Not sure about continuing with SW

[CecilyTheWake]

I started SW last autumn and have lost 1.3st which I’m really pleased with.

However, I am finding more and more that I hate most of the SW recipes. The soups are watery and bland, the veggie burgers (I’m pescatarian) are awful and I don’t want to eat pasta every day. So many of the recipes look great but when I cook them, they’re bland, dry/soggy or just horrid. I made one of the veggie Spanish omelette things and it was just disgusting - I had to throw it away.

I’ve ended up cooking non-SW recipes mostly but adapting them, plus I use Gousto quite a bit.

The other thing is that I find the meetings beyond tedious. It’s literally an hour of clapping everyone’s weekly weight loss and while I appreciate it’s meant to be supportive and a community, the groups are huge at the moment post-NY resolution and it takes forever. I don’t feel like I get anything out of them apart from being held accountable for a weekly weigh-in. The consultant puts a lot of pressure on us to stay for the group and if you keep missing it she texts you to ask why you aren’t staying.

I need to lose about four stone and I do HIIT classes plus 20 mins run every day.

Given that I’m not really following SW, I’m doubtful about whether I should continue with it but I don’t want to ‘give up’ if that makes sense. I’m determined to lose the weight, but I’m not sure SW is right for me.

If anyone else doing SW or who did it previously, has any thoughts, I’d be grateful to hear.

If you don't want to do it then don't.

The concept of SW recipes is odd, basically just stick to whatever recipes you want. From what I remember they're basically low fat so shouldn't be a problem for you. Pasta isn't compulsory. For a vegetarian or pescatarian should be easy. 1.3 st isn't a bad weight loss in the time. Their sessions would make me cringe, OH's group when he went was run by someone who didn't stick to the script so was more interesting. Will you maintain or continue to lose if you stop going? For some that 'accountability' is needed others are happy on their own.

I do it online so no interminable meetings! Also been doing it since autumn, eat a predominately vegetarian diet and have lost 1st8lbs. I think in all that time I’ve done maybe two SlimmingWorld recipes. I just adapt our regular recipes. Yes lunchtime can be dull ( I use my hexb at breakfast & miss bread) but I’ve had leftovers, risotto, omelette, homemade soup, jacket potatoes etc don’t feel like I’ve had pasta too often.

I've just restarted slimming world. It works for me, i lost 2st12lbs and got to target, spent nearly a year there. But lockdown happened, I regained most of the weight back. I then spent 6 months trying to lose weight but not sticking to it. So back to some accountability (plus I'm paying for it so I'm not going to be paying longer than I need to!)

I rarely use actual slimming world recipes, I just adapt our favourites or meals I find online. Pinch of nom is my favorite!

I sometimes stay for the clapping, its nice to get that boost and celebrate others losses. Also a good time to reflect if it wasn't what i was hoping for (if I've put on for example). Plus its an hour just for me, doing something for my confidence.

I recommend the Iceland Thai vegeburgers btw

I do SW but I don't really follow the diet, I literally just go for the weigh in and leave, I know this is an expensive thing to do, but the only way I can stick to any diet is because of the weigh in, I never stop for the meetings, I'm in an out in 5 mins, I have orrifge for breakfast, a low cal lunch and tea is either SW, the slimming foodie or a pinch of nom, I've lost 1 St 8lb in 4 months.

You don't have to use SW recipes. I mostly use Pinch of Nom and I haven't had many fails. Or just cook whatever you want but make swaps to make it SW friendly e.g. no oil, fat free yogurt, less cheese, 5% mince. You can make pretty much anything

Also you can just pay and weigh, just ignore consultant texts. Or move to online, or join some SW Facebook groups for support as there are plenty

I've been going for 5 weeks now. I really enjoy the meetings! It's an hour a week, our leader talks about new recipes, interesting TV progs or articles, the psychology of weight loss etc. We are all bringing in our fave recipes for a tasting session in a few weeks. Slimmer of the week gets to take away the hamper and we have a raffle - I've won it twice!

You could try WW, not so happy chappy but your goal must be in healthy bmi. Would weighing on Boots scales and getting a print out work for you?

@clarrylove

I've been going for 5 weeks now. I really enjoy the meetings! It's an hour a week, our leader talks about new recipes, interesting TV progs or articles, the psychology of weight loss etc. We are all bringing in our fave recipes for a tasting session in a few weeks. Slimmer of the week gets to take away the hamper and we have a raffle - I've won it twice!

I wish ours was that useful! There’s a hamper and a raffle, but tbh, I wouldn’t want them. Last week’s contained a tin of kidney beans and two bananas.

Maybe I’ve got a bit hung up on the recipes - it feels like everything is a syn so I was trying to use the recipes more but I’m honestly so sick of them. Haven’t tried Pinch of Nom, are they good?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4476988-pinch-of-nom

Take what you want from it.

I think some of the diet principles are good. The idea of removing a third/half of what would normally be on your plate, then filling that volume with fresh vegetables or salad is just really common sense. The speed foods are just low carb options. I find the use of language ("body magic" ) and rules irritating but clearly there is some use there if you cut through it.

Similarly, if you like the accountability of the weigh in, just do that and then leave. Lots of people were doing that when i went.

How about WW online. They have a great app to keep you accountable and you can scan food packaging for points. Three types of eating plan according to your likes then you can eat any type of food as long as you stay within your points. There's also many recipe ideas. You choose a weigh in day and record it so you can track progress.

WW no longer has the 3 colour eating plans. It is now personal to you with you selecting some foods to be zero points for you.

I've been doing it since January and haven't used a single slimming world recipie. I just have normal food. I do use my syns on stuff like sauces and condiments though. I can see how someone who wants to drink or eat chocolate on it might struggle. But I don't.

Thanks, this is all really helpful. I’ve found some good recipes on Pinch of Nom and Slimming Eats. Perhaps I will swerve the meetings for a while.