to consider Slimming World for all of us?

[Mmmcoffee]

DH is hugely overweight. He knows it, keeps saying he will do something about it, but never does. I'm a bit overweight, not hugely so, have lost a stone in the past year and I'm now a size 14. I'd sort of like to lose more but not really worried TBH. DD is 14 and in a size 12, but her school trousers are getting tight and I'm concerned her weight is just going up. Her diet is crap really, but she won't eat fruit or veg apart from a couple of things so I'm at a bit of a loss.

I was thinking that if we all join Slimming World it will be a kick up the backside for all of us, and hopefully they will be able to give DD some guidelines on better choices on what to eat. DH isn't keen, he thinks he'll be the only bloke there - and I don't think he wants 'strangers' to acknowledge that he IS overweight because then he won't be able to put of doing something about it. My mum is worried that DD will 'get a complex' and it's dangerous to put these ideas in teenagers heads because she might 'go the other way and get anorexic'. But that's why I'm thinking of doing it as a family, so nobody is singled out.

What do you all think? braces self for the AIBU crowd

You think it would be better to just join myself then, would I be able to use the guidelines to cook for the whole family? I've never been, obviously, so not really any idea how it all works.

This is the thing with the multi million pound dieting industry

People tend to visit these clubs 'on and off'....

Surely if the healthy eating and exercise message was getting through and people really were making lifestyle changes, they wouldn't need to keep re-visiting?

i would, Mmmcoffee, Join yourself and get all the information (you also get access to the website for no extra cost) and once you get the hang of it scour ebay for recipe books etc.
I have loads left over from MIL and i just use them as normal recipe books, you really can't tell the difference..

Worra I would have said exactly the same as you before I joined. I love food, love eating it, cooking, thinking about it, trying new recipes, I'll never be a size 8 again (looked terrible when I was) but a 12 is my max size, so if I get a bit bigger I cut down any 'crap' that creeps in. I can't live my life with no food pleasure, that's just me but as long as my bmi is in the normal range I'm happy.

I think it is better for people to keep re-visiting as they want to keep that weight off that do nothing and then wonder why they are 3/4/5/6/7/8 stone overweight 10 years later.

It's about what works for you. Friend was a big, big girl. So many of us on an online group went on about how happy we were with SW she joined, lost 8 stone (yes 8 stone) in a year and is now a SW conssultant. She gets asked all the time if she had a gastric band as people can't accept that she did it with simply changing how and what she eats.

I think you joining at first is a good idea and if you cook the most at home then just cook the meals and protion size im sure they will get used to it ,

And there are loads of people that do it themselves! the reason people keep going to the groups is to socialize and to help them "stay on track" if they feel they need to. To meet people that are going through the same thing. For some people it's a very difficult thing to do alone and if this is where they find the motivation then so be it, it's their choice. The companies make money from it yes but surely if the outcome is a healthier lifestyle for the people that do enjoy it then it's their choice..

That's the thing though carrie as long as you eat sensibly and exercise, you don't need to live your life without food pleasure.

That's what makes me wonder if they really try to get that message across?

I suspect if they did, they'd be out of business or at least fairly low in it, as I imagine 'repeat' clients probably keep them going.

I second those that say go yourself , make changes to how you shop and cook and hopefully lead by example

Nobody loses weight unless they want to and it will be a waste of money dragging your DH and DD along unless they decide they want to go

Also I 100% dont think a slimming club is appropriate for a teenager

There are a few young members at my group and the emphasis is on introducing new foods especially fruit and veg, and on increasing exercise, actual weight change is hardly mentioned.

My dd isn't a member but goes with me most weeks and I think it's helped her to be more aware about what food is healthier/better for her and what food is a treat to be eaten less frequently or in smaller amounts.

What about joining yourself but taking her along with you as a guest?

Have you thought of just signing up for the Change4Life programme? It's free and you can be referred for various things via your GP if necessary, linked to this.

