Is this the normal format for classes?

[Flossyfloof]

First timer so not sure and I hated it!
The consultant went through a huge list saying all the losses, even of those who weren't there.
Hazel has lost 2 lb, clap clap
How have you done that, Hazel?
So. hazel has stuck to plan! Clap, clap.
Julie has lost 1lb! Clap, clap. Oh, Julie isn't here.
And Lesley has lost 3lb! Clap clap.
I don't really want to be speaking in front of a load of people like that, I didn't realise it would all be made public.
Is this what a class is normally like?

[TurnOffTheTv]

Yep. Go in, get weighed, go home instead

[lookoutitsapiano]

Yes although our lady doesn't mention the people who have left. It is proven that those who stay for the meeting and listen/share lose a lot more weight more quickly than those who don't. In my class, we've all been going for ages now so it's pleasant to catch up for half an hour a week or so! A lot of people do just get weighed then leave though, and I get that.

[BikeRunSki]

Normal format, by you don't have to stay for it.

[lookoutitsapiano]

Oh and if you don't want to talk but just listen, then just tell the person in charge and she will skip you out.

[tryandtryagain]

Yes tis normal. Boring as shit. ( + humiliating if you've gained)

[lookoutitsapiano]

I must have a lovely group then, as when we've had a crap week we can all just laugh it off. It helps that the leader is very up and down weight wise, and is very sweet and laid back about it. I've never found it humiliating or anything. I admit I am not the largest person to start with, but from what I can see in my group all women and men of all sizes feel welcome and supported.

[Thisismyalias]

Yeah that really put me off. I didn't go back.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Ours is more like lookout says. The leader does go round the room & ask everyone how they've done but she manages to make sure there's no shame or judgement for anyone. Last week a woman had put on 2lbs & said it was probably because she'd had her birthday. The leader wished her happy birthday and just said "sometimes it's worth it" .

[ChimpyChops]

If we have put in then our leader will give the total amount so she might say 'Emma, nice to see you've stayed and at a fabulous 2st 3lbs loss' clap clap clap. Then it's up to you to mention it. She will skip if we want. I like the image therapy, an hour away from bedtime routine anyway lol!

[Muskateersmummy]

We do lots of sharing of recipes during our image therapy, or we will focus on a specific thing like what have you used your syns on this week, what heb's have you had, what new recipe have you used? That along with the muskateer lost x this week clap clap clap stuff. I really enjoy image therapy

[busyboysmum]

Yes so boring. Ww meetings are much better imo.

[HappyHippyChick]

I love our group as well, we do the weight thing, but our leader will not mention how much you've gained, and like a previous poster will emphasise your current total loss. Plus we do other things as well, this week people brought in non-slimming world recipe books and we discussed ways to cook favourite recipes but with lower syns. I love image therapy at my group.

[Flossyfloof]

Thanks, all. I will keep going but can't say I was impressed!

[mrsmeerkat]

Grr. . I loved weight watchers and the night slimming world is on suits me better due to dh work pattern.

I would hate that !

[MsJuniper]

Yep I hate the meeting format too, would rather have a general chat, swap tips and share weight loss voluntarily. It's like a bored classroom most of the time.

[KingLooieCatz]

See if there's a different consultant running a group you can get to. The first group I went to I liked the way she ran the meeting, lots of time to share tips, ask advice, talk about your upcoming challenges and get support. The consultant changed and I didn't get on with the way she ran the meeting, bit robotic, less space to chat. I'd got to target by then though. If I'd enjoyed group more I'd have kept going to give people the support I got when I started. NB - I couldn't have done it on my own! I lost 2 stone in a little over 6 months and never found it difficult!

[KathyBeale]

I hate meetings too. I'm very stressed at the moment and really struggling to cope with life generally and SW in particular (along with everything else), so I find it makes me a bit GRRRR because it's soooooo long and such a waste of time. I have to sit on my hands to stop myself getting my phone out and mumsnetting!

Some genuine quotes from my meeting:

"Oh, I've not lost as much as I'd like this week. Maybe it's because I've eaten too many pears."

"So do you keep an eye on things like adding oil and butter when you're cooking because those syns add up very quickly."
"Oh, I don't cook. My husband cooks, so I don't know what he adds..."

And when I said that I needed help to tackle comfort eating and using food as a reward for a bad day, or a good day, or any day, everyone suggested Mug Shots.

