Thinking About Joining Slimming World...Really Nervous!

MentalMinnie

Can anyone who already attends weekly meetings shed some light on what to expect?

I'm really nervous and embarressed, but wondered if I could bring my best friend the first time for some moral support?

idristhedragon

Hi can I ask what youre embarrassed about? Everyone is in the same boat and one of the SW taglines is "No Humiliation" the consultant should be very friendly and welcoming and all consultants are recruited from the membership so should know how you feel.
By all means bring a friend for support- theyll be more than welcome x

MentalMinnie

I don't know...i think it's partly embarressment at myself for getting so over weight...

Is the eating plan fairly easy to follow? I found the weight watchers points thing a little faffy to follow.

absolutebounder

dont waste your money. Cut out refined carbs like sugar and bread. Watch out for hidden stuff in supermarket foods. Cook from scratch with meat fish vegetables nuts and fruit. find out why you overeat if you can. Aim to lose 1lb a week. Any more than that is probably water or muscle and not healthy. Target yourself to fit in one size smaller at a time.

heartbreak_star

Bounder, your sentiments are much appreciated (if obvious) but sometimes people join SW or WW for the group support. Your advice is theoretically fine but not easy to follow in practise if you are a fussy eater (I hate veg!), have previously had an eating disorder or have emotional issues attached to eating.

A like-minded group with a positive leader can have more results in these cases than "trying to go it alone".

HBS x

MentalMinnie

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Bounder, your sentiments are much appreciated (if obvious) but sometimes people join SW or WW for the group support. Your advice is theoretically fine but not easy to follow in practise if you are a fussy eater (I hate veg!), have previously had an eating disorder or have emotional issues attached to eating.

A like-minded group with a positive leader can have more results in these cases than "trying to go it alone".

HBS x

This has hit the nail on the head. I've tried to do it on my own, and can't. I also have issues with food. I need the support of people in a similar position to help me. The money isn't an issue at all.

Thank you Heartbreak. xx

snow_ball

Agree, I’ve only ever successfully lost weight with SW and the group support (which is not really my thing) totally works. I felt a bit cringey at times but it was worth it to lose 1-2lbs a week and getting your stickers etc is a real incentive. I can see why some people don’t get it, but for some it just works.

The other thing about SW is it doesn’t have you counting calories, it promotes healthy eating with lots of lean meat & veg and helps improve your attitude towards food (IMO!), I never once felt hungry and the principles were so ingrained after 3 months that I didn’t gain a pound over xmas.

heartbreak_star

No problem Minnie

From my own experiences, WW wasn't too bad (never tried SW) but the main issue with me is that I do a LOT of weight training and club programmes are a little too focussed on weight and BMI for my lifestyle!

The groups themselves were great though - lots of like-minded people, recipe swapping, some include an exercise class, all in all happy places.

Best tip I can give is find an exercise you like. Go swimming, try a few classes, maybe join a salsa night, walk a friend's dog, anything really, and stick to it even if you don't feel like it - it soon becomes habit.

Good luck!

HBS x

absolutebounder

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Bounder, your sentiments are much appreciated (if obvious) but sometimes people join SW or WW for the group support. Your advice is theoretically fine but not easy to follow in practise if you are a fussy eater (I hate veg!), have previously had an eating disorder or have emotional issues attached to eating.

A like-minded group with a positive leader can have more results in these cases than "trying to go it alone".

HBS x

I do agree about the group thing though that still doesnt deal with the psychological issues as to why someone has been over eating in the first place.
The thing that worries me about SW is the chronic dietary advice leading to poor nutrition in the food.
The body tends to worry if it isnt getting all it needs and then hoards when it gets something. If one deals with the psychological issues and then just eats slowly and stops when you have had enough you will just lose a pound or so a week and gradually come down to ideal weight. The losses quoted on the SW and Ww thread cannot possibly be just fat and so the conclusion is either water loss which means you are likely to put it back on in a week or two or worse muscle loss which means you are burning calories slower and probably getting tired quicker so doing even less exercise.
I have no problem with paying for good advice or group therapy but I genuinely dont think SW does this.

heartbreak_star

Hmm, I've already given my experience regarding clubs but a lot of the story-swapping and presentations involved how people got over psychological barriers to weight loss.

Weight loss is proportional in a lot of cases - the websites will only put the really big losses on. E.g. if someone who is half a stone overweight and eating 2000 cals a day drops to 1700cals and does no exercise, they'll see really slow weight loss. If someone who is 10st overweight and eats 4000 calories a day drops to 1700cals and exercises for 20mins a day, they'll see results faster. A lot of the success stories seem to be people dropping from 20st to 13st, not 10st to 8st.

The main draw does seem to be like-minded people though - it's motivating to see others succeeding sometimes (though I find it jealousy inducing )

HBS x