to think i can do my own slimming world?

[meladeso]

I was going to start going, as I've about 2 stone to lose. I was thinking I could do with the structure, to keep me on track. But honestly, I just don't really want to join.

I don't find eating healthy that hard, but I eat too much (portions) and snack too much. And definitely drink way too much.
So I'm struggling to be consistent. I do do some exercise, but that's not enough on its own to shift this!

So I wanted to ask whether anyone has successfully managed their weight off their own back, without using a club / programme? And whether you'd share your ideas with me please?

I'm thinking I'll buy some good scales, set myself a weekly reminder for a weigh in, and write things down in some sort of book - calories/fat whatever, and weight lost.

I was planning to use MFP to track myself, and maybe do a sweep of the better healthy chefs to get an assortment of ideas for recipes and snacks.

I'd be very grateful for any more suggestions.

I know people who pay for the first one to get the book and info then not return and do it alone off of that. Works well :)

haha i didn't know that was possible!

There's no reason it wouldn't work for you, but I honestly wouldn't have had the willpower to stick to it on my own - that's just me. Do you have a friend who you could work together with on it?

if you struggle with portion sizes but otherwise eat helathily, i don't the SW is for you. Their ethos is structured around a preponderance of (often quite bizarre) "free" foods that you are encouraged to effectively binge on if you need to even things that should be eaten moderately, like pasta. They also strongly encourage you to eat very processed "diet" products like Muller Light yoghurts heavy on sweetener, additives like gelatin (yuck) and not a lot of protein or things that will actually encourage satiety. If portion control is your aim, SW won't help you get there. If sticking to healthy whole foods found in nature is what you'd like to do, SW won't help with that either.

If you're used to large portions, it will take some time to get your stomach (and brain) used to eating more normal portions. So it's inevitable that you will feel in some sense deprived and/or hungry. If you have previously used food as a comfort or a reward you will also need to learn to recognise your emotional cues for overeating and triggers for stress etc. and develop ways to work around these -- distractions, alternatives, etc.

I don't think SW is a very good diet.

Yup I joined up, got the books and never went back.

It never worked for me but I was breast feeding a very hungry baby and I later found out that you’re supposed to ‘stop eating when you’re full’ or it won’t work.

I was never, ever full. I was constantly hungry. It was definitely linked to breast feeding.

It depends on you and what you need. For a lot of people sw works because of the ongoing support which you don’t get when you go alone

that's interesting, no in light of that i don't think SW is right for me. I never eat processed or "diet" foods like you describe above.

I never eat diet or processed foods but have lost 7 stone the last 4 with sw (because going it alone stopped working)

I think it depends on the person. I needed the structure, support and frankly the rigour of being weighed weekly and not being able to make excuses. You might be different, but equally, if you were, would you be in this situation in the first place?

I think its useful to ask yourself why you don't want to go to the classes - is it because you can't really face the reality of being on a diet? If so, you are less likely to stick to it on your own.

The £5 a week is to stand on a set of scales and have someone write the result in your book, the tips and motivation you can easily get online for free.

You can also find the recipes online, I like the facebook page 'pinch of nom' they put lots of recipes on there with the syn allowance, I've used a lot of their syn free ones.

I'm another who is back on the diet wagon for new year, I've bought a calendar to write my weight every week and am putting £10 into a sealed tin on weigh day that I'll open when I'm at target and use for new clothes.

Neverever - I agree on the blurgh-ness of processed rubbish like muller lights, have never bought either sweetener or frylite, but still lost 3.5stone with SW before falling PG

I lost 2 stone in 3 months (11st - 9st) by cutting calories and walking/running. I also used a Davina DVD to tone up - although I'll be honest and say that was the first thing I gave up - I just didn't have the motivation to keep it up.

I used some low cal ready meals but only things I liked anyway and nothing overly processed - I used them for pure laziness sake because I didn't have to calculate every ingredient. For the most part however I cooked what I normally cook but cut down (not cut out) carbs and replaced with loads more steamed vegetables. The low carbing wasn't because I don't like carbs but because I do like big portions so swapping for veg meant I could eat more. I used MFP to track everything.

I walked A LOT and slowly built up to running to the point where I was doing a 10K in about 55min. (I never ran more than 10K - I have my limits!)

