How much have you lost? Prove it works.

[BiscuitBandit32]

I just don't believe this really works. I feel like whenever I ask about it everyone insists it works but no one's actually lost anything!

I know there's success stories on the website but not that many. Seems quite hard to find people who've actually lost weight.

So...
How much have you lost?
How long did it take?
Start and current weights?

If you convince me I'll try it!!

[CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease]

@IHateLegDay

From experience, it seems that it works as long as you keep up with it.
The second you eat 'normally', the weight comes back on.

A friend lost 10st on SW and unfortunately has regained it all when she stopped SW.

My husband has scoliosis. If he goes to the chiropractor weekly it really improves his posture and the constant back ache he lives with.

he hasn’t been to the chiropractor for 3 years now and he’s bent over and in lots of pain again. Clearly the fault of the chiropractor 🙄


OP, I started in 2017, lost over a stone , kept it off until 2020. Gained shit loads and I’m back there again, currently 9lb down. Stick to it and it works. And even once your at target keep going - it’s free then anyway. I find staying for the group really helps keep me in the right mindset and makes me less inclined to bend the rules and eat too much because then I have to accountable the next week.

[BusySittingDown]

Of course it works. People lose weight, get to their targets, stop with Slimming World, pile the weight back on (sometimes more) and then go back to Slimming World. And repeat.

Genius business model!

[ditsygal]

I've lost 4st 2lbs in 6 months. I do think you have to watch portion sizes too though, i don't eat unlimited carbs! But it does work and the group weigh ins are what makes it work when every other diet doesn't for me

[GordonsAFGirl]

I lost five stone some years ago. I think it is best for people who have a lot to lose. I stopped going due to the consultant using another member to weigh people. I felt my privacy was denied. I don't want to share private details. And I agree some foods are just rubbish and junk. Package foods can be pushed too much. The other thing is the syns if you eat a frozen banana but that may have changed.

[IHateLegDay]

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease Did I say it was SW's fault? No.
I said it's something that works if you keep up with it, meaning you need to be consistent.

[Losingthewill8]

howdoesitworkagain, can I ask what bad habits slimming world encouraged? I ask, so I can try to avoid the same thing. I’m restarting next week. Thank you

[Justforlaffs]

Of course it works…if you follow it! Like anything.

I don’t understand posts like “but once the weight came off they stopped following it and the weight just piled on again”! Well…duh!

When you get to your goal weight you can start having a couple of “healthy extras” which usually equates to a bigger dairy allowance and extra fibre, so say two slices of whole grain toast. You can’t start stuffing your face with chocolate and takeouts and expect to keep the weight off.
Personally I don’t go to meetings as I find them boring as hell but I cook SW meals and generally count “syns” (HATE that term) as in 1 syn per 20 cals.

Its not rocket science.

[OneMoreWish]

I started on the 24th november with start weight at 17 stone and half a pound. I now weigh 13 stone 3 pound.

In April I've only lost 3 pound but that's purposeful if that makes sense. I've got another stone to target weight but I want to slow it down to try and avoid loose skin and I want to maintain this weight loss so keeping all the healthy principles but I don't count syns strictly ( or really at all now though I have a rough idea of syns in food bc and those high sun things) I make sure I have three meals a day and fill up with fruit and veg.

I love the difference it's made to my energy and I'm not ill all the time now! I needed this.

There are about a dozen target members who come to my group and my intention is to keep coming so if starts to creep back on I can nip in bud more quickly so I don't put all the weight back on.

I stay for meetings as I like the company and inspires me to keep thinking of healthy food meals.

I'm not a great cook so my meals are basic but healthy. I would say I still have one take away/ meal out a week and the occasional treat when I want. ( I've had a small Easter egg this week but that's been the only excessive thing and I lost two pound still)

Most of my 'syns' are actually parts of my meals to make them tasty so I don't feel the need for extra treats through day ( I have granola with my fruit and natural yoghurt in morning, I use extra virgin olive oil to make dressings on salad and throw in some cashew nuts, I have butter on jacket potatoe with beans and salad etc)

Randomly I'm a big fan of apples now- I have 3-4 a day cut up in various meals. I love the crunch and taste of sweetness in them.

[morelippy]

Did it years ago and it might have changed now but back then pasta, spuds and rice were unlimited.

I gained 3lbs in the first week 😬

[Slimjimtobe]

Just under two and a half stone
it does work but takes a good bit of prep each day (normal food but fresh and no shop bought lunches etc)
took my under six months

[Rolandoratto]

Lost 7 stone in 2012, put it all back on and more. Tried WW and lost 4 stone. Put that all back on and more. Tried Keto and lost 2 stone but put that back on and more. Diets don’t work.

[pollypile]

It absolutely does work if you follow it to the letter. As soon as you digress you will put it all back on though. So unless you plan on sticking to a SW lifestyle forever then there's not much point.

If I needed to drop weight quickly for an event or something id do it (I lost 2 stone in a couple of months when I did it). But long term I wouldn't rely on it because it's not really sustainable and totally messes with your perception of 'good and bad' food.

[effiesgoldwig]

I did it about 15 years ago. Started at 14stone. Got down to 11. By 2019 I was back up and then some to 18st7 (plus two babies between but can't blame them for it)

Tried SW again several times along the way but never with the same success as the first time.

