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Slimming World

Discuss Slimming World experiences, tips and success stories. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Have I gone wrong somewhere?

74 replies

Livinginacatdictatorship · 18/12/2024 17:31

I started slimming world and my first weigh in I lost 6lbs, which I assume was mostly water retention. The next week I maintained. I've just weighed myself and it looks like I've put on 1.5lbs.... but I have 100% been sticking to my syns etc. I've put everything in the planner on the app.
I'm just confused and a bit disheartened about it, any ideas anyone?

OP posts:
Anonym00se · 18/12/2024 17:33

It’s different for everyone. I usually maintain or gain if I eat more than 5 syns a day, so I try to stick to 0-5. Also, how big are your portion sizes?

Livinginacatdictatorship · 18/12/2024 17:43

@Anonym00se I'm not using all my syns, I think there's only been one day where I reached 15, its usually aroumd the 6 mark, but maybe restricting them more may be beneficial. As I've been having "free" recipes for tea I have to admit I haven't been paying too much attention to portion size but I'm not stuffing my face either.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 18/12/2024 18:56

This is the problem with Slimming World & the “syns” concept really, especially when things like pasta and potatoes are “free” and yet a packet of Walkers are 6.5 syns. There are far less calories in a 25g bag of Walkers than there are in a big plate of pasta, so the syns concept doesn’t really work.

You could easily be eating only “free” foods and continue to gain weight, I could have a plate of pasta for tea every night and a 2 “syn free” jacket potatoes for lunch every day, I’d still be gaining weight because I’m eating too many calories. Your body doesn’t work in syns, it works at a basic level in calories in vs calories out.

Slawit · 22/12/2024 06:04

Just reduce your portion sizes by 25% , if you're eating healty then the only other thing it could be is too many calories.

imnotthatkindofmum · 22/12/2024 06:14

Lots of speed free food to fill you up and less carbs. I never restrict my syns or I'd go mad!

For slimming world to work you still have to be aware of calories. Portion size and low calorie, high density is what you need to focus on.

Tbh slimming world is not a great diet but I need the structure without having to count everything so it works for me, as long as I'm aware of nutritional value and portion sizes.

I eat way less pasta than I did previously and have more rice which is a better carb for me and is also usually an extra on my plate rather than the main focus if the meal like pasta often is.

Queenofthejabs · 22/12/2024 06:40

It’s portion control. Sadly slimming world can lead you to over eating, due to the whole free food thing where you can eat limited amounts of multiple foods. If you think about it logically, you’d accept that’s utterly ridiculous and very damaging. Of course you can’t. Fundamentally it is still calories in v calories out.

in addition you need to retrain your eating habits, and it fails spectacularly there, it has the highest failure rate of any diet, something like 97 percent regain all they lost. And slimming world know it, hence if you gain more than 3 lbs they charge you to come back

I’ve a couple of friends on it, and they’ve been doing it for years and years, losing, regaining back to class. Their diets are shocking. And of course it is hard to sustain long term as it’s so bad.

if you need the discipline of the weekly weigh ins, then I’d follow a different diet, but still front up,

You basically need to start counting calories, even at a rough level, and it’s critical when losing weight you eat enough protein, think 1 gram for every kg you weigh, it’s hard to do that and eat a lot of carbs like they allow, and stay within a calorie deficit. Nearly impossible.

It is critical as you need to lose fat and not muscle. It impacts everything from how you look, your size, and your fitness levels. There is no point losing weight if you just lose your muscle and retain the fat. Protein also fills you up.

so work out what you need to eat calorie wise to lose, 500 calorie deficit a day loses an average pound a week, a 1000 is two pounds, and then work out how to get your protein in, how many calories that is and what is it, chicken, fish, eggs etc, then the remainder on the other macros, to decide your daily menu. And remember as your weight drops, so does your calorie requirement.

66babe · 22/12/2024 07:31

Concentrate on the third of a plate being speed

If a third of your plate are speed veg or salad then there is only room for a portion of pasta rice or potato , if you plonk that on first it's easy to miss out on the third speed rule

It does work , keep at it but remember although those things are free it does remind you to eat till comfortably full

Makelikeatreeandleaf · 22/12/2024 07:38

As pps have said, look at portion size and increase speed foods. Also drink lots of water, I always had a good week when I'd been mindful about water.

fanaticalfairy · 22/12/2024 07:41

Mrsttcno1 · 18/12/2024 18:56

This is the problem with Slimming World & the “syns” concept really, especially when things like pasta and potatoes are “free” and yet a packet of Walkers are 6.5 syns. There are far less calories in a 25g bag of Walkers than there are in a big plate of pasta, so the syns concept doesn’t really work.