That was almost 5 years ago and while my weight has fluctuated (due to various things like international moves, family illness/stress and pure laziness/greed), I have never gone more than 8lb over 9st and when it has crept up again I have very easily been able to identify why and got it off again simply by being more consistent for a few weeks.

Definitely doable. WW and SW are a total con - they don't teach you to eat normally in any way and frankly while other people supporting us is helpful - that should really be our family/friends - not a bunch of strangers

I've lost 2 1/2 stone in 15 months doing my own thing (I'm 5 feet 7 and was exactly 13 stone when I started this in Sept 2016). I'd just had enough of how I looked and was nudging a size 18. So I looked at my macros, eating protein (chicken, fish, eggs etc) at every meal, fat (avocado or nuts in a thumb sized portion) veg for the fibre bit and eliminating all carbs for the first 3 weeks, coupled with HIIT exercise three times a week. After those 3 intense weeks I had lost 5kg, about 10lbs which was enough to spur me to keep on. I now eat this way and have a meal I fancy (pasta or risotto or something) once a week to keep me on track and make me not feel like I'm missing out. I also give myself time off for good behaviour for my birthday, christmas etc.

One controversial tactic that's kept me accountable is weighing myself every single day. I don't think you're meant to, but it works for me. I really enjoy my HIIT classes and do spinning once or twice a week in addition and I'm so much happier, physically and mentally. If you want to do it, you can, good luck!

I lost 2 stone last year with SW but absolutely hate the meetings. I’m planning on trying to go it alone starting now.

I’ve got asunder holiday booked with a very slim friend and simply can’t be this weight.

I’ve got 4 stones to lose in total to get me within a healthy weight so it’s a long road but one I’ll have to take!

Oh I'm joining tomorrow night, for me personally I don't think I have enough self motivation/will power to do it on my own but If you think you can do it then why not?

There are lots of Facebook pages for doing slimming world from home. Might be worth a look.
Good luck!

HappyEverIftar love that! well done! That gives me hope....

They also strongly encourage you to eat very processed "diet" products like Muller Light yoghurts -- heavy on sweetener, additives like gelatin (yuck) and not a lot of protein or things that will actually encourage satiety

Total bollocks. The free food is also lean meat, fish, eggs, quorn (all high protein), pulses, fruit and vegetables and low fat dairy. You can have muller lights if you like, but they really want people following the plan to cook fresh healthy food from scratch with lots of lean protein and veg.

They only include things like muller lights to help the people who are used to eating rubbish transition from high calorie snacks to lower calorie ones.

OP look into Slimming World yourself rather than believing some of the shite posted about it on here. There's loads of good recipe sites with SW friendly recipes like Pinch of Nom and Two Chubby Cubs. You can of course make your own SW friendly meals by using the basic ingredients to make pretty much whatever you want, just with no fat (you can simmer veg in a bit of stock instead of frying for example).

I use Spark People. It is a free on-line community with food / exercise tracker. I lost 2 stone the year before last using this. I know how to eat healthily I just need the motivation of tracking my meals to lose weight.

I had the best laugh on St. Stephen's Day when a guy was going round the houses, offering Slimming World. Well, at least he didn't have a car so he was doing something for his shape too.

I have friends who slimmed down without paying for the whole lot. I believe though that you will never slim down permanently if you don't adjust your whole attitude to nutrition.

I lost 2 stone doing SW on my own. There are loads of websites that explain the basic principles such as www.minimins.com/forums/slimming-world.18/ and once you get the idea it is quite straightforward. It suits me as I like to cook and find I can eat most of my usual things with a few recipe changes. It just takes a bit of planning but it's doable.

I’ve lost two stone so far without following any kind of diet (I’ve got another 5 stone to go).

I bought a cheaper version of a fit bit (less than £30 off Amazon) and I do 10k steps a day. I’ve recently jointed a local budget gym with a pool and swim twice a week. I eat three healthy meals a day and only snack on fruit or veg. I have a treat at the weekend (a piece of cake or a couple of glasses of wine).

It took four months to lose two stone doing this and there were a few weeks where I massively broke my own rules!

You have access to the internet- with time you can educate yourself on making better choices

Thank you meladeso . Keep us posted on what you are going to do .