Slimming World doesn't work for me

I would advise you to read Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr. Andrew Jenkinson. He is a bariatric surgeon who has listened to his patients and understands the topic of obesity very well. I learnt a lot from this book. One of the biggest cons of the past half century has been the low fat myth. There are many, many highly processed products that claim to be low fat but have a list of chemicals as long as your arm. If you compare an ultra low fat spread with butter, butter contains one ingredient - milk. The ultra low fat spread contains vast quantities of eye dazzling chemicals, which all convert into carbohydrates; the main carbohydrate being sugar and it is sugar that is the biggest culprit in the obesity epidemic. Butter tastes a lot better, too.
As this book points out, Slimming World and other such organisations are businesses. Their diets work in the short term but, despite their promoting the idea of an eating plan for life rather than a diet, this is not true for the vast majority of people as they get bored with it and fall off the wagon. The lost weight creeps back on; slowly at first but then, all too often, gathering pace until the person weighs even more than they did in the first place. This is not accidental. As businesses, they rely on returning customers.
I think in your position, I would look at Mounjaro or Wegovy, especially as you are pre-diabetic. I find intermittent fasting is the one thing that helps me but I don't know how suitable it is for pre-diabetes. As for me, I am going to try chia seeds.

I lost 77.5 lbs following the SW eating plan over 18 months in 2017 and have maintained my loss since then. My OH has ost 84lbs over the same period of time. I go to Group every 8 weeks to maintain my membership. At the end of the day it’s all about calories in and calories out. So my first suggestion is to plan your meals, shop accordingly, reduce your portion size and write everything down that you consume to keep track of your consumption. Gardening and housework are my only form of exercise as I’ve never particularly enjoyed exercising but if you can manage to do some walking every day that may help. I’m not slim by any stretch of the imagination but I feel far more healthy. There’s no magic wand, you have to want to do it for yourself.

teabagwoman

*MayBee*, can you signpost me to your cake recipe please. I’m working on my cholesterol and crave cake. I’m hoping your high fibre, nutrient dense version will satisfy my craving and help me stay on track.

My tea brea is one cup tea, two cups dried fruit, one egg, 8oz wholemeal sr flour; then I throw in all sorts of stuff. Ground flax seeds,ground almonds ( or sometimes smashed up walnuts), beetroot powder, dried blueberries and dried cherries that I get from Holland &Barrett. A cup of sugar but I’m reducing the amount bit by bit. I threw in some grated apple the other week. Sometimes I put a few chopped dried dates in. You can use chia instead of egg but I haven’t tried that yet. Put more walnuts on the top. Stick it in a loaf tin with a liner and cook at 180 degrees for an hour. I soak the dried fruit flax seed sugar and beetroot overnight and add the rest when I make it. Add a bit more liquid if it seems too dry. I spread a bit of Benecol Buttery on it. I’d assume it’s quite high in calories with all the nuts but it’s more to do with lowering my cholesterol. I throw in some Ceylon cinnamon, too. I just kid myself that it’s part of my five a day. When I do the banana bread it’s just standard banana bread recipe but I add sultanas, ground nuts (walnuts or almonds) ground flax seed and put lots of walnuts on the top. Think I’ll try adding some grated apple to that, too. I’m only adding almonds because for some reason I bought three large bags of them from Holland and Barrett and I’ve got to use them up. The nurse gave me a print out of my test result which didn’t seem a lot less than last year but when I googled it it it said it was ok ( although she said I still scored 15 and anything above 10 wasn’t good). Maybe I’m just kidding myself that I can eat cake as long as I take a plant sterol with it ( Boots Max strength) but I look forward to my cake every day and for some reason I seem to be able to stick to one slice a day. Wouldn’t be able to do that with chocolate cake… But then I get my chocolate fix with chocolate chia pudding

I’ve read reference to chia seeds in a number of these posts so just wanted to post about the potential dangers of choking and oesophagus blockages chia seeds can cause.
Google chia seeds and choking, as well as how to eat chia seeds safely.
Personally, I don’t take the risk.

Another question.. after say a stone or two weight loss do you have/lose the flabby skin?

As somebody else has mentioned, I would highly recommend Michael Moseley. I loosely followed his Blood Sugar Diet and lost 2 stone in 10 months. I’m now in normal weight range. You can have full fat dairy products, certain fruits (especially berries) and lots of veggies. It’s like a Mediterranean diet without the carbs. We rarely have potatoes, pasta or rice. The only bread I normally eat is sourdough. I usually only eat 2 meals a day. If I feel the need to snack in the evening I’ll have olives, some toasted nuts or a couple of squares of really good quality dark chocolate. Hope this helps.

Hi Penguin2024
Might be useful to speak to your doctor to see what is available in your area.
My husband was referred to a weekly diabetic course locally .
He found it very informative, he lost weight and more importantly no longer pre diabetic.
One year on he has maintained his weight loss and is still no longer pre diabetic (tested every 6 months.)
Have a friend who does the NHS weight loss programme and is doing well on her weight loss journey.

