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Original poster

Do slimming clubs actually work ?

103 replies

Thequeenisdeadboys · 11/02/2018 15:41

Decided I'm going to join a slimming group this week. Could do with losing a good couple of stone and simply can not do it alone. Which one is best SW or WW ? Tried researching and SW seems to sound good but unrealistic. I can't see me losing weight with the amounts you can eat !! and WW seems a bit complicated Shock !! What to do ? What do you folks reckon ?

OP posts:
Marcine · 11/02/2018 17:02

You can just count calories, but it's a bit complicated/time consuming to weigh, measure and count everything - some people do though e.g. MFP users.

Itsthattimeagain · 11/02/2018 17:04

SW wins for me 🙋

BarbaraofSevillle · 11/02/2018 17:06

Oh yes, the 'SW is shit, but look at this other diet that is 98% the same as SW (eat lots of fruit, veg, eggs, pulses, lean meat and fish, small amount of dairy, wholemeal bread and nuts and hardly any booze, sweet and processed stuff) but far superior because you can have more than one avocado a day. Hmm. Yawn.

People who regain after dieting do so because they go back to eating too much crap, too many calories, stop exercising etc, whatever diet they do.

Flisspaps · 11/02/2018 17:07

Another one here for Rebelfit.

Slimming clubs seem to work short term but over 5 years most people seem to regain lost weight and more.

Sirzy · 11/02/2018 17:07

I have lost - and kept off for nearly 2 years - 7 stone with Sw so it works for me

Yukbuck · 11/02/2018 17:27

I actually think slimming world is fab because it's a lifestyle change rather than a diet. To everyone who says it's rubbish because people just pile the weight back on are just being silly. Because what would you rather people do? Just not change their diet at all? I wouldn't even class slimming world as a diet. You aren't limited to anything. They encourage you to have healthy extras meaning you get fibre and calcium in. And you get syns which helps you to keep on track so you still get a treat. It may be a little bit of a money making thing where they promote their products but let's be honest, companies are always going to promote their products aren't they?! I've tried slimming world and will do so again. I didn't once purchase a slimming world meal or a hifi bar. You can also do slimming world without touching a Muller light. I feel like everyone is always so quick to judge and bring up these but seriously.. you can do It without them! And if people choose to have them then so What?!

EnglishRose13 · 11/02/2018 17:42

I started SW in September 2016. I was 12.11 1/2. I am now 9.13

Original poster
Thequeenisdeadboys · 11/02/2018 18:01

Great post yukbuck and massive well done to sirzy and englishrose ! I hope i am as successful !

OP posts:
FizzgigFizzgog · 11/02/2018 18:18

Slimming World has definitely worked for me. I'm just shy of losing 6 stone, I joined Feb 2016 and have lost steadily since then.

Originally joined with my DP, but he stopped less than a year in due to being diagnosed as borderline coeliac, so the plan wasn't so good for him. He still lost 3 stone, though he has gained most of that back as he went straight back to eating how we used to, instead of an appropriate diet for his condition.

I continued alone for about another year and carried on losing, so my DM joined up. She's just hit 4 stone loss.

I've never felt the need to binge (apart from when I get my period, but I've always had the urge to eat everything then).

Never been made to feel bad if I have a gain (which was my biggest fear before joining), always felt very supported by my consultant and my group.

HelenaDove · 11/02/2018 18:46

I lost ten stone with Slimming World in 2002/2004 Took 18 months

I lost 4 stone in 2013/2016 Took a lot longer the second time. 3 and a half years.

What Paul McKenna said makes sense. Restrictive eating slows your metabolism.

InfiniteSheldon · 11/02/2018 18:54

I lost 4 stone with SW ten years ago took eighteen months and haven't put it back on, I know loads of people the same and Marcine nailed it re fruit

raisedbyguineapigs · 11/02/2018 19:10

Agree yukbuk. I don't eat mullerlights. I do have fat free plain yoghurt and I don't live on Hi fi bars or curly wurlies. I might have one in the evening if I fancy something sweet but how is that different from having a biscuit or bar of chocolate? At the end of the day, if you do it properly, you should be eating 1/3 fruit and vegetables in each meal, home cooking and having a limited number of treats. Just like any other healthy eating plan.

Groovee · 11/02/2018 19:13

I've lost over 4st on Slimming World. Gone from a 20 and wearing 10/12 now. Changed my eating completely. I stay to class as I find I get hints and tips doing that and I have a group of friends I look forward to seeing.

HanutaQueen · 11/02/2018 20:42

No. SW is restrictive, punitive, bullshit. You can say they don't encourage binge eating and overeating but there are a lot of consultants who do. 'Free foods' 'speed foods' it's bollocks. There is no such thing as a 'syn'. There are consultants who tell members not to exercise because it will 'slow down the weight loss'.

Please, please listen to HelenaDove, she's been through it with weight loss. Restrictive eating slows your metabolism and makes it harder to lose long term. And eventually your body goes 'fuck it, I need to EAT'. This isn't you being weak. You can't help give in to it eventually because it's your body reacting to what it thinks is starvation.

