Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

Does Slimming World Online Actually Work?
Slimming World Diet Plan Online: My journey and experience and why I no longer believe in slimming clubs.
Slimming World Online is an option a lot of people who want to lose weight head to if they haven’t got the time to attend a group in person. I used to be an advocate for this but it’s been a long time since I’ve been a Slimming World member and over time, therapy, NLP, reflection and conversation with other body positive, health advocates and dieticians I have become quite anti diet culture. I am no longer an advocate for Slimming World online and you can read more about that at the bottom of this post. However, I have seen this be successfull and at the time I did lose some weight when I started. I do not recommend this for those that struggle with their relationship with food or those that have previously overcome eating disorders. Instead I would recommend a kind counsellor or therapist that works with individuals who struggle with food.

In this post I explain what Slimming World Online is, how it can help, the basics of slimming world and my experience back in 2017. Three years on I’ve had another child and I am working hard on staying active, being kind to myself and building a happy, healthy relationship with food.
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What is Slimming World Online?

Slimming World Online is basically a membership option for those that, for whatever reason, work, childcare, living out in the middle of nowhere or just because they don’t want to go to a Slimming World group. Joining Slimming World online is easy and you can access it through the main website. There is also a slimming world app. I started Slimming World online in April 2017. You can read about my first six weeks below.

Slimming World meals might add a bit of variety to your lunches

How does Slimming World Online Work?

Slimming World online works by you registering with a package and then continuing after three months with a monthly direct debit of around £20. You can set your fitness goals, track weight loss and keep an online food diary. Slimming World becomes free when you become a target member. A slimming world target member is someone that has reached their target weight.

Slimming World online works the same was as a slimming world group does although it is without the help of a consultant and group so it can feel quite lonely. See my top tips below on how to stay focused and have slimming world success.

It is important to eat a range of colours, drink plenty of water and try to be as active as you can

Which Slimming World Online Option is the best?

You should choose the one that is within your budget. All of the options give you access to everything you need. I personally signed up with the Slimming World online gold package as that provided me with extra literature which has been very useful and the Slimming World magazine subscription.

Top Tips for Slimming World Online Success
1. Can you do it with a friend? When you have support and you’re doing it with someone else you will stay focused and you won’t want to let them down. Even better, find a few of you that want to do it, set up a group chat so you can stay in contact with each other.
2. Stock your fridge and cupboards with free foods for when you need a snack and try to turn to fruit or vegetables first.
3. If you can’t subscribe to the magazine I recommend getting a copy. It always has loads of food ideas, meal plans and snacks to ensure you eat well.
4. Keep a food diary. You can do this online through Slimming World or you can set up your own journal.
5. Create a weigh day and weigh in at the same time each week. Get yourself a decent set of scales and perhaps a tape measure if you want to keep track of any particular areas.
6. Take photos each time you weigh in and add them to a side by side collage to help you start seeing a difference. It might take a while but it will be worth it and it will keep you motivated.
7. A slow cooker can really help to prepare healthy meals for the whole family and a great time saver too
3 Steps to slimming world success

Can you still lose weight with Slimming World Online?

One thing people often ask is how can you lose weight with slimming world when you eat so much? This is the area I have an issue with as there is no science backed evidence about how syns work. Why is one mashed or smoothied banana synned but a whole one isn’t when the calorie density stays the same. For some who want to lose weight though, the easy answer is yes, you can still lose weight with Slimming World online however sometimes you might find it hard to stay motivated without the group atmosphere. Find others that are looking to eat healthy meals or join groups on Facebook to help you with your personal goals. Make sure you have plenty of variety to your meals and try new recipes. There are some fantastic slimming friendly focused recipe books available online.

Weight loss results of course are subject to the effort you can put in, following the plan and being dedicated to your weight loss. Sometimes you will lose big amounts, sometimes small and sometimes you will maintain. You may even gain a small amount and then lose it the next week. Your weight will fluctuate so it’s important to track it on a weekly basis and just keep pushing through. However, you might find more success if you start thinking about why you’re eating, eating more slowly, speaking to a nutritional therapist who can help you control any eating disorders such as disordered eating and find a way to move that brings you joy.

