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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:
sadeyedladyofthelowlands63 · 02/07/2017 17:02

I lost a lot of weight (about six stone) with Slimming World just over ten years ago. I have remained more or less at target since then. I've never eaten a Mullerlight (as they are not vegetarian) or a Mugshot (as they are vile). I've never had the Iceland ready meals; I generally cook from scratch most of the time and try and keep two thirds of my plate "speed" foods (veg, salad and fruit).

I appreciate SW doesn't suit everybody, but it works for me. And the consultant at my current group definitely doesn't "push" the convenience foods - in fact last week she recommended limiting the amount of Mugshots people ate.

NachoAddict · 02/07/2017 17:04

Pixies I mentioned my son who has diabetes, I was referring to the cooking from scratch and having a third of your plate vegetables as suiting us.

We have to carb count for fruit of course so that's no unlimited but he can have ad much protein and vegetables as he wants and Muller Greek style have low sugar compared to most yogurts.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/07/2017 17:10

I dont really call the equivalent of 6tsps of sugar in one yoghurt low in sugar tbh.

Most people wouldn't have that in a cup of tea. To put that in a low fat yoghurt and market it as healthy is not right.

MessyBun247 · 02/07/2017 17:12

They push muller lights because they are sponsored by them!! They are full of sugar which causes weight gain. SW is well aware of this. But they dont care.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 02/07/2017 17:15

I'll say it again. People are angry because you are intentionally being goady.

Having a different opinion on the churches of SW and WW is just that. A different opinion. Nothing goady about it.

MessyBun247 · 02/07/2017 17:15

That was in response to Nancy91

tabulahrasa · 02/07/2017 17:20

"Most people wouldn't have that in a cup of tea. To put that in a low fat yoghurt and market it as healthy is not right."

They don't, read the labels...the sugar includes the lactose naturally occurring in yoghurt and the fructose naturally occurring in fruit, they have almost the same sugar levels as plain yoghurt and fruit.

The sugar listed is all sugars, not added sugars.

The add some weird shit like, in my mind gelatine has no business in yoghurts, but the sugar isn'tjust added sugar.

NachoAddict · 02/07/2017 17:21

Pixie are you referring to the Greek ones? I don't know how much sugar is in then but I do know that it is lower than almost all other yogurts including plain old fat free natural yogurt or full fat. I have checked. Those and the light and free.

Nancy91 · 02/07/2017 17:22

Messy, sugar doesn't cause weight gain. A surplus in calories causes weight gain. Hit up google. I get that they are sponsored by muller but that makes no difference to that fact.

YoungBritishPissArtist · 02/07/2017 17:28

The poster upthread who asked where to get a spray bottle to max oil and water. I use something like this, a quid from Wilko

Mullerlight yogurts and mugshots should come with a health warning
Sugarformyhoney · 02/07/2017 18:04

I tried SW and it seemed to be full of fake foods.. mullers, fry lite and quorn etc. Most of the recipes were foul. Its a business at the end of the day- the average person is on and off it several times and when they get to target find it difficult to maintain without going 'back on plan' and round they go again. People seem to be on it for years

Original poster
Co1onelblimp · 02/07/2017 18:07

Ah, so SW are sponseed by mullerlight. Makes sense now. The Aldi or Lidl version (can't remember which) have identical nutrition info, but are synned albeit lowly by SW. Hmm They are also cheaper!
WPissartist that's a a bargain.

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 02/07/2017 18:12

You name diet iv followed it. Iv found sw to be the easiest to stick to even if it's just roughly when i'm not dieting i.e. making sure i have plenty of veg/salad with each meal, trying to cook from scratch and limit processed foods.

tabulahrasa · 02/07/2017 18:13

"Ah, so SW are sponseed by mullerlight. Makes sense now. The Aldi or Lidl version (can't remember which) have identical nutrition info, but are synned albeit lowly by SW."

They're not and they're not...

The Lidl and Aldi muller style yoghurts all have no syns as far as I know, I've only ever checked a couple of flavours though... activia zero fat yoghurts also, some Danone ones, weight watchers ones and a load of supermarket own brand ones, I'm assuming there are more as well, they're just the ones I know of the top of my head.

Allthewaves · 02/07/2017 18:13

iv also adapted sw to suit me by not counting olive oil when cooking for example and iv had good steady losses

NorksAkimbo72 · 02/07/2017 18:15

There are people who are in my sw group who have never really cooked, but relied on takeaways or convenience food, hence why they gained weight. For those people, being able to microwave a 'free' meal, throw some water in a packet mix, or snack on packaged meats, etc., it's the only way they are going to be able to get the weight off. So, unfortunately, sw pitches to those folks...they need to be able to get on with the plan in a way that they can make work for them. For people like me, who have some basic nutrition knowledge and an enjoyment of most healthy, 'real' foods, it can sound like you're being forced to eat shite you don't like. I am smart enough to know the difference. I'm also smart enough to know that if I eat a kilo of pasta for my dinner, I'm not really going to lose much (that's part of why I gained to start with...lots and lots of 'healthy' food, with no regard to portion size). My leader doesn't ever demonize any food...she just encourages us to eat more fruit and veg, make sure our plates are full of colour, and to eat until we are satisfied, not stuffed.
The syn thing is a bit cringey, I admit. However, where previously, I would think nothing of eating a packet or two of crisps, or a big chocolate bar...having to syn those has made me more mindful...and I can now be more satisfied with a small bar or chocolate, for example...it's changed the way I think about the portion sizes for those things that's made a difference.

