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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Slimming world fail

196 replies

Beachcountrysidetown · 29/03/2018 21:38

Slimming world has left me fat, tired, unfit and addicted to sugar.
Their whole concept is rubbish (for me) the fact that a chocolate bar has less syns than an avacardo or handful of nuts is mad and has left me in a state where if I don’t have sugar I get a headache. Two healthy extras being those hi fi bars is also mad - they are full of sugar and no nutritional benefits except a bit of fibre.
I have become frightened of normal foods and never know what to eat as in obsessed with counting a fictional number of points is supposed “bad” food.
The weigh in is crazy - everyone has starved them self all day to then binge on quavers and hi fi bars after their weigh in. Not being able to eat freshly prepared sausages from the butcher as the syns are unknown but able to eat processed crap sausages with the SW branding....
I never exercised as it really isn’t a thing with SW. Yes there’s mentions of body magic but that’s it - getting steps in for body magic if you want to but I was constantly told it’s not needed unless you want to. Thanks to SW I am in the worst shape of my life and I have a good 12 month fight to get my fitness, diet and weight back on track in a healthy way.
Rant. Over.

OP posts:
LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 29/03/2018 22:20

It's all just a load of bollocks same as weight watchers and any other diet you have to pay for, they make their money because people keep going back because it isn't sustainable.

MsAnnThropic · 30/03/2018 11:05

I totally agree with all you have written. I lost 3 stone very quickly, and then put 4 on even more quickly. It left me bloated and totally addicted to sugar.

A year and half later I am just getting my self back on track by trying to eat sensibly and move more, but I wish I'd never done SW.

Original poster
Beachcountrysidetown · 30/03/2018 15:01

I can’t actually believe they are allowed and also they are recommend by doctors! It is honestly the worst way I have ever eaten. I ate a beautiful home made fresh soup for lunch yesterday at my friends house made with white beans, spinach Home made stock.... on SW I wouldn’t have been able to eat it without knowing exactly what had been put into it so I would have bought a can of processed crap soup as I would be able to know the exact syns... it makes people terrified of food.

OP posts:
RolyPolyLilBatFaceGirl · 30/03/2018 19:54

You're spot on. Look at rebelfit for lots of eye opening info on this

SW doesn't work. It's a trap and it keeps you fat. It's absolutely ludicrous to think you are not supposed to eat avocados unless you count made up syns ... but knock yourself out with muiller lights and those pasta soup packet things

ivenoideawhatimdoing · 30/03/2018 20:00

Totally agree with everything you’ve said! The only thing I got from slimming world was to only eat bread once a day

Ilikesweetpeas · 30/03/2018 20:15

As someone who was considering starting SW this is really interesting!

BradleyPooper · 30/03/2018 20:17

Agree with rebelfit. Take a look at their website and Facebook page and you'll understand why sw is rarely sustainable long term.

childmindingmumof3 · 30/03/2018 20:23

I think maybe you've misunderstood something Confused
Why wouldn't you eat a veg soup? You don't need to count anything. Or are you worried your friend would trick you by putting lots of fat/sugar in it?

You need to take some responsibility for yourself if you choose lots of processed foods and sugar instead of eating lots of veg, fruit, lean meat etc.

statetrooperstacey · 30/03/2018 20:28

I think you made yourself fat not slimming world! Why would you buy processed stuff and sugary stuff and fill your face with it?! Why?!
Did you not understand how to follow the plan correctly?

childmindingmumof3 · 30/03/2018 20:28

SW is a low fat diet, avocado are high in fat. The only reason avocado has more syns than a chocolate bar is because it has more calories. It's better for you than chocolate though and surely you know that, so you can't really moan that you chose chocolate over avocados.

BarbaraOcumbungles · 30/03/2018 20:33

Thanks to SW I am in the worst shape of my life

You can only thank yourself for that if you've been starving yourself all day for chrisps and chocolate.

Like any diet you have to use a bit of common sense.

Newbiecat · 30/03/2018 20:34

I think you’ve misinterpreted a lot of the Slimming World info or had a bad group leader? You seem to be projecting your weight gain upon others. You need to take control and responsibility for your Weight gain. Sorry to be harsh but true I feel

RolyPolyLilBatFaceGirl · 30/03/2018 20:34

A low fat diet is falling out of favour now as we learn more about nutrition and health.

Slimming World et al are just bollocks. Anyone remember when they changed the 'pasta and noodle landscape?' That was funny.

They just make it all up but as long as you know that, steer clear of the Franken foods then you'll lose weight. You just won't keep it off

Astrid2 · 30/03/2018 20:39

You need to take some responsibility for yourself if you choose lots of processed foods and sugar instead of eating lots of veg, fruit, lean meat etc.

Exactly this!