You could easily be eating only “free” foods and continue to gain weight, I could have a plate of pasta for tea every night and a 2 “syn free” jacket potatoes for lunch every day, I’d still be gaining weight because I’m eating too many calories. Your body doesn’t work in syns, it works at a basic level in calories in vs calories out.

But that wouldn't be following the plan if f you ate just a plate of pasta and 2 jacket potatoes 🤷‍♀️

Thethruththewholetruth · 22/12/2024 07:46

Slimming world is the worst. Just use my fitness pal and look at increasing protein and veggies, healthy fat and fibre and giving up UPF. It’s the UPF that makes you fat!

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 22/12/2024 07:46

Have you remembered to have 1/3 of your plate as speed food for every meal?

Also, your net loss is still 4.5lb in 3 weeks, which isn't bad!

Queenofthejabs · 22/12/2024 09:34

fanaticalfairy · 22/12/2024 07:41

But that wouldn't be following the plan if f you ate just a plate of pasta and 2 jacket potatoes 🤷‍♀️

Yes but you can eat both pasta and potatoes in unlimited quantities, they are free, and it is the plan.

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 22/12/2024 09:45

Queenofthejabs · 22/12/2024 09:34

Yes but you can eat both pasta and potatoes in unlimited quantities, they are free, and it is the plan.

But only with 1/3 speed food - just a plate of pasta/potatoes is NOT following the plan

Livinginacatdictatorship · 22/12/2024 09:51

Hi everyone, I didn't realise I had more replies on this!
Thank you for the helpful comments. I know not everyone agrees with slimming world and how it works but I'm just trying something to lose weight, I thought the structure would help me be more aware of what I'm eating and that's the positive I'm taking away from it, I'm trying to be proactive.
I do think as PP have mentioned I'm not focusing on potion size and fell into the trap of well its free so it's fine. Which in hind sight was stupid, but hey we all have to start somewhere...I have been following the recipes on the app but maybe I do need to go back and take a look at how I'm filling my plate too.

OP posts:
Queenofthejabs · 22/12/2024 10:09

Livinginacatdictatorship · 22/12/2024 09:51

Hi everyone, I didn't realise I had more replies on this!
Thank you for the helpful comments. I know not everyone agrees with slimming world and how it works but I'm just trying something to lose weight, I thought the structure would help me be more aware of what I'm eating and that's the positive I'm taking away from it, I'm trying to be proactive.
I do think as PP have mentioned I'm not focusing on potion size and fell into the trap of well its free so it's fine. Which in hind sight was stupid, but hey we all have to start somewhere...I have been following the recipes on the app but maybe I do need to go back and take a look at how I'm filling my plate too.

Op a lot of folks in slimming world do that. I’ve lost count of the amount of times my friends have said it’s all free and piled their plates high. It’s crazy, it really is.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 22/12/2024 10:13

People hear what the want to hear and don't stick to the basics of how you split what goes on your plate and only eating until satiety with SW. Plus as a woman hormones play a part and you could well find that next week you've lost the 1.5lb plus some more.

Livinginacatdictatorship · 22/12/2024 10:15

I definitely think with pasta and potatoes I've thought it's free so I'll fill my plate so I won't snack later and it's just had the opposite effect of what I want to happen 😅 😂 so next time I do my meal planning I'll really have to look more at what I'm actually eating instead of oh its free so it's fine mentality.

OP posts:
Blakehouse · 22/12/2024 10:15

When people at my group hit a plateau we have a speed week. Also think about the body magic awards. Get moving more.

suki1964 · 22/12/2024 10:18

Mrsttcno1 · 18/12/2024 18:56

This is the problem with Slimming World & the “syns” concept really, especially when things like pasta and potatoes are “free” and yet a packet of Walkers are 6.5 syns. There are far less calories in a 25g bag of Walkers than there are in a big plate of pasta, so the syns concept doesn’t really work.

You could easily be eating only “free” foods and continue to gain weight, I could have a plate of pasta for tea every night and a 2 “syn free” jacket potatoes for lunch every day, I’d still be gaining weight because I’m eating too many calories. Your body doesn’t work in syns, it works at a basic level in calories in vs calories out.

