Join Slimming world or create my own group?

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Hi,

I'm new to this area of mumsnet, though I probably should hang out here more often. I have got at least 5st to lose, and I don't seem to be able to stick to a plan on my own. I have been trying to count calories/follow slimming world on my own at home, but have struggled since my wedding in June ....... no "deadline" to aim for if you will ..... at home all day as a SAHM and no set routine ..... DH who seems to be able to eat/drink what he wants ...... Mum who also wants to lose weight but is a bit of a saboteur (not meant in a nasty way).

I need something to aim for (am going on holiday in May 2014, so that could be my goal) and something to help keep me on track. I have gone to WW meetings before - lost half a stone, then stagnated, then put it back on before I even gave up!
I like the look of slimming world diet plan as it advocates proper food (not their own processed ready meals) and few snacks - one of my problems on WW was that I used far too many points on chocolate!

In an ideal world, I would like to set up a career as a nutrionist / weight loss consultant. Not only do I think it will help me to stick to a healthier lifestyle, but having been there (am still SO there!!) I really want to help people to lose weight. Also, the science side of it really interests me. I have plans in my head of setting up in private practice a few years down the line, once I have completed a degree, and of course lost my own weight. But another idea has been going round and round my head that I would like to throw out to all of you. I have been thinking of setting up my own diet support group - the "any plan support group" - basically you can come along to be weighed, no matter what plan you are following - WW, SW, RC, Calorie counting or a VLCD. And after there is a group discussion to share thoughts, ideas, what has been working well. Now obviously I do not currently have any qualifications, so my plan was to charge a small fee, just to cover hire of the room. Perhaps sell tea / coffee for a small charge as well. So really for now it would be similar to a mother and toddler group, but discussing weight loss more than teething.

What do you think? Would you go to small group like this, or stick to the brand names? After all, the leaders at WW and others (as far as I know) have no formal training of nutrition etc, they just know the programme inside out. And those meetings are often about selling the companies other goods (mags, bars, recipe books).

Should I go for it and start setting up my own group (hopefully being a leader might spur on my own weight loss)? or shall I head off for SW tomorrow, stick to that for a while and then see if I want to become a SW consultant??

[Rockchick1984]

The NHS do groups like you're talking about free of charge, where they will give you dietary advice but don't advocate a particular "plan".

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

We've done exactly that with our neighbours, and it works well. We all wanted to lose weight, and agreed at the end of last year to weigh in front of each other weekly, and to be open and honnest about what we weigh, how much we lose etc. We've all been very succesful, and the group continues - some of us are now at target and are weighing to maintain, some of us are still losing.

We all agree though that the key success factor is that it's bloody embarassing weighing in front of your friends, especially if everyone else has lost weight and you haven't!

We're all following different diets, but we're very supportive of each other and exchange recipes etc.

Slimming clubs really make their money out of the products they sell you to help you lose weight, so they're not really as focussed on losing the weight, more on selling the products (IMO).

We, on the other hand, pay a fine if we gain weight in any week (£1 per 1lb), and a £1 weighing fee each each week, and will have the enjoyment of spending all the money on our thin(ner) selves this New Year's Eve!

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Rockchick - I have never heard of these NHS groups, not in my area anyway. Any GP that I have seen re weight loss has either told me "you're doing everything that you should" or just told me to lose weight, but with no pointers as to how to do it!

The only thing my local NHS do is something called tipping the balance - they are 1-2-1 sessions though and they advocate the british heart foundation plan / weight-wise plan created by the British Dietetic Association. Essentially it is calorie counting, but they encourage you to eat x amount of carbs, protein, fruit & veg etc per day. My mum has been going to these but hasn't found them supportive at all! If she puts on weight, she just gets an "oh dear ...." not very productive!!

[Rockchick1984]

Ah, ok I presumed they were national - they had them in the 2 areas I've lived in the last few years.

I used to go to slimming world and I really liked it - general gist is that 1/3 of everything you eat needs to be fruit and veg, rest can be protein and carbs (other than bread). Treats have a syn value, and you get an allowance for how many syns you can get each week. I had tried weight watchers and hated it, felt like it was £X per week but then had to buy all their own products, book and everything, and the points system left me hungry! I liked SW as I could eat real meals eg roast dinner, spaghetti bolognese etc and eat until I was full rather than measuring portions - I have a big appetite, so it worked well for me and I lost a stone in 5 weeks!

