Slimming world or calorie counting?

[sleepsforwimps1]

Which is the better option? I don't know how slimming world works. To me if you want to lose weight a calorie deficit is required. I did a salad that worked out at 500 calories.... however slimming world would have said it was all free so could eat as much as I wanted! I don't understand how slimming world works being able to eat as much as you like. How does it work in the long run? Does the weight come off quicker with slimming world? Which approach would be better for long term benefits?

Depends what you want to do @sleepsforwimps1 Calorie counting costs nothing. You need to work out your BMR which is how many calories your body burns every day, just by sitting down. Then subtract calories to lose weight.

Slimming world might work though, if you wanted support from others in a group. That way you don't feel like giving up. There's a weekly fee too.

Thanks @L1R876 I've done slimming world before and lost a lot of weight but then had a baby and put a lot on. I just want to do something that will last. I seemed to pile weight back on with slimming world as soon as I got to target and stopped being so strict with it. Think I'll give calorie counting a go with an aim of being able to maintain the loss

It doesn’t matter what eating plan you follow, you will probably lose weight but you have to be strict with it forever or the weight will go back on. Slimming World has good group support but the diet itself is behind current research as it is low fat. It does encourage lots of fresh food though which is good.

There is only so much salad anyone can eat tbh, some of it actually takes more calories to eat it than you gain 🤣

I have done SW and lost weight but I just got sick of it feeling restrictive and bland. It’s nice to explore tbh just calorie counting, as you can really flex yourself with what you eat.

Good fats you shouldn’t be afraid of like whole fat dairy, nuts, healthy oils etc, bodies need them. I would eat salmon more than SW would probably allow but less of the ‘low fat’ stuff with sweetners for instance. I never want to see a muller light ever again 🤣

The weight comes off quicker because you are eating restricted diet. It’s like any diet. Sustainability is what long term weight loss is about though and I only met one lady at SW who still went there after she maintained and was there for over 10 years to keep on track

I did calorie counting and lost 5 stone in a year, admit I did start the gym but it’s foods that I cut that got me there
like every diet , they mostly all work ( if you stick to it)
3 years on I’ve put 4 stone back on snd joined slimming world . Not sure why but I really got bored eating the meals or was I just fed up of worrying about oil and seeds and “ oh you can’t have this “ I’d got used to eating protein bars and I just fell out of love with it after week 3

just can I add something …..
I never cut sugar out of any of my drinks and never counted them on my calorie counting diet

let’s see how calorie counting goes again 😂

I like slimming world because i am rubbish at calorie counting, and with cc unless you weigh every single morsel you might as well not bother. I also find it really hard to balance exercise and calorie intake, I exercise regularly but everyone says not to eat the calories back, so I end up ravenous and exhausted.
with sw I know I can eat healthy food, I can cook, I can have larger portions if I want them after a long run and I can have occasional treats. I am lucky that I like healthy food, I don’t eat ultra processed food much or takeaways or bread etc. My general weekly diet is almost exclusively free food on sw. I find I can eat more if the calories I eat are from nutritious whole foods and I don’t believe it’s as simple as calories in/calories out.
however, I don’t have much weight to lose and I don’t by any means eat ‘unlimited’ quantities of anything. I don’t snack, even on fruit, I’ve stopped drinking and I rarely eat biscuits or chocolate because I don’t actually lose weight if I do. But as a plus I would say on sw I eat a more varied and nutritious diet and I eat proper meals.

lots of people will say it’s awful, it’s a cult, but any diet is really, you have to trust it wholeheartedly to follow it. I guess the optimum for me would be eating according to sw rules but calorie tracking to achieve a calorie deficit.

I think the general intention on SW is to fill up of bulky veg. The idea of eat all you want is really eat all you want so you're not hungry but not so much your stuffed.

Once you get to your target weight you get a different booklet based on maintaining your weight rather than losing. It only works long term if you stick with it.

OH does it, his big downfall is pastry, cakes and bread. He just has them in moderation. Calorie counting just seems to much faff.

I've been on a diet since January and I know the rough amount of calories but am not tracking everything religiously. At some point if I stop losing I might have to (and then I might pay for an app) but I think it's worth just starting a 'healthy eating diet' and seeing how you get on.

For me, that's cutting all chocolate / crisps / snacks other than healthy snacks and largely stopping drinking and eating earlier / less carbs.

I certainly wouldn't commit to paying slimming world for years!