Instead of hi fi bars, eat a whole meal roll with tuna, or a bowl of bran flakes. You don't need to use syns on chocolate, use them on a little avocado on your whole meal bread for your healthy extra. Will fill you up more.

There's no need to binge on quavers and hi fi bars after weigh in. You don't even need to go to weigh in. I never did. Weigh yourself once a week in the morning and log it somewhere.

Sausages are full of fat. Just eat other lean meats! And there is no reason why you couldn't eat vegetable soup. What do you think is in it?

Slimming world is about portion control, learning which foods fill you up with the least fat. It CAN be a healthy diet if you follow it properly and don't give in to the advertising. I lost 5 stone on SW to get pregnant and have kept the weight off despite being 40 weeks pregnant now!! You just need to learn how to do it in a healthy way, and learn the basics and stick to them.

childmindingmumof3 · 30/03/2018 20:39

Low fat diets are like low carb or low sugar or low calories diets - people put weight back on if they go back to their previous diet of eating crap again.

Astrid2 · 30/03/2018 20:40

Also, just because SW tell you you don't NEED to exercise, that doesn't mean you don't. If you want to, then do it!!!

ToriRay · 30/03/2018 21:02

I think it serves a purpose for people that need to drop a fair amount of weight quickly. However, just before I got married I decided to join to lose a stone. I'm relatively healthy, do triathlons and eat a largely good diet. However, wanted the motivation of a slimming club to be able to drop the after work bag of crisps and other bad habits if fallen into and try a few of their strategies. Granted, I lost 7lbs quite quickly but felt far more unhealthy with following their advice in some ways.
I was berated in front of a whole class for adding oats (HXB) to a morning smoothie, whilst a woman who used all her syns in wine everyday was held up as best practice as she measured her wine out every morning and used it as 'motivation'. (I get wine led motivation, but wouldn't pay to receive that as 'healthy' advice!)
I gave up after that. Decided on moderation and embracing the extra few pounds.
On balance, I have a couple of friends who have dropped stones and are ultimately healthier. I do wonder about the sustainability though! Confused

Bluntness100 · 30/03/2018 21:08

I think there is an element of truth in what some posters are saying, which is uou can't blame slimming world you need to take personal responsibility, if you didn't like the diet you should've stopped, not kept on.

As much as the diet is not something I would do, I do think you made bad food choices on it that were not necessary.

So I agree it may not be a diet that works for many, and it may not be sustainable, but I don't think you can blame slimming world for your weight, I'm sorry, following it and making the choices you did are down to you.

paniconthestreetsofdreams · 30/03/2018 21:11

Hardly thanks to SW.

Common sense? It can be followed healthily or not. Just like any other 'diet'.

dragonwarrior · 30/03/2018 21:12

You don't have to use your syns for chocolate? You don't need to fill yourself with sweeteners.... or restrict foods like avocados and sausages completely? Use your syns on natural fats?

RaidTheCupboards · 30/03/2018 21:15

My healthy B is all bran with berries
Avocado- whilst healthy- is full of calories
Calories have to be burned to not turn into fat
It might well be that a small bar of chocolate had less cals than an avocado.
I don’t eat any muller lights
I eat only fresh ingredients, lean meats and lots of veg, salad and fruit.
I used to be addicted to sugar but now after following SW I don’t eat bad sugar.
I spend my syns on a bit of cheese or butter or wholemeal bread

childmindingmumof3 · 30/03/2018 21:16

I often use my syns for butter, olives, nuts.
The basis of SW is to eat mostly vegetables, fruit, lean meat, eggs, fish, limited bread and dairy and then a small amount of 'treat' stuff.
Not sure why anyone would eat that way and feel unhealthy?

RaidTheCupboards · 30/03/2018 21:16

I will also add that I attend loads of fitness classes and now run as part of ‘body magic’

I have lost over 2 stone and am so close to my target

Makingdinner · 30/03/2018 21:19

You can tell who on this thread is still part of the cult group can't you.

I personally think slimming world is shit. Mostly because they don't teach any kind of portion sizes. No food is "free" it all has calories. You'll get just as fat eating 3000 cals of "free" potatoes as you would eating 3000 cals of cake.

Also, all the "hacks" and shit. If you can hack it, you're essentially changing it and so it's not "free" really whether it's made of weetabix and Muller light or not.

A lot of people are saying op has misinterpreted what sw is about - well so have hundreds maybe thousands of others. You only have to look at the slimming world hashtag on Instagram to see that it's totally Batshit and not sustainable in the long term at all.

dragonwarrior · 30/03/2018 21:22

You only have to look at the slimming world hashtag on Instagram to see that it's totally Batshit and not sustainable in the long term at all.

Yes I agree with this!

But I still think it has been really misinterpreted by so many people. They recommend you mostly fill your plates with lean protein and veg so that is why I think it isn't all that bad. It's obvious that if you eat a huge portion of carbs and sweetners you'll not lose weight no?