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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What actually happens at Slimming World?

43 replies

roseblossom75 · 02/06/2018 09:41

I've been trying to pluck up the courage to go to one but feeling really anxious.
I'm currently doing Slimming World on my own (and doing well with my diet so far) but I am wondering whether I would benefit from attending one of the groups.
I have never been to one before so I suppose it is just fear of the unknown.
I just wondered how they run exactly?
Do they shout out the weight to the rest of the group? (That is the main thing I'm worried about).

OP posts:
ManchesterGin · 02/06/2018 09:44

You go in and queue up. You pay and get weighed. They just tell you the loss/gain and write it in your book.
You can stay for the meeting or leave (like I do!) I believe if you stay then they announce your result from the week but not your actual weight. I think you can ask them not to though.

Steeley113 · 02/06/2018 09:44

They don’t say your weight, they just say the amount you’ve lost, if you’ve gained they don’t usually disclose the amount. Essentially you queue up, get weighed then all sit down. The group leader goes through any news/updates/new foods/things of interest. Then she goes round the room to talk about your week, goals, if you need help. Then you go chippy on the way home for a kebab. Grin

moita · 02/06/2018 09:45

Certainly didn't at mine. Mine went like this: turned up and was given a form to fill out. Paid to join and for weigh in. Then joined queue to be weighed. They should say it discreetly, you can then set a goal weight.

I can't help with meetings as never stayed but I lost a stone with them and kept it off.

divadee · 02/06/2018 09:45

I went to one.... once....... if you ever watched little Briton with marjory and fat fighters think this (without the eating dust tips and casual racism).

It's not for me at all. They did read out weight loss and if you had stayed the same or gained she asked for why you think that may be.

Steeley113 · 02/06/2018 09:46

I personally wouldn’t pay a fiver a week just to get weighed, I can do that at home. I stay to get ‘motivated’ or as punishment.

00100001 · 02/06/2018 09:49

You pay you weigh, sit in group and chat.

Staying to group can definitely help and focus you.other people often have great tips and recipes etc. Also at my group we have a Body Magic group that organise walks, they cycle and they have done the Couch to 5K together

EnglishRose13 · 02/06/2018 09:51

I go to SW and have never heard anyone's actual weight mentioned. I stayed for group once but found the meeting cheesy and forced. And boring!

The reason I go just to weigh in is because I wouldn't be motivated to do it on my own.

I went this morning and lost 1.5 lb. 7.5 until I'm target now!

HappyHippyChick · 02/06/2018 09:52

I go to an amazingly fun and helpful group that is nothing like Little Britain. There is a lot of support, people who are having problems with different things ask for and receive ideas on how to deal with trigger points (evening snacking, sugar cravings etc).

I understand that not all groups are the same, but they should be supportive and helpful.

petrolpump28 · 02/06/2018 09:53

A horrible woman talks about herself. People share stories of eat mounds of pasta. Other people talk about going to the toilet.

Northernmum100 · 02/06/2018 09:55

I'm off to SW shortly.
A new member at ours fills out form , Consultant goes tjrough the plan and them you stay to the group talk part and then when everyone is gone the leader sets you up on the PC, weighs them and helps you set a target- maybe an interim one, maybe a final one and you choose it so have control over that.
It's up to you whether you just weigh and run or stay. Personally I stay because I have made some good friends and have a laugh and usually get some inspiration and recipie ideas for the week.
As pp have said, your weight is never read out at the group talk bit, only your loss or gain but if you make if clear to the leader he/she should skip over you then that should be respected, it certainly is in mine.
Just go along and see how it goes, I am 3 1/2 stone down and have been at my target weight since last November.

Good luck!

MrsMoastyToasty · 02/06/2018 09:57

This is how it goes.

  1. You wear your thinnest shortest summer dress for weigh in. Even in December.
  2. You don't eat anything until after weigh in.
  3. On arrival you take off your shoes (and anything else that might tip the scales like contact lenses )
  4. You pay to get weighed.
  5. You either stay for "group" . Bemoaning your weight gain because you have spent the whole of the previous week eating sweets and getting smashed on alcohol / or that you're hormonal because it's "star" week.
  6. You leave, stopping off at the chippie on the way.
MrsSchadenfreude · 02/06/2018 09:58

I think they are all different. The one I originally signed up to was a bit like Fat Fighters (“Why do you think you put on 2lbs this week, Sarah? And what are you going to do about it next week?”) I then went to a different group, where the “motivational talks” were short and sweet, you could drop in and just get weighed, drop in, get weighed and have a quick chat, or stay longer. See what works for you. It really depends on the personality of the group leader.

GrumpySausage · 02/06/2018 10:02

I've been going for a few years now, hit target and now pregnant so carried on going so as not to repeat the 4 stone weight gain of DS. 38weeks and it's really helped me not balloon this time.

I do the tills and weigh in scales as well and can honestly say I wouldn't know anyone's weight. It's on the screen but as it's often busy we don't have time to look st the weight just the loss/gain.

