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AIBU?

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Original poster

Slimming world. Is it a con/cult?

348 replies

Emcont · 04/01/2020 06:54

Basically that really. I've read positive stories but also some completely bat shit crazy ones!

I have a considerable amount of weight to lose. I have recently joined the gym. But I'm reading conflicting advice about the gym and slimming world.

Is it worth it?

OP posts:
Noodledoodledoo · 04/01/2020 21:57

Typical meals I might have include

BBQ pulled pork
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Chilli
Keema Curry
Sausage and Mash
Salmon, Broccoli Noodles
Chicken Tikka
Greek Salads
Pizza topped chicken
Balsamic Braised Beef
Steak and Chips
Oh and a lot of Soup for lunch - with my amazing soup machine
Homemade Houmous
Mackeral Pate
Mushroom Strogonoff
Paprika Pork

I do eat some muller lights but thats because I like the taste of some of them, I do also eat a lot of natural yogurt, fromage frais, etc.

My cupboards are not full of weird foods at all.

My consultant is very keen on helping people learn to cook from scatch.

KatyCarrCan · 04/01/2020 22:16

I also disliked the attitude of a lot of people on Team RH as it was very much a hahaha look how stupid everyone following SW/WW/etc. are
^^ that makes sense. I've never heard of RH but suddenly there's lots of posters on here mentioning it and criticising the other ways people lose weight.
Any plan is only as good as the people following it. It sounds like RH may be followed by the sanctimonious sort.

JellyNo15 · 04/01/2020 22:31

It worked for me I lost four stone in ten months

OwlinaTree · 04/01/2020 23:46

I've not been brainwashed thank you for your concern. I do know that I gained weight when pregnant because I ate too much junk food and I've lost weight because I stopped doing that. Lots of junk food/processed sweet things are high calorie so I gained weight.

One can lose weight on a diet by eating healthier, limiting the amount of junk eaten. If after the diet you go back to eating all the junk again in larger amounts you'll gain weight again.

I do agree that there is research out there saying if you calorie restrict too much you can mess up your metabolism. Also many people regain weight on diets because they are not dealing with the reasons why they over eat. I doubt SW would damage the metabolism due to restricting as it's about feeling satisfied not hungry. I expect many people regain because they are not dealing with the reasons why they over eat. I don't think that's limited to SW though.

spingly · 05/01/2020 00:23

@JellyNo15 bloody hell thats good going! What exercise of any did you do?

SunsetBoulevard3 · 05/01/2020 04:34

I’ve been to one meeting on about three separate occasions. Each time it’s been pushing unhealthy foods over healthy food. As someone said, and avocado is considered an awful thing to eat but sugary processed SW bars and Frylite are fine apparently. There is no education about trans fats and apparently no interest in exercise or proper nutrition. Also I just don’t understand how anyone can lose weight eating so many carbs. All the helpers sat munching SW products during meetings. It out me right off.

Ragwort · 05/01/2020 08:38

I have lost weight with SW without buying any of their ‘products’ or eating muller lights etc, as posters keep repeating, it is perfectly possible to follow the basic guidelines without all the ‘extra purchases’, are people too stupid to work this out for themselves?

Of course it’s a business & they will try to sell their products, but just use your common sense. The group support does work for many people.

JellyNo15 · 05/01/2020 08:39

[spingly] I just power walked 5/6 days a week for three miles. I only ate one fruit a day although it is free I feel there is too much sugar in fruit but I did eat plenty of veg.

misspiggy19 · 05/01/2020 08:40

I had a look at that Team RH- what a load of cringed, self righteous, patronising shit.

Aroundnabout1 · 05/01/2020 08:44

It does work if you follow the plan properly and most of my meals are SW recipes now but i didnt keep the weight off and found that calorie counting works better for me in the long term (eg myfitness pal).

Aroundnabout1 · 05/01/2020 08:46

*i still keep the weight off eating a large piece of cake every day. I know its not ideal but it keeps me on the straight and narrow.

AllergicToAMop · 05/01/2020 08:47

Such fundamentally different experiences here! Especially about the food "promoted".

It looks to me like there are issues with training and keeping the same standards in different groups. Maybe SW should look into that because it looks like some team leaders or whatever they are called don't give much shit compare to some others.

