To think that Slimming World is a nasty organisation?

[Ohnotanothernamechange]

I'm not sure if anyone else is aware but Pinch of Nom, the hugely popular healthy eating and 'diet friendly' cookbook, have released a statement saying that they have been told to remove all mention of SW from their books and websites. This follows on from SW threatening to sue Aldi for launching a new healthy eating range that they thought was too similar to their own (they failed at this, obviously it's much harder to bully and intimidate a large international company...).

They've also made threats towards butchers and cafes for launching SW friendly produce. It's ridiculous. What are they so scared of? Funny that Weight Watchers don't have a problem with POM, also funny that SW haven't gone after WW for alterning their plan to make it similar to SW. See above about bullying large companies.

Ive long had issues with SW and believe it to be a money grabbing cult that doesn't really promote a healthier lifestyle, and this for me just proves it. Targeting small business trying to make a living just makes them seem really petty and nasty.

Don't get me started on all the wanky termonolgy they use like 'body magic' and 'image therapy either. How people sit through the meeting and don't piss themselves laughing at all that rubbish is a mystery?

Yes YABU - it’s a business, money making of course.
As far as the shiney certificates - some people like them, if you don’t, don’t go. Easy.
YABU

I don't agree with stuff like over processed Muller Lite...and yes all the people I know who were on it put it back on and more.....guess that's what they want for repeat business!

Iceland meals are all too spicy and full of tomato for me. Muller lites full of additives.

What I did see was a mother and adult daughter join. After a few weeks dad came too. Mother had never cooked relying on ready made foods so kids grew up on junk. Mother, daughter and dad, learnt to cook. To them it was a new adventure what they thought difficult was actually easy to do cooking simple meals from recipes. So imo. SW do a lot of good for peoples general health.

Only went as most of my mates went, we knew the crack! We went for the laugh. Not been for over 3 months. So I hope your mind doesn't boggle too much 😉

So you spent 4 years going to a slimming club to take the piss and meet up with your mates when you could have met in the pub, spending £5 every week? I think the jokes on you on that one

swunhappyconsultant yes I do get the impression that they are very prescriptive and controlling of the consultants. My consultant was great and really emphasised healthy eating and exercise.Yet she still had to do the same old crap because it was a slimming world diktat, including the twee language,which she refused to use! It is what you make it.Gyms make their money from selling 3 month rolling contracts that people sign up to in January then never go.Are they to blame if their members don't lose weight?

No one needs these silly organisations.

Just eat everything, not very much, mostly plants.

If you have a bad day and scoff a box of donuts one afternoon, just laugh at your self, enjoy the moment guilt free, then walk to work the next day or go for a swim.

Only went as most of my mates went, we knew the crack! We went for the laugh. Not been for over 3 months. So I hope your mind doesn't boggle too much 😉

My mind is even more boggling now
For 4 years who decided to go weekly to a SW meeting and pay £5 a pop, despite thinking that as waste of time, just for a giggle with your mates?

4 years. For a giggle.

SW are right to protect their brand, local butchers/pinch of NOM etc are naughty for jumping on the band wagon without official endorsement.

People who say weight loss is easy, are wrong. We all live in an obesogenic environment. It can be hard to fight that.

Saying that, I walk past a SW meet-up every week, and every week I think "they'd be better off joining me for a 1hr dog walk, rather than just sitting there", but I guess ideally they'd do both (improve diet AND exercise more)

But ultimately, it's none of my business!

Still, good to remember SW is a business, not a charity, and they seem to have successfully created a repeat-business model....

I did SW and it worked for me, still a healthy weight years later

A lot of people misunderstand the plan

"Unlimited pasta" is not just eating a bucket full of pasta alone. It means, whilst following the 1/3 speed rules.... You can have as much pasta as you like. BUT you still have to listen to your body. Stop when full. If you have seconds of pasta, you still should have seconds of the 1/3 speed.... It also encourages you to have the speed as the seconds. So to suggest it doesn't reach you portion control isn't quite true.

I'd you want sausages, fine have one or two with your breakfast/dinner. (Using Syns)

Want a doughnut? Sure, have one, use your Syns allowance, and maybe say "no thanks" when offered a chocolate digestive later.

Flavoured yogurts are all synned now, because people were shovelling down 4+ Muller yoghurts a day.... Not what the plan suggests (supposed to have perhaps a yoghurt and handful of strawberries as a snack....if you're hungry) not just mainline them and hope by consuming 4-500 extra calories you'll magically lose weight

SW at its heart is a low fat, calorie controlled diet. Most people don't seem to understand the plan, and do not read the books given to them. Now, SW could do more about this, sure + but to imply the plan is fundamentally flawed, whilst spouting "unlimited pasta? Ha!" Is just misinformed.

Is SW an offshoot of Gwynneth Paltrow's wacky "Goop" empire?

Been a SW member for 9 months lost 4 stone love the plan as it has got me eating a healthier diet, my cholesterol now being in normal range proof alone. My leader is wonderful and I love him yes we sit round and discuss week/ plans for week a head but I for one find this really beneficial I am a comfort eater and was morbidly obese I am now just over weight which I am working on. I am not pleased with myself that I got into such a state but had my reasons so please dont judge.