The avocado thing drives me crazy too, but like some of the other posters have said, I still eat them, and I do syn them, but I'll never understand why they're synned rather than just part of the plan.
I don't eat muller lights, I used hi fi bars at first when I was getting to grips with the program (but I now prefer real chocolate if I want something sweet), and I don't eat the ready meals. You can make it what you want...i prefer my own recipes adapted to sw, but that won't work for everyone.

autumngold6 · 02/07/2017 18:18

Sugarformyhoney - it's a healthy eating plan for life - when you reach target you are meant to just increase your healthy extras until your weight stabilises. Of course, if people go back to their old ways they put the weight back on. It is not meant to be a diet diet or a quick fix. Once you are at target you can go to classes for free as long as you stay within 3 pounds either side of your target. If you go over you have a few weeks to adjust it. I have lost several stone very gradually and am very happy with the food I have, wouldn't want to go back to my old ways. I cook healthy filling meals from scratch and just have a few treats. It works for me and many others.

Pombliboo123 · 02/07/2017 18:24

Here's a thought.... how about it's nobody's business what anyone else is shoving in there face!!!!!

If somebody wants to do slimming world - great

If somebody wants to do no carbs - great

If somebody wants to nibble on lettuce all day - good for them

If somebody wants to eat McDonald's every meal every day - STILL NOT YOUR BUSINESS.

Let people do what they like and be who they want instead of saying shouldn't eat this this is bad for you too much sugar not enough fat blah blah blah

As a disclaimer I do slimming world. I can see it's flaws and don't think it's perfect but I like it and I'm losing weight which is what I want before my holiday.

tabulahrasa · 02/07/2017 18:27

"The avocado thing drives me crazy too, but like some of the other posters have said, I still eat them, and I do syn them, but I'll never understand why they're synned rather than just part of the plan."

Because however good for you they are, they're coming up for 400 calories each, and that's a snack or part of a meal, not something you'd eat by itself.

NorksAkimbo72 · 02/07/2017 19:18

tabulahrasa yes...i never thought about how calorific they are...
Pombliboo you are spot on. It's no one's business!!

I admire people who have the discipline to just cut portions sizes or stop eating 'junk' food...it doesn't work for me. But, to each her own...i don't evangelize SW to everyone I meet, if someone asks how I've done it, I tell them, but I'm certainly no poster child.

CharlieSierra · 02/07/2017 19:27

I've done SW and the promotion of non-food shite and 'synning' of perfectly healthy food drove me wild. No, you don't have to eat crap, but the 1/3 plate speed food thing is actually relatively new, it was even worse before. They do really push the 'look at all this food you can eat, you will never be hungry' line and quite honestly relying on fat people to self regulate is not the best idea. You need a calorie deficit to lose weight and a lot of people are completely ignorant about nutrition. I've heard someone say they had 3 'free' mullers to 'get their chocolate fix'. Utterly stupid, they could have had a bar of chocolate for fewer calories. I gave it a go online again recently but soon gave up in irritation and I've lost 1.5 stone in 5 weeks on the blood sugar diet instead, eating real healthy food. I wouldn't have gone back to class in my village anyway as the leader is obese and how can you take advice from someone who clearly can't do it themselves. Bonkers.

Groovee · 02/07/2017 19:51

I lost a lot of weight by following SW and kept it off for 4 years until I fell ill. I gained a lot more back due to being bed bound a lot and barely being able to cook properly.

Started back at SW in January. Have lost 3st 1lb since then. Not had a Muller light at all but have had the odd mug shot on poorly days with added protein and salad.

My consultant regularly tells us to eat until full and not to stuff yourself.

It feels like a constant whinging on AIBU that SW is all about millers and mugshots when it's not!

VelvetSpoon · 02/07/2017 20:18

the problem with following advice to eat til you're full is that as fat people we don't know when we're full. If we only ate til we were full, and controlled our portions we wouldn't be over weight in the first place!

I know lots of people who do SW who (as mentioned upthread) eat their food off platters. Not dinner plates. At no time is it suggested their portions are too big but they clearly are.

I honestly think sw only works for people who already have good portion control and mostly who only have a small amount to lose.

INeedANameChange · 02/07/2017 20:32

I've never eaten a mug shot, muller light or hi fi bar.

I lost 2st on SW.

I did it online though so no group cult mentality. Just common bloody sense.

footballmum · 02/07/2017 20:46

As with all diet plans the rate of success is down to the commitment of the people doing it. The SW class I went to was ok but I haven't done very well on the plan. I don't blame the plan though - it's all down to me!

These plans make their money because, essentially, we're all a bit crap and don't stick to them or fall back into old ways. I did (inwardly) chuckle at a lady at my class who was very proud about being the group's longest standing member. She'd been going for 7 years and that night announced she'd lost 2lbs and was now back to the weight she was when she started 7 years ago. Cue great applause from the whole class Shock Grin