Slimming world for BIG losses?

I did Slimming World for many years before I came here.

Firstly, please don't be afraid about going to the groups. I joined many in my years on and off Slimming World and they were always full of lovely women (and occasionally men), all facing the same issues as you. No-one judges anyone and if you get a good group they can even be fun!

My opinion on Slimming World is that it is one of the best 'diets' out there if you feel the need to follow one, but I'd still avoid it.

Pros:
You should never feel hungry.
It teaches you healthy foods.
You can start without having to buy calculators or scales or any other gadgets.
It teaches you how to cook healthily and you can get some fantastic recipes (I still use some today).
Group support.

Cons:
It can be expensive.
It teaches you nothing of portion control.
It can be restrictive.
It is time-consuming.

Basic background of Slimming World is that you get 'free foods' - these are basically foods that you can eat as much of as you like. It includes lean meats (including bacon), fish, pasta, potatoes, rice, fruits, veg, etc, and you get 15 'syns' a day to use on treats like crisps, chocolate, salad dressings, gravy, alcohol. etc. If I remember correctly, a packet of Quavers, for example, was 5.5 syns.

This is all great in principle however I found it expensive as I was eating massive portions and a ridiculous amount of fruit because it was 'free'. and it was only when I joined here that I actually realised how many calories were in things like pasta that I used to eat a bucket load of on Slimming World.

The reason I failed on it so many times is because it can be hugely restrictive; if you don't prepare your lunch in advance for example, it can be nigh-on impossible to find something on the go that is 'syn-free'. Restaurants were a nightmare, and if I wanted a drink I'd blow my entire days syns on 2 glasses of wine.

In answer to your question, yes it would be sustainable for a family of 4, there's nothing unhealthy about it. And yes, it would be fine with 7 stone to lose. I know some women in my groups lost around that.

Honestly though, I wouldn't recommend it. MFP is better, in my opinion, it teaches you portion control and macros, it's flexible, it encourages you to exercise, and it's free! Good luck.

*Sorry for huge post.

My mum has done slimming world for years, I think she started it when I was about 16/17 and still living at home. She had about 3.5stone to lose which she did gradually but consistently and the rest of us would eat whatever she was cooking, she didn't do separate meals and it never disrupted us eating as a family. She has all of their recipe books and I must say she has never cooked me a dish from SW book that I didn't enjoy. Now she just maintains and has done for several years just by continuing to use the slimming world principles and she will rave about it to anyone that will listen! But that is because it really worked for her, she can eat what she wants,nothing is off limits and she doesn't have to count calories.

I know lots of people are dubious of any slimming programme that has rules about "free foods" "A / B choices" Red days/Green Days/Extra Easy Days" etc but having seem my mum successfully losing all the weight she wanted to by wholeheartedly embracing the slimming world way of eating and not doing any additional exercise other than walking her dogs which she always did even before losing the weight so no change there, I have to say that it does work, it just depends whether you click with it or not as there are quite a lot of rules about what you can eat in any one given meal depending on what type of day you are having etc. I personally would rather count cals if wanting to lose a bit of weight but if you grasp the principles and attend the support group weekly I think it is a great method of eating that you can have success with and a lot of people like it because it removes the calorie counting element from your weight loss and that can immediately make it feel not like I diet I think becuase you are not restricting to a certain number or even actually calculating the calories as you manage your intake in other ways.

Don't be worried or nervous about the meeting, everyone is there for the same reason, I attended several with my mum just as I was curious and everyone was super friendly, the group leaders I think for SW are always people who have actually lost significant amounts of weight via SW and they will guide you every step of the way and are super enthusiastic about it. It may take you a little while to be able to apply the concepts to your eating as second nature without thinking but eventually it becomes really easy, my mum has used their principles for so long she can just do it without even thinking about it anymore.

Really good luck

The cheapest route is to use MFP. Slimming world seems really big in the UK, but in the US we have advocare. The majority of these diets are just low calorie, high protein diets. You can do that same thing for free on MFP. With 46 lbs to lose, set your goal to 1 lb per week and adjust macro's to 40% carbs, 30% protein and fats. Then learn which foods fit in your budget and calorie goals. This way, you will teach yourself and family how to eat as opposed to rely on a system.

This is an interesting subject - having worked in sales and marketing for many years (I don't any longer) and attended SW groups on and off for years - there is one thing that was finally confirmed for me during recent documentaries on the TV - that were sadly easily missed - called "The men who made us fat" and "The men who made us thin". Now, not to underestimate the great work that slimming clubs do, here would be my strategy if I owned one! I would want to ensure that a lot of people attended. I would also want to ensure that - to some extent - the diet worked. But ultimately, I wouldn't really want it to be toooo successful long term or permanently as I want people to keep coming whilst they are losing, and to keep coming back once the weight went back on - coz pounds mean £pounds - if you get my drift! Cynical - maybe, experienced definitely. MFP is fantastic - there is no competition. No food is banned, you know where you are at any time. You can type in your own recipes and it is all worked out and calculated for you. Simples. Yes SW works, yes a lot of people lose weight on their plans - but ultimately - and for long term benefits - it is, and always will be calories in -v- calories out : until that miracle pill/food/drink/shake etc that really works in invented anyway! Good luck/1

FAO forjaneuk

I just want to say a huge thankyou because I have been battling with my weight for years always going from one diet to the next and thinking what diet should i do. Now I havnt tried MFP but you made up my mind for me it is reall all down to eating less rubbish more healthy stuff and moving more. So thankyou for that the app is downloaded and I start my journey tomorrow morning

Good luck to you and anyone else just starting.

I've been maintaining for over a year and the first thing is to see it as a way of life, a genuine change, so don't go at it hard and fast and fail in 3 days. Be gentle, still socialise, be more a ctiv e but don't feel you have to turn navy blue with exhaustion and crack on. ANYONE can diet but EVERYONE can change )

Slimming World is an English founded company similar to Weight Watchers but with different principles and rules.

I couldn't agree more with Lauren3101 below; I have joined SW a few times throughout the years and it is doable to lose weight but you have to be prepared to make your meals from scratch and dedicate time to it if you want to make it work.

Personally, after all my attempts with various 'healthy clubs' and all the diets under the sun, I have found MFP much better. You can follow a healthy eating plan, within your budget and control your calorie intake. Plus the support you find here you will not find it anywhere because people here are genuine and they are not after 'Business marketing' and how to attract people to make more money based on us...

This was the reason I left Slimming World, it has become so money focused and 'customer attraction' focused .....that I didn't really feel that our coach/leader was interested in me or the issues I was going through and had to deal with....