The student’s guide to slimming

Right by your side

Editor's welcome

‘I love being back on stage!’

Donna Mitchell is rocking into her 50s after losing 5st 5½lbs and rejoining the band she sang with in the 1980s

‘Losing weight super-charged our careers’

How a combined weight loss of over 32st has transformed the working lives of five sensational slimmers

Tea break

Fancy a cake bar or bicky with your cuppa? Dunk away with our at-a-glance guide to top lower-Syn options

Build your slimming squad

Sharing your slimdown with friends could speed you to success – and that includes the mates you haven’t met yet!

Gorgeous Georgia

After losing 5st 1lb to get healthy and active for her kids, cover star Georgia Devereux is following her dreams

What I’ve learnt about the power of group support

Kirstie Goodwin explains how being part of a circle of slimmers has helped her lose 8st 7lbs

Look, cook, eat

Delicious new recipes to boost your kitchen confidence and your weight loss

Food news

Fill your trolley with the best Food Optimising buys

The slimmer you starts here

Whether you want to kick-start your slimdown or get back on track with a bang, score a weight-loss win with our seven-day eating plan

MONDAY

Sausage, roast pepper & chickpea stew

TUESDAY

Bean & rice cottage pie

WEDNESDAY

Salmon with garlic-roasted tomatoes & crushed potatoes

THURSDAY

Sloppy joe macaroni frittata

FRIDAY

Chilli chicken stir-fry

SATURDAY

Greek lamb & feta orzo

SUNDAY

Roast beef with potatoes, carrots & broccoli gratin

Tonight’s specials

All your favourite gastropub grub is now bang on plan

Beefburger with chips & onion rings

Complete with all the trimmings, our tasty quarter pounders are the real dea

Individual Lancashire hotpot

Tender thyme-infused lamb layered with golden potatoes – yes please!

Mixed mushroom risotto

Maxing the mushrooms gives this veggie classic a delicious earthiness

Italian-style lamb shanks

Herby tomato sauce and zingy gremolata are just right for early autumn

Cod & prawn cakes with tartare sauce

Set sail for crunchy crumb, oceans of fish and a piquant sauce

Sausages & mash with onion gravy

Rich and gloriously thick gravy makes for bang-on bangers and mash!

Chicken & leek pie

Swap your Sunday roast for an irresistible pie that’s all yours

Duck with blackberry sauce & celeriac mash

Sweet and juicy blackberries add a delish seasonal twist to rich, tasty duck

Chicken supreme

From Keralan curry to finger-licking buffalo bites, six brand-new takes on a dinnertime favourite

Chicken Parmigiana & spaghetti bake

Gather the family for our all-in-one reboot of an Italian-American classic

Hainanese chicken platter

Discover why this bright and fragrant dinner is one of Singapore’s national dishes

Buffalo chicken bites with chips & blue-cheese slaw

Get that takeaway taste with chilli chicken and a delightfully cheesy side

Chicken shawarma with rainbow couscous

If you like kebabs you’ll love these smoky Middle Eastern skewers

Lemony chicken drumsticks with smokybacon greens

Comforting, zingy and oh-so-easy, this dish has it all!

Keralan chicken curry

Enticing flavours of Southern India come together in this hearty one-pot

Harvest supper

A festival of delicious in-season ingredients – enjoy starter, main and pud for only  Syns

Smoky butternut squash soup

100g fat-free natural fromage frais A few fresh chives

Pork steaks with apple sauce & root veg chips

6 lean pork steaks (visible fat removed), bashed into

Vanilla rice pudding with blackberries

1 Preheat your oven to 150°C/ fan 130°C/gas 2. Wash

Everyday heroes

The family will love these filling, flavoursome meals – and they won’t cost you a fortune to make, either!

Tex-Mex veggie chilli with chilli cream

3 large red chillies, 2 deseeded and finely chopped

Leek, pea & ham farfalle

1 Cook the pasta according to the pack instructions.

Smoked fish florentine stacks

4 large potatoes, such as King Edward, peeled and coarsely

Cheesecake heaven

Crumbly biscuit bases and rich, velvety toppings for 6 Syns or under. Dreams do come true!

Autumn berry swirl cheesecakes

A classic combo – and at 6 Syns each you can enjoy every crumb

Lemon meringue cheesecake

Gingery biscuit base, luscious lemon filling, fluffy meringue – layers of loveliness!

Peach Melba cheesecake slice

Make this eye-catching dessert the day before for a decadently fruity finale

Vanilla & chocolate jam-jar cheesecakes

Smooth, thick and a chocolate fix from top to bottom

Neil’s winning streak

Leicester City fan Neil Middleton no longer watches life from the sidelines since his footy team inspired him to lose 10st

All in the genes?

Great news: whatever your family traits, you can lose weight – here’s how...

Twist and pout

Luscious lippies for a swipe of beauty confidence

10 great buys for under £30

These flattering new-season updates will boost your look without emptying your wallet

Your health by numbers

Are your stats on track? Find out the figures that can help your health, and your weight loss

Walking sports

Netball, football, basketball and more get a super-accessible makeover

Slimming World

Bannisters Farm

Hartleys Jelly

Trust in us

Struggling through a maze of conflicting health information? We’re here to sift through the hype and the headlines, says Margaret Miles-Bramwell