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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that slimming world doesn't work?

358 replies

Waifwafer · 07/01/2022 16:43

Many of my friends (including myself) have joined Slimming World over the years. There is a trend - they all lost quite a substantial amount of weight over a relatively short period of time. Kept it off for no more than six months, then ended up putting it all back on... Sometimes more.

Looking at the plan, it doesn't look like a sustainable, long term lifestyle and it doesn't even seem like a healthy way to lose weight. Viewing treats as "syns" seems dangerous. Encouraging in group for members to eat unlimited pasta is ludicrous. It's essentially a calorie deficit just like every other method of losing weight, but encourages members to view food in a negative way.

Also, the whole experience is based on the number on the scales, which may fluctuate week-on-week and not actually be anything to do with fat loss.

AIBU to think that Slimming World is all a big con and doesn't work on a long term basis?

OP posts:
flossie47 · 07/01/2022 16:45

YANBU, slimming world does work but only if you stay on the plan forever. As soon as you come off it or even deviate slightly you will put the weight back on.

Lbnc2021 · 07/01/2022 16:48

It doesn’t. I’ve had a lot of clients who have claimed slimming world works because they lost a stone etc etc and kept going for 14 years on some merry go round. It’s a good business model though, tell people they don’t have to count the calories in potatoes and they’ll always come back.

samwitwicky · 07/01/2022 16:48

I joined last night. Had my first meeting. Even while sitting in group I had this sinking feeling of 'this isn't going to work'.

I've had that feeling all day and now I'm thinking of leaving.

I don't know what to do

Original poster
Waifwafer · 07/01/2022 16:49

@samwitwicky

I joined last night. Had my first meeting. Even while sitting in group I had this sinking feeling of 'this isn't going to work'.

I've had that feeling all day and now I'm thinking of leaving.

I don't know what to do

Ah sorry - from my own experience I would say to leave. Have you tried MyFitnessPal?
OP posts:
GirlInACountrySong · 07/01/2022 16:49

why are syns dangerous??

samwitwicky · 07/01/2022 16:50

@Waifwafer what is my fitness pal?

TrophyWinner · 07/01/2022 16:51

I have a friend who's been a SW rep for decades. During that time her own weight has been up and down all over the place.

Yummayumma · 07/01/2022 16:51

It’s designed to keep you addicted to sweet treats in the form of weird frankenfoods so you keep yo yo dieting. It’s essentially an MLM.

Danikm151 · 07/01/2022 16:52

It’s not sustainable in the long run. Look up the slimmers of the year… most of them put it back on
Ww used to work and can be sustainable it’s changed and I haven’t done it in a few years so can’t say if it still is

For me Weightloss groups are about accountability- that’s more motivation

Sausagedogsarethebest · 07/01/2022 16:52

I did SW a few years ago. Lost nearly 3 stone and felt great. Stopped doing SW and it all went back on again, and a little bit more. As others have said, it only works if you keep on it forever.

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 07/01/2022 16:52

Did it years ago.

It has no portion control. Constantly tells you to each as much free food as you like to fill up etc etc.

People still don't get it when they weigh in and have gained because every day they've eaten two cooked meals and a breakfast and a million yogurts etc etc.

They don't mention the word calories because they're ethos is they go by healthy eating habits.
Well it's not healthy to encourage massive portions

SirChenjins · 07/01/2022 16:52

It’s like every single weight loss or lifestyle plan - as soon as you stop it you put the weight back on. Quite why SW is singled out I don’t know.

You are not encouraged to eat unlimited pasta, either by the group leaders or by the SW pack. If you read the info careful and follow it it’s actually a very sensible approach - lots of whole fruit, veg and protein, some pasta, rice, etc, limited processed carbs like bread, limited fat and dairy. Syns just are a way of thinking about what you’re eating over and above your daily intake.

It worked for me and reset my thinking around what I was eating. Counting calories was far too much of a faff for me, so I didn’t do it - but I wouldn’t knock it or any of the other approaches. If you’re prepared to stick at something sensible and follow it properly then great - the only person putting the food in your mouth is you.

