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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mullerlight yogurts and mugshots should come with a health warning

224 replies

Co1onelblimp · 02/07/2017 10:15

I started doing .SW at home with the help of lots of online resources. I've never contemplated going to a class, as years ago I went to a WW one and couldn't bear it.

I hear a SW class is even more cringyBlush
Anyhow, 'syning' (what an awful word) things like houmous and avocado, and demonising olive oil , while pushing shite like mullerlighs and mugshots seems to be the order of the day. (Friend lasted six weeks but has now left)

Looking at the ingredients of both yesterday while shopping, i couldn't help thinking they looked like they were made in a laboratory,- lots of awful additives and chemicals.

AIBU to think Sw shouldn't be allowed to promote these 'foods' when they are anything but healthy.
Also, does anyone know if Mullerlight sponsor Slimming World?

OP posts:
Original poster
Co1onelblimp · 02/07/2017 12:20

I think I said upthread that my friend was told to snack on cold meats if she was feeling hungry between meals. Same with the bloody mullers.
She is vegetarian!
The leader seemed to have no clue about basic nutrition.

OP posts:
DilysMoon · 02/07/2017 12:21

I came on to say look at Rebelfit, he pretty much nails it imo regarding SW and the diet industry in general.

TempusEedjit · 02/07/2017 12:22

I think it's like anything, it all depends on the particular SW group you go to and what the leader is like there. For instance you wouldn't assume all bosses or teachers etc are really good just because your own boss or DC's teacher is great.

Personally the SW group I went to consisted of 1/2 hour weighing everyone, 1/2 hour going round the room listening to everyone's results that week, then 1/2 hour pushing SW ready meals and the like ("it's preferable to cook from fresh but we all lead busy lives don't we...great news the SW curry sauce is back in stock in the Iceland in town!!) And yes, mullerlights, mugshots and hi-fi bars were pushed as healthy snacks. I stopped going after the leader insisted I must be doing the plan incorrectly following a 2lb gain the week I had my mirena coil fitted.

The only thing I'm grateful to SW for was alerting me to the existence of low calorie/low carb unsweetened almond milk. It's now one of my favourite snacks!

VelvetSpoon · 02/07/2017 12:31

There is probably something in it being dependant on your leader. In both groups I've been to mullers, mugshots and eating as much as you could were heavily promoted. Neither leader was slim, one was probably in the overweight category (about a size 16) but when she talked about what she ate it was clear she had no portion control - a tub of quark as dessert, a pack of bacon and eggs for brekkie albeit with a whole heap of tomatoes and mushrooms, etc.

The other leader had originally lost a huge amount with SW ( about 12 stone or more I think) but when I last saw her had regained most of that. But was still leading groups...

VelvetSpoon · 02/07/2017 12:35

Agree about the almond milk, it's lovely. I have to hide it to stop dS2 drinking a whole carton in one go.

Interesting about lunches, more suggestions than I ever got at SW groups! Most people said omlettes etc not helpful when you're at work. Or jacket potatoes (ditto when you have no microwave!)

SleightOfHand · 02/07/2017 12:36

I've just looked it up on Wiki. SW isn't owned by any big corporation but WW is owned by Kraft, they are huge, own soooo many companies.

justaweeone · 02/07/2017 12:39

Link fail
Have a look at James Smith Training on Facebook
He's done a video regarding slimming world!

tabulahrasa · 02/07/2017 13:33

"Interesting about lunches, more suggestions than I ever got at SW groups!"

Some groups are better than others, I have to go to different ones because of changes in my work schedule and you really do get huge differences between groups.

CuntTrollingRs · 02/07/2017 13:50

Why do they spell 'syn' like that?

I hate the goodies/treats /'being naughty'/cheat day/reward language.
Most of the 'goodies' are baddies nutritionally speaking.

When did we start talking as though we were playing a game rather than just eating food?

Think I'll write a very short diet book. Called EatShit FeelShit. EatBetterFeelBetter. Blank throughout, just write down what you ate i.e.shit or no shit, then how you felt after. Observe the pattern and adjust until you feel better.

ALemonyPea · 02/07/2017 13:54

People who think they can gave unlimited free food and still lose weight are either not getting the plan, repeat joiners or have a crap consultant.

I've got great portion control, don't overindulge in carbs, and don't pile my plates sky high.

Mullerlights are 100ish calls each, you're never going to lose weight filling up on those. They taste like fruit flavoured vomit anyway.