Mix things up with your meals and find food you love eating

My Story with Slimming World Online

I joined Slimming World with my partner Adam at the end of April 2017. It’s been six weeks now since we’ve started our weight loss journey together with two other friends. We have all lost weight in these six weeks. To date I have lost 1 stone 2lbs and Adam has lost 9lbs. We’re both really proud of having a good loss so far. Adam has a lot less weight to lose than I do so it’s coming off a bit slower for him, and as you get closer to your target it may be slower for you too.

I have had weeks where I haven’t been totally on plan or we’ve had birthdays. We’ve had weekends away, meals out and days where we just don’t want to work out or walk anywhere. Everyone has days like that. However, we have both made healthier choices, we have worked out more and we have, ultimately, really enjoyed the success we have had with slimming world online.

Why is Slimming World Bad – My Thoughts & Update – October 2019

Whilst I no longer use or agree with Slimming World I know that it has had some great success for many people. Over time this post has been visited a lot and people have found it helpful. At the time I completely stood by everything said in this post and I have seen first hand individuals lose and maintain a healthy lifestyle. That being said I do not believe Slimming World is intended for people with disordered eating which over time, counselling and reflection is something I have. I am currently trying to change my habits and my relationship with food in a different way which steps away from diet culture.

I have not maintained any weight loss from Slimming World at all. I am bigger but much happier in my self and changing my relationship with food.

I have not maintained any weight loss and I am currently at my heaviest at a size 24/26 and whilst I do want to change my body, I am giving it a lot more respect. I’ve decided to focus on strength, adding colour, being active and not tracking calories. I find when I’m not obsessed with counting syns I am a lot more relaxed about what I eat so instead I am tracking how full I am after a meal, in the morning and certain times of the month. I am focusing on fueling my body with nutrition and strength training instead of removing food groups from my diet. I no longer feel diets are the way I want to live my life.

Thinking of Joining Slimming World after Lockdown?

Personally I do not recommend this especially with the stance that I feel slimming world because this is still a very strange time for so many people. If you want to improve your health then I recommend reading health at every size, finding a good online talking counsellor or therapist that specialises in this area, dealing with emotional eating and joyous movement. There are excellent exercise videos on youtube if you want to give them a go or just getting out in nature for a walk every day can do wonders for your mood.

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May 28, 2017
Why I Don’t Believe in MLM Anymore

I’ve wanted to write this MLM based opinion post for some time now but I’ve been a bit wary. People will take offence to my opinion, particularly as I’ve been in that industry, and that’s fine. I feel like it’s important to write though, and I feel there should always be two sides to every story. I also feel like I want this to be an honest and open place. I want people to be informed and I think that means you have to read the positive and the negative surrounding an issue. I also feel like by not publishing this I’m lying to my audience and my readers. I don’t have faith in the MLM industry, and I want to share my reasons why. I’m not the only one that feels like this either. There is a really interesting Netflix documentary Betting on Zero and I recommend reading Forever You HerbalScents by Whinge Whinge Wine and the very informative article on Talented Ladies Business Club: Thinking of joining an MLM? The Motherload also share their views on why they feel its a Cult for Mums. My point is your choice is your choice but you need to make an informed decision and that comes with knowing all the facts, including the negative.

A few years ago I was walking through town with my nine month baby and approached by an Avon lady asking if I’d like to sign up. I hadn’t earned my own money for over a year due to starting University and then getting pregnant at 20. I was in a bit of a rut, vulnerable, and the lady was quite nice so I signed up. Looking back now, it didn’t work. It was never going to work because I am very lazy. I handed out a few brochures to family and friends, I had a few calls, I recruited a few team members and got a few bonuses and then it all just fizzled out and I couldn’t be bothered with it. Since then I’ve realised I’m a much better Avon customer than I am seller.

