Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Slimming World

31 replies

Coughandsplutter · 22/06/2017 12:11

Posting for traffic. 14 weeks post baby number two. Weigh 12 stone 4 and I'm about 5 foot 7 and a bit. Heaviest I've ever been. Normally about 10.5 stone before kids etc. Feeling unhappy about weight but not much motivation to cut down on snacks as sugar is a quick fix to give me energy. Know about balanced diets etc but no time, no motivation and I'm not confident in the kitchen. I was considering SW, never done it before, or anything similar. Is it any good or a load of crap. AIBU to consider SW or should I wait?

OP posts:
Sunnydaysrock · 22/06/2017 12:14

Been doing SW for 13 years. It's great. Educates you about food. I have good balance now of 'being good' and eating nice stuff too, eg chocolate, crisps, wine etc.

ChesterFuckingDraws · 22/06/2017 12:17

You'll get people saying it's fab and others saying it's a lot of rubbish and to try X, Y & Z as they're so much better.

Over the years I've tried lots of diets (slim fast, exante, weight watchers) and used diet pills none have been sustainable long term and last year I weighed the heaviest I'd ever been.
I joined SW and I've lost 4st and feel so much better. For me it's not overly restrictive and it's been the only thing that's kept me on track (I need the weekly weigh in to keep me motivated and since I hate being told I've put on I usually do try really hard)

THeres lots of info on here and social media to give you an idea if you think it will be something you can get along with.

dontlikebeards · 22/06/2017 12:18

I would definitely recommend it. I've lost just under a stone a half since January. It's quite easy and you don't feel hungry all the time.

Supersoaryflappypigeon · 22/06/2017 12:19

I do WW. Tried slimming world but I ate way too much "free" food and not enough "speed" food so I struggled. WW is strict enough for me. I already know how to be healthy-my problem is portion control.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 22/06/2017 12:19

I love SW but I know people who hate it. I rejoined a couple of months ago as I'd got into bad habits again and needed a kick up the backside. I've lost 1.5 stone in 10 weeks. My friend quit coming with me after a month as it just didn't work for her

Groupie123 · 22/06/2017 12:20

I tried SW but prefer my fitness pal. I like counting calories rather than portions or following diet plans because it means I can eat anything I want and plan my weeks with over and under days, and it makes maintenance so much easier. It's also free which was a big motivater :)

katplva · 22/06/2017 12:21

I was in the same boat as you - I joined slimming world last year at 3 months post baby. Over 7 months I lost just over 2 stone and got back to my pre-baby weight (however my pre-baby shape is quite a different matter - I think I need more exercise for that!)

I think slimming world worked for me because it got me back into eating proper meals and fewer snacks, although I never felt too deprived. I needed the structure and accountability of the programme, especially when I was tired and usually craving sugar/caffeine hits! It was a slow but steady weight loss and it has stayed off since. You can always give it a go for a couple of months and see if it's a good fit for you?

GlitterRoseGold · 22/06/2017 12:23

Op your stats are nearly the same as mine when I had my dd. I followed SW half heartedly, gave up in the end and I'm now 14 stone. I'm so annoyed with myself but I'm finding My fitness pal to be much better and wish I'd have followed that from the start as it's so easy to use. It also means I don't have to change any family meals just plan ahead and have smaller portions with more fruit and veg.

WeeWillyWinkieFromEccles · 22/06/2017 12:26

I've lost three and a half stone with SW in recent months. I prefer it as I don't like having to weigh and measure everything to do calorie counting efficiently. I'd rather know that there's a big long list of stuff that I can eat without having to measure out portions, and then a smaller list of stuff that I can still have but do have to exercise some control over.

It's important to think of it as a complete, permanent change of lifestyle though, rather than a 'diet'. When you reach your target, you can't just go back to how you were eating before. That's how I've managed to regain a stone which I'm now losing again.

Also you don't have to go down the Muller light, Frylight, artificial sweetener route that SW does seem to push a lot. Basically replacing fatty stuff with artificial equivalents. Base your meals around fresh veg and lean protein with a small amount of carbs and you won't go wrong.

Doodlebug5 · 22/06/2017 12:31

You need to find what works for you. I do sw because I don't have time to weigh stuff I don't have the ability to eat healthily and I'm hungry all the time.

Ww works if you know how to eat healthily but just need portion control.

Calorie counting works Similar to ww

IHaveACrapCat · 22/06/2017 12:32

I'm also 5'7" and currently weigh 12st which is my heaviest, so am with you on that one.

