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Original poster

How can I undo damage done by slimming world?

157 replies

Emcont · 09/09/2020 11:42

I've had a love/hate relationship with it over the last few years. I know it really works for some people. But it's not for me.

I don't know how I can undo associating foods with Syns and Speed vs Free?

I want to be able to have a piece of pineapple without worrying that it is Free rather than Speed!

Or eat a slice of white bread for 100 calories or whatever and not feel like my whole day is ruined!

Anyone got any advice on how you did it?

OP posts:
BaitandSwitch · 09/09/2020 11:46

I think that's unfair on Slimming World. They haven't done you any damage - it sounds like you did not get on with their methods, which have worked well for a lot of people including me.

Original poster
Emcont · 09/09/2020 11:48

I did get on with the methods. I lost weight.

I just don't know how to not associate food with being sinful... (It did used to be Sin rather than Syn...)

OP posts:
Alexandernevermind · 09/09/2020 11:49

SW is definitely not for everyone. I find the ethos good for losing half a stone, but find it too carb heavy and geared more towards meat or fish eaters. We all just have to find what suits us. Other members of my family swear by SW.

Sometimeswinning · 09/09/2020 11:49

Yeah to be fair you need to find something that suits you. Pineapple is good for you. You know this. I used to know all the calories in snacks because I obsessed over them. You'll be fine and get over it.

Lockdownseperation · 09/09/2020 11:50

I think some of the slimming world ‘rules’ are good eg half of your food should be veg or fruit.

Even on slimming world a slice of white bread is fine.

Are you trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle?

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 09/09/2020 11:51

Rebel Fit.

On Facebook.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 09/09/2020 11:51

Have a look at Team RH on facebook, they often analyse the slimming world methods and kind of debunk it. I think it might help you get a better relationship with food

Plussizejumpsuit · 09/09/2020 11:54

I get what you mean. I don't think their methods are great. I think you need to replace your 'knowledge' around food and eating you've gained from sw with other knowledge. So read about nutrition, calculate your calories needed for your weight and hight so you're not under eating and learn how your body responds to different food. I feel sw can prioritise processed food over non processed yet nutritious food so focusing on cooking perhaps too. But maybe you do that? I think also trying to let go of focusing on food all of the time. So when you catch yourself hinking about fod in terms of good or bad consciously stop yourself.

Yaottie · 09/09/2020 12:01

Interesting that your first reply is from someone dismissing your experience. I hate SW - if it doesn't work for you it's seen as because you failed at it. Typical SW "hun".

I've tried SW several times and I really do think that all this focus on syns (oh you're so naughty giggle giggle) but also saying you can eat as much pasta as you want even if it's two helpings really set you up to fail. And yes I was told that at a group. When I started the first time you could eat as much muller light as you wanted but you had to syn a bit of mayo and avocado was the devil's food.

The best thing I've found is to do 16:8 fasting OP. I feel so much more in control, you WANT to eat more healthily. You can't just reach for something to eat whenever you feel like it which you can on SW, you have to deny yourself which I think is quite a powerful thing to do if you're not used to doing it

FatBottomedGurl · 09/09/2020 12:05

I strongly recommend this Book - amazon link there

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 09/09/2020 12:06

Can you try and look at food in a different way -
What nutrition will it give me
How processed is it
How will it make me feel after I've eaten it

Rather than some foods good and some foods bad. If you stick to things that are more nutritious and less processed you naturally end up with more veg and a bit less carbs

BaitandSwitch · 09/09/2020 12:08

Wow Yaottie, I've never been called "hun" before, that's a new experience here. I was not dismissing OP's experience, but I feel that the opening title talking about "undoing damage" by SW was not fair.
I found the guidance and methods catered for a range of people, lifestyles and food preferences and though there is some promotion of processed food and the Hi-Fi bars which is not my taste, it does go down well with a cohort of members.
But they do stress free foods (an abundance of!) and encourage you to eat them with lots of easy to do recipes. So healthy eating and cooking from scratch is very doable on SW. I don't see that SW is doing any harm or damage here.

KeepingPlain · 09/09/2020 12:09

I was trying to follow these fad diets, but they very rarely actually help people keep the weight off permanently. People lapse back into bad habits.

I've cut down the snacks I eat, as in I don't eat any now, it's 3 meals a day only. And I've cut down the portions for them plus increased the amount of veg I have. I did increase the amount of exercise I do as well, making sure I do 250 steps or more every hour as I sit at a desk all day. Doing exercise apps too and going for walks.

