Lose weight with Slimming World, swap your syns for swips in '26!

[Wilma55]

New thread for 2026 for regulars, returners and new starters.

Let's see how the changes to SW go.

Good luck everyone!

Hi.
Online member here. I joined in September and have lost two stone. I’ve stayed the same the past two weeks. Can’t get my head round swips, it’ll always be syns to me.

Has anyone tried the Take Five recipe books? I got both and they are brilliant. Can’t be doing with long and involved recipes.

SW doesn’t encourage volume eating?
Many foods can be eaten freely with no need to weigh or measure, but no part of the plan encourages overeating.
You have been given inaccurate information.

I agree. SW encourages you to stop eating when you are full. It’s certainly not about volume eating. I’m eating smaller portions than I previously would have because I’m more conscious of feeling full.

Who cares what anyone else is using to get the weight off?

I dont

If you are alluding to WLI , those that are on them still have to do what we (SW members or other diets ) have to do, calories in and calories out. And yes, anti depressants slow that loss down , as does menopause. Its also a total shock to find out what a TDEE is and realising that you are eating way above

The labelling we have grown up with - 2000 c a day? Id be as big as a house. My TDEE is 1300 , for me to be able to lose and enjoy a decent days meals where Im not weighing and recording , means I need to add a 3 mile good speed walk to my day every day

I dont have a clue as to why Sertraline messes with weight, Ive been on one or other anti since my teens . Sometimes Ive been a perfect weight , other times Ive put weight on. For me because Ive been on them for so long, I dont ever "blame " them.

The only medication I couldn't counter act , were the 3 times ( so far ) when Ive been on mega doses of steroids Then Id be waking two or three times in the night crying with real actual hunger . And yep I ballooned each and every time

There are other meds you can ask to be put on. Sertraline is the drug of choice for gps prescribing to menopausal women because it works and is cheap and most of us welcome the good it does and dont clock onto the weight gain . So do see your provider and ask if there is something else available that will suit you better

Morning all,

Just checking in. Been on SW since September and just working off the xmas gain (2.5lbs on). I'm feeling really focused and aiming to get to target by end of May. I've set a fairly realistic target but really would like to get to 9st 10 and thhat would be amazing if I could do that before my summer holiday in August.
I've been busy batch cooking soups (veg, bean & lentil is my go-to) curries, chillis etc and have a stack of portion size meals in the freezer to see me over the next few weeks.

SW: 12 st 10.5
CW: 11 st 8.5
Interim Target: 10st 7
Ultimate Target: 9st10

Hi everyone,
I thought I would follow along - I have been a SW member since July 2025. I am just about the Christmas blip and aiming for my 3 stone award by the end of Jan.
It's proving tough this week though. I am not a huge fan of soup but I feel like I need something warm and proper to take for my work lunches.

SW 16st 12.5
CW 14st 2.5
Target 12st 8

Just wading in on the 'volume eating' debate, I think SW in theory doesn't advocate eating unlimited, however in practise I'd say it depends on the consultant. Our usual one is very good about reminding people to eat until satisfied, 1/3 speed, portion control etc. We then had a lady cover for a few weeks and she was all ' the beauty of SW is you can eat whatever & whenever you want' which IMO just isn't useful long term to a room full of people who probably don't have great restraint when it comes to food!

It does annoy me when people take it out of context. You can eat whatever and whenever you want BUT until you are full and if your meals are balanced with speed food etc. The portions are there for a reason just like the healthy extras.
Our consultant always mentions piling your plate high with a third to half speed food before putting anything else on.

Yes, it can often depend upon the consultant as to the advice they give regarding portion control: some consultants are poorly informed themselves.

I agree about the consultant - I left SW because I gained weight the first and 2nd weeks as I was told you can eat unlimited pasta, rice, chickpeas etc so that is what I did and was so upset when I gained, I think, 2lbs each week.
Where I go now the consultant is so different and explained it correctly to me about portion control and I lost 2lbs. that first week and lost 2 stone.
I am back now due to things that have happened in my life but now have my SW head back on.

I agree about the consultant also. Mine always makes it clear that if you fill your plate with speed free food you will eat less pasta and potatoes etc.

I do think the way they call free food unlimited can be confusing though. It makes me wonder what Anna from the SW podcast says to her members because on the show she says free food is unlimited and you can have as much as you want.

I do think though people learn the "hard" way though what that actually means.

I lost 3 lbs this week which I am very happy with. I just need to keep this momentum up.

SW 2026 = 12 stone 9.5
CW = 12 stone 6.5

Hope everyone has had a great week.

Glad people are finding their rhythm after Christmas!

I’ve been ill with a stinking cold, but soups have helped, and my new sho flask has been ace - hot soup at 630am and it’s perfect at 1pm. Loving the warburton protein pittas too.

lost 3.5 on Tuesday, my largest drop since I started, but I have basically restarted. So only 2lb until I reclaim my 2stone.

hit the gym yesterday and today, and planning to run and gym on the weekend. Work is getting busier sadly but I’m determined this time.

we have new work photos next week and although I’m 1.5st lighter than this time last year I’m still gutted I fell off the wagon and it’s not the 3st I wanted. The photo goes on display in reception for a year, so guess I have to work hard for January 2027!

1st weigh in tomorrow. Was feeling really confident however now not so sure. I know realistically I've followed plan so hopefully will get a loss tomorrow

@GenerousGardener the keema mince is lovely!

Haven’t tried it yet, but I will now. Thanks.

Weigh in complete - 9.5lbs off!

@NeverAloneNeverAgain well done! 👏

First weigh in this morning and after a rocky start re the new HEX rules got 1.5lbs off which I was very happy with.

Been watching The 1970s diet on Channel 5. Quite an eye opener on portion/plate size, snacking, walking.

I was teens/twenties then and skinny by today's standards!

@greenbag53 thank you! It's going to be mainly water and xmas excess but I'll take it. Definitely motivated me to not have a cheat day today!

@fishpie2 well done on your loss

Well done to pp who lost an amazing 9.5lb . Wow.
I weighed in this morning. Lost 2.5lb, so half of the xmas gain. I'm back at target but right at the higher end so will continue to try to lose over these next few weeks. Feel I'm back in control again now. Doing dry january so no mindless snacking alongside wine. Keep it up everyone 👏

Hi! I’m looking to rejoin at a new group on Thursday 👋 Could I please ask, do they still allow extra SWIPs for those over a certain weight? I’m just starting to think about what I meals I might make and am wondering if I have more SWIPs to play with still or if they’ve gotten rid of it 🤔

Yes they do

They do @GeraldThePufferSponge but I would still advise prioritising the free food and try to avoid relying on syns too much as they are so easy to not be able to stop get carried away. So try and plan your 3 meals + all snacks to be free or at least low swips rather than think I’ve got 15 swips to use each day so am free to eat a snickers and 3 biscuits as this way of thinking isn’t particularly useful for long term weight loss/maintenance.

Thanks for the thanks. I was surprised I lost to be honest after mucking up the first half of the week.
I also watched that 70's programme and thought it was a bit exaggerated in parts. My Dad or my husband would never have eaten off a plate that small or have eaten kidneys on their own, we ate nice home made food with lots of veg.
I agree about the clothes. I was also skinny in those days and still have a size 12 waistcoat that I would be lucky to get my arms through although I am a size 12/14 now.
I have got rid of my large plates and bought small ones and they certainly do help.