Aroundnabout1 · 05/01/2020 08:52

Team RH seem to be targetting the lucrative thicko market.

VashtaNerada · 05/01/2020 08:54

Weight loss is very personal and what works for one person may not work for another. I get so sick of narrow-minded people trying to convert others to their own personal way of losing weight. For me, the only thing that has ever worked is groups. I lost weight on Slimming World during a period of unemployment but had to leave when I went back to work as they didn’t have a weekend group. I switched to Weightwatchers as they have a group on Saturdays where I live and that’s working just as well. I would say it’s worth a go and if it hasn’t worked after six months to try something new. You need to give it a proper go though - attend every week and stay for the meetings. Or try something else for six months. It really is up to you.

Aroundnabout1 · 05/01/2020 08:58

Yes, i agree with a previous post saying people force their ideas on other people because it worked for them. Different things work for different people. Try it for a while and if it doesnt work try something else. Good luck.

GrannyBags · 05/01/2020 09:02

I’ve never done SW but tried Rosemary Conley, which was similar. I gave up because I’m a stroppy cow and begrudge paying £5 to be told I’m fat. I lost a bit but not loads. I don’t have the right mental attitude for that kind of diet.
The only way I lost weight was doing the 5:2 in fact I lost too much and people thought I was ill. Over the last three years it’s almost all gone back on - in a cycle of comfort eating/depression(rinse repeat)
I’ve recently started walking to work and have dropped a dress size in 3 weeks. I guess I’m eating less too as I’m not home picking all the time.
Eat less - move more. I think that’s the only way to lose the weight and keep it off.

TriangleBingoBongo · 05/01/2020 09:04

I think I must be the only person who actually gained on the 5:2 diet! I started at a healthy BMI to loss 7lb and went the other way!

KatyCarrCan · 05/01/2020 09:25

I just lost and gained the same 7lbs on 5:2.

I lost my baby weight with Rosemary Conley. I liked that the classes were basically exercise classes. Then after a stressful period, I used the blood sugar diet to successfully lose weight. Different points in my life, I used different solutions. imo there's no one way fits all. There's not even one way fits one person for every point in their life. Yy the basic premise of eat less move more does work but people have barriers to sticking to it and that's where different clubs/groups/WOEs are needed.

TheSquitz · 05/01/2020 09:39

I think the problem with SW/WW etc is that people see them as having a magic formula. I remember when I was doing SW I was craving rice cakes but had ryvitas instead because rice cakes weren't a healthy extra, despite having fewer calories.

Longwhiskers14 · 05/01/2020 09:58

Team RH seem to be targetting the lucrative thicko market.

Right, because not wanting to be slaves to yo-yo dieting and a billion-dollar industry that causes untold misery makes people idiots. Hmm Bit early on a Sunday morning to be out of your troll-hole, isn't it?

Aroundnabout1 · 05/01/2020 11:34

"Team RH seem to be targetting the lucrative thicko market.

Right, because not wanting to be slaves to yo-yo dieting and a billion-dollar industry that causes untold misery makes people idiots. hmm Bit early on a Sunday morning to be out of your troll-hole, isn't it?"
I just thought the swearing and delivery style was horrible. Total turn off for me.

SisterSistine · 05/01/2020 11:58

So is Team RH a cult?

Longwhiskers14 · 05/01/2020 12:05

Aroundnabout1 Sorry, I shouldn't have made the troll comment, I just thought it wasn't nice calling people who subscribe to RH "thickos". Horrible word, reminds me of being at school in the 70s. I don't subscribe to RH myself though, so if they use similar words that's bad too.

Walnutblossom · 05/01/2020 12:10

I'm no fan of SW, but I'm also put off Team RH because of their tone of voice. They seem more concerned with Being Right than anything else.

Theromanempire · 05/01/2020 12:20

I object to being called a 'thicko' Angry I don't call people who follow SW/WW names Hmm

I think you either accept how Team RH deliver their message or you don't- yes, there is lots of swearing, it's a very particular style but that doesn't mean the message is wrong or bad.

It has worked for me - it suits how I am as i need boundaries to control my food intake so SW is a nightmare for me with 'eat as much as you want'. But I fully accept SW works for some people. Each to their own but don't call me a 'thicko'.