Now calorie counting and have managed to drop to 15st10 since last year but still a long way to go. Wouldn't go back to SW as I agree it didn't teach me good habits and it was unsustainable with the hectic balance in my life with a full time job and a family.

Now I keep track of the choices I'm making in my food and try and aware of portion sizes and what exactly I'm putting into myself. It's coming off more slowly but I'm trying to develop a better relationship with food at the same time.

[Meceme]

@morelippy

Did it years ago and it might have changed now but back then pasta, spuds and rice were unlimited.

I gained 3lbs in the first week 😬

They really weren't ever 'unlimited' like fruits and vegetables.
The idea was that you didn't have to weigh or measure out a portion so you didn't obsess over whether you had 100 or 120g. You fill your plate with 1/3 veg/salad first and this automatically limits the size of your portion and you eat this before you add seconds.

[skidoer]

I lost a stone in 6/7 weeks and had a hen do and a holiday in that time so it definitely works which is why I'm trying again. At the moment I feel quite bloated but I think that's because of the carbs. I normally try to avoid them but then of course end up over eating as I'm hungry so giving it a good go again as I know it can and does work for me. My sister has currently lost 12lbs and my friends are on 1 stone and 5lbs and 2 stone 2lbs. Of course if you eat normally you pile it on but that's because you're not watching what you're eating if eating normally. Takeaways, alcohol, chocolate, cakes etc are all high in syn value so of course eating these with abandon would make you put weight on, that's just common sense surely! I'm trying some of the ready meals this time to make it easier. Yes they're processed and I wouldn't eat that way forever but I'm hoping they help speed up the weight loss

[aiasally]

i lost over 4 stone with slimming world. i've gained a stone because i have ms and was depressed. i was eating take aways and cream cakes. but the way i still use spray light and trim fat off meat etc. so i'm back lost another 7 pounds in two weeks .

[paigehl2000]

@BiscuitBandit32

I just don't believe this really works. I feel like whenever I ask about it everyone insists it works but no one's actually lost anything!

I know there's success stories on the website but not that many. Seems quite hard to find people who've actually lost weight.

So...
How much have you lost?
How long did it take?
Start and current weights?

If you convince me I'll try it!!

Started 2 weeks ago and have lost 10.5 pounds!

[shelbabab]

My mum has done it for years on and off. She has lost 2-3 stone at a time. Actually went from nearly 14 stone to just above 10 a few years ago. The problem is as soon as u stop u put it all back on fairly quickly. It needs to be a lifestyle change. Maybe when at target weight u cld do the diet most of the time but still enjoy a meal out and a drink at the wkend type of thing.

My dad has recently gone on it for the first time he's ever dieted. He's always been a very slim man but has an accident which makes him less mobile so he piled on about 5 stone. He was upto 15 stone he's now under 13 stone. He's lost over 2 stone on it since January. It's been quite slow and steady for him. He still has a wee treat everyday. Usually a curly wurly lol.

[Milkand2sugarsplease]

Only 2 weeks in - second weigh in this morning. Lost 5.5 on week 1 and 3 on week two.

[Ralphiesaurus]

Five weeks in an 15.5b down. My consultant is honest about this needing to be a lifestyle change not a ‘diet’, and gets us thinking about how to make sure our food is enjoyable and satisfying so we don’t just go back to old habits at the end. I don't use any of the ready meals. The rules are common sense really - you end up reducing calories by filling up on “speed” foods which are at least 1/3 of your plate.

I’ve done loads of diets over the years and read recently about “Bright Lines” eating and food addiction. The main principles being to avoid sugar and white flour. This is not a SW rule but I am finding it makes it much much easier for me to stick to the plan and I’m not getting any food cravings unlike on other diets. Feels like I am doing something that works for me and will be sustainable long term. I plan to continue going to group once I get to target (it’s free).

[Ralphiesaurus]

I also avoid sweeteners as they trigger food cravings in me too. I had a weird I-want-to-eat-everything afternoon after eating a Muller Light (!} and realised the connection 😯

[Yorkshiredolls]

In 8 weeks Ive lost 16lb, 2lb to go to target. Yes lost and gained that stone several
times with SW because previous habits creep in after about a month, like, a beer or wine most nights, a takeaway each week, meals out, Macdonalds, stealing chips of the kids plate. Biscuits and chocs on free flow at work. Of course it going to go back on with all that!
I think My problem is will power and accountability which Im not within the group. So this time Im planning to keep it off by still going to group at least once a month for a coffee and catch up and retain accountability. I’ll try and treat it like a social evening really and a nice time to have a chat with a group away from hubby and kids (its an evening group) I also go to gym now so exercise is up too which will help.

[SQLsurfer]

What @PaigeMatthews said.


I started about 7 years ago, have done it three times, all with success.

But I'm now 3 stone heavier than when I started SW.

It's a yo-yo diet and needs to be stuck to for life, otherwise you put it all back on, with EXTRA

[kippymcquick]

It never worked for me. I think I'm sensitive to carbs so all the pasta, rice and potatoes worked against me.

[ginsparkles]

I originally lost 3 stone. I kept it off for several years until I broke my spine, and then weight crept back on.

I have just re started. It works, if you do it as intended, and the weight stays off if your sensible when you reach your target weight and don't go back to the way you ate before SW. I maintained without using the strict slimming world rules, just using the main principles.