Second Nature - any good?

[Rarewaxwing]

I've been looking at the free version and I've searched on MN for previous threads on this, but would welcome any feedback from anyone who's done this programme recently. I'm unfit and have about 10 pounds to lose, but I can't motivate myself to make changes. DH is worse than me, but won't discuss it. He just says, "I'll do it my way", which seems to involve constant snacking and very little exercise 🤔.

I've successfully lost weight from intermittent fasting before, but I find this harder to do now that I'm wfh. Second Nature looks as if it works on the psychology behind healthy eating, which is what I need. But £40 a month is a lot!

Is Second Nature worth doing?

That’s really encouraging. I lost two stones by following the same principles as Second Nature ten years ago so know it works. Are there any recipes you would recommend? Those I tried yesterday were a bit disappointing. Bircher muesli and the frittata.
I like the way the app syncs to the scales they send you and links to Apple health steps . Makes things so much easier.

@Watchingpaintdrying - I recommend the Peri Peri chicken (a favourite now), beef quesadillas, chicken fajita bake and smoky sausage casserole. We often have the black bean patties, but they're not very exciting.

The banana bread is nice: you can have it for breakfast with berries and yoghurt, or just as a snack.

I started out making the granola clusters and having them for breakfast daily with berries and yoghurt. Am bored of that now, so I just have porridge. When I can be bothered, I make blueberry oat pancakes for breakfast - they're lovely.

The mini omelettes are good for lunch or a snack.

Chicken fajita bake and Mediterranean fish stew are my favourites. For the fish stew I use frozen fish pie mix and frozen seafood mix, it makes it quick and easy as well as delicious.

Anyone else doing this? I w had a rocky first week as two meals out. Next week going to try harder. It’s difficult at this time of year.

@Watchingpaintdrying - I found meal-planning, batch cooking and sticking to the SN recipes worked well. If I went out to eat, I tried to stick to the guidelines, but didn't worry too much if I couldn't.

I thought I would resurrect this thread as I'm now doing second nature. Referred by NHS. I found this thread when I was referred but I've been doing it a few weeks and finding it good. But I agree with what some others have said about the group not being very chatty. There are 40 in the group but the majority say nothing. I don't think the rest are bots though.

@Manderleyagain - great that you got a referral from the NHS!

There wasn't a huge amount of chatting in my group, but I found the coach very encouraging. I emailed her with questions a couple of times and she wrote very detailed, thoughtful answers. Hopefully, they are all like her!

I've kept the weight off since doing the programme, although I then had gallstone problems and lost even more weight before my operation because I couldn't have any fat in my diet. But I think even without that, I could have maintained the weight loss.

I don't stick strictly to the Second Nature eating plan anymore, but several of the recipes have become family favourites. I'm mindful of the impact of processed food, but when I'm time poor, it's easier to pick up a readymeal!

Good luck! I hope this goes well for you.

I'm glad to hear you were able to keep the weight off. That's encouraging to hear because I've lost weight before and that was the bit I failed at. This seems different, in that the principles you follow are easier to continue long term in some form or other, so I'm hopeful.
Yes my coach is encouraging and it's great to be able to ask things one to one. I feel a bit sorry for her trying to chivvy us into chatting in the group but not many people do.
I hope your gall stone troubles are all solved now. Well done on the programme.

I’ve just joined up too, so I’m glad to see the resurrection at the end of the thread! My first week starts Monday. Just managed to get the scales synced!

I have just started the 12 week plan with an NHS referral and I like the look of it so far. I have read Atomic Habits and tried Fast 800 and this seems to follow some similar principles of habit stacking and higher fat low carb eating.
Do you get a recipe book and scales with an NHS referral?

I just joined and would be interested to hear about others experience of this plan. Finding it ok so far 🤞🏼

I found the support useless and minimal interaction on the app with other users. They give you a useful cookery book but I didn’t find it very motivational generally.

I've just signed up for 12 months free via work healthcare plan.

Not sure what to expect! They are sending me the scales and articles in the app. It says I'm in preparation phase

Yes I did.

Ten weeks in and I seem to have stalled. I have lost a stone though.

I have had the same experience as @Watchingpaintdrying when it comes to interaction. There are three or four of us in my group who are still posting now and then. The coach makes posts trying to encourage us in, but the group hasn’t gelled in any way and if I lose that aspect at the end of 12 weeks, it will be no great loss.

I’m waiting to see what remains after the end of the NHS referral.

That’s great you’ve lost a stone! What did you do differently in terms of what you ate? I don’t feel it taught me anything.

Hi i've just been referred by the NHS. Can anyone let me know how long it took to receive login info after the referral was sent?
and how is everyone getting on with it?

Sorry, I missed this before.

I’ve cut out all refined sugar and sweeteners, which has made it far easier to ignore the snacks in the office.

I’ve more or less cut out bread as well.

I followed the plate “rules” carefully at the start, so, per meal:

One closed fist size of (ideally complex) carbohydrate (quarter of plateful)
Two cupped hands of vegetables (half of plateful)
A protein portion the size of the palm of your hand (quarter of plateful).

You’re also supposed to have a serving of healthy fats the size of your thumb, but I often had more as I love mayonnaise.

You are supposed to have three meals a day, two as above and one carb free, but I skipped breakfast and just had milky coffee (full fat milk).

I’m currently away from home, which is way more challenging, but I will deal with it when I get back.

I am exercising more regularly as well.

I have approached it from the start as something I want to pursue for life, so I am working hard to build better habits.

Sorry, I can’t remember how long, but I don’t think it was a particularly long time.

I’ve lost four more pounds, which isn’t a huge amount, but the changes are not necessarily meant to be particularly quick, but sustainable instead.