Slimming world group chat - found it awkward

[MyballsareSandy2015]

My 2nd visit to SW last night and Ive lost 2 pound so an ok start. Stayed for the meeting after and the leader spent an hour going round the room telling everyone what they'd lost or gained, and asking how they felt about it, what they had eaten etc.

I'm quite shy in these group situations and hated it. It's put me off
Staying. Might just weigh and go next week. Are all the meetings jims this?

Well I'm glad not all meeting are the same :)

Just have a word with your consulatant and say you would prefer not to speak in group. I am sure they would be fine with that.

I found it hideous and quite frankly boring! It was the exact reason I stopped going. I have joined online now

Our consultant will congratulate you on a loss and tell the size of the loss, but if it's a gain then she just says "a gain". There were a few of the members who didn't talk much, she just didn't ask them any questions, and then a few who she spoke to for a couple of minutes. I think she tends to get to know people and after a few session's she'll know if you want to talk or not.

You can probably just ask her not to say anything though, and staying behind and listening to others might help you with ideas, inspiration and motivation.

I do think the image therapy works, somebody I know just managed to get hold a copy of the book and does the plan but doesn't go to group or online and they haven't lost anything since they started.

It is horrible going around the room & waiting your turn. I start to panic! However my consultant did say if you don't want to talk say it at pay in or weigh in & they can make a note so you won't be picked on!! I don't care about people knowing how much I lost or gained, that's why we are all there for. I just despise speaking in front of people my downfall in life in general! I also think it would be a much better idea to have a general chat amongst everyone with those who want to speak and ask questions doing so. I ask think more people would stay to group and classes might not take so long. You see so many people leaving after an hour, they are just too long at times.

It's odd that so many consultants follow the bland formula of reciting names and losses/gains like a robot. It's not particularly inspiring. My consultant seems to know the people that are up for a chat about their weigh in, and those that prefer just to join in on the recipe/tactics discussions. She must be doing something right, she has over 500 members over her groups and has had to take her details off the 'find a consultant' page on the SW main site as she has no space for new members right now!

This happens at mine too. I used to stay to group, it's ok if you have a loss but if I gain or maintain I feel like everyone looks at me and judges. When I first started they said they won't read out our results or anything and it all will be kept private, obviously it isn't!

i am so sad to read these comments. I am very shy and when i first joined SW i absolutely cringed and got so nervous when she got near to me in the group But now its like a family. I will never be the type to talk a lot but i don't mind having my losses shared - i quite like it as always get a big cheer. If its ever a gain she never says the amount or that its a gain she normally just says the total weight loss you have achieved and then asks if you need any help. Its all very friendly and genuinely like a family. I honestly believe if i didn't stay to group i wouldn't do as well as part of the reason i stick to it so religiously is knowing that the group are all behind me. I never felt this way with weight watchers. as a shy person in weight watchers no one ever spoke to me so i never made relationships and then gave up.

My advice is to stick with it. THere are normally so many people to get through that you wont be spoken to for long and they can normally tell if you feel uncomfortable so wont hang about. It will be so worth it in the end. Good luck!

Our consultant is similar to others, if you tell her you don't want to talk she won't make you. If you don't like groups but you do like the diet, maybe online is best.

If it was a free for all then maybe the ones that need to talk wouldn't get a word in with the other more confident and forthcoming members though. Nobody is obligated to talk, just as when a loss is read out, you arne't obligated to allow that. If you don't want it, tell the leader.

NOBODY should be reading out what gain there is Against the rules. if yours does this complain to HO

I didn't like the first meeting I went too. Dominated by a few loud mouths so I hardly ever stayed. I dreaded it. But I did find one that suited me better. But on the whole I don't like any of the meetings WW or SW. But a lot of people do and find it helps.