I do not feel it is a cult at all just a group to help and support those who need it - we are not all strong enough just to cut back and maintain a healthy weight.

As for protecting their brand with solicitors any firm big or small does this including WW they are not bullying just protecting their brand.

I get SW is not for all but no one is forcing anyone to be a member/stay a member.

Just eat everything, not very much, mostly plants.
*
If you have a bad day and scoff a box of donuts one afternoon, just laugh at your self, enjoy the moment guilt free, then walk to work the next day or go for a swim.*

Yeah because it's that simple

Would you be that patronising to someone with a drug / alcohol / smoking addiction?
Do you realise the obesity crisis is far more complex than that?

Is SW an offshoot of Gwynneth Paltrow's wacky "Goop" empire?

pretty much at the opposite end of the spectrum

I did SW once (regained weight obvs). There seemed to be a lot of focus around how to NOT change poor eating habits, but how you could tweak ingredients to keep eating bad stuff, or ‘free’ food to ensure you don’t learn portion control.

The zealous discussions about a raw apple being free but 1 minute in the microwave meant you synned it drove me nuts, as did the hugely overweight lady running it.

They also encourage people eating processed crap, now with even their own fricking Iceland range.

Until you lose your bad attitude and bad habits you won’t lose the weight and keep it off.

I’m 3 months post heart attack, with an emergency intervention last week to head off another that was brewing. I’ve lost 2 stone by cutting out takeaway crap, cakes, limiting sweet things, and learning when I’m full. I’ve been walking 2 miles a day and start cardio rehab properly next week to build fitness up.

This will be my life now. I’ve seen a glimpse of the alternative, and have found the crowd of people in blue hurtling you down to the Cath lab, whilst strapping on a defib the best motivator yet. 27lbs to go!

I think it works for some and not for others... I've seen that 1st hand amongst friends and colleagues but it's true the weight piles back on as soon as you go back to your normal diet... but the reason for that is obvious.

All diets work on the principle of guilt: they make you feel guilty for putting food in your mouth and that to me, is an intrinsically toxic relationship with food.

I tried the SW diet and was constantly eating to the point where it made me feel ill and had to stop.

Bottom line, eat well, bad stuff in moderation and try and get a but of exercise, even if it's an evening walk.

Stop torturing yourselves with fad diets.

wow Bunnyfuller, how scary!

Most people think it can't happen to them though....

Personally I have a (irrational?) fear of diabetes, especially the amputations, which always focuses my mind. BIL who is 44 is diabetic and now starting to lose feeling in his toes and feet, terrifying

I really don't understand why the OP and a few others sound so bitter about SW. Has someone made you go? If not, whats the problem? 'Nasty' - dramatic much

As a PP said, the basic diet is about low fat, plenty of veg & fruit ... you can ignore all the twee terminology & just stick to the basic facts, cooking from scratch with good ingredients. A syn is approx 25 calories so you can work out your own. The group model clearly work for many people, like AA does. Yes of course any sensible adult could do all this on their own but why not take advantage of group support if it works for you?

At my group they encourage exercise, cooking from scratch, eating plenty of fruit & veg, and not beating yourself up if you struggle. I've lost 3 stone, and have been at target for 2 years... I can't see any negatives!

Any company or group will have terminology they use, and protected copyright. If you find it cringy or nasty, don't give them your money.

You can have as much pasta as you like. BUT you still have to listen to your body. Stop when full.

Want a doughnut? Sure, have one, use your Syns allowance, and maybe say "no thanks" when offered a chocolate digestive later.

If people were able to stop when they were full and turn down offers of 'treats' they probably wouldn't be overweight in the first place.

I went to sw once and lost 6stone - gained 8 back and went again! The unlimited aspect of some of the foods meant in my case, portion control went out of the window - so when not following the plan portion sizes were immense!
I also found the group I went to was quite ‘clique-y’ - I am no shrinking violet but I found the main clique quite intimidating

If people were able to stop when they were full and turn down offers of 'treats' they probably wouldn't be overweight in the first place.
Well quite. Which is why all the smug 'Just go for a walk. Eat a doughnut/sausage roll/biscuit if you want it' posts are unhelpful. If people could eat one doughnut occasionally, only ate for hunger, didn't comfort eat, they wouldn't need the support. Some people need the discipline of being weighed every week to stop them saying yes to treats or eating a box of doughnuts every week. There are many people who do keep the weight off, but they have to carry on eating healthily and not go back to eating crap or eating too much. If SW didn't teach people how to eat healthily, they wouldn't lose weight in the first place. Its up to the individual to stick to it. And it doesn't affect anyone on here who doesn't want to go. There is a thread slagging off SW on MN every few months. The same weird stories come up, about people losing 10 stone and putting it all back on and people eating 25 Mullerlights a day. Its all very odd.

I tried the SW diet and was constantly eating to the point where it made me feel ill and had to stop.

With all due respect, @FelicisNox, there is nothing in the SW plan that encourages constant eating. You can’t blame SW for making you feel ill.

The point of the 'unlimited' free foods is that they're only unlimited when with 1/3 of speed foods. They're very filling and the average person would be full before they could eat enough of it to make them gain weight. This isn't explained very well by SW.