Does slimming world work?

[Snapdragon123]

Hi

I am thinking about joining slimming world. I need to lose around a stone. Tried WW last year and found it confusing. I scanned all the food I consumed unfortunately some foods I thought were zero points were scanning as 3 points. In 6 months I lost 5 pounds. I have piled it all back on plus more.
Any positive reviews of slimming world?

TIA

It basically relies on a calorie deficit by encouraging you to eat lower fat foods.

You have to follow the guidelines carefully re ‘free food’ if you want it to work.

although there is less weighing and measuring on slimming world you should stick to the advice they give about what proportion of your plate is vegetables etc

It wouldn’t work for me because they don’t prioritise protein and good fats over carbs. What has worked is intermittent fasting (I do 16:8) and cooking from scratch, low carb high protein. I’ve lost 6.5 stone in just over a year.

Read 'Why we eat too much' and you will see why for most people, all diets ultimately fail.

If you just need to lose a stone I'd say no. It worked for me losing a few stone after having a baby but the closer I got to my goal weight the less effective I found it. I basically just had to low carb to lose the last 10lb.

I have friends who swear by it tho and if you have a good group and a good consultant it can be really worthwhile. I enjoyed the meetings and accountability.

If you didn't like WW then you won't like SW. They are the same diet these days.

They do say on WW not to scan things like fruit and veg that was zero points because it shows as having points. Basically their own software can't even follow their own plan.

I prefer calorie counting and then I can have a 450 calorie pizza instead of 700 calories of 'free' food.

I know lots of people who've lost weight easily with SW. What they can't do is keep it off after.

Thanks

I am female aged 48 and menopausal. The weight seems to be piling on at the moment.

I tried WW during the pandemic. There were no meetings other than online. These were impersonal. I found it hard to engage. I scanned frozen vegetables which I believed were zero points and appeared as 3.

I currently eat less than before. Exercise more and still seem to gain weight. Which in turn is making me more depressed.

Yes but the stupid arbitrary rules annoy me. For example a bar of chocolate is10 syns but only 200 calories, and mashed banana is synned but un mashed banana isn't. I've found the best way to lose weight (and keep it off) is calorie counting. I use Nutracheck. Low carb helps too - just avoid pasta, rice and bread.

I lost 3 stone on SW a few years ago and have kept it off. I stick by some of the habits now, but mostly just follow a balanced diet.

It's like anything, if you stick at it and follow the rules, it'll work.

It worked for me, and I found it worked well with my lifestyle, but it's not for everyone!

I'd tried hundreds before slimming world (WW, intermittent fasting, lean in 15, keto) none of which worked for me.

I had tried absolutely everything before I started IF and low carb. I still eat carbs, just only once a day and a small portion, and I don't really eat bread at all because it seems to just cause INSTANT weight gain. I really thought I would never be able to lose weight, but this has worked for me and it's been life-changing. I think what it has taught me is that not all calories are the same, even though that seems to fly in the face of logic, and also hidden calories – sauces, drinks, spreads etc – are the killer.

Pretty much any diet works if you do it properly and stick to it. There isn’t one, special magic bullet diet. Eat less, move more.

It only works in the sense that it's a supportive group situation, and has accountability.

You can completely ignore the plan, stick to eating healthier and moving more. The weight will still come off.

I like slimming world as I find their meal plans easy to follow
I don’t have to buy specific brands. The app is very useful too