I've done SW previously, however for the amount you have to lose I think WW may be a better option. SW works best for those with a lot to lose, and has a warped sense of filling up on "free" foods, that still contain calories. Personally I think WW is best for those with smaller amounts to lose.

GlitterRoseGold · 22/06/2017 12:34

My fitness pal is calorie counting but it's much easier as it lets you scan all your food using their barcodes so it very easy to use.

For example this morning I had a bacon sandwich all I had to do was scan the bread packet and take out 2 slices, scan the bacon and take out 2 slices and cook, simple

Groupie123 · 22/06/2017 12:38

My fitness pal also lets you create recipes. It's known that people keep it off for longer when they use MFP because you're not following a faff diet.

LumpySpaceCow · 22/06/2017 12:39

Any diet works if you stick to it. I'm not a fan of slimming world as think it encourages over eating and you end up putting random foods with each other. I prefer the balanced diet approach!
Give it ago but be prepared for all the wanking over muller light yoghurt that happens in every group Grin

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 22/06/2017 12:42

I have been doing SW since January 2016 and have lost more than 7st so far. I have about 1 more stone to go to target.

For me, it has worked where every other diet has failed & I think that's mainly down to the flexibility and the fact that it actually has re-educated me on how to eat well. I'm 41 & have been overweight all of my adult life so, as you can imagine, I have tried many diets Grin.

I'd say give it a go. If you don't like it or don't find it helpful you can always stop.

Original poster
Coughandsplutter · 22/06/2017 12:44

Wow, thanks so much for your replies and advice. I assume MFP is an app? I had a really good day yesterday but today has already gone tits up. I need to plan more.

OP posts:
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 22/06/2017 12:45

you end up putting random foods with each other

be prepared for all the wanking over muller light yoghurt that happens in every group

I've never done either Confused.

FoofFighter · 22/06/2017 12:46

Know about balanced diets etc but no time, no motivation and I'm not confident in the kitchen

If this really is the case then it appears you're not ready to start dealing with it yet by joining SW, (or whatever) if you're not in the mindset, no dieting plan will work.

FoofFighter · 22/06/2017 12:47

posted too soon..

Joining SW won't magically give you the time, motivation or cooking skills

FlyingElbows · 22/06/2017 12:51

I'm nearly 3 stone down since January as a SW member. It won't hurt to give it a go but, like any weight loss plan, it will only work if you are ready to do it. You have to make changes and maintain them. No plan can do the work for you. The idea that you eat mountains of food and your own body weight in sweeteners on SW is rubbish. Nowhere in the published literature are those ideas promoted. They come about through people not making changes and simply trying to replicate their previously shit diet. SW is not a competition to eat as much as you can. It's "eat to your appetite" not "eat til you explode"! In order for people to be successful then at some point they have to address the volume they eat. In the initial stages the plan simply asks to people to make changes to their food choices. If you do it properly then it works. But, like I said, only if you're ready to do it. Go along to your local group and see how get on and if it's not for you then no harm done.

Boatsnack · 22/06/2017 12:51

I do slimming world, I really couldn't get on with the faff of my fitness pal and because I'm tall and fat it wanted me to eat eleventybillion calories a day and told me off when I couldn't do it.

My group doesn't push the muller light artificial sweetener malarkey. My consultant is all about tonnes of fresh fruit and veg everything else in moderation.

Groupie123 · 22/06/2017 13:01

I lost 4 stone using MFP and have kept it off (ie maintained) for 7 years at 2,000 calories a day because I also walk a minimum 5 miles a day and am considered active. I'm now losing the last stone for vanity. It really does work and it helps you understand calories - if you have one bad day you can often make up for it across the week.

GlitterRoseGold · 22/06/2017 13:02

Boatsnack- you amend the calories yourself and set your own target. You just go into the settings and change your daily limit

GlitterRoseGold · 22/06/2017 13:04

I got bored really fast with sw food and meals. Plus I found most of it so bland even following the recipes correctly and adding extra herbs and spices.

Mullerlights have beef gelatine in them and it put me off them just why? They are full of artificial sweetener and not one bit healthy

IvorHughJarrs · 22/06/2017 13:11

I'm doing SW at the moment. Was reluctant to try it but had been doing low-carb and was finding it hard to stick to so GP suggested this.

I think there are different ways to do it according to what you want. There are some who buy all the low-fat processed stuff and spend their "syns" on chocolate and fake sweet stuff where others, me included, tend to focus on fruit and veg, unprocessed fresh foods and a healthy approach. Both groups seem to lose weight if they eat within the rules