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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that Slimming World is a nasty organisation?

365 replies

Ohnotanothernamechange · 21/07/2019 11:31

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?

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 21/07/2019 13:34

"I’ve never done slimming world myself but don’t know why it gets such a bashing on here. Yes they allow processed food on the diet but a lot of people are over weight because they eat these things, tell them people they can’t ever eat them and the diet is destining to fail. "

I was confused why SW got such a bashing on here for a long time, until I realised why. Lot of MNers are posh and they look down on processed foods. I think it's quite smug for someone who obviously overeats to look down on people who like Muller yogurts, but I'm convinced that's what it is.

Allanlove · 21/07/2019 13:35

Does anyone know how to contact head office at slimming world to complain

alittleprivacy · 21/07/2019 13:36

They classify the foods you can eat unlimited amounts of as 'syn free' while the 'syn' foods tend to be treats like wine and chocolate. You'd have to be seriously lacking in fatty fish to believe that has anything to do with 'synergy' rather than a really, really fucked up way to build a relationship with food.

NoBaggyPants · 21/07/2019 13:43

Allanlove What is it that you want to complain about?

pictish · 21/07/2019 13:43

Again, I’m not looking down on anyone who likes muller light yogurts. I find them pretty revolting myself (can’t stand the taste of artificial sweeteners and would rather go without) but if they appeal to others that’s fine. I do disagree with slimming clubs promoting them though...it’s not promoting eating for health. It’s encouraging a reliance on processed food.

stopitandtidyupp · 21/07/2019 13:45

I was confused why SW got such a bashing on here for a long time, until I realised why. Lot of MNers are posh and they look down on processed foods. I think it's quite smug for someone who obviously overeats to look down on people who like Muller yogurts, but I'm convinced that's what it is.

For me it isn't that at all. I love processed food. I certainly don't look down on it.

I also know that too much will cause weight gain and isn't the healthiest. I still like it though.

For me it's the unlimited pasta( a blood sugar bomb) the not eating your syns. No you haven't lost weight because you didn't have an extra 5 - 15 syns treat. You probably ate too much pasta! Glucose is glucose whether from fruit, pasta or chocolate.

I love the Michael Mosley books and have attended his talks. The starvation mode and ruining metabolism are rubbish too. Well maybe a bit lower but not to the extreme some people suggest.

The not eating your syns is an absolute pile of rubbish. I have done the fast 800 and lost loads.
I think sw is good for initial weight loss but not to get a super fit body.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/07/2019 13:47

"I also know that too much will cause weight gain"

It depends on the calorific content.

fruitbrewhaha · 21/07/2019 13:48

Argh Slimming world! I know someone who is on and off Slimming world. She made some cakes for my kids with betty crocker packet mix and a can of diet coke. I said, aren't you better off just eating an orange if you fancy something sweet? I really didn't want my kids eating it.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/07/2019 13:49

"I do disagree with slimming clubs promoting them though...it’s not promoting eating for health. It’s encouraging a reliance on processed food."

Or it's giving options for people who like sweet food? If all dieting was just munching on a lettuce, you wouldn't get mane takers.
I presume SW doesn't force you to eat anything?

stopitandtidyupp · 21/07/2019 13:49

"I also know that too much will cause weight gain"

It depends on the calorific content.

Of course like anything but it would be harder to gain eating loads of lettuce than the hi fi bars.

fruitbrewhaha · 21/07/2019 13:49

And Pinch of Nom!

The day I take slimming advice from the morbidly obese is a sad day.

Newschapter · 21/07/2019 13:50

It's all a pile of bollox. And anyone who thinks otherwise is totally brainwashed.

I still have links with consultants and can't believe the tripe they come out with.

My friend had two very successful groups - but she wasn't happy with how the company wanted to micromanage her business.... They say you're your own boss, that is in NO way true.

She made 5p for a box of bars and that's after lugging them from home to the boot of her car, from the boot to the venue, out of the venue into the boot again and from the boot back into her spare room.... It's the biggest pile of pish I've ever known.

Also, why do they think that anyone who is slightly overweight automatically wants to lose it? Lots of people don't feel that their value lies in what the scales read.

I know plenty of people who aren't stick thin but are content and I'm happy for them. But I have an acquaintance on FB who runs a sw group and she keeps posting about people who are overweight, 'don't sit alone, hating yourself, come to my group and we will help you lose weight and be accepted' like you're only acceptable if you weigh a certain amount.

