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?

Muller Lights used to be free on SW until they brought out their own yoghurts....
Says It all really.

My point is though, that people stop eventually because the plan is simply unsustainable in the long term. Hence why I suggested that it doesn't work.

You absolutely can’t have unlimited Muller Lights and Mug Shots! Where did you get that from?

At that time I went you could, but to be fair I think that changed not long after because people were absolutely troughing them down then complaining they weren’t losing weight

Of course it doesn't...you need to totally change your diet or increase your exercise

My problem with Slimming World was that I found the terminology utterly patronising - syns, "body magic", Star Weeks, etc - silly childish terms to complicate something that comes down to "eat less and move more" like all weight loss does.

The cult-like 'stick to plan' thing, weird attitudes to foods (evil butter, evil bread, saintly Fry Light) - instead of just expecting people to use common sense and not dump half a pack of Lurpack into a risotto.

I used to look around the room and wonder if anyone attended for the same reason as me (essentially ignoring the plan/booklet/spiel completely but wanting the accountability of the weekly weigh-in) - I never found out. Listening to grown adults talk about "body magic", I just wanted to laugh out loud. I don't know how anyone can take it seriously.

I don't like the diet industry. You should not need to pay to be weighed and told rules about what to eat imo. You get the latter for free on MN anyway . Also, someone pointed out to me ages ago that it isn't in their best interests for you to be happy with your weight. So it isn't in their interest for you to get to target and stay there. So it isn't sustainable and that's the way they like it. Makes them more money!

If you really want to lose weight, there are free ways of doing it. It may not stay off, but it's no less likely to work just because you haven't paid them to join their lose weight club

Slimming World is a business. It makes money - primarily out of vulnerable, self-conscious women. The language they use is dangerous, food isn’t a sin (or syn as they like to conceal it as).

I've used it twice to lose my baby weight and it's worked long term so far (last baby is almost 3)

I think it's worked long term for me because I've got close to my 'natural weight' and it's changed my eating and cooking habits.

I cook from scratch most nights and still do lots of their meals. They are big family favourites.

I don't think it works long term if you go for the slimming world convenience food or stop tracking what you eat. While I don't track everything any more, I do still keep a bit of a track of what I'm eating.

@PurpleSky300

My problem with Slimming World was that I found the terminology utterly patronising - syns, "body magic", Star Weeks, etc - silly childish terms to complicate something that comes down to "eat less and move more" like all weight loss does.

The cult-like 'stick to plan' thing, weird attitudes to foods (evil butter, evil bread, saintly Fry Light) - instead of just expecting people to use common sense and not dump half a pack of Lurpack into a risotto.

I used to look around the room and wonder if anyone attended for the same reason as me (essentially ignoring the plan/booklet/spiel completely but wanting the accountability of the weekly weigh-in) - I never found out. Listening to grown adults talk about "body magic", I just wanted to laugh out loud. I don't know how anyone can take it seriously.

Quite.

You absolutely can’t have unlimited Muller Lights and Mug Shots! Where did you get that from?
Well I did say I went 10 years ago & you were positively encouraged to think of these as 'free food' at that time. To be fair I lost weight on it as well!

I have been doing sw on and off for years.

Our council were giving 12 weeks for free so decided to go back... and I'm not sure what happened but it finally clicked.

Sw is calorie counting but instead of large numbers they have given them "syns".

It's a well known fact that fruit and veg are good for you and the body processes these differently so having as much as you want won't do any harm....however the rest of it needs to be considered.

I have never taken "free food" to be unlimited but that I don't need to count each ounce but always told in moderation, so a pasta meal is fine.... 3 potions in one sitting is not.

Syns Is a collective term for things that are known to not be as good for you so need to be really moderated. Usually containing refined sugars which again small amounts fine...whole bar of Cadbury 1kg with a bottle of wine...not so good for you.

By limiting those things you are helping your body while still giving it a small amount of what it needs.

The thing with smoothies and cooked fruit... they are counted because when reduced down 2 things happen, 1 more natural sugar is released 2. When consuming your body has to put no effort in to eating and digesting that food so you can end up eating 3 bananas, 2 apples and a punnet of strawberries in one go without realising.. something you wouldn't do if they were sat in front of you whole.

It's not for everyone just like keto, ww, don'teatthat, and the Putitback diets don't work for others

This time around though I can really say it's making me think before i eat another biscuit or bit of cake.... I may not say no everytime but know if I say yes to that then I will need to say no to something else later. I also eat alot more fruit and veg.

The other thing for me is I have 2 children now and I want to enjoy them for as long as I can so giving myself a healthy body and losing fat around my organs is no bad thing

@PurpleSky300 that's exactly why I go... to be weighed and have that accountantability.... its written down and I feel a sense of pride when I know i may not have eaten well every day but still making my body healthier in some way

Weight loss is about calories though? You need a deficit to lose weight, it's science.