After weigh we sometimes go round each member to see how they've done/feel or to see if they're facing any challenges in the next week. Sometimes the consultant doesn't do that and we focus on s certain theme i.e how to deal with Easter/Christmas parties etc. We also have a taster night every 6-8 weeks where people can bring in different things they've made for others to try.

I started going at 26 and have made some great friends. You do get the odd character s bit like little Britain 'well I did have one teeny sip of sherry, that'll be why I gained 3 stone' but most of the time it's taken in good faith. You'd get the same in any group/meetings.

My mum goes too and has lost 6 stone and kept it off for 5 years now. She still goes to groups as she finds it keeps her up to date and finds new foods to try. (You don't have to pay once at target).

GrumpySausage · 02/06/2018 10:05

Oh yeah and the bit about going via the chippy on the way home is true too. I've bumped into a few other members ordering their kebab post group and there's a silent nod of acknowledgement which we all know means 'we shall never speak of this'.
Any food consumed post meeting until breakfast the next day doesn't count- tis fact. Smile

PerryPerryThePlatypus · 02/06/2018 10:17

I've lost loads on SW. Our leader is really nice and never announces how much you've gained to group just says you've had a little gain. It's a nice group with lots of recipes shared or tips and just basically a supportive bunch.

wegweiser · 02/06/2018 10:25

Didn’t work for me, but I am pretty antisocial Grin. I did pick up some helpful tips but it wasn’t worth losing two hours of my life for every week so I now just buy the magazines and save myself £5 a week.

RaininSummer · 02/06/2018 10:29

I went for a year. Weigh, go round the circle. Larger ladies who lost loads would share their tips about not eating too much choc, crisps etc. I would say I don't do that anyway but havent lost. Then the response, are you eating enough. What about muller bloody lights etc. And their odd recipes...

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 02/06/2018 10:32

No-one gets shamed or anything if you put on weight and no-one ever knows your weight apart from the person who weighs you so you shouldn't worry about that.

There does always seem to be a disproportionate amount of time dedicated to discussing where to get the best low fat sausages though.

Peterrabbitscarrots · 02/06/2018 10:32

I used to go but hated it, there were too many people giggling about “syns” and being naughty etc, and the woman who took it was bigger than me, as were the other helpers (I was a size 18). It probably depends on the group though - my mum loves the one she goes to

Peterrabbitscarrots · 02/06/2018 10:34

Oh ours also had a thing where everyone brought a healthy treat each week. The dinner (whoever lost the most weight) got to take them all home, which seemed counterproductive to me

Peterrabbitscarrots · 02/06/2018 10:35

*winner

WhatsGoingOnEh · 02/06/2018 10:36

The basic format is the same -- and nobody will EVER say your actual weight out loud! But how much you like the group depends a lot (I think) on how good you think the leader is.

I used to love attending a really fun SW group. The shame was I hated the actual diet plan, so I gained or stayed the same every week, which baffled the lovely leader. Blush But I really enjoyed the chats!

Just go along and see.

WilburIsSomePig · 02/06/2018 10:37

*This is how it goes.

  1. You wear your thinnest shortest summer dress for weigh in. Even in December.
  2. You don't eat anything until after weigh in.
  3. On arrival you take off your shoes (and anything else that might tip the scales like contact lenses )
  4. You pay to get weighed.
  5. You either stay for "group" . Bemoaning your weight gain because you have spent the whole of the previous week eating sweets and getting smashed on alcohol / or that you're hormonal because it's "star" week.
  6. You leave, stopping off at the chippie on the way.*

This is exactly what my group was like! Grin Having said all that, when I got all confident and decided I didn't need to go, I put on weight again. I think I might go back.

ThrillitDontkillit · 02/06/2018 10:44

I think it depends on the consultant. I am part of the "social team" at my group and do the weigh in. Standard format is there. Queue, pay and weigh. You can choose to stay for group discussion or go.

The consultant we have takes the time to get to know everyone that attends and their likes/dislikes. You can phone her at any point of the week with questions, or issues. She takes the time to look at peoples food diary sheets if they are keeping them and discuss what improvements they can make. That is what you are paying a fiver a week for.

We have a good group, and her numbers are stable. We have stand ins when she us away and sometimes they can be awful. If you get a good consultant, that is well worth the money.

WetPaint4 · 02/06/2018 10:50

I don't think I have ever read anything that sums up slimming world for me more than this right here:

  1. You wear your thinnest shortest summer dress for weigh in. Even in December.
  2. You don't eat anything until after weigh in.
  3. On arrival you take off your shoes (and anything else that might tip the scales like contact lenses )
  4. You pay to get weighed.
  5. You either stay for "group" . Bemoaning your weight gain because you have spent the whole of the previous week eating sweets and getting smashed on alcohol / or that you're hormonal because it's "star" week.
  6. You leave, stopping off at the chippie on the way.

I do like it and I stay for group because you can learn a lot and you can get motivated from other people. Your weight - or weight gain - shouldn't be disclosed at all. Be prepared for a lot of clapping though. "You've lost half a pound!" Clap clap. "Well you've had a small gain this week but well done for staying to group!" Clap clap.