Counting all of that syn crap is just annoying more than anything else.

sapnupuas · 09/09/2020 12:11

My Fitness Pal. Count calories and not syns.

Thinkle · 09/09/2020 12:18

I know what you mean. I haven’t used it in a few years but I remember it took me a while to get it all out of my head. I’m vegetarian now and am therefore taking a much keener interest in macro nutrients (using an app), especially protein as part of my eating habits. But maybe that just a new thing to obsess about.

JudgeRindersMinder · 09/09/2020 12:19

@SissySpacekAteMyHamster

Rebel Fit.

On Facebook.

That’s what I came to say!
mintyfreshh · 09/09/2020 12:20

Definitely look at intuitive eating, Dr Laura Thomas on Instagram is a great resource.

Julesni77 · 09/09/2020 12:20

I second rebel fit on Facebook....game changer!!

hellokitty67 · 09/09/2020 12:21

SW is a damaging mindset, that is factual. We all know that calories out has to be less than calories in to lose weight. SW didn't have any magic except that it fooled you into eating foods that are lower calories so you eat less.

It gets factually damaging when you are told that a banana is free but a slice of bread outside of hexb is synned, when they are the same calories.

It's hard to shake, but try to see all the issues with the system. Fruit cannot be free, it makes no sense, you can't eat 4000 calories of grapes and lose weight. I hate the dialogue. Think it through and then start calorie counting.

Also there's a guy called Jordan Syatt I love, he is a PT and has done experiments such as 30 Day Big Mac challenge, he eats a Big Mac every day and loses weight. It will help change your mindset (and might put you off Maccies in the process lol)

TillyTheTiger · 09/09/2020 12:23

Rebelfit. 100%. Has totally changed the way I look at food, exercise, my body, my weight. For the first time in YEARS I can look at myself in the mirror with acceptance instead of loathing.

Dixiechickonhols · 09/09/2020 12:23

It sounds like it’s your personality taken it to extremes. I’d be wary of jumping into calorie counting etc as it’s likely to trigger you in same way. Basic concept of SlimmingWorld is healthy eating eg minimum 1/3 plate veg. You can have pineapple and white bread if you choose to.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 09/09/2020 12:24

I feel like either I misunderstood or some pps did.

The issue isn't about how to lose weight, but how to reprogramme the programming of thinking about food.

I agree with pps who said try to change your thinking from syn/speed/free into nutritional one.

HandfulofDust · 09/09/2020 12:24

@BaitandSwitch That's exactly what OP said in her post. It works for some but didn't for her and has caused her some issues. She's asking for help overcoming those issues. I agree OP diets in general like slimming world aren't effective. People need to make long term changes. I don't have particularly concrete advice but I definitely found something similar when I went on a diet - my mindset did eventually change but it took months. I found exercise really helped, as my focus became being healthy not weight and calories.

unicornpower · 09/09/2020 12:25

The problem I have always found with slimming world is it doesn't teach you portion control. Its 'Oh you can have as MUCH of this as you want' when in reality, too much of anything isn't good for you. I had a client once who I did a meal plan for and she said she couldn't eat avocado and eggs for breakfast because there were too many syns in avocado? Its a perfectly healthy food with lots of benefits but slimming world had labelled it with 'syns' but she could have as much pasta as she wanted. Doesn't make sense to me!

I think OP you CAN unlearn it but really work to stop seeing food as good/bad. Everything in moderation is fine it really is. Just look at food as part of your life rather than be militant with it and work towards the 80/20 rule. 80% of your diet is good nutritious food and then you can have some not so good things the other 20% of the time.

CBADotCom · 09/09/2020 12:26

No food it 'good' or 'bad' - hate the phrase 'syns' used by slimming world. To lose weight you need to eat less calories than you use. Most effective way of doing this is to google TDEE calculator then take a few hundred calories off (e.g. if your TDEE is 2000, reduce to 1700) then track EVERYTHING you eat and drink. I've been doing this for a couple of weeks - I've had toast, I've had cooked breakfast, alcohol, chocolate etc but all within my daily calorie allowance. I make sure most of my food is nutritious - EG high protein yogurt, branflakes and fruit for brekkie, tuna salad for lunch, Chicken rice and roasted veggies for dinner - so then if I do have a couple of biccies with my coffee or a pudding after my meal I dont feel guilty because I know it's all within my allowance.