAR DAA! there they are, pop them in the microwave and they are done in under 10 mins and the propoints are already on the box!
4)SLOW COOKER
If you can pick one of these up, they are well worth getting! I now couldn't live without mine.
8/10 people fall of their diets after they have got home from a long day....so throw everything in the slow cooker first thing and then by the time you have come home not only does the house smell of yummy goodness but your tea is sat there waiting, so your Less likely to call in a pizza!
5)SOUP MAKER
As a Mum of a young child I'm all about short cuts and time saving! My inlaws bought us a soup maker! (I believe its Morphy Richards) all you have to do is throw your ingredients in.....select 'smooth' or 'chunky' and press start.....20 mins later my soup is all cooked and blended so it gives me chance to change the beds, put the washing on etc and the machine does it all for me!
6)MEASURE YOUR MILK
I love drinking tea and a never used to measure out my milk and propoint it however now I choose how much milk I'm going to allow myself for cereal, tea etc and i measure it out into a mini jug and i keep it in my fridge so i know how much I've used and more importantly how much i have left and if i can squeeze another cuppa in!
7)SWAP BUTTER IN SANDWICHES TO LOW FAT SPREAD CHEESE.
I enjoy a nice sandwich so now (obviously depending on the sandwich) I use 'Extra light laughing cow cheese triangles' you can have 2 triangles for 1pp....I use this instead of butter, some salad and wafer thin ham!
8)STORAGE OF UNHEALTHY/HEALTHY SNACKS
My Fiance has chocolate bars, crisps etc for work so they are usually in the house. What Ive done now is i either store them very high up where i cant reach them. (Andy is very tall)
Or i will put them at the back of my cupboards with the healthier snacks in front so i see the healthier snacks first.....if its something I know I will go for and keep thinking about I ask Andy to take them to work to store in his locker.
9)BULK COOK AND FREEZE
Self explanatory really! spend some time making and freezing healthy meals! you will thank yourself later!
10)LOLLYS!
Buy some of the MINI twisters! these are only 1pp each and are a lovely sweet treat! also if you find yourself wanting to snack on something bad....have one of these and once you have eaten it 9/10 it would have taken your mind of the naughty treat!
11)WEEKLY PLANNER
Buy a weekly 'tear off' planner, plan all of your meals and jot them down on here and pop it on your fridge etc this way your more likely to stick to your meals.
12)TRACK EVERYTHING!!
Track it all even if its good or bad! If you have gone over your points....its done but don't just say...ahhh well I've gone over! find out how far you have gone over.
13)CLICKER TRACKER
If you aren't very good at jotting what your eating then one of these clickers is going to be your best friend! simply click the '+' to add a point and click - to remove a point. that way at the end of the day you know how many points you have used and how many you have left. You can pick one of these up from your WW meeting.
14)BROWSE THE INTERNET
Check out the thousands of recipes available on line on forums! I recently tried 'Fanta Zero Chicken' go on!!! google it! you will love it!
15)SUPPORT
Make sure that everyone that surrounds you on a daily basis knows that you are eating healthy. This will prevent them offering chocolate and take aways. Also chat to family/hubby/wife etc how its important to you that they support you in your choice to do what your doing!
16)TREAT BOX
Get yourself a little lunch box! make this your 'treat box' allow yourself a certain amount of propoints for treats each day....put these items in your box that way....when they are gone....they are GONE!!
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17) WEIGHT LOSS PLAQUE
I have one of these chalkboard plaques that is my constant reminder about my weight loss! I come home from weigh in each week and update it as soon as i get in.
Available to purchase at personalised pretties
18)BUTTERNUT FRIES!
I'm first to hold my hands up and say that I love chips! however i now chop up a butternut squash into fries....spray them with fry light and season them...pop them into the oven and taa daa! you have 0pp chips! nom nom!
19) WW APP
Download the Weight Watchers app! It has a propoint calculator and obviously you can track your meals etc
20)MAKE UP SNACK PACKS
If you know you have a busy day or your nipping out try to sake a snack pack...maybe some grapes, rice cake etc.
21)TV PICKING
Ok so everyone has their moments throughout the day where they get to have a sit down and pick! maybe its when the kids have been packed off to school and you sit down with a nice cuppa and a pile of biscuits or may be your lethal time is a night when your sat watching tv....try to do something else like paint your nails, iron etc
22)MILK SWAP
Swap your milk to skimmed milk! I made this swap and now I dont even notice the difference!
