Bulimia and slimming world - AIBU?

[NicknameNotTaken]

I'm around 5 stone overweight at the moment (at least), and want to try slimming world to shift it. I've tried lots of other diets with little/no success, but my sister lost a lot of weight on slimming world, and kept it off.

But, I've recently had a relapse of bulimia, and am worried about sitting around talking about food for 90 minutes will make me worse. I know that it's not supposed to, and it should be supportive etc, but I don't want to end up causing more problems than I'm solving!

I'm receiving therapy again for the bulimia, and it has got markedly better recently, hence wanting to do something about my body image and weight...

Does anyone have any experience of slimming world, and could they share it?

[Feilin]

I lost 5 stone on slimming world. Loved my group sessions . There was a girl there who had trouble keeping weight on so she attended each week with a view to keeping up her weight. If you do join be up front with your group leader.

[NicknameNotTaken]

Thanks Fellin. Obviously I wouldn't want to share with the whole group, is it possible to grab the leader at the beginning of my first session and explain to them? I'm really anxious about it!

[papayasareyum]

all my weight watchers/slimming world friends are totally obsessed with food, calories, exercise, and talk endlessly about food and even berate me about what I'm eating! It's put me off ever joining.

[NicknameNotTaken]

Eek papaya, I suppose that's what I'm worried about!

[CamembertQueen]

Personally, I wouldn't. You can quite easily fall back into old habits. With weight watchers you can earn food points through exercise which can lead to compensatory behaviours etc. I think anything focusing on points/syns etc can lead into bulimic behaviours if this is something you struggle with. What I found helpful was not calories counting, but eating healthy food and portions, Mon- Fri, then having a treat at the weekend. Regular exercise also. Helped me to have a healthier attitude to food. I think making your focus about being healthy and well is better than focusing on weight loss and calories, if you do the former, weightloss will follow.

[IceRoadDucker]

These weight loss groups are, in general, terrible environments for people with unhealthy relationships to food. I wouldn't risk it, OP.

[NattyTile]

Do you have an overeaters anonymous group near you? Might be more helpful.

[FlyingElbows]

Op could you speak to your therapist for guidance on a suitable weight loss approach?

[VodkaValiumLattePlease]

There's a question regarding bulimia on the signing up form, so be honest and see what they say

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

What does your therapist think? Do they know that you are wanting to lose weight at the same time as trying to keep bulimia symptoms low?

Have you got / read the bulimia handbook- the guide available from library on nhs prescription, and which a lot of ED therapists work from?

[Feilin]

You will meet leader before session starts . They will talk to you personally.

[SacharissaCrisplock]

I wouldn't risk it OP. I joined SW for the first time back in 2001 and although I did fairly well I got very obsessed with food and if you are recovering from any kind of eating disorder I think it would be too much of a risk.

I'm pretty sure it contributed to my later disordered thinking around food (I already had food issues but it gave them a focus), I actually ended up having some therapy which helped me to unpick all of this and I genuinely think now that all of these kind of groups can be really detrimental to people who have pre-existing issues with eating/food.

[Champers4Pampers]

Firstky, I'd like to say well done on confronting your issues with buliemia and wanting to make positive and healthy changes. I grew up with my mum suffering from buliemia and its led to me having a warped relationship with food/dieting.
I don't want to slam diet clubs as I know a lot of people have had success but most of these have been temporary, very few manage to keep the weight off and it's ends up in an unhealthy cycle of yo-yo dieting. Personally I don't think programmes like slimming world and weight watchers are suitable for people who have suffered from eating disorders. Eating disorders can often be about control issues and I think being around people how are always counting points or calories can bring out the worst if you've had issues in the past. From what I understand on slimming world you can have certain days when you can have "unlimited" pasta etc, I don't really think this is the message to send out to someone who's had issues with over-eating.
I would speak to your therapist and ask what they recommend. I think it has to be about changing your entire outlook on food and nutrition and making it a lifestyle change rather than a "diet".

[Champers4Pampers]

*Firstly not Firstky

[ImpossibleDog]

I've struggled with disordered eating for years (usually binge/purge) and slimming world was a disaster for me personally. The obsession with low fat foods and the labelling of foods like avocado as bad/unhealthy didn't sit well with me. Nor did the idea that you can eat as much of certain foods as you like. "Syns" also annoyed me and I ended up feeling guilty for "synning" by eating some yoghurt or something.

What has helped me is learning about nutrition and portion sizes and focusing on a lifestyle change, aided by therapy. I'm a everything-in-moderation type of eater now, I don't restrict or deny myself anything. I don't think of any food as bad or good, it's just fuel for my body.

[NicknameNotTaken]

Thanks everyone, that all sounds very sensible. I think I need to think about my relationship with food, and it doesn't sound like slimming world will necessarily help me do that. Back to the drawing board! I might try over eaters anonymous, as mentioned up thread.