Fuck. That. Shit.

(No, I'm not overweight, I go to the gym 5 days a week and keep active, I don't pay £5 a week to sw to clap when I take a good shit and lose 0.5lb)

Gwenhwyfar · 21/07/2019 13:50

"I said, aren't you better off just eating an orange if you fancy something sweet? "

Maybe she didn't like oranges?

Gwenhwyfar · 21/07/2019 13:53

"but it would be harder to gain eating loads of lettuce than the hi fi bars."

No, but a bit easier with potatoes or avocados.

stopitandtidyupp · 21/07/2019 13:56

"but it would be harder to gain eating loads of lettuce than the hi fi bars."

No, but a bit easier with potatoes or avocados.

Definitely!
Sorry though I am not sure the point you are trying to make.

slashlover · 21/07/2019 13:56

You'd have to be seriously lacking in fatty fish to believe that has anything to do with 'synergy' rather than a really, really fucked up way to build a relationship with food.

Eat us much fruit, veg, lean meat etc as you want but limit these high calorie foods is fucked up?

maddiemookins16mum · 21/07/2019 13:59

They are a business and are quite right to protect their name etc, any other business would do the same.

Disclaimer: I have never been to Slimming World

slashlover · 21/07/2019 14:00

No, but a bit easier with potatoes or avocados.

It's almost as if that's why potatoes are free and not speed, and why avocados are synned. Shock

Gwenhwyfar · 21/07/2019 14:01

"Sorry though I am not sure the point you are trying to make."

You, or someone stated that processed food makes you gain weight. I replied that it depends on calories. You then replied that it would be easier to eat many hi-fi bars than a lot of lettuce, to which I replied that you could eat a lot of avocados i.e. a high calorie food that is not processed. My point is that eating a lot of calories will make you gain weight - it's not about processed food.

Allanlove · 21/07/2019 14:01

I am disabled and after missing 3 groups I had a 3 page rant from sw consultant about how hard she works
Left me feeling more disabled and in tears.
I am usually ok ish but have relapses

MummytoCSJH · 21/07/2019 14:05

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this but Slimming World actually asked PON for a meeting, presumably to come to an arrangement where they could keep using the Slimming World name to promote their site, book and recipes. PON declined this meeting and instead agreed they'd remove all reference to SW from their material. Odd how they fail to mention this (they made the exact same post a week ago and were called out for this reason and have now deleted it), but leave Slimming World to be bashes. Whether you believe in Slimming World or not, their trademarks still belong to them and first and foremost it is a business. Wouldn't you be pissed if somebody stole something you came up with and was profiting from it?

stopitandtidyupp · 21/07/2019 14:05

You, or someone stated that processed food makes you gain weight. I replied that it depends on calories. You then replied that it would be easier to eat many hi-fi bars than a lot of lettuce, to which I replied that you could eat a lot of avocados i.e. a high calorie food that is not processed. My point is that eating a lot of calories will make you gain weight - it's not about processed food.

It is easier with the processed foods that I like. They also aren't the healthiest. This was the reason for my weight gain. I am more likely to eat a lot of ' junk food' than am I avocados as would most people I guess. Well the people that I know.

NoBaggyPants · 21/07/2019 14:08

Allanlove you can make a complaint through the contact form. The way you were treated is not on, not sure they'll do much though as the consultants are all self employed.

www.slimmingworld.co.uk/contact-us

MyCatHatesEverybody · 21/07/2019 14:12

I remember when I tried SW a couple of years ago seeing that official SW sausages were syn-free despite having more calories, fat, salt eytc per sausage/per 100gr that weightwatchers sausages which had a syn value attached to them. Same with mullerlights vs other brands of no added sugar fat free yoghurt (I think they might be synned now).

I saw the light after a few weeks when I got roundly told off for "gaining" a couple of lbs the week after I had the coil fitted. When I explained the circs I was told to up my speed food despite the fact I'd already eaten healthily that week Confused

Newschapter · 21/07/2019 14:13

@Allanlove if you search their website there's an email address.

That's ridiculous. I know it's no comfortable but the consultants have a goal to reach every week in their own progress plan and they have to retain their numbers week on week, even if this means messaging members.

My guess is yours has got desperate and really needs the feet through the door.

It's easy to see the consultants posting on here too.... Hmm