To think that slimming world doesn't work?

[Waifwafer]

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?

Slimming World is a cult and has built a business by peddling fake science.

@HairyFanjoBanjo

Most people have a body size ‘set point’ or ‘range’. Traditional ‘diets’ just fuck that up, but forcing you into calorie deficit for as long as you can hack it. Once you start eating ‘normally’ again, you regain the weight and usually some more on top.

Psychologically, diets tell your brain there is a famine. So when you stop the ‘famine’ your body tries to regain ASAP and some in case of another famine (diet). It’s actually your body being smart and trying to help you.

We aren’t all meant to be stick thin our whole lives, but societal conditioning means we are all pushed to hate our bodies and aspire to be thin / thinner with whatever the fashionable body type is. This societal conditioning and consumerism makes diet companies a LOT of money.

It’s incredibly depressing.

@HairyFanjoBanjo I agree with parts of what you're saying but not all weightloss attempts are aesthetic only. I put on lots of weight due to medication and chronic pain (less exercise) and was very overweight for 3.5 years. At the beginning of 2021 I decided I had to diet and last year lost 2.5 stone. The vast majority of my pain has cleared and my IBS is virtually gone. The weight loss also meant I was able to exercise (it is hard to exercise intensively if you are obese) and this in turn has improved my conditions and mental health. Tbh, dieting has drastically improved my life and I never want to get that fat again.

Go to block 5 if you want to get straight into the science, the first 4 blocks of the podcast are about who the professor is and how he got to where he was doing research.

@FanciedChange

I think we are possibly talking about different things here.

I’m not advocating weight gain or lack of exercise whatsoever. But eating and exercise being used as a stick to beat yourself with in an attempt to adhere to societies expectations of body shape or size (with the agenda for almost all proponents to cash in on mass self body hatred).

It sounds like you made a health based decision for your mind and body and your approach was sensible for you.

@HairyFanjoBanjo yes agree with that 100%

Not read full thread but YANBU. It’s a cult which preys on uninformed people (women normally). It does not encourage healthy eating. I joined once and as I’m not actually overweight (but heavier than I want to be) I didn’t have much to loose. I was 10st 9lbs (at 5ft 10). In the first week I lost 2lbs and when I stepped on their scales the woman gave me a sympathetic look and said “2lbs? Oh well, you might have a better week next week”. That’s when I realised their leaders don’t have a fucking clue either. It’s all about selling sugar filled shite and charging people £5 a week to step on a set of scales.
Absolute rubbish.

Unlimited pasta my arse.

Calories in vs calories out is the only way.

Personally I prefer NOOM. I’ve been doing it for a year and have lost 3.5 stone and am nearly back to my target weight. I’ve recommended NOOM to several friends and it’s working brilliantly for some but not at all for others. I know that to reach and maintain my target weight I will have to follow this plan forever, whether continuing my NOOM subscription or using My Fitness Pal to keep on track of what I’m eating. Of course when you stop following a diet/healthy eating plan/whatever you want to call it, the weight will go back on.

Personally I’m not keen on Slimming World or any group based programme because I am very shy and introverted and going to a group for a weigh in and applause is my idea of hell. I did it and hated it. But that’s just how I feel, and I acknowledge that it works well for others.

I personally think Noom is as bad as the rest of them and is very expensive - the company are making an absolute fortune from people’s misery unfortunately.

Fanciedchange It sounds like dieting has worked for you, and that's great, but for the vast majority it doesn't and SW is one of the worst offenders for creating a dieting programme that really isn't sustainable long-term, thus ensuring it has repeat customers year after year to stay in business. This TED talk by a neuroscientist backs up what HairyFanjoBanjo said about dieting messing with the body's set point. It's fascinating.

www.ted.com/talks/sandra_aamodt_why_dieting_doesn_t_usually_work?language=en

I have lost a stone here and there over the years. Put it straight back on with bells on. It worked when I needed to loose a stone quickly for my wedding but long term its not sustainable. I received a hand written envelope the other day with a card in it inviting me back. The consultant is a family friend and had seen my Xmas pictures and commented on them. Thankfully I have really thick skin and saw the funny side but really its a shocking way to advertise.

ChicCroissant But you're overlooking why Sanada was unable to stay on SW long-term. Like all the other branded diets, SW is calorie reduction dressed up in fancy marketing and it's been scientifically proved that the body responds to a cycle of deprivation – which is what calorie reduction is – by having a hormonal response that raises hunger and craving cues. So it doesn't matter how successful you are and how much willpower you have, for the vast majority of customers, at some point SW will stop working for them as their body fights back.

SW's scientific/dietary advisors – assuming they have any – could tweak the programme to ensure optimal calorie increases at certain points to allow for the body's hormonal response, but why would they do that? If they did, everyone would succeed first time, keep the weight off forever and they'd go out of business! You say it's not a scam, I find it hard to see it as anything else.

