Something I tried on my third playthough was to start with the largest Sim I could make, and get her into shape by the end. I intended to only let my Sim eat salad, but she kept sneaking off and making pancakes, so I eventually sold the stove. I also bought the more expensive trash can (the one that gives you $10 every time you throw something away), and deleted the sink. Then I just moved all her salad plates to the trash can for some quick money. That trash can pays for itself in no time. I never did finish that playthough, I went to go play Dragon Age instead, but here is her progress over the weeks:
Week one:
http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag300/Liz_Amsden/11-17-14_4-31nbspPM_zpsf4265a60.png
Week two:
http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag300/Liz_Amsden/11-18-14_4-26nbspPM_zpse67d4809.png
Week three:
http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag300/Liz_Amsden/11-22-14_5-00nbspPM_zpsfe296a2b.png
Reading in the pool!
http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag300/Liz_Amsden/11-22-14_5-27nbspPM_zps1ee7729c.png
And week four, when I quit playing (she wants pancakes so hard):
http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag300/Liz_Amsden/11-23-14_2-15nbspPM_zpsd5f577ac.png