Thanks Maybee, that’s very helpful. I’m off to the kitchen to check my ingredients. When I’m tired, which for various reasons is pretty often at the moment, I crave cake and I’m hoping that, like you, one slice will be enough and I can feel that I’ve not eaten junk. The nuts etc should slow down the sugar response and generally be healthier.

.

I'm easily losing 1.5-to-2lbs a week (8-weeks in now) using a 4/3 system - 4 days on a maximum of 1200 calories a day and the other 3 on a maximum of 800. Sometimes a digression on Sundays for a cake, Picnic bar or ice-cream cone.

My main meals are all mainly Slimming World's perfectly balanced 550g meals.
All delicious and very filling. Followed by a Mullerlite yoghurt.

Massive selection in Iceland - usually covering four chest freezers in our local 'Food Warehouse' Iceland branch.

Lots of brunch choices to make up the other (c) 400 to 800 daily calories.
Nairn Flatbreads (x 3) and half a pot of Co-op Sweet Chilli Hummus with cherry tomatoes and an apple is a favourite of mine.

I'm never hungry and enjoy all the meals (I don't eat fish so can't comment on them but my husband says that the Prawn meals are very good)

I'm not madly mobile at the moment so I do a few ups and downs of the stairs (9/half-landing/9) as exercise. Started on three returns a day, now on eight, where I'll stay.

One stone down. One dress-size down; nearly two. Easily and painlessly achieved. Nice varied nosh - many rated (by me!) 5/5 a few 4/5. One (the Cottage Pie - not seasoned enough for me - needs extra black pepper) 3/5.

Give it a try. The 550g meals are usually 3-for-£12. Apart from the curry or two that needs rice, you don't need to add anything else.
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To me, Slimming World making potatoes, rice and pasta ‘free’ is never going to work. You say they ‘encouraged’ you to eat unlimited amounts of certain foods, but I wonder if you’ve been having loads of carbs to stave off hunger, and thereby taking in a lot of calories? Protein will keep you fuller longer, so I’d give that a try.
My Fitness Pal is a great app for keeping track of your calories, and it’ll also tell you your protein, fibre, carbohydrate intake.
Good luck!

teabagwoman

Thanks Maybee, that’s very helpful. I’m off to the kitchen to check my ingredients. When I’m tired, which for various reasons is pretty often at the moment, I crave cake and I’m hoping that, like you, one slice will be enough and I can feel that I’ve not eaten junk. The nuts etc should slow down the sugar response and generally be healthier.

I realised years ago that my bingeing coincided with being tired. I do need a lot of sleep and I know straight away when I wake up if I’ve had enough sleep. If I haven’t I can now, thankfully go back to sleep using a get back to sleep talk down on utube. It’s not good to start the day with cake but I hope that the nuts and flax seed etc counteract that. The Holland and Barrett cherries are quite tart which is better than the glacé cherries that I used to use which weren’t very healthy. I also think that having a mug of hot water when I wake up is helping my cholesterol, too.

These are such great tips Maybee

Penguin24 I am the same have followed SW plan religiously and lost one 1lb in 52 weeks at a cost £499.!!! I am 73 and after a long discussion with gp who was a bit sceptical of SW has talked me into trying low carb, I can’t tell you its works as I have only started it today, but watch this space

Must point out that my partner can’t eat my cake because things like flax seed can interact with the blood thinner that he’s on.…more for me though…

I think all diet plans work - for some people. Each person just has to experiment to find one that suits them.

However the real problem is keeping the weight off once it has been lost, There is no point in returning to your old eating pattern, that led to the weight gain you need to develop new eating pattern you enjoy.

I lost 2 stone about 12 years ago on a version of the Intermittent fasting diet and did not gain anything back for 11 years. But in the last year we down sized to a house in the perfect location for family, shops and all local services, but needing work and in a year of chaos, with builders in the house more days than they weren't, plus DH being seriously ill, my eating patterns went to pot, I have put on over half a stone, but as Septemeber and the new academic year starts - I find this a much better point for new resolutions than New Year. I will go back on the straight and narrow and go back to the diet I know works. We will still be having tradesmen in now and again, but with winter approaching, life is becoming more routine and I hope within six weeks or so, I will get back to my previous weight.

Penguin2024
“Plus I like to have a sandwich when on the go and although I eat meat and fish I only want to eat small amounts of these to prevent suffering to others and help prevent climate change“

Stay away from whoever told you not to eat meat or fish to prevent climate change. They are delusional and it would seem you are gullible.
Moderation is the key, carbs burn quickly and will leave you wanting more food sooner than you realise.
Must admit I’ve never heard of suffering fish
Eat less

Pearl30

I’ve read reference to chia seeds in a number of these posts so just wanted to post about the potential dangers of choking and oesophagus blockages chia seeds can cause.
Google chia seeds and choking, as well as how to eat chia seeds safely.
Personally, I don’t take the risk.

Another question.. after say a stone or two weight loss do you have/lose the flabby skin?

I always soak chia overnight in lots of liquid. My daughter just sprinkles it on yoghurt and leaves it for a few minutes which worries me especially when you see how much they swell up.