BarbaraofSeville · 07/01/2022 16:54

There are advantages and disadvantages of any diet plan. A big advantage of SW is that you can eat most food without having to count or measure, which is tedious unless you eat a very limited and packaged diet and if you're hungry, you can eat proper food instead of just fruit, veg or salad.

And it isn't just 'unlimited pasta' or wall to wall Muller Lights, a third of what you eat is supposed to be fruit, veg or salad, so the pasta would have to go alongside that to follow the plan properly.

As for people putting weight back on, well of course they would if they go back to the eating habits that caused them to gain weight in the first place. That's the case for all weight loss plans.

ChimChimeny · 07/01/2022 16:54

[quote samwitwicky]@Waifwafer what is my fitness pal?[/quote]
It's an app where you input everything you eat and.track calories. It works for me because if I have to log every biscuit/piece of chocolate it stops me.eating it Grin

VapeVamp12 · 07/01/2022 16:54

Personally I like SW and get on well with it. It keeps me on the straight and narrow and I like the accountability of being weighed each week.

That being said, I know a lot of people hate it and and the "free foods" thing seems a bit silly to some. Although they're free I still portion things like pasta and potatoes etc.

icklepiglet · 07/01/2022 16:55

@GirlInACountrySong

why are syns dangerous??
It creates an attitude of good and bad foods which isn't based in nutritional evidence. Eg white pasta (free=good) and avocado (syn=bad). I have a history of eating disorders and find SW immensely triggering for this very reason, no food should have an inherent value judgement placed on it.
BarbaraofSeville · 07/01/2022 16:56

Cross posted with @SirChenjins, but we're very much a minority lost in those who can't see past 'Muller Lights and Hifi bars'.

HelpIcantfindaname · 07/01/2022 16:57

I have joined many times over the years. Each time I'd lose about 3 stones in the first couple of months, then fall off the wagon spectacularly, even though I still had a long way to go. Four years ago I actually got past that point & lost 10 stones in 10 months. Just a few pounds away from target. I had a knee injury, I couldnt exercise so I felt sorry for myself & fell off the SW wagon again. Then lockdown came. Ive since joined SW again twice & repeated the starting off well, then falling off the wagon. Ive put nearly all of that ten stone back on. I know I have to lose it, but not with Slimming World this time. The best thing I've learned from SW is to plan & prep, but other than that I'm gona do my own thing & make life changes which are sustainable.

TrophyWinner · 07/01/2022 16:57

I've got a groundbreaking diet plan. Eat a good variety of real food at mealtimes. There's no money in it though Grin

NerrSnerr · 07/01/2022 16:57

I have been yo-yo dieting for years and for me none of it works. What I am now trying to do is eat as healthily as I can and exercise there won't be massive losses like the diets have but in the long term no diet will work for me as I will always fall off the wagon.

Daisy829 · 07/01/2022 16:59

I’ve had great success on SW previously and I have a friend who has kept her weight off for 7 year and goes to group every week. She looks amazing. I have put it back on but that’s my fault. Like anyone, if I don’t eat healthy foods and exercise I put the weight back on. I have however got disillusioned with SW spouting the same things all the time and don’t like the fake bakes etc. I’m using nutracheck at the moment and quite enjoying that.

BarbaraofSeville · 07/01/2022 17:00

@TrophyWinner

I've got a groundbreaking diet plan. Eat a good variety of real food at mealtimes. There's no money in it though Grin
Well that's pretty much the premise of Slimming World and they manage to get people to pay a fiver a week for it Grin
NoNameHere12 · 07/01/2022 17:00

Best thing is to exercise, the gym is great for this as there is such a huge variety for keeps things fresh and exciting.
Eat protein items every breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yh you can snack, no point going 100% clean at the beginning, it will just out you off, go 70% clean eating with exercise and once you start seeing results and your jeans are falling down your bum that will enthuse you do go the full hog, and by then you will be addicted anyway.

TrophyWinner · 07/01/2022 17:01

Well that's pretty much the premise of Slimming World and they manage to get people to pay a fiver a week for it grin

Don't they have lots of processed suff and snacks?

GirlInACountrySong · 07/01/2022 17:03

i thought sins meant 'synergy'

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