I do not know one single person who has done SW alone without proper fitness who has kept the weight off. Not one. If they have kept the weight off they've also done proper exercise. This is borne out by the evidence. But also in my experience people choose the thing they think will be fast results for least effort which is what these diets promise Hmm

Strongvegetables · 11/02/2018 20:49

OP dace your self the money and just calorie count.

You can ONLY loss weight when you have a calorie deficit. When you join these clubs you end up cutting all the shit out and initially lose but long term its unsustainable as you slip up and eat forbidden foods or syns. Hmm

Dh just spent a small fortune on a six week course, the diet plan was difficult and hard to sustain, we just worked out the calorie content for each day he was actually set and he kept to that limit. He also played footie 3 times a week and low and behold he has lost 1.5 stone in the six weeks with out the daft diets and the work out plan they gave him.

You can down load great calorie counting apps.

HelenaDove · 11/02/2018 20:50

Hanuta Thanks i didnt mind the weight coming off slower the second time as long as it came off.

But this winter ive been really struggling with keeping it off. Though its actually normal to put a little bit on during winter and lose it when the weather gets warmer we are constantly told that ANY gain no matter how slight is bad. So this causes feelings of guilt and shame and low self esteem.

Yukbuck · 11/02/2018 20:52

Hanuta what do you suggest then? I have to change my diet because the way I eat at the moment I am constantly putting on weight. Where does slimming world promote not exercising ? Seriously where?

Strongvegetables · 11/02/2018 21:16

yuk start looking at how many calories are in the things you are eating. You will be surprised at how many cals are in ‘healthy’ foods.

Milk
Meat
Fish
Whole meal breads and pasta

Yukbuck · 11/02/2018 21:20

I do understand that. But I don't like calorie counting diets. I think that limits food and I believe in a well rounded diet (including pasta etc..) It's all about portion control. By the way I'm not actually that overweight. I'm a health size 12. I could just do with losing a few pounds here or there. I'm just kind of making my point about it not being a terrible diet but a lifestyle change.

Yukbuck · 11/02/2018 21:22

Reading back at my previous comment I feel like it reads wrong and it looks like I'm contradicting myself. Basically.... recently I've been gaining weight and I know it's because I eat crap and if I keep going it's going to creep up and up.... therefore I need to change my diet. At the moment I'm not too overweight but it's going to head that way.

Strongvegetables · 11/02/2018 21:29

yuk I understand and yes 100% it’s portion control too.

Cal counting is not that hard and it really helps with portion control. It works and I don’t go with out.

Had a big tasty the other day at 805 cals. It was well worth it! Ate stir fry for the rest of the day and didn’t go over my allowance Grin

HanutaQueen · 11/02/2018 21:37

Just typed a long message and lost it.

Many SW consultants advise against exercise, I've seen it on rebelfit groups and also the groups my friend is on.

What worked for me was proper education about nutrition and accepting that no food is 'bad' but that it's up to me to take an overview and eat certain things in moderation but that doesn't include mug shots, hi life bars or muller yoghurts. And learn to eat without guilt. And build fitness so I had muscle to actually burn calories with.

Calorie counting gave me an eating disorder so I won't do that. I also refuse to feel guilty about food any more.

To answer why rebelfit isn't a diet; nothing is prohibited. You aren't told to eat X and not eat Y.

Look, I'm basically saying losing weight is hard. But it's harder to keep it off when the way you lose it sabotages you in the first place.

loveka · 11/02/2018 21:44

Weight Watchers has worked for me.

Every time...

Yukbuck · 11/02/2018 21:47

Okay fair enough. I'm totally hearing what you're saying. If that works for you then that's great.
I agree losing weight is hard.
I've just never heard of exercise being discouraged. I follow a lot of slimming world bloggers on Instagram and they all exercise. I think it's all about balance.
I also disagree that food are off limit because in my opinion they aren't. You just wouldn't eat a full share size bar of galaxy... But I'm sure you wouldn't on your plan either?

HanutaQueen · 11/02/2018 22:02

It's not a plan. If you want to eat a full size bar of galaxy then nobody's going to tell you not to. You just know that it is calories, that at some point will need to be turned into fat or fuel. But if you decide to eat your body weight in chocolate one weekend it doesn't make you a bad person, or shameful or weak or wrong, it's just a thing that happened. And if you eat salad for a week and weigh yourself and you put on a pound again you aren't wrong or bad, there's more to being healthy than just a number on a scales. But you have to understand nutrition basics and you have to be really honest with yourself which I think a lot of people aren't. (Like on secret eaters etc).

The reason why rebelfit isn't the same as SW etc is that most of his info is available for free. If you pay for his 'missions' he will teach you about nutrition and the psychology of how you eat, and give you workouts etc, but all the actual science is on there for nothing. He isn't in it to make money but to shine a light on the slimming industry which has a vested interest in keeping people in their system, paying, and fat.

What you will read on rebelfit is a lot of people who whatever their size feel healthier and happier and not guilty about food any more. And who can eat whatever they want when they go out for dinner without an app or a list to code it all to see if it's allowed.