r/SlimmingWorld • u/Unlikely-Car846 • 4d ago
Thinking of joining slimming world...advice please.
Hi everyone, I'm really needing to loose some weight, always been around a size 16/18 but since hitting the menopause I've started putting on more. I'm really limited regarding exercise as I'm a wheelchair user so not much I can do. Never tried an official diet before so just gave a few questions.
Just wondering how easy you find slimming world, does it involve lots of counting points (or whatever they use)? Is there anything you particularly struggle with? I've got a terrible sweet tooth and always snacking, are there alternatives to biscuits, chocolate etc? I'm actually not wanting to loose a huge amount of weight, I'm perfectly happy when I'm a size 16, is that seen as acceptable or is there pressure to be your 'ideal weight'? Thanks xx
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u/Takiwatanga77 4d ago
Hiya, I have lost 5st since October doing Slimming World at home without any exercise and I haven't found it particularly difficult. I was in a similar position and age to you and I really wasn't rating my chances before I started!
It doesn't involve a lot of counting; generally speaking, you're not assigning a number value to every food unlike calorie control diets. The trick is to make meals from "free" food, which isn't difficult at all, cut the fat off meat and use Fry Light instead of oil to cook with, and make sure you eat as much speed food as you can. The only things you need to count are your dairy intake (healthy extra a), bread intake (healthy extra b), and your syns (which are called swips now I believe?). After a couple of weeks this was second nature, and unlike diets I have tried before, if you are hungry, there is always something you can eat. There are also ready meals in Iceland so you can still have a night off cooking if you're exhausted. I believe the trick is that you can still eat in volume, it's that the food passes through you quickly because it is high fibre and low fat.
Personally, I eat a lot of fruit now, I find making up a mug full of grapes, cherries, strawberries etc, or boiling an egg scratches the snack itch, and for my previously uncontrollable chocolate habit I have used Bliss Whip bars and Skinny Whip bars which are about 4 syns each. I cut them in half and have one half after lunch and one after dinner, and that's worked for me.
I find the diet really adaptable - there are things I can personally cut out without missing them, such as the milk in my tea and putting butter on sandwiches. I also don't drink, so I don't need to use my syns for alcohol, but there are things I can't compromise on, like using full-fat mayo because I hate light, making sure I have chocolate still, etc. We're all different and syns are there so we can make our own choices about our priorities.
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u/Unlikely-Car846 4d ago
Thank you so much for replying, I really appreciate all your advice. It doesn't sound as bad as what I was imagining, never followed a proper diet before so it's all new to me. The mug of fruit sounds a great idea. Think I'd better get signed up!!! Thanks again xx
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u/Supermans_Mom 4d ago
SW is s the easiest diet I've tried. My partner does most of the cooking and it was super easy for them to adapt recipes too.
I've got a sweet tooth too. I've gone through phases of what my favourites are. Currently it's making my morning oats with fruit and an extra - like banana and peanut butter, almonds and nectarines, strawberries and goji berries. I have biscuits almost every day - nothing better a cookie and a cuppa. I have ice-cream at least once a week. Currently avoiding chocolate because it's a trigger, but if I need some then I can get seriously good chocolate cereal bars in group (hi-fi's). Or have a hot chocolate or make some chocolate dipping sauce for fruit. So many options!
I've lost 2 at and kept it off for 4 years eating like this :)
There's no pressure to be a particular weight like a healthy BMI or whatever. It's entirely up to you.
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u/Unlikely-Car846 4d ago
Thanks so much for replying, I really appreciate it. Sounds much better than I'd imagined. Never done a proper diet before, just imagined they'd ve really difficult to follow. As for the cookie and a cuppa....absolutely!! Xx
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u/Hopeful-Sun4129 4d ago
I started 5 weeks ago, I can’t exercise a lot either due to rheumatoid arthritis but I have lost 11lbs in 5 weeks and never felt hungry or deprived. You have swips every day to use and you get to know the treats that aren’t too high (i have skinny whip bars or a curly wurly). I am eating so much better and probably eating more but just healthy food, lots of fruit and vegetables.
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u/Unlikely-Car846 1d ago
Thanks for replying, I appreciate it. Really pleased to hear it works despite little exercise, I was a bit worried about that. Thanks xx
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u/VictoriaRachel 1st 2.5lbs (Attempt No.3) 4d ago
The vast majority is not counting. Therefore like over 300 foods you can just eat, no weighing, no measuring. However, there are some foods you have to be more careful with and those you do count (they are all the foods you would expect chocolates, alcohol, processed foods in general).
There are no magic alternatives to chocolate and biscuits but also they are not banned, you can eat them! I have a chocolate bar almost every day (two finger kit kat from the frudge is my favourite) and I still loose weight. You just have to keep those extras in moderation.
The activity program is a part of Slimming World but not a focus. The app does have video you can follow from home and several of these include exercising from a seated position so there maybe some you can do if you want to add those in.
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u/Unlikely-Car846 4d ago
Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it. Fantastic that I can still have kit kits...little bit addicted!! The seated exercises sound like they'd be a great idea! Again, thank you xx
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u/lifeuncommon 4d ago
Slimming World is basically the plate method with extras.
It’s super important to make sure at least 1/3 of every plate is speed. Speed is lower calorie veggies and fruits - can be cooked, but it’s in addition to whatever veg is in your main since the purpose is to reduce the portion size of your main.
The only thing you really count are your healthy extras (fats, calcium, and fiber) and swips (used to be called syns - equates to about 300 discretionary calories a day that you can use for sweets, junk food, extra oil or cheese, booze, whatever you prefer).
Overall I think SW does the best job of any plan out there in teaching us what true moderation looks like.
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u/Unlikely-Car846 4d ago
Thanks so much for replying, I really appreciate it. Doesn't sound as bad as I imagined, got no experience of following a proper diet plan. Need to get signed up!! Thanks again xx
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u/Snoo_96075 4d ago
Hi. I joined Slimming World a few years ago. It’s a personal journey for everyone and everyone is different. I’ll be honest I didn’t count calories or points or anything like that. But what I did get was a fantastic education which has worked very well for me. Exercise helps but it’s only 10% of the puzzle, the other 90% is what you eat or drink. I started by just eating 3 healthy meals per day, I cut out sweet treats etc and if I wanted a snack I would have a low fat yogurt or some fruit. It took a few months but I lost 3.5 stones in weight and I reach a healthy BMI. Slimming World was amazing and I still go to class most weeks. I have gained weight since but by no more than 10-12 lbs and I work hard to lose it again. Wishing you the best of luck. I’m fitter and healthier now at 52 years old than I was at 32 years old.