To think that Slimming World is a nasty organisation?

[Ohnotanothernamechange]

I'm not sure if anyone else is aware but Pinch of Nom, the hugely popular healthy eating and 'diet friendly' cookbook, have released a statement saying that they have been told to remove all mention of SW from their books and websites. This follows on from SW threatening to sue Aldi for launching a new healthy eating range that they thought was too similar to their own (they failed at this, obviously it's much harder to bully and intimidate a large international company...).

They've also made threats towards butchers and cafes for launching SW friendly produce. It's ridiculous. What are they so scared of? Funny that Weight Watchers don't have a problem with POM, also funny that SW haven't gone after WW for alterning their plan to make it similar to SW. See above about bullying large companies.

Ive long had issues with SW and believe it to be a money grabbing cult that doesn't really promote a healthier lifestyle, and this for me just proves it. Targeting small business trying to make a living just makes them seem really petty and nasty.

Don't get me started on all the wanky termonolgy they use like 'body magic' and 'image therapy either. How people sit through the meeting and don't piss themselves laughing at all that rubbish is a mystery?

[araiwa]

Ive never been

Because its always appeared to be absolute wank

[Ohnotanothernamechange]

I've been. It is wank. They also give people sparkly certificates similar to the kind that Primary School children get for doing good work /good behaviour like.

[FckIt]

Yup. I confirm it is wank.

[itbemay1]

And you sit in a circle and they discuss your weight loss/gain and everyone claps. Then as soon as you stop following SW plan all the weight goes back on!

[BlackBirdInMyGarden]

Well, I guess it shows these organisations for what their top priority is - making money, rather than supporting people to have a healthier lifestyle. Money first, always.

[gotmychocolateimgood]

It's not a sustainable way to lose weight. The only people I know on SW are vastly overweight and have been spending £5 a week on meetings. They are still overweight and go out for slap up meals with their group.

Reminds me of Little Britain fat fighters.

DUST

[taylorowmu]

Well I don't disagree with the pinch or nom situation. SW are not associated with them so don't want them referencing them in their publications. That's standard business practice.

The rest of it is what you make it. Or don't.

[WorraLiberty]

Well, I guess it shows these organisations for what their top priority is - making money, rather than supporting people to have a healthier lifestyle. Money first, always.

I'm not sure what the face is for?

Of course it's about making money. They're a business, not the NHS or a happy clappy religious group

[PixieLumos]

I hear a few people say they have done slimming world 2 or 3 times - so is it really working then?

[NoBaggyPants]

Irrespective of what you think of SW as a diet plan, they do have a right to protect their copyright. Aldi are known for copying other people's products, SW are far from the first to object.

The issue that SW has with Aldi, and the sausage manufacturer, is that Aldi etc were claiming their products had a certain number of "syns", without any verification from SW. That's misleading to customers.

SW works for some and doesn't for others. The whole group thing sounds horrific to me, but each to their own. I do however support their right to protect their product and now have others trading off their success.

[TeaForTheWin]

Meh...it's a big company that exists to make profit so...can't really blame them for having rottweiler lawyers lol.

I can't dislike them, lost 15lbs with them last year, still use their book when I need to drop a few lbs. Plus they never made me 'sign up' to a set membership time or anything, was just pay the fiver on the days I showed which I thought was pretty decent.

Achievement stickers and certificates were a bit odd though, would rather celebrate my weight loss with a big friggin pizza. And I did.

[NoBaggyPants]

• not (not now!)

[lanbro]

I have a coffee shop and we sell lots of homemade sw friendly meals...we advertise them as Skinny Planet

[taylorowmu]

I hear a few people say they have done slimming world 2 or 3 times - so is it really working then?

Every weight loss plan is the same. If you stop doing it you revert.

[glenthebattleostrich]

I made the mistake of joining. I only kept going because the meetings were often comedy gold. Their absolute devotion to Muller lights, like they are some kind of magic weight loss potion was bizarre too

[nothingtowearever]

I was always really dubious of SW but I've lost a stone and a half and am loving it. I don't stay for groups and hate the terminology like star week- just call it a bloody period!! I'm really disappointed about PON it's a brilliant website/cookbook etc

[BikeRunSki]

I lost 4 stone with SW, and have kept the majority of it off for 6 years.i didn’t use any special products, but the “plan” did make me think more about portion sizes of bread/cheese/treats/protein, and make me think more about filling up on fruit, veg etc. I have never bought a ready meal or one of their cereal bars!

As for PON and Aldi, surely SW are just protecting their brand?

[Idontwanttotalk]

I know an SW Consultant who is so dedicated to helping her clients and cares about them immeasurably. She used to be stones overweight and lost the weight gradually and eats very healthily now, still using SW methods. She cooks from scratch and doesn't use their frozen products as she considers them expensive.
She puts a great deal of effort into her talks and cooks samples for the clients and ensures raffle prizes are suitable.

Don't just say the SW organisation are nasty. An organisation comprises lots of people and Consultants are often former clients who want to help others because SW diets have helped them.

All companies try to sue if they think others have nicked their ideas/products. Look at the record industry. It doesn't mean they are nasty. They are just asserting their rights under patents etc.

[GertrudeCB]

I know someone who has been on SW for 10 + years - cult is right
Also
Syns?
Unlimited pasta ?
Fucking Mug Shots !!!!

[noodlenosefraggle]

The Pon thing is a copyright issue though, so fair enough they are protecting their brand. They do seem extremely rigid in their programme though, which I don't like. They don't seem to let the consultants deviate from the bloody awful meeting formula which is a complete waste of everyone's time. I believe WW has moved away from the clapping weight loss thing now. I think it works if you stick to it and you have huge amounts of weight to lose, but I know so many people, including me, who were a stone away from a healthy bmi who were stuck there forever and gave up.

[NoBaggyPants]

This follows on from SW threatening to sue Aldi for launching a new healthy eating range that they thought was too similar to their own (they failed at this, obviously it's much harder to bully and intimidate a large international company...)

Aldi did change their packaging to remove the copyrighted term, as did Asda.

[Vinorosso74]

I know someone who "does" Slimming World and it does seem a bit cultish (had to be careful typing that). It doesn't strike me as the healthiest diet either. One example berries with yoghurt-Muller Lite which is full of sweeteners; surely fat free Greek yoghurt is better??

[PizzaTaste]

SW were fine with PON before they went on to get the best selling non fiction book of all time or whatever it was

[ClashCityRocker]

They have a right to protect their brand....the problem (for them) is that due to the rise of social media it is quite easy to follow the plan without ever actually joining, which obviously hits their pockets.

So rather than improve what they offer for members, they're trying to prevent non members accessing syn data. It's a losing battle, really.

I do SW and go to group. It is as hellish as it sounds but it does keep me on track.

[constantlyseekinghappiness]

I have done slimming world. Lost 2 stone and have kept it off for 3 years so it worked well for me.
However i did think some of the food that you’re encouraged to eat as being low ‘syn’ or ‘syn free’ were ridiculous.

Muller lights and bloody fancy pot noodles.