Change4Life

My dyspraxic DS was identified as being overweight by the school last term, so I used the various tools on their website, they sent me loads of free stuff included a special profile for him, I changed him to packed lunches, signed him up for some extra activities and started him cycling everywhere, and he's shaped up really well, and I don't think he would be classed as overweight any longer. You could say I am now a believer.

When I say on and off I mean once after I had dd and now after ds. This time I am staying a member even though I am at target. I don't pay and its stops bad habits sneaking in. Which is what happened last time.

As opposed to 'Slimming World'? Yeah that's putting her on the scales is much better for her self esteem.

Sorry, just to give a rounded view. My dad lost 2 stone as mum joined and he was eating the same food. When a bit came off from just changing his meals, it gave him a boost and he cut down on biscuits, chocolate etc. So maybe you going will help the others.

That's 'right' should say

I love Slimming World. It's helping me to address my bad eating habits and slooooooowly, I can feel my attitude towards food shifting. I'll now eat a salad because I actually WANT to eat a salad, rather than because I know it will be good for weight-loss.

I'm not in class at the moment due to having chemo, it's hard for me to know I'll be well enough, but I'm planning on going back in about three weeks and I cannot wait, honestly.

My oncologist was completely fine with me trying to stick to Slimming World plans whilst going through treatment as she knows it is just healthy eating rather than deprivation.

Op, I would go to the classes yourself first and see how you get on cooking for everyone. You can't make someone lose weight if they aren't ready to, but I can almost guarantee that if everyone eats what you cook, they'll lose some weight and start to feel healthier.

Exactly worra. Diets don't work, by forbidding or restricting anything you are setting yourself up for a fall. I should know I've done them all, SW WW Cambridge etc. All a load of rubbish, the only guarantee is you'll lose your money!

Thanks Boffin Change4Life is a great programme, I definitely recommend it, unfortunately DD was very keen on it initially but just hoarded the 'freebies' and ignored the advice. I tried following the advice and tips, but with absolutely zero support or interest from DH and DD i gave up.

Teaonesugar can I do that? Take a guest along? I think DD would come with me, she's usually interested in the various clubs and things I go to.

Just to share my story, I do think your DH needs to tackle his weight problem as this may be having an effect on your DD.

My dad is obese, and has been for, well, ever. This had a massive impact on me and my brothers growing up. We were teased constantly and I was embarrassed to go out with him because of comments and looks from strangers. I know this has had a huge impact on me and my body image, I was overweight till about 14/15, lost weight, put it back on and then in my twenties went completely the other way and just stopped eating and got quite ill. I have never and probably will never have a "normal" relationship with food and body image and am not hyper aware that I don't pass any of this on to DD.

Perhaps this has no relevance to your family life, but I do think that if a member of the family is very overweight this kind of "normalises" it IYSWIM especially for children.

If you DH is very overweight a better option than SW would be for him to go to his GP and speak to them about his options.

Encouraging healthy eating at home is great, especially coupled with family exercise. Putting a 14 year old on a diet is not a good idea IMO. I think building good habits for life is much better. Some of the principals of the SW diet will do just that but getting food angst in her head is a recipe for life long struggles in my experience.

My consultant is more than happy for me to take dd along, I'm sure any consultant would be the same.

Egginabap - they only work if you are committed to the change. Sw does not restrict anything. You want wine? Have it, chocolate? Have it. You just have to make sure you are not over doing it with treats. Which is the heart of any healthy eating plan.

Egg sorry that diets and clubs don't work for you. They do seem to work for a lot of people though. I'm certainly not intending to shove DD on a set of scales in front of a bunch of people , sorry if I gave that impression, I didn't mean to.

I also think that being an 'emotional eater' can sometimes be a learned behaviour from a parent/sibling. I agree with the above poster about your DH perhaps being the key to this. He has to get on board for your daughters sake :)

Slimming world is nothing like the cambridge diet, or any other prescriptive, restrictive diet.

There's nothing you can't eat on slimming world, you just have to learn to make sensible choices, if you can manage that on your own you don't need the support.

I think it would be a good idea to go yourself the meals are very family friendly no restrictions on portions etc so your husband and daughter probably won't notice but will benefit.