It’s been a while since I’ve written about weight loss, everyone needs a break every now and again but I’m here to bring you some information on ‘Slimming Groups’ just in time for the New Year.
My New Years Resolution last year was to lose weight. And at a size 26/28 I really needed to. I am just about 5ft and was far too heavy for my frame, making life impossible. In fact, it’s only now that I am realising just how much my weight affected my life…
Here, for your comparison are 2 photographs. The one on the left is me last year at christmas and the one on the right was taken just last week….
I started Slimming World at the end of April 2011. Within 7 months I had lost 5st and 3lbs, I am now a dress size 12/14… I have since maintained that weight though need to lose a little more to be in a relatively healthy BMI range. If that’s even possible!
I’m not just here to talk about Slimming World though, there are any amount of Slimming Groups out there. I should know, I’ve tried them all!
My Slimmers Guide
Weightwatchers: Their plan is effective when you stick to it correctly, I personally didn’t succeed very well as your ‘free food’ (the food you can eat freely without using ‘allowances’) isn’t exactly plentiful. Basically, all of their plans involve a points system. You need to record pretty much everything you eat. It didn’t work for me. I became very complacent very quickly. I got bored even faster BUT I do know people it’s worked for so if you like being quite ocd about facts and figures it might just be for you.
Rosemary Conley: This one I lasted only 4 days as far as I can remember. If even that! Very strict and structured style of ‘dieting’ and this one I do have to call a ‘diet’ because it is. You are given colour coded portion controllers apon registering and a list of foods colour coded. You can guess the rest. You have to measure everything and believe me, the portions you are allowed? Pitiful. I presume this would be good for a crash diet if you really needed to desperately and drastically change habits etc but it was a painful process for me.
The Atkins Diet: My advice for this one? Avoid at all costs! I tried it for 2 weeks before being told by my Dr to stop. It sounds great in theory, ”encourages the consumption of lean protein, fibre, fruits, vegetables and good fats”, in reality you are starving yourself of the necessary carbohydrates to balance everything out. I developed bad skin and a headache that just wouldn’t shift no matter what I did. I won’t even mention the other side effects :S
The last one I’m going to include here is Slimming World, I really hate to plug it. I hate Slimming Groups with a passion. Never imagined one would work for me but this one has. It has worked for me to such a degree here I am telling you that if you are sitting at home reading this, considering your New Years Resolutions and one of them is to lose weight….. JOIN UP.
Slimming World: You have 2 options when you register as to which plan you’d like to follow: the extra easy plan or the green / orignal plans they’re both different but essentially the same. To allow yourself free foods you can eat and enjoy without ‘counting’ and superfree foods which you are encouraged to eat in abundance. You also have healthy options and these allow for cereal, bread, milk and cheese etc (the list is extensive) and basically you can have ‘x’ amount of an option a day! On top of ALL that you have what are called syns this is the type of food you are to record meticulously. Everything chocolate, crisps etc is allowed but you must count your syns!
Basically it is the only plan I have followed that has worked and I honestly haven’t felt miserable following it. 5st 4lbs in 7 months…. just think! That could easily be you!
I don’t call my journey with Slimming World a ‘diet’, for me it’s a lifestyle choice. I have off days, well everyone does! But within a few weeks cooking ‘slimming world’ style it honestly came to be second nature.
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience on the internet to keep you on track with any of the plans listed so the only person stopping you from a New You is yourself!
You can do this! And I’m here for any help/advice/queries I can help with!
Here’s to 2012 😉
Well done, you hacve done fantastially!!! You must be very proud!!
Truth be told I found it a little anticlimatic at times but it’s just getting your head around the whole thing. Takes a while to come to terms with the whole situation but I do feel like a completely new person!
Thank you Maria for the lovely comment xx
sera you have done brill in such a small time line, i am rejoining this week, figures i find the same determination u found, give yrself a pat on the back x
Sera, you have done such a wonderful job. I tried slimming world a few months back just after starting a new job but quickly got sidetracked. I admire you, LOTS.
Do you/ did you do much exercise during your journey? xx