Thinking of joining a class... Help!

[leanne641]

I'm a weight watcher and I'm really considering going to the other side!! I just need people to tell me experiences are the classes helpful or am I better researching how to do it online and save money? The only thing I'll be missing is motivation really! I have no idea how to even do slimming world so I'd be starting from scratch.. Has anybody joined with only 20lbs to lose? What was your preferred diet? Sw or ww? Thanks guys!

 

[Violet Shrinks]

Some people swear by groups, others can't stand them. I'm kinda on the fence on that one at the moment (am going to group right now but thinking about going it alone soon). I'd say give group a go and see how you get on - you'll get the new member talk, the books and a really good idea of how it all works. A few meetings in you'll get an idea of whether the classes are for you and can keep going or not as you prefer.

I've done WW in the past and it does work, but I got fed up with counting points. I think I prefer SW - it feels like the healthier plan to me, although to be honest I never really tried WW Simple Start, or Filling and Healthy, which are quite similar to SW anyway. Also, I can't be trusted with 49 weeklies, I'd spend them all on wine and/or ice-cream within 48 hours!!!

 

[josephsmummy]

I've done ww on and off for years, my husband use to be a ww consultant but finished when we had our little boy. I gained a lot during pregnancy and could not face counting points again. I knew on ww I could have crisps and junk all day cause I could eat them and stay in my points (very unhealthy). I.like sw as there is no counting and I am eating a lot more healthy plus my little one can eat what I'm eating too as it is all healthy.
I also prefer my sw consultant to the ww one, she is more committed and makes an effort to get to know everyone which ww leaders don't.
Hope that helps

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[PeggyDee]

I did ww a few years ago. It did work for me but I always felt like I was "on diet", I had to be hungry in order for the diet to work. I did not like the points counting system (admittedly I have not tried their new systems which I don't know at all), and their meeting was preachy, and clicky. I felt reprimanded at every meeting, my losses were never congratulated, my consultant barely knew my name after months, and I felt excluded by the popular in crowd.

I have the opposite experience at SW - I don't feel like I am on diet, I enjoy this way of eating as a lifestyle, I am never hungry, I don't have to count points or weigh food, my consultant and group are lovely and I learn stuff at group rather than feel lectured at, and it works too.

The group thing is due mainly to the personalities of the consultants I think, and I guess that is just luck, but the points counting and hunger thing...... much better at SW

 

[haileyhaiz]

I used to go to WW and now am SW, I found when WW changed to pro points I just felt hungry all the time? So joined SW back at the start of feb and I've not looked back! The first class felt weird as its different to WW but now I'm getting really into it and am enjoying it! Every class is different but I personally think you should at least go