So I tried something new. I became and Ann Summers Party Planner. I actually did really well with that in sales. I recruited a few team members, I got a lot of incentives and I met a lot of really fun people. Actually, joining Ann Summers really made me reflect on the life I was living at home. I was seeing all these fun loving women who worked, had happy and healthy relationships with friends and family. Their partners weren’t aggressive, toxic to be around and hard to live with. I do believe things happen for a reason and it was while I was working as a party planner that I left my toxic relationship and moved back home close to my family. I became a single mum, lived far away and I couldn’t really continue what I was doing as a party planner living in a hostel. But I did make money there and I did have fun.

To this day I don’t really have an issue with party plan companies because the focus is on parties and selling rather than recruiting. I also like these businesses that have a retail outlet, it gives you more options, a choice where to buy and it just seems more stable. No, I don’t think that’s hypocritical of me, every business has competition and sometimes a retail store is a really good competitor. I am all for giving consumers as much of a choice as possible.

Fast forward to 2014, I was working full time but I was going to be made redundant and wasn’t really sure what to do. I kept seeing all these ads everywhere for a Clean 9 weightloss system – and yes, in those days, it was totally advertised as weight loss. I was sucked right into it all because I was worried about losing my job. I was vulnerable again…do you see a bit of a pattern here? Anyway, I signed up with promises of holidays, financial freedom, amazing incentives just for selling Aloe based products.

Products that are expensive. Products that gave me and my lifestyle absolutely no benefit. Products that were a really hard sell. This didn’t give me financial freedom, it lead me getting into more debt which was the opposite of what I actually wanted. Instead of financial freedom I had bills to pay, I was alienating friends, I was getting abusive messages and I was losing people. People didn’t want to spend time with me because they didn’t want me to try and sell them stuff. I am also an awful seller. I can’t persevere, I can’t follow up and I can’t really recommend things that I don’t truly believe in. I should have stopped there but instead I tried other companies, with no success. Small sales, no team members and no money.

There are a lot of people I know that make a lot of money in multi level marketing but I can’t help feeling some of that is through exploitation. Telling mums that they shouldn’t feel guilty anymore because they’re not at home with the kids. Those mums might not want to be stay at home mums, they might not want to work around their babies, they might not have a problem with the 9-5, they might not want to be their own boss. These days more people are looking for ways to boost their income but I personally can’t recommend MLM as a great way to do this.

Firstly, I think to sell well you need a lot of friends with disposable income or that already buy high end products. Secondly, you need to be comfortable with pretty much telling lies to vulnerable people. I know this, because I have had to try and do this. It doesn’t make me proud of this industry, it just makes me very wary. The people at the top, I just don’t really trust them and they don’t have time for the people at the bottom that are struggling. It isn’t a easy way to earn money but it can be a really easy way to piss people off.

I’m not interested in the comments that say “well you didn’t try very hard, everyone starts at the same place and can get the same success.” I did everything I was told to. I Pm’d you hun, I sent stupid messages to old school friends with a script, I worked on my mindset, I read all the networking books, I got myself out and about, I showcased a lifestyle (a massive lie of a lifestyle back then) and I tried to arrange online and home based parties.

These days, I’ll happily say I am with The Body Shop at Home because I want a personal discount and I’m happy to share catalogues with family and friends because guess what? They already buy there. I’m not interested in making people sign up. I’m not interested in earning money through MLM aggressive prospecting because I don’t feel that sits right with my principles. I don’t feel MLM business practice is ethical. Sure, I might sell a product here and there for a bit of commission, but I do that on my blog with affiliate marketing anyway. The difference is, my income doesn’t depend on you buying things from this website. Sure it’s nice and yes, I would love to earn more affiliate commissions but I don’t have to pressure or bully anyone into it these days.

To clarify, I do have some friends who are network marketers and they have become really good friends. They don’t make me feel alienated, they are supportive and welcoming people, they treat their business, customers, team members and prospects with respect. They don’t use bullying tactics to make you sign up, aggressively try to recruit you and they are successful people. I think that is brilliant, and I will celebrate their achievements with them. But MLM will never be something I seek out again.