It is way more complex than that.

But in a basic way you might understand, one third of a Mars bar has roughly the same number of calories as a banana. Which do you think is better to snack on?

It doesn't work because people usually go back to the way they used to eat rather than making permanent changes to their diet.

I did it 3 years ago to lose 2.5 stone fir DS's wedding. It worked and I haven't put weight on - well apart from some Xmas weight which I'll lose by doing some sensible things (inspired by SW) such as maxing out on veg on my plate and cutting waaaay back in things like cheese and bread.
It's just about being sensible

It's a business. They need to sell their shitty processed products and keep people coming to meetings. It's that simple. If it worked people wouldn't be constantly on and off the wagon, "getting back on it" and every other SW cliche you hear.

I lost 4st a few years ago, and only put 1st back on since then. That's fine.

I did it years ago lost 3.5 stone. But. When I stopped I didn't go back to old habits. Don't follow the plan now but still watch what I eat, pick healthier options than I did before etc. I've kept the weight off. In my group a lot of people seemed to think once they reached target weight they could just go back to old ways and are disappointed when they gain again 🤷

[quote Newmummytoakitten]@PurpleSky300 that's exactly why I go... to be weighed and have that accountantability.... its written down and I feel a sense of pride when I know i may not have eaten well every day but still making my body healthier in some way[/quote]
Good for you @Newmummytoakitten, I can understand that. Do you find the terminology a bit weird or don't you mind it?

I lost several stone on Slimming World a few years ago and have kept it off so far. I just used the app though, never attended a meeting as that's not my kind of thing. I found it quite good, though obviously you have to apply some common sense too. I think the assumption on the "free food" thing is that whilst the plan says you can have as much as you like, in reality, plain boiled pasta or rice isn't really that appealing so most people won't eat massive portions. Likewise lean meat being free - you could in theory eat a whole chicken, but how many people actually would?
I didn't eat anything weird, but I did follow the guide of making sure at least a third of every meal was veg, and I ate sensible portions of lean protein and carbs. Of course there was nothing in that that I didn't already know, but the structure of recording my food and activity made me more likely to stick to it, and the syns thing did make me make more healthy choices, especially around snacks. I have retained that habit and my previous chocolate/biscuit addiction is pretty much gone.
There is no such thing as a magic diet and if people either try to "cheat" or follow something completely unsustainable then of course they aren't going to maintain weight loss, but that's not specific to SW.
For me, the relatively simple method of measuring and recording what I was eating focused my mind and made me think about all the unnecessary calories I was consuming, and the fact I was paying did motivate me to stick to it. I'd tried straightforward calorie counting using free apps previously but not kept it up for long. Paying my SW fee a couple of months at a time kind of made me more committed. Obviously different things motivate different people though. Basically following the plan made me eat less junk, and more simple, healthy meals with a lot of veg, and I've stuck to it. There are loads of other ways to achieve that of course but SW did help me.

Another point that hasn't yet been made on this thread is how it being a "universal" plan might not actually be a good thing. If there is no calorie counting and working out the TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) of the individual, then how is it guaranteed that the plan will ensure a calorie deficit? Calorie counting may be tedious, but at least it can be personalised to suit the individual. My TDEE as an obese 5ft 4 female will be drastically different to an overweight 6ft1 male, for example.

Slimming World never worked for me. Those meetings and the clapping - no. The endless amounts of pasta just never worked at all. Losing weight is so personal and is a personal battle. The truth is we would all prefer to sit on the sofa eating chocolate or whatever we like rather than a calorie deficit. But a calorie deficit is the only thing that works. I tried everything - slimming world, cambridge, weight watchers and then finally I went to a crossfit gym that taught me paleo - real non-processed food with fruit as treats when you are on a calorie deficit. I don't think its a con but it doesn't work for everyone

YANBU
I actually hate any of these things that you need to pay for.

I also hate the term ‘syn’ as it’s too close to ‘sun’ like what you’re doing is such a terrible thing, which makes most people crave it more.

But if it helps people change their mind set and helps them to understand healthy vs unhealthy foods then it’s not all bad.

I do like the idea that you should eat healthy 90% of the time but shouldn’t deny yourself treats, so it fits in with people’s lifestyles.

Any diet you do, should be something that you carry on for life.
You just amend it slightly if you want to lose, gain or maintain weight.

I voted U as this comes again and again and again and again and again

It’s the reverting back to “normal” which is the killer after being in any diet regime. The thing that has helped me more than anything is the NOOM programme because that focusses on your relationship with food and gets you to examine why it is that you rely on food to manage emotions . Anyone who thinks they can diet, lose weight then revert to normal eating habits and keep the weight off is delusional. It’s the habits that need attention