Syn Watch

How true it is when they say ‘Your sins will catch you out.’
Since our return, I have been making a very conscious effort to keep on track so that I reach my secondary goal of another stone (14 lbs) over the next twelve weeks.

There is no incentive better than looking at pictures of my previous self over the years, and our collages over the bed show me in all my stages since Hubby and I got together.
I was on a diet when we met so for my birthday he bought me a three pack of Ferrero Rocher chocolates to help me (we shared “save calories, share with a friend” kind of thing).
FYI: this little packet has 10½ syns, as each chocolate is 3½.

I lost a lot, but looked ill, so a bit of a gain after we married didn’t bother me too much except it didn’t stop and by the end of the millennium, I had ballooned (except I didn’t soar or float in the air, just sort of dragged and puffed along out of breath most of the time).

The picture above is me at my heaviest in 2001.

Some of the official charts and weight ranges for my height are silly, especially as I know I will never see ten and a half stone as an adult, and even a stone and a half heavier than that makes me look ill and gaunt.
A GP from yesteryear told me my body would find its own natural weight, and that is what I’m aiming for now. Losing another stone puts me within seven pounds of a target I find acceptable and comfortable for me, which on the above chart is in the moderate overweight bracket.  If I can lose the other 7lbs, that will be marvellous, but I shall be happy with that stone.

Hubby teases that I have a bony bum, and that his investment is shrinking.
You have to understand here that the ad he placed in the paper all those years ago cost him just over £10, though I am some way off the weight I was when I first met him.

This is a summary of me:
centre heaviest,
bottom left shortly after I met Hubby in 1989 (and too thin imo),
bottom right a little heavier than I am now, taken around Autumn 1992.

Some people put their photos on the fridge as a deterrent from snacking.
I go to bed with these photos every night, and there is no way I am going to let my weight get the better of me to this extent again.

The Biggest Synners that caught me out are:

Belgian Bun (19)
Chelsea Bun (12½)
Jam Doughnut (9½)
Eccles Cake (15)
Mince pie (12½)
McChicken Sandwich (19½)
McD milkshake (19½)
Magnum ice cream (14)
Magnum mini (9)
Cornetto (9)
Bagel (11)
Large cookie (15½)

All things we would have on a regular basis and are now avoided at all costs, though if Hubby wanted one, I would not stop him.

I have a sweet tooth and Will Power is a fickle friend, but I allow myself the occasional biscuit or meringue nest (2½ syns), latte coffee (3½ syns), chocolate digestive or 25g of mini marshmallows (4 syns), prawn crackers or crisps (6 and 6½ syns respectively for 25g).
I have lists and access to the internet to check on things I love or am not sure of their syn value, and for once I do not feel guilty piling my plate (I’ve purchased a smaller one by the way) with a ratio of things that are working for me, not against me.

This was taken a couple of months ago:
And this is me last week:
I still have a long way to go, but have already purchased 2 pairs of joggers and 2 tee shirts in a smaller size.