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

MotherOfTwo - I did try and start this up with my mum and a friend of ours. We put £5 a week into the kitty, and whoever lost the most by the end of the month won the money. I found this helpful to begin with, but it didn't seem to work for my mum and our friend. I stopped putting in the kitty when I fell pregnant, and then everyone just seemed to stop weighing!! My mum, sister and I did make a half-hearted attempt to start it up again in the run up to my wedding, and then a couple of months ago. But we just don't seem to be able to stick to a plan on our own / without further incentives. Perhaps we are too close to get the embarrassment factor!!!

This is my feeling about conventional slimming clubs really - they are there to make money, and they wouldn't make much if everyone successfully lost weight, kept it off and never come back! So they try and sell you as much as possible while you do go to the meetings, before you go on to the next club / fad diet!!

A fine sounds like an interesting idea ....... perhaps not for a community group, but for me and my mum

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Like most things NHS I suspect that depends on the local PCT's budget ..... postcode lottery and all that!

I did WW and I didn't really like it, especially when it went from old points to pro points. I didn't understand how I could have a jam doughnut for less points than a jacket potato! And it was way too hard to work out the points, so it kind of pushes you to eat their food that is already labelled.

SW does sound like a better plan to me, but I'm not a big fruit & veg eater - especially fruit. I really have to be in the mood to eat it! I think I'd struggle to do the 1/3rd thing!! With planned meals I can work vege's into it quite well - spag bol, shepherds pie, roasted veg etc. Not sure how I would work it out at breakfast and lunch ........

[WheresMyCybermat]

SW is fab but think think that Motheroftwo's idea is great as well...if you have got people who are as determined to lose weight as you are.

I've only ever been to SW, but as far as I am aware, there is a lot less pushing of the products. They only have their cereal bars, magazine and books anyway and at our group we just have a shop, but our consultant doesn't really push the products.

The best thing I think about a slimming group is the getting weighed by someone else, at the same time every week.

Do you not really eat any fruit? If you can eat plenty of veg, you could get away with less fruit anyway.

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

I have just e-mailed my mum to put forward that idea! She really wants to lose weight, but has done for about 25years. She's lacking the enthusiasm / energy at the moment. it's hard when you keep trying and failing ....

I eat so little fruit, it's quite bad. I am trying to think of when I last ate a piece of fruit and I literally cannot remember. I probably had an apple about 6 weeks ago - and I shared that with my daughter!!
I just never fancy fruit as a snack - I need to incorporate them into my meals to stand half a chance of eating them. I do quite like fruit salad and yogurt when I have it. Every so often I go through a phase of having that for breakfast.

Perhaps I need a bit of hypnotherapy to help me to change my shockingly bad eating habits!! lol

[Mintyy]

I think it is a great idea to start your own group.

I have been planning to set one up in my own neighbourhood for a while.

Good luck and I hope it takes off!

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Thanks Mintyy - I was thinking if I set up my own group it will take up a bit more of my time - and therefore I will have less eating time! lol

[Mintyy]

I honestly think that is a good and valid reason to start a support group! Get busy and engrossed in something else. Don't knock it.

I have a full-on day at work tomorrow and busy evening, but on Friday I will have a proper think about how I could set up a weight loss support group in my local area. How about you do the same and then we swap ideas?

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

The competition thing is a great incentive - and if you get it right, you could offer quite a large cash prize to the biggest loser after (say) three months.

Do you want to do this to make money, or to help your self to lose weight OP?

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

That's a good idea Mintyy - I shall sit down as soon as I can and plan things out properly!!

I shall think more about how I can make it into a competition for a community based support group. I have seen other groups run a 12 or 20 week programme, with a cash prize going to the biggest loser at the end, so perhaps I could do the same.

Mother of two - for now I am just looking at running this group to support myself in my weight loss journey. i will charge a small fee just to cover my own costs (renting of the hall, and insurance if I have to pay any). Once I have lost weight, and gained some actual qualifications, I will look into ways to turn this into an income. I don't think it's fair to make money out of people when I know no more than they do!!