Does SlimmingWorld work?

[DanteThunderstone]

I've got lard to shift and noticed they have a weekly meeting in the church outside my son's school just after school drop off time (no coincidence, I'm sure). Am I likely to become svelte and gorgeous if I sign up and go along or will I just spend all my money on SW ready meals while remaining bulgy?

I signed up through my GP :) you get 12 weeks free which is amazing.

I'm only in my second week but have lost 7lbs already and don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Husband's doing it too in solidarity and he's down 3lbs.

Definitely give your GP a call and get a referral if you can.

How are you getting on? Does it work?

@DanteThunderstone Did you carry on after the 12 weeks?

If you do it properly. Cook everything from scratch and control your portions by filling a third of your plate with veg then yes it will work brilliantly.

I lost 3 stone in it but put it back on

I haven't tried it yet but my kids go back to school next week so I think I'll go along to the first session after that.

Did you contact your doctor to see if they can refer you?

I know 2 people who have done it. 1 didn't really stick with it and is slightly larger now. Other was really strict on it and went from a size 20 to a size 10 within a year. She's kept within size 10/12 in the 6 years since she started and completely changed her attitude to food.

It can be done, but you need to see it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet.

It is, at its heart, a money making scheme. The majority of the money is made from the shop at group/ sales of their branded products. 90% of attendees regain the weight they’ve lost or more. People will say “It works if you stick with it” but given how many people can’t to stick with it, goes to show it’s not simple as that. And yes, I speak as an ex member. I lost 3 1/2 stone, regained for more than that. Massively regret starting, it did nothing to help my disordered eating aside from me getting into the habit of eating more fruit and veg.
Now I have focused more on dealing with my mental health, exercising regularly and gradually I’ve adjusted my eating habits, cook more from scratch and the weight is coming off without me feeling like I’m dieting or depriving myself (so not triggering bingeing).

Like others have said, it works while you're doing it. But stop and it all comes back on. Like any diet!!

The days of muller lights/weetabix cake/no gym are long gone though.

The plan does work if you stick to it but the meetings are long and incredibly boring I found and I don't really want to buy a raffle ticket to win a basket of fruit past its best and a couple of muller lights. I tried various meetings and the consultant would go round the whole room asking each person what they had lost and what they want to lose the following week it took ages I would say about 2 hours from start to finish.

Like WW too, SW does not fix your head so if you are eating because of emotional issues like so many of us do, then whilst you may lose, those triggers will still be there and can be hard to maintain - you sort of have to sort your life out as well as lose weight if there are issues behind your weight imo.

@Dante
Only if your local authority has signed up to Slimming World it's 12 weeks free if your GP recommends you.

I think SW is trying to adjust your eating habits. Low fat, lots of veg. Once you get to your final weight you no longer have to pay provided you stick within +or- 3lbs. They have a seperate guide for maintaining the loss.

Like lots of diets people assume that once they stop the weight will stay off even if they go back to normal. One of the tools I've found useful is the food diary where over a period you write down everything you eat. It can be an eye opener for all the stuff you eat but didn't think about.