Slimming world, how can it possibly work?

[thementalist]

Have just started slimming world on-line on Monday, previous to this I have been on Weight Watchers, but weight has crept back on and I have about 2 stones to lose.

So, it all seems good, looks ideal on paper, but in reality how can rice, pasta and potatoes and things possibly be free and unlimited and you can still lose weight? I don't really understand.

Also in regards to syns, it says between 5 and 15, is that like Weight watcher points in that your syns reduce as you lose weight or do you just try to keep within a 5-15 range?

Nope the syns don't reduce as you lose weight. I tend to use about 10 a day and I count all of them.

I still don't know how it works, but it certainly does for me. I expect to lose about 5lbs this week :)

I also have no idea how it works, but it works for me.

You need to divide up your portions; 1/4 carb, 1/4 protein and the rest Gould be super foods. I'm a bit crap at that bit!

works for me too - 34lb off so far (28lb more to go ). Although rice, pasta and potatoes are free, I still tend to not go bonkers with them - unless we're having chilli and rice, in which case I have TONS...!

I lost lots of weight in the first month and am now losing a steady 1lb a week which seems to come off as long as I'm relatively good throughout the week - tend to save my syns for wine at the weekend .

Having done WW in the past, I think SW is much better/easier for me to follow and therefore stick to.

In my experience SW works if you exercise portion control. I lost weight but it stopped coming off when my plates of pasta etc crept back up.

Am now on WW as can't be trust to limit the amount of carbs I'm having. Have lost 11 lbs in 3 weeks so that is working for me!

It's horses for courses really

Thanks everyone and well done with all your weight loses!

Ok, I will try to stick to the 1/4, 1/4, 1/2 rule as much as I can then, that makes sense.

I am struggling with ideas for lunches that I can eat at work, I am fine with breakfast, and I can come up with a fair few dinner ideas, but apart from making home made soup or salads then I am a bit stumped, as I would prefer not to use syns at lunchtime. If any one has any great lunch ideas, I'd love to hear them!

I often make syn free meals in the evening and then have the leftovers for lunch. Not so easy if you don't have access to a microwave though!

yep - I also have to be gluten-free so it's leftovers for lunch, or soup or a baked potato, or more often a fat free yoghurt and lots of fruit!

I do have access to a microwave, so left overs is a good idea, as is a baked potato, never thought of that. I could actually get one un-filled from the staff canteen and have it with salad, or beans or something! Great! Feel like I have a few more ideas, thanks.

I love prawns with my baked potatoes, so buy some king prawns and mix a bit of fat free plain yoghurt with them - syn free! Same with tuna if you like that.

Pasta/rice/potato salads are all doable on SW and filling for lunch :)

I don't like prawns but good idea with the natural yoghurt with tuna. I have made up a tuna salad for lunch tomorrow, and will probably have a baked potato on Friday.

I think being more organised is the key really, then i could have things like pasta/rice salads etc prepared, but I have gotten into the habit of either grabbing a sandwich on the way to work, or getting a full meal from my work canteen! (hence the 2 stone that needs to come off!!)

Thanks again for the ideas.

They're only free in a theoretical way - you have to divide your plate up so most of it is veg and protein and stop when you are full. You will naturally limit your calorie intake this way. THat's why it works.