PratStick · 02/07/2017 13:55

Crappy foods aren't great for you but neither is morbid obesity so if this helps people to lose weight, can't see the issue.

Vaping has probably got loads of weird shit in it but at least it's not cancer

NachoAddict · 02/07/2017 13:58

I do slimming world, I use my syns for nuts and cheese, they aren't banned.

I follow the plan after each pregnancy and it works fine but I never have more than a stone to lose. I like it because it has taught me how to cook from scratch and encourages me to eat veg with my meals and snack on fruit before choclate/crisps.

Oh we do eat the Muller Greek style yogurts too but I like them and they are suitable for DS1 who has type1 diabetes. Infact I have found that the whole slimming world way of eating suits his diabetes well and means that we don't have to make separate meals or but seperate snacks.

BraveBear · 02/07/2017 14:06

Crappy foods aren't great for you but neither is morbid obesity so if this helps people to lose weight, can't see the issue.

That's the thing. If you've reached a high weight, chances are you have been eating badly anyway. I know I ate terribly. At 17 stone nobody questioned what I was eating. But the second you say you want to lose weight everyone wants to scrutinize the ingredients in your meals! Why throw additional obstacles at someone who is primarily trying to get their weight down? It's not helpful.

Luckymummy22 · 02/07/2017 14:07

Well I've just reached target after 8 1/2 months on SW. I've spent loads of time in the kitchen and most of my meals are made from fresh. I don't really eat many yogurts on their own. I do use fat free natural Greek style yogurt in my overnight oats. Mugshots I do enjoy occasionally. Or naked noodles. Sometimes you just need something quick. I think I'm healthier being my current weight that being my previous weight and If that means filling my body with crap occasionally then so be it. But I have never eaten so many vegetables and that can only be a good thing

PratStick · 02/07/2017 14:12

Yes brave! I've noticed that too.

Muller light may be full of shit but it's no worse than a mars bar which people happily polish off. Dieters should exist on air and good will

Trills · 02/07/2017 14:12

Your OP does not sound particularly sensible or thoughtful.

A kneejerk reaction of "urgh, chemicals" is not a good way to go about your life.

And wondering whether Slimming World should be "allowed" to suggest particular foods? Allowed by who?

It's true that many of the group leaders don't know much about nutrition, and that some people try to "game" the system in order to eat as much as they can. But demonising chemicals and talking about people being "allowed" doesn't make you sound like someone who is thinking reasonably.

Original poster
Co1onelblimp · 02/07/2017 14:56

I'm thinking very reasonably thank you. Just because you don't like what I'm saying doesn't make it untrue.!
There's no need to be so defensive about what is essentially a multi million pound business pushing it's products and promoting it's shit food as healthy.
There are plenty of people on this thread who have said that SW actively promote things like mug shots and mullerlight yogurts at their meetings.

OP posts:
Trills · 02/07/2017 15:16

I think we do agree in places.

We agree that nobody is going to become healthier or thinner by taking a system like this and immediately trying to figure out how to game it.

We agree that companies pushing their branded foods as part of a weight loss plan are taking advantage of people who are not yet feeling confident enough to make choices for themselves.

But we are never going to agree about "health warnings" and "allowed" and "shit food" and "chemicals".

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/07/2017 16:27

You can have unlimited fruit and veg whilst occasionally indulging in something you fancy.

Unlimited fruit and veg isn't healthy either. Ask any diabetic who knows their stuff.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/07/2017 16:31

Fat free is not sugar free. So how can it be free of sugars? Hmm

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/07/2017 16:32

CuntTrollingRs

Trademarking innit.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/07/2017 16:36

Dieters should exist on air and good will

No. Common sense is all that is needed.

Nancy91 · 02/07/2017 16:42

It's because you lose weight via a deficit in calories.

If you eat loads of avocado, oil and humus you'll gain weight. Muller lights are pretty low calorie for how much you get and they satisfy sweet cravings so that's why they push that sort of thing. Simple.

Sirzy · 02/07/2017 16:47

Well my consultant actively discourages people from using muller lights...

It's like any other way of losing weight. If you want it and you are in the right head place to follow it long term then it will work. If you aren't then your wasting your time.

The bonus is that it has options for the "cook everything from scratch" to the "if it doesn't come from a microwave I can't be bothered" and everything in between. It's about finding what works for you.