Changes to IMAGE Therapy /how Slimming World Group Works

[FigandHoney]

Wondering if other people have had the same changes made to their IMAGE therapy/ group sessions.
Since last week we aren't individual asked how we are doing and what are goal for the next week is anymore.
Instead 2 or 3 people get to ask a question and then the session is over. Although I feel like the time before waiting for people to get weighed / to shop what's on offer has been increased.
Our consultant says it's a general slimming world directive. That they asked the consultants whose groups lost the most what they were doing and that the change is based on that.
But honestly I don't like it. I feel like I get far less out of it. And that it's just like everything these days less service / product for your money whilst simultaneously trying to encourage you to spend more.
Has the same happened with other groups? And if yes how do you feel about it?

SW has scientifically be proven not to work..the late Dr Mosley called it a cult.
Seems its got worse.
Over 70 % of people leave .. put weight back on then go back on average 7 times.

I don’t think this is what the poster was asking.
I lost 5 stone on slimming world 9 years ago, I stopped going to group shortly after getting to target weight and I am still within 7lb of that today.
i haven’t followed the plan for years but it taught
me how to cook from scratch which has obviously helped long term

That was not the question I asked.

I don't agree. With any type of diet it depends with what mindset you go into it with.
Whether you see it as a diet or a lifestyle change / actively trying to deal with the way you think about food.
The first time I did slimming world was for my wedding and I did it as a diet.
When I had my first kid I put on lots of weight during pregnancy and after.
I started Slimming World again two years ago. But this time I went into it with a different mindset, to actively change my lifestyle and my habits around food. Lost 2 stones. Got pregnant for the second time. But the work I did in terms of my mindset obviously started to work because whilst I put a bit of weight on during pregnancy and after, it wasn't that much. And now that my maternity leave is over, I want to continue my journey.
And this is why the IMAGE therapy bit is so important to me. Cause it's literally about rewiring my brain

I absolutely hated the old style Image Therapy. So boring going around the group and having to listen to every person ramble on. I do SW online because the group sessions used to bore me stiff.

I hated it too, i enjoyed when people joined who were genuinely losing weight but my group had a lot of women who’d been going for 10+ years and every week had a reason they gained or maintained.
there was one who blamed it on bovril every single week, I just wanted to scream ‘stop drinking bloody bovril then!!!!’

At our group the losses were read out in stages eg Mary, Jean and Trish all list 3lb, Bev and Vjndy lost 2lb etc etc. I had to leave then as my time was up so don't know what happened next.

If you google "operation joy slimming world" AI will tell you what's supposed to happen

Its the third week of it at our group and our consultant is getting to grips with it

Our group has always been pretty vocal , lots of people chatting amongst themselves so its working for our group, we have more time to chat amongst ourselves, and those that are struggling , want help or advice arent backwards at speaking up

This sounds more like what weightwatchers meetings used to be like when I went 15 years ago and I always thought it was so much better than ‘IMAGE therapy’ at SW.

’marys lost 3lb! Well done Mary!’ (Round of applause) ‘how much would you like to lose next week Mary? Another 2? Great, I’ll pop that on the system.’

’amy lost half a pound! Well done Amy!’ (Round of applause)….etc

then if anyone had gained that was also read out (not the amount) and they were asked why. I always left if id gained cos i was mortified and there was no way to opt out.

and some of the meetings i went to lasted AGGGGGGES!! 60+ people all having a 30 second 1:1.

oh and the fruit raffle 😂

WW they always asked who wanted to share and then had a theme. I felt like it was a much better use of time.

Why not stick with it a few weeks OP and see if it works for you?

I prefer the new style but I think it very much depends on the group leader. I have had one who was amazing at doing this sort of conversation, and one who came totally unstuck if she came off the script - she is struggling with the new format. I have moved groups to someone who is much better at the general conversation and encouraging the group to share ideas.

Same at my group. Im not keen on it tbh. I liked image therapy and I dont understand why SW felt this change was needed. But I dont like change full stop. Its not much diff but i do worry for some members who are not the most confident of people and will fall under the radar so to speak. At least when it was Image Therapy , everyone got the chance to speak.
its still early days , Im sure it will become the new norm and things wil get better :)

I went for 6 weeks and did not like the image therapy so stopped going and have put half of the 9lbs I lost back on. The new system sounds better for me as I dreaded having to speak when my turn came so I might go back, I have tried it at home but the actual weigh in keeps me to the plan, its too easy to cheat with no weigh in as an incentive each week.

I just rejoined today, and actually really enjoyed the new format. I last attended pre-Covid at a different group, and I found today more useful than the old Image Therapy. We had a brilliant discussion about our go to comfort foods now it's getting colder.

Also this consultant was amazing - when I was staring at the scales like they'd personally insulted me, she said "whatever comes up, is just a number. It doesn't define you." which actually really helped me get out of my own head. My old one was very, very corporate and stuck to the script.

We'll see how I feel after a few weeks, but if it's like today, I'll be happy.

That's brilliant @LollipopViolet

I also have a good consultant and my group is very vocal and some craic - we are always in fits of laughter

The support I get from group is amazing I wasnt feeling the love yesterday and found a new corner to sit in, and before I knew it I was surrounded by friends checking in with me . Really lifted my spirit and whilst I went just to keep myself on track, I was soon engaging and came out feeling totally energised

I’ve also rejoined today .. so disappointed in myself that I’ve regained over a stone after getting to target last year - typically I stopped going to group , thought I could do it on my own and let some personal stress get to me . Back in the zone , determined to get back to where I want to be .

’ve rejoined recently and I’m honestly baffled by the new format.

It feels incredibly broad now — more like sitting through a generic seminar than being part of an actual support group. I don’t see how this is helping individuals in any meaningful way. The whole strength of the old system was that it felt personal and properly supportive. This just doesn’t.

If anything, it feels like a complete departure from what made it work in the first place. The discussion last night was basically “what do you have for breakfast at a B&B?” — fry-up, mushrooms, toast… fine, but how is that useful in terms of real behavioural change or support?

Also, I’ve seen people say they’re “sick of hearing others ramble on” — but that’s literally the point of a support group. Listening, sharing, learning from each other. If that part annoys you, maybe a group setting isn’t for you. It shouldn’t be stripped back to suit people who don’t want to engage.

This version feels impersonal, a bit dull if I’m honest, and nowhere near as effective. If they wanted to modernise it, a hybrid model would have made far more sense rather than turning it into something that might as well be an online webinar.

I love my group.
our person is amazing and we all
get on well and share ideas.

it’s teaching a new way of eating and building it into your daily life,not a step by step guide that’s rigid.

it also teaches you how to optimise to get the best out of what your eating.

when you go away for the week with the knowledge in your head and hands it’s up
tomyou to continue with it,not the group leader.

I’ve tried so many different things over the years and have gone back to slimming world because it works for me and I’m steadily losing but still eating really well

ineat way healthier on slimming world than anything else I’ve tried.

it’s not rocket science,it’s moderation and teaching you to have more self control.

people saying it doesn’t work it’s the same as jabs,the minute people
stop and slip bak to old habits the weight come back