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Slimming World

Please talk to me about slimming world

69 replies

Hironsbirons · 12/09/2016 14:33

I'm fat, frumpy and horrible and I NEED to change! I've tried weight watchers, but since they've changed the plan it just doesn't work for me at all. I've actually gained 7.5lbs doing it for the past 6 months Hmm I've never understood slimming world with all the lingo - hexA and B and syns and all, and as it's super expensive to join online I'm reluctant in case i just don't 'get' it! Can anyone please help? I have a bridesmaids dress to wear in 10 months time and as I am right now I don't even want to go to the wedding! Sad

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Sunnydaysrock · 12/09/2016 14:48

It's great. I've been doing it for 12 years and am always somewhere near my target weight (above or below). It does take a while to get your head around the plan, but it's easy once you've got it. It fits in so well with everyday life. I can't recommend it enough. Good luck X

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ichoosesleep · 12/09/2016 14:50

Are you able to get to a local group?

I think that would be a good idea as every session has a new members talk. There will be a few chairs at the corner of the room where the consultant will be sat. She/he will go through everything with you before group starts. Then you sit and listen in group then get weighed at the end.

Everyone who joins takes about a week or so to really get there head around it but you will likely notice a loss of 3lbs to 7lbs in your first week easily. Some have losses of so much more!!

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SpaghettiMeatballs · 12/09/2016 14:53

. I NEED to lose a stone. I'd like to lose two stone.

I'm considering SW as I've seen some friends do so well on it.

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ichoosesleep · 12/09/2016 14:54

Also if you look out for a voucher for free membership in magazines it will only cost you £4.95 to join instead of £14.95. The offers come along often in bella, woman, and others too I can't remember. The lingo looks so confusing to someone who doesn't know what it means but that's the same with all lingo and jargon.

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PickAChew · 12/09/2016 14:55

Just download MyFitnessPal. So much simpler to get your head around. I've lost a stone so far.

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Hironsbirons · 12/09/2016 14:55

ichoosesleep I can't commit to a local group unfortunately. They're not at great times for managing around work where I am, and I can't leave work early every single week. Which is why I thought online may work better for me because at least I still have the resources. I wish I could go though because I'm honestly just so down with the way I am right now. I hate myself Sad

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Hironsbirons · 12/09/2016 14:57

PickAChew tried that. I forget to log things and end up flying over my daily limit. I drive a lot for work so end up eating most of my meals on the road

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NickyEds · 12/09/2016 16:28

I started sw about 6 weeks ago and I'd lost 11 lb at weigh in last week. There is a bit of jargon but the plan itself is quite straightforward really.

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SpaghettiMeatballs · 12/09/2016 17:38

May I ask are you online or at meetings NickyEds?

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NickyEds · 12/09/2016 17:44

I go to meetings and I've found that to be singularly the most motivating thing. Our group is quite small I think (only around 15-20 people stay to group) but very supportive-lots of tips and happy to have a bit of a laugh, especially when someone has had a bit of a gain.

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kate33 · 12/09/2016 17:55

Well I have an absolute massive amount to loose. I am not getting anywhere on my own and gaining a stone a year I reckon. There is a free weigh in drop in class in the local community centre but it's not very nice. They shout your weight out and then it's the two ladies who are running it just interrogating you for 5 mins. The thing is I find it so easy to not worry about my size, mainly because I am so busy with the kids and I don't have a full length mirror in the house anymore. I am on a tight budget and really I think this long winded post is to ask you lovely slim ladies if you think the weekly SW classes are worth it. Thanks. X

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SpaghettiMeatballs · 12/09/2016 18:09

That sounds horrific Kate33. Can't comment on the classes but I'd knock the community weigh in on the head if i were you!

Can anyone answer a question I have please.... How long do the classes last and can I take my 2 year old? I've seen one that starts at 9.30 so I can drop DD at school first and then get there but I have to be at a class with DS by 10.15 so would need to leave Slimming World by 10. Does that sound feasible?

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MollyRedskirts · 12/09/2016 18:48

In your shoes, I'd get to a class even if you can't commit to attending regularly and get the books. It's cheaper paying for one class than signing up online, and you'll get an idea of what's involved. Plus, you'll then get access to all the online stuff for at least a week, then if it suits you, you could pay for the online membership.

In a nutshell, the plan is based on vegetables; lean meat, fish, and poultry; grains, unprocessed fruit. All that can be eaten freely and is called 'free' food.

Some free food is called 'speed free food. It's the less carby/sugary fruit and veg. You make 1/3 of your plate these foods.

Healthy Extras are your milk or cheese allowance, which is always measured or portioned, and a cereal/oats/bread allowance.

Syns are for anything that's a treat or isn't a free food, e.g. processed meat like sausages.

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WeePesky · 12/09/2016 21:41

Excellent timing - I am signing up to slimming world tomorrow. Hoping it is all as simple as it seems and that I can still eat a lot (priorities!) how much have success have people had? Is it a quick weight loss or more slow and steady?

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NickyEds · 12/09/2016 22:01

Ours is structured in two parts: pay and weigh and group. Pay and weigh is half an hour when everyone gets weighed by volunteers and the consultant does talks to new people. The there's group which is supposed to be around 45 minutes long, so at the one I go to pay and weigh is 7-7.30pm then group go on until 8.15 ish. Not everyone stays for group though- I'd say 2/3 of people come, get weighed then leave.