I received a lot of help thanks to female entrepreneur week and I wanted to give back to my readers. I’ve created an awesome 5 Day Free Business Booster Challenge and I’d love to see you there. It’s a five day business e-course that will help you create an actionable 90 day plan for your business and includes an awesome workbook. If you’re looking to look money online you can check out my guide to boosting your income here.

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May 27, 2017
Save Up For That Much Needed Holiday

This is a collaborative post.

Max Pixel

Saving up for a holiday away can be a real struggle sometimes, but once you’ve done it and you’ve got enough money under your belt, you will realise how worth it it actual was, as you’re lying on the golden sandy beach, overlooking the turquoise ocean as the sun shines down on you.

Make your own pack lunch

Think of the money you would be saving every day if you made your own lunch with leftovers from the night before, instead of buying lunch when you’re at work.

Stock up on some cute plastic containers, put your extra food in, bung it in the fridge, and bring it in with you the next day.

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Drink your coffee at home

As much as you may like to go to your favourite cafe at the end of your busy day, try limiting it to once a week instead. It all adds up, and if you want to save, then it’s no good splurging on things that aren’t a necessity.

So instead make your own coffee for that quick fix, you can even invest in a nice flask to drink from while you’re on the go.

Walk it instead

Start walking to your destination, or riding your bike as a pose to public transport or driving yourself. This will cut the cost of petrol and bus fares, and not only that but you’ll also be keeping fit at the same time, which is great for getting your bikini body ready.

Pixabay

Deal with your bills

Never let your bills stack up on top of one another because it won’t end well. So make sure you prioritise. You can consider taking out a loan with companies like www.unsecuredloans4u.co.uk/ if you really don’t have enough to get by. But bear in mind you will then have to add this to the list of things to pay every month.

Stick with the classic pay-as-you-go

You can still have a nice looking phone with all the latest features, but without the life abiding contract.

Paying as you go means you are always on top of what you’re spending. You can never go over, and if you’re really broke within the next coming months, you can just not top up.

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Sell your goods

There’s bound to be things you no longer wear or use, that are just lying around wasting away. – Sell these things! One man’s junk is another man’s treasure remember? That applies to everything. Maybe you have a sofa that is stored away in the attic that people may pay good money for. Or maybe you got given a painting that you hate, but someone else might spend hundreds for it because it ‘speaks to them.’

So get looking and put some adverts up online, it’s quick, easy and you may even enjoy it.

Compare flights

When you do end up looking at potential flights, don’t just settle with the first one you see. Use sites like www.skyscanner.net/ to find you the cheapest rates by comparing them with other airlines.

May 23, 2017
The Changes That Should be Made to Each Room to Turn a Home Into a Family Home

This is a collaborative post.

The family home is where you will raise your kids and create the memories that you will hope will last a lifetime. Therefore, it’s no surprise that so many parents are keen to turn their old, sturdy home into something a bit more family-friendly when kids finally arrive. But what changes need to be made? It’s not an easy question to answer, especially if this whole parenting lark is still pretty new to you.

The changes you make are not just changing the overall design of the home, although that can be important. Instead, it’s about changing how your home is used and what changes could make life simpler, easier and better for your family as a whole. Read on to learn about how each room in your home can be changed to turn it from a home into a family home that you can all make the most of.

Kitchen

The kitchen, for many families, is the hub of the household. This is where people can get together and share food at the end of the day. And it’s also where the day is started with a family breakfast. So, that’s why the kitchen and dining area is so important. To make it more family-friendly, you first need to think about safety. Putting child locks on the freezer is important. And you should make sure anything harmful is out of reach.

In terms of dining, you need to make sure that your dining area is able to handle the mess and chaos of eating with a child. Keep the high chair that your child will use away from the wall, and consider using a flooring solution that’s easy to wipe. Carpets can quickly get messed up by food that’s dropped on them.

Bathroom

Bathtime is an important part of the day for any family. You need to make it as easy as possible to bathe your child in a way that is safe and simple for you. Having a bath mat that your child can sit on without slipping is key. And having good taps out of the way of your child is important too. Check out Tap Warehouse for bathroom taps if you need some. It’s a good bathroom investment to make.