23)DONT BE AFRAID TO SAY NO!
Like it says above....dont be afraid to say no! 'No...i dont want pizza', 'no i dont want a take away' think first! 'is it going to help me on my weight loss journey?'
24)SHOPPING WHEN HUNGRY
Simple! dont go shopping when your hungry! not only are you more likely to spend more but your most likely to pick up junk!
25)SHOPPING LIST
When you go shopping take a list of what you need! try not to by anything that isnt on your list!
26)SHOPPING EXERCISE
Go to a shopping centre! the bigger the better....not to spend loads of money but if you went into every shop think of how much exercise you would be getting! also Take the stairs instead of the lift.
27)ALCOHOL
This is one area in which i dont struggle because I dont drink alcohol however i am awar that alot of people do so why not look at the lower calorie wines.
28)PEDOMITER
I have a Weight Watchers one and i love it! It sets my daily goal and i like to try to exceed this every day....it then goes into burning more where by you earn propoints and it will tell you how many you have earned.
29)VISUAL AIDS
To keep you motivated pin up that picture of you over weight! I have my 'fat photo' this is the one picture that i looked at and couldnt believe it was me. Or Hang that lovely slim dress that you are wanting to get into for summer!
30) TAKE A COMPLIMENT
This is one thing ive not yet mastered.....when someone comes up to me and says 'Wow...look how much weight you have lost you look amazing' instead of replying with 'oh thank you, yes im doing well' my reply is usually 'not enough weight in my opionion'. but this is something im working on! learn to smile confidently and say 'Thank you'
31) MONEY JAR
For every 1lb you lose put £1 in a jar! I now have £56 and im going to spend this on something nice for myself when i reach my goal weight (quite possibly use it to put a deposit down on my wedding dress)
32)USE YOUR KIDS
Take them out! go out for a walk, have a kick about in the field, take them swimming! its good to spend time with your children and its also going to benefit you!
33)DIET BOOKS AND MAGS
I can always be found flicking through a weight watchers magazine! I love reading the stories and looking at the recipes! Alot of inspiration can be found in them.
34)POUND SHOPS
These are fab for hunting out Weight watcher products like wraps, hot chocolate, biscuits, cakes, rolls and more! Also places like farm foods and Iceland sell the freezer meals for £1 each.
35)USE A SMALLER PLATE
You have heard it before but using a smaller plate can make you believe you are eating more than you are! Also you put alot less on your plate.
36) CLOTHING
As you lose weight and your clothes become too big for you keep one item and give everything else away or sell it! My pet hate was buying new clothes for myself knowing that in a few months they could potentially be too big! I started buying clothes at primark (leggings were a life saver because they fit well even if you do lose weight) or you could visit some charity shops.
37) SUCK-ME-IN KNICKERS
One for the ladies...i bought a pair of as i call them 'suck-me-in knickers' they came just up to an inch below my bra and they instantly made me feel alot more confident! everything was soother and certainly helped out with the muffin top. I didn't purchase any expensive ones! I bought mine from tescos 2pk for £6.
38) BISCUITS
Instead of a packet of biscuits I buy the weight watchers ones because they are in packs of 2 so your not tempted to sit down with a whole packet! instead you just have your pack of 2!
39)WW MEETINGS/ WEIGHT IN
Even if you have had a shocking week....always go to your weigh in! it may not always as bad as you think! If you dont go it may lead to you not going another week....this is where it spirals out of control! Its also well worth staying for meetings! I gain so much knowledge, tips and inspiration!
40) BATHROOM SCALES
I have a love hate with my scales and ive been guilty of weighing too much! It can be bad as you body weight changes throughout the day! I used to find i would weigh at home and it would say id lost 2lbs and subconsciously i would think ahhhh im gonna have a chocolate bar now because ive lost weight.....or I would stand on the scales to find I'd gained a pound or 2 and then i would think 'im not going to weigh in at meeting tonight because i know ive gained' again this leading to loss of control.
Now i do my best every week and dont weigh at home.....this way I always have to go to my meetings to find out!
So that's my top 40 tips! like i said before im no expert and im just giving you my tips and opinions!
The way i see it is that with weight loss it can be as easy as you want to make it or as hard as you want to make it! Im choosing the easy way! So far its paying off!
If you have read this far without nodding off thank you very much! I hope its been a big help for you!xx