Unfortunately the idea that calories in = calories out isn't true for everyone! We all have different metabolisms. I studied nutrition as part of my degree and have been on many diets over the years but for me the only one that really worked was very low carbohydrate. The diet I followed did not limit calories or fat .I could eat as much as I wanted of non starchy vegetables, so limit carrots, parsnips, swede, peas and beans but unlimited green /leafy veg. Unlimited protein and fat but almost no carbohydrates, so no potatoes, pasta or rice. A typical meal for me would be bolognaise served on a mountain of buttered cabbage. Eating a high fat diet increased my metabolic rate while eating carbohydrate heavy meals makes me feel sluggish so I know my metabolism has slowed.
You also have to go easy on fruit because of the sugar content but berries are mostly good.
I know many people will argue against this approach and it won't work for everyone. If you cannot give up the carbs, or if it doesn't suit your body then smaller portions and calorie counting will have to be the way to go, but it worked for me.

Unfortunately over the years I haven't been able to keep to what I know works all the time. Cookingfora family meant the foods I knew I should avoid were in the house and I couldn't alway resist them! I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 20 years ago so I know it's the carbs that are my problem. I'm now on ozempic injections and have got my weight under control again but it has affected what I eat as I have gone off many foods which I used to enjoy and which I know are good for my weight control. I live alone at present but my daughter is returninghome next week and I'm worried about meals as she eats very differently from me.

If the low carb approach doesn't suit the book that recommended it to me suggested a high fibre diet as the alternative, but that tends to be much higher in carbohydrates and doesn't suit me for a number of reasons including the digestive issuescaused by the ozempic.

It would be easier if all our bodies reacted in the same way, but sadly they don't! I had a friend who really struggled to gain weight! She ate plenty and didn't restrict anything but remained very underweight. Clearly she had a very high metabolic rate. I did envy her!

Sorry, but the equation is always energy (calories) in/energy out.

Intake that exceeds output will be stored.
Output that exceeds intake will take from the store until it is depleted.

It applies to many aspects of life.

Differences in metabolism just mean you need higher or lower energy intake to meet your output.

You may be right Lathyrus but the problem for many of us is finding a way to make that equation work in a sustainable way and it gets harder as you get older. I lost several stone and have maintained that loss for twenty years but I’m finding it harder now I’m in my 80s.

Musicgirl

I would advise you to read Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr. Andrew Jenkinson. He is a bariatric surgeon who has listened to his patients and understands the topic of obesity very well. I learnt a lot from this book. One of the biggest cons of the past half century has been the low fat myth. There are many, many highly processed products that claim to be low fat but have a list of chemicals as long as your arm. If you compare an ultra low fat spread with butter, butter contains one ingredient - milk. The ultra low fat spread contains vast quantities of eye dazzling chemicals, which all convert into carbohydrates; the main carbohydrate being sugar and it is sugar that is the biggest culprit in the obesity epidemic. Butter tastes a lot better, too.
As this book points out, Slimming World and other such organisations are businesses. Their diets work in the short term but, despite their promoting the idea of an eating plan for life rather than a diet, this is not true for the vast majority of people as they get bored with it and fall off the wagon. The lost weight creeps back on; slowly at first but then, all too often, gathering pace until the person weighs even more than they did in the first place. This is not accidental. As businesses, they rely on returning customers.
I think in your position, I would look at Mounjaro or Wegovy, especially as you are pre-diabetic. I find intermittent fasting is the one thing that helps me but I don't know how suitable it is for pre-diabetes. As for me, I am going to try chia seeds.

I recommend reading this too. It makes you realise how much incorrect/poorly researched information we have been fed over many years - all for the benefit of big business

Lathyrus3

Sorry, but the equation is always energy (calories) in/energy out.

Intake that exceeds output will be stored.
Output that exceeds intake will take from the store until it is depleted.

It applies to many aspects of life.

Differences in metabolism just mean you need higher or lower energy intake to meet your output.

No it is not. There is plenty of research around that shows that there are genetic explanations for some obesity, while in other cases the make-up of the microbiome and even the atmosphere you live in can affect weight gain.

With so many variables that can affect the internal processing of the food from genes, microbiome and other factors, it is very difficult for many people to assess exactly what food consumption is right for .

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. Its a fundamental law.

Excess energy either has to be stored or released.

If you take in a given amount of energy you either use it or store it.

All those factors you've pointed out are true but they are about consumption of energy.

Until the laws of Physics change to maintain equilibrium the equation remains energy in = energy out.

As soon as I can find the refernces I will post them.

But you do forget another way of passing unused energy out of the body and that is through the digestion system. Some people's digestion systems are more efficient than others and the calorie value of people's faeces can be very variable and a high fibre diet can increase the calorie value.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

With prediabetes and cholesterol in the mix it's worth understanding the medical side as well as portions - the weight-loss resources at pepsreview.com/weight-loss explain how appetite and blood sugar really work after 60, and what the GLP-1 options (Mounjaro/Wegovy) can and can't do. Helped me make sense of it all.