But a packet of crisp isnt going to fill a hole in your tooth, a bowl of pasta will

SW do not say just pick the free food, they say make a third to a half the plate/bowl SPEED, which is your veg and salads, if you dont pack in the speed you are not going to lose weight

Pasta is free as part of a balanced diet because of the fibre and also for some people, transitioning down to a low calorie diet needs to be within their means. If they are used to big huge dinners, giving them a normal portion and saying thats your lot, they arent going to stick to the plan , they will be eating off plan. Its also why the heavier you are the more syns you are allowed

When I started SW, I could easily consume a full packet of pasta in one sitting, now a bag lasts me weeks because I eat a normal sized portion and as part of a varied diet - not morning noon and night 7 days a week

suki1964 · 22/12/2024 10:33

Livinginacatdictatorship · 22/12/2024 10:15

I definitely think with pasta and potatoes I've thought it's free so I'll fill my plate so I won't snack later and it's just had the opposite effect of what I want to happen 😅 😂 so next time I do my meal planning I'll really have to look more at what I'm actually eating instead of oh its free so it's fine mentality.

Definitely fill the plate with more speed, it really makes a huge difference and slowly you will find it becomes second nature

Before I went to SW, I was a typical veg dodger and when I did eat , it was rice, bread, crisps and pasta. Id go through 3 loaves a week - and add to that at least a pound of butter, not to mention the cheese and peanut butter - a terrible diet

Now Ive been maintaining for a year, I still eat very little bread, I eat shit loads of fruit - which I wouldn't touch with a barge pole before, and Ive embraced the veg - found veg I like which I thought I wouldn't like

Its just now second nature not to have a crisp sandwich or shove a packet in a sandwich, and now if I do treat myself, when I think sod it I really want crisps, I end up feeling burgh - bloated, windy and a dry mouth so crisps are now just one or two - not a family pack all to me

So a sandwich now for me is either a wholemeal pitta absolutely rammed with salad and protein , or a slice of wholemeal topped with a mountain of salad and pickles and piled with the protein of choice

Ive swapped rice and pasta for beans - kidney, butter, chickpea, black eyed - all of them and I do eat a few plant based meals a week - not processed made to look like meat rubbish, but veg and beans - lovely stews, curries and salads

SW does work as long as you read and fully understand the plan and make the better choices

Babbahabba · 22/12/2024 11:04

Your plate should be a third free, a third speed and a third protein. The idea nowadays with SW isn't unlimited free- my consultant is quite insistent on this. It's about having it balanced with speed and protein. Speed (very low calorie foods) are the ones that should be consumed if you're still hungry.

fanaticalfairy · 22/12/2024 12:43

Queenofthejabs · 22/12/2024 09:34

Yes but you can eat both pasta and potatoes in unlimited quantities, they are free, and it is the plan.

Yes. BUT you're not supposed to eat JUST pasta at a meal time, you very much have to make sure 1/3 or more is speed in your plate, and eat to your hunger, and if you want seconds... Out 1/3 speed on your plate as part of that.

So yes, it's "unlimited" because you could have pasta for every meal if you like, you're not limited to 50g a day or whatever, but people seem to misinterpret it all the time and think oh "it's unlimited I can eat a mountain of pasta".

HappyAsASandboy · 22/12/2024 12:48

I would weigh daily, after you are in the morning. Then you're not reliant on one measurement per week.

I weigh daily. My weight can go up or down by a couple of pounds each day, probably due to hydration, when/how much I last went to the loo etc etc.

By weighing daily, I can see that I am losing over the week even if I gain some days.

If I weighed weekly and it happened to be on a "high weight" day I would think I hadn't lost, when weighing yesterday or tomorrow would tell a different story!

Queenofthejabs · 22/12/2024 13:18

fanaticalfairy · 22/12/2024 12:43

Yes. BUT you're not supposed to eat JUST pasta at a meal time, you very much have to make sure 1/3 or more is speed in your plate, and eat to your hunger, and if you want seconds... Out 1/3 speed on your plate as part of that.

So yes, it's "unlimited" because you could have pasta for every meal if you like, you're not limited to 50g a day or whatever, but people seem to misinterpret it all the time and think oh "it's unlimited I can eat a mountain of pasta".

no one said they just eat plain pasta, and I hear you in a third of the plate, but rhe reality is, slimming world say unlimited amount of these items and many people do exactly that. Proclaiming it to be free. And unlimited, as that’s rhe idiocy they tell people.

they should say a portion is x grams. Eat only that. But they don’t. They say it’s unlimited and free. And they say it to people who are overweight. Who likely struggle with portion control.

if you can’t see an issue with that,then fair enough.

Babbahabba · 22/12/2024 15:51

@Queenofthejabs maybe different consultants say different things. I've been going to the same consultant for years and she is very clear that free food isn't unlimited, it's always to be balanced with speed because speed is low calorie and protein to fill you up. She talks about how calorie deficit is important and the idea is to fill up on very low calorie/calorie dense food which is speed. Slimming World have changed their message in recent years- it's different than the old days.