@Ivchangedmynameforthis

I have lost a stone here and there over the years. Put it straight back on with bells on. It worked when I needed to loose a stone quickly for my wedding but long term its not sustainable. I received a hand written envelope the other day with a card in it inviting me back. The consultant is a family friend and had seen my Xmas pictures and commented on them. Thankfully I have really thick skin and saw the funny side but really its a shocking way to advertise.

How rude!

I counted calories for 5 months straight. Never ate more than 1600 a day. Average was around 1400 a day though. I didn't lose anything.

I did SW for a week before Christmas and lost 5lbs.

Christ knows why but my body clearly responds to the plan.

@Ivchangedmynameforthis

I have lost a stone here and there over the years. Put it straight back on with bells on. It worked when I needed to loose a stone quickly for my wedding but long term its not sustainable. I received a hand written envelope the other day with a card in it inviting me back. The consultant is a family friend and had seen my Xmas pictures and commented on them. Thankfully I have really thick skin and saw the funny side but really its a shocking way to advertise.

@Ivchangedmynameforthis What did she say on your Christmas pictures? Just a general Christmassy comment, or "I've seen your recent photos and wondered if you wanted to join Slimming World again"?

Sigh. I lost 4st on SW. In around 9 months. The plan, in itself works. I was never hungry.

However, it never addressed my obsessive eating habits. My compulsion to eat til I feel sick. So, as soon as I step away from the hallowed plan, I'm eating all the butter instead of all the boiled eggs.

And the ridiculous nonsense of fake foods - pumping yourself full of 62 eggs whites and a ton weight of Candarel and calling it roulade is fucking awful. Eat one slice of real roulade and stop.

If you ever question it, the "consultants" (almost mlm-like huns) will tell you their overarching message is sensible eating, fruit & veg and stopping when you're full BUT they encourage all the cheats and fakes and face-filling during the meeting. (Which is as far from therapy as is earthly possible)

And exercise is apparently encouraged but never actually mentioned. They can't monetise it.

I remember my first "consultant" telling me if I wanted to, I could get up at 1am and eat a full chicken and 10 boiled potatoes as long as I took the fucking skin off.

How on earth is this shit promoting healthy attitudes to food? They need you to keep coming back or they don't make money.

@itssarcasmjoan

SW and WW etc try to teach people about healthy eating and balance. Diets 'Fail' because people view them as diets not permanent changes to the way the eat and live.

Follow a plan and you will loose weight - stop and it piles back on.
It's not rocket science.

I would fundamentally disagree with that. SW doesn't try to teach that. It might headline that but what it encourages in a group setting is far from it. Their "consultants" are dangerous!

WW slightly better but not much.

Slimming world does work. When you stop doing it it dosn't...not sure why this isn't blatantly obvious!
I don't do sw...i do calorie counting. It works...if i stop it won't work coz....der!

Allowing these people, mostly women trying earn some cash, to "consult" on health of others is a real worry.

How do I syn chia seeds? Erm, the same as ciabatta hun. Just look at the bread version

WTAF? And these people are revered as health experts. Rather than people struggling to earn a living in a shitty self employed scheme.

SW does help people maintain when then come off the 'diet' part. At that point healthy things which might be regarded as calorific like the infamous avocado, and nuts and seeds, are reintroduced. It honestly isn't the fault of a diet plan if people choose to ignore the ongoing advice!
I speak as someone who lost around 3 stone through SW and three years later is largely still at target weight. I felt it gave me the tools to stay healthy. And I never resorted to weird bars or products. It just re-taught me portion control and that it was better to fill a plate with veg than loads of bread or pasta.

It’s an an excellent business model as they get multiple return customers - if it actually worked then surely they wouldn’t?? My sister tried it and was baffled when the “leader” told her exercise was a bad idea. So very strange. Also theres so much focus on “low fat processed crap” - muller yogurts anyone ?

Well, it’s part of the diet industry and that’s based on getting you to come back.

But you have to take the sensible bits from it, and make them your own.

Most of all you have to deal with the emotional issues around food

However, it never addressed my obsessive eating habits

Does it say that on the tin?

Unlimited pasta my arse.

how can it be unlimited pasta if a third of your plate has to be vegetables? that surely limits your pasta to two thirds of a plate

@ivykaty44

Unlimited pasta my arse.

how can it be unlimited pasta if a third of your plate has to be vegetables? that surely limits your pasta to two thirds of a plate

Because you can eat the same again 30 mins later according to "the plan"

“However, it never addressed my obsessive eating habits. My compulsion to eat til I feel sick..”

Well no, nothing at that level of support would - I know someone with a diagnosed binge eating disorder - months of specialist mental health care didn’t resolve it.