You should also come up with new storage solutions because you will probably have lots of bath items and toys that will need a storage place. Your bathroom can quickly become chaotic and messy when you have a child but don’t have the right storage solutions in place.

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Living Room

Having a living room with a no fuss kind of design is really important when you have children. If you have everything organised in a very neat and precise way, things will quickly get messed up. So, take a more relaxed approach to this. Don’t worry too much about everything being in the right place because it won’t stay there for too long.

You should also give some careful thought to the materials used in your living room. Those kids might be small, but when they’re bouncing around and acting all hyperactive, it’s easy for things to get damaged and broken. It’s a good idea to aim to use the very strongest materials possible in your home. That way, you can keep everything in as strong condition as possible.

Bedrooms

For most parents, the master bedroom won’t have to be touched by any particular changes. If anything, you should make this space off limits to your children. By making it into a place of your own away from the family, it can become a haven of calm and relaxation. That makes it easier for you to make a difference.

As for your children’s bedrooms, how you go about designing them will depend on how old they are. If they are still babies, then you just need to make it as relaxed and simple as possible. Don’t go for anything too elaborate or precise because children grow up fast. Before you know it, they will be demanding a different design that is more suited to their age and interests.

Garden

Finally, you should think about the garden. Put safety first by making sure that any water is off limits and that your children can’t get near it. Even a small pond can be dangerous. Then you need to think about how your garden can be used during the summer. A lawn space that encourages activity and sports can be a good idea. And having an outdoor dining space that can be shared and used by the family is a nice idea to consider too.

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May 22, 2017
As Busy As Mums: Kids School Days and Play Dates Made Simple

This is a collaborative post.

Running a family requires excellent organisational skills, plenty of patience, an ability to multitask and all sorts of other attributes that aren’t always in the job description but definitely come with the territory of having kids.

Here are some pointers and savvy tips to help you manage the day successfully and get everything done and the kids to where they need to be all in a day’s work.

There’s a look at why it pays to concentrate on simplifying the task of planning your schedule, a sensible strategy for making mornings less stressful, plus a tip for checking what the day ahead is offering so that you can dress everyone accordingly.

One system is the key to organizational success

Running a family home is not very different to being a PA except that you are not helping a busy executive to run their business and you aren’t getting the same financial rewards!

However, you can’t let that get in the way of doing the one job you have the perfect resume for and wouldn’t swap for anything else anyway. So now that it’s established you have all the credentials your first task is to get super-organised and get all the play dates and appointments scheduled and sorted.

If there is one tip to remember above anything else it would be to pick just one system for all your planning needs and keep it simple by then recording all those events and activities in one calendar.

Having the information spread across different diaries, reminders on your smartphone and written on a calendar in the kitchen, is going to make organizing your family schedule harder than it needs to be.

Find a system that works for you and record everything that is going on each week in the one place, as that is definitely the key to organisational success.

Avoid the blame game scenario

If you are taking on everything by yourself then this isn’t an issue but if you are dividing up the chores and assignments between you and your partner, grandparents or anyone else you rely on to help with childcare duties, you need to ensure you assign responsibility for each task.

Knowing that you have to get them there for baseball at four is only the half of it, who is taking them and picking them up is the other key piece of information, so make sure you have that detail incorporated into your system.

That way you will avoid the almost inevitable conversation where one person blames the other for any mess up.

Beat the morning rush

Mornings in a typical family home with young kids is often complete chaos and that means it’s easy to get behind or miss something when you are under such strain to beat the deadline for getting them into the car and off to school.

A savvy way of coping better with that hectic morning scenario would be to prep the night before and get everything ready to go that you can, like clothes laid out and lunches done and in the fridge.

An Android app for current weather on your smartphone would also be a good idea as you can get advanced notice on whether you should plan for rain or pack the sunscreen.

Good communication, a simple but effective organisational system, plus a solid weekly routine that everyone is in tune with, will all help you to be that Mum who always seems to cope with whatever comes their way.

May 22, 2017