For me it was £9.95 for the first week and £4.95 every week after, you can block book 6 sessions which works out at £4 a week. I think it's worth every penny for me.

WeePesky you can eat a lot with sw! I'm losing weight steadily I'd say, around 2 lb a week. I could have lost a lot more I think, I've had meals out, wine etc but would rather lose it slowly with a lifestyle I find sustainable. A lady I've met there has lost 5.5 stones in the last 18 months!

I would take my 2 year old if I was just going to be weighed but not to group. Some people have older dc there though, there's a single mum whose dd is around 10 and she stays most weeks.

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wonderwoo · 12/09/2016 23:29

I have been to meetings with a two year old. It depends on what the child is like really. Was a complete nightmare for me, but then my ds is not the sit-nice-and-quietly type. More the run-climb-and-make-as-much-noise-as-possible type. There were other more well behaved kids there and it seemed fine.

I didn't get on with SW though. I did find it hard to get my head around all the rules and how it worked. I only kept at it for about three weeks though. I also didn't like the amount of sweeteners in some of the recipes. Some recipes were great though and I know that lots of people are success with it. It does feel like learning a new way of eating, which is great, rather than counting calories or points etc.

I also found it hard having to have only one bread/cereal/oats item from the list, but maybe I could have used up some syns to supplement them if I was missing them.

I agree that it is probably worth going to a meeting for the first week or so, so that you can ask questions and get a feel for it all. Good luck.

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WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 13/09/2016 11:50

I'm planning to go to a group for the first time later in the week, but the length of the meetings is an issue for me too as I need to get to work afterwards.

I don't like the sound of sweeteners, I'd rather have a tiny portion of proper sugar than use sweeteners in cooking. I also prefer small amounts of full fat foods to large amounts of reduced fat versions (well, I prefer large amounts of full fat, which is where things have gone wrong!)

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wonderwoo · 13/09/2016 12:05

Yes who knows - that was my issue with it. Lots of sweeteners and low fat versions. I did ignore the sweeteners in recipes and just add a little sugar instead, and I also generally didn't bother with the pudding recipes. But I found the low fat yoghurt etc harder to ignore. Some of their soup recipes are lovely btw.

I think you can just leave a meeting half way through if you need to , its all quite informal (at least the one I went to was) . Just sit near the door. The important thing is the weigh in, and the introduction chat you get on your first meeting. There is also a chance to look at and buy the recipe books.

They really push the idea that you can eat as much as the free food as you want, but it is important to remember that you are only supposed to eat when hungry(!) and that a certain percentage of your plate should be super free (or something like that) foods. You cannot just eat a massive jacket potato or loads of pasta! I didn't think they made that very clear to me.

Give it a try though - it may work for you. And if you don't get on with it, at least you will have picked up some tips and ideas in the process.

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tabulahrasa · 13/09/2016 12:07

The thing is with SW, there's recipes, but, you don't need to use them or follow them strictly because the free ingredients are free even if you change the amounts.

So if you find a recipe with sweetener that you want to try, use sugar...as long as you count the sugar, it's fine.

The same for things with fat in them.

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wonderwoo · 13/09/2016 12:52

That makes sense tabulahrasa

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WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 13/09/2016 22:05

I'm going to go along and see what it's like. I think I need it more for the group support than the system TBH, so if they seem like a nice bunch I'll probably go for it.

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SpaghettiMeatballs · 13/09/2016 22:19

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I might be out in 30 minutes. DS isn't really the sit still sort of 2 year old but if I can't take him I can't do it so I might try with him. He sits quite nicely if he's allowed to play a game on my phone.

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NickyEds · 14/09/2016 08:16

Give it a go. I go to an evening group and I bet daytime ones have a different feel- possibly more preschoolers! I could manage weigh in with one of mine (but I'd struggle with both!)but he wouldn't sit through group. Got my first stone loss last night Grin

With regard to sweeteners, I put sugar in cooking (it's only really a very small amount in some tomato sauces-I don't bake for me anymore)but I drink diet/no sugar drinks if I want a cold drink. I use low fat mayo, fat free yogurt (for cooking, I have fat free greek yogurt and muller lights to eat)and fat free fromage frais. I use fry light (which is free)as much as possible but I've found that some sauces benefit from a little olive oil.
Tbh I think you would find the plan quite tricky (but by no means impossible)without using any fat free things. For instance a level tablespoon of Hellmans lighter than light mayo is half a syn whereas the full fat version is 5.5 syns, a tablespoon of olive oil is 6 syns whereas fry light is free.

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Sleeplessinmybedroom · 14/09/2016 08:29

I started in February and have lost just over 4st. I need the group to keep me on track. The plan fits in well with family life.

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Trethew · 14/09/2016 08:41

I think it depends enormously on the consultant who leads the group. Ours is a wonderful lady who is incredibly supportive and encouraging. She knows us all by name (don't know how she does that)and the whole group thing helps me get through the despondence of a gain or relapse into bad eating. If I didn't go I'm sure I'd be spherical by now.

Re eating while driving - I have a bag of washed carrots in the car and I munch manically on those. Fill you up very well.

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