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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.

The pros and cons of weekly weigh-in pressure

4 replies

Chizzit · 05/04/2026 12:20

This might sound really silly but I'm curious about whether anyone can relate.

Since joining Slimming World I've found it really transformative. I'm down 2 stone this year so far (3.5 more to go for my GW), I have really changed my mindset about food and am finding my group to be on the whole very lovely and supportive. There is one issue I'm struggling with though. On the one hand I find the weekly weigh-ins great for accountability and that sense of clear progress. On the other, I can feel it turning into an obsession. I've been Slimmer of the Week a few times and it has put me on other group members' radar - lots of people ask me how I've done every week now as I come off the scales and when I've 'only' lost a pound or two I'm getting jokey tuts. The other week I went off plan for a few days and realised I'd put on weight so ended up starving myself for 3 days before the weigh-in to make up for it - I had this sense of fear and shame telling me I couldn't show my face unless I'd made progress.

There's this competitive element to it that is both spurring me on and also dragging me down into habits that won't be sustainable. I know I should just do it for myself and not care about what anyone else says but I am finding it hard. The certificates, the cheering on progress, the naming people during group discussion time... it's all lovely in a way but also a double-edged sword.

Obviously I should just accept it if I've had a bad day, go back to the plan without any ridiculous things like barely eating anything for 24 hours, and deal with weeks where I don't lose. I do know this on a rational level!

OP posts:
loosethepounds · 05/04/2026 16:44

A few years ago I started to see the competitive side at meetings in the end I stopped going.
The side comments if I didn't loose more than a pound. One day I was out with DH for a meal
someone saw me eating a steak and chips (which I didn't finish) at the next meeting that's all that was talked about
by my fellow slimmers. The leader was not strong enough to stop the comments.

Fast forward to this year and knew I desperately needed to loose weight but couldn't face that behaviour
so I joined online. There is only me that needs to account my weight. Since February I've lost about 15 pounds.

liquoriceallsortfamily · 05/04/2026 17:04

It sounds like you need to change groups. Most sw groups I’ve attended everyone has been really supportive of each other in a non competitive way xx

sadeyedladyofthelowlands63 · 05/04/2026 17:23

A good consultant should be shutting down this down. I agree that you might need to change groups - it took me two goes to find one that I felt comfortable in.

My current consultant is brilliant and would definitely not stand for gossip about others food choices.

cottingleyfairy · 06/04/2026 15:55

I agree with PPs that a good Consultant would not tolerate this kind of judgemental and unsupportive behaviour by members and should be able to guide discussions in a more respectful way.
You could look at joining a different group and hopefully find it a better experience.
It would be a shame if this affected you reaching your goal.

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