Thing is, everyone's lovely. It's a nice group and the leader is fab. But the format is terrible. I did WW a few years ago and that was better - there was a theme to each week and the leader did a little talk based round that, then people could talk if they wanted or ask for help from the group if they needed to.

SW is a really good eating plan, so it's a shame the meetings are so dreadful, I think.

[Flossyfloof]

To be fair, as a teacher I know it isn't easy to stand up in front of people and speak. She seemed to be relying on what people had put in their good diaries to stimulate things and reading out weight losses of people who hadn't stayed is pointless. My first thought was that she needs to ask if people are staying so that she isn't congratulating people, looking around the room vaguely and then realising they are not there.
It is the most convenient group for me to go to though.
Kathy Beale - I really identify with the old "I've been to work all day/had a shitty day/am a bit fed up/ am making a cuppa, so I need a reward!" mindset. It's a big issue for me. I bought some of the hifi bars and you get a real sweet hit from them. Might they be something you could try?
*Hahaha I've only done it for two days and I think I'm a senior consultant!

[Flossyfloof]

Love those quotes. Reminds me of when I was on a diabetic course

• So just watch things like how much sugar you are adding to your cup of tea
  
• I don't like tea

[tabulahrasa]

I've never seen a consultant congratulate or read out the losses if someone who wasn't there...I've been to 5 or 6? Different groups.

That's just someone doing it wrong IMO, they're reading it straight off the tablet without bothering to look round the room to see if they're there first.

Though she can't ask if people are staying because the first time she'll see them is when she's stood there because they'll have weighed in and left already and she doesn't do that bit.

[Flossyfloof]

Oh ok thanks for that. Presumably the person doing the weighing could do it though? Anyway as I said I've only been to one meeting and I am trying to rejig it already! I I'll keep staying because it seems clear that you do better if you do stay.

[notquitehuman]

I'm glad you started this thread because I'm wondering whether to bother with groups or switch to online.

The main pro of going to group is that I'll have to stick to plan a lot more rigorously. Getting there and discovering I've gained would be hugely embarassing, and it has kept me on track so far.

Cons - well, I don't know if all groups are like this, but they do seem to be a massive time sink. Group starts at 7.30 so I turn up on time, sit around for half hour with a cup of tea, have some small talk (I'm quite new and group is a bit cliquey so not made friends yet).

There then seems to be massive faffing going on with broken computers or someone taking the leader to one side for a chat, so more waiting around. Then trying to get us to buy SW meals from Iceland, then advertising the countdown again, then faffing about with the raffle. Agh! It's often close to 9pm by the time we've finished, and I do most of my work in the evenings. This sets me way back.

Are all groups like this or should I try another leader?

[tabulahrasa]

They run from 7.30 to 9...but, that's for new members and people that want to hang about drinking tea (some do) there's no reason not to get there at 7.54 get weighed straight away and then stay for the hour...depending on where you are there may be groups at other times on different days anyway, if groups get large enough they have a session at 5.30 and 3.30 and there are morning groups as well.

"Presumably the person doing the weighing could do it though?"

They'd have to write a list or something, then the consultant would have to check it, I can't see that being any quicker if she's not even looking to see if someone is there before talking about how they've done that week, lol. Honestly it's an issue with that consultant, I've never seen that happen...maybe she's really bad with names?

[Katenka]

I like staying to class. An old school friend of mine and her dh go. It's nice to sit and chat.

But I do glaze over sometimes. One man pisses me off as he comments on anything anyone else says. Like he is ten slimming world God and we are there to hear his words of wisdom.

And there are a few women who say the same thing every week. 'My problem is that I don't write stuff down, then forget I have had 2 chocolates bars and accidental have another' and 'I need someone to inspire me to write it down' with every suggestion met with 'oh yeah but I won't do that'.

And the 'I do well all week, surely the three bottles of wine I had can't have made me maintain'.

But it's helping me stay on track. The tips and recipes most people come up with are great.

[ChessieFL]

I wouldn't have stuck to it so long without going to the groups. I agree with others that you've just got a bad consultant. Mine will read out people's losses but not their gains - she'll just say their total weight loss and ask how their week's been so it's up to them to reveal or not. After a while she knows who's happy to share or not. Anyone who really doesn't want to talk just has a word and she skips them.

However the format isn't for everyone!