Shifting plan, focus and a little change in direction

This year got off to a roaring start, and I was full of beans raring to go. This momentum has definitely got lost along the way. When I'm off over Christmas, thinking and evaluating and making plans for the goals I want to set in the new year, I sometimes forget how easy it can be to just let real life get in the way of all my grand plans. Recently, things have been extremely busy with a big project and work, and I was away in France on business. Which sounds more glamorous than it is, I promise.

I had a few days off over the Easter break to take stock and see what was going right and what wasn't. And that's when I had a look again at Slimming World. The plan is fantastic, and as I might have mentioned I lost a substantial amount of weight on it a few years ago. My problem is, that I know it so well and so inside out that I was complacent. I also had little niggles about some aspects of the plan, like how much processed food was enabled and encouraged, and they need to haul their ass into 2016 on the technology front!

And last week, I took a look at the Weight Watchers website. I was really, really impressed with their online package, and the look and feel of their website and their tools was just fresh, new and a little exciting. So I made the switch (and was pleased to discover I had made a £7/month saving in the process).

The plan works on (newly-branded, I believe) SmartPoints. You have a certain number of points per day, depending on your personal variables. After this, you also have a certain number of weekly points available to you, for use on the days when you run over your allotted daily allowance. On top of this, you can also convert FitPoints, which you get for completing exercise, into extra points, should you need those. I find the way exercise is encouraged and incentivised much better than on SW, as with WW you are given a certain number of FitPoints to aim for each week, and broken down to each day. Also,  the app connects to your FitBit device, making tracking effortless and seamless.

Being on a new plan is benefiting me in that it has refocused me. I have to concentrate on what I'm tracking and how the plan works, which is keeping me engaged and on top of it. I love the technology integration, I love a gadget and this works very well. The app is just fantastic - take note SW. The cost saving of going with WW is a bonus too.

In the coming weeks and months, I will learn the plan better myself and I'll be able to share my thoughts and experiences (and losses!) with you all. For now, 2016 may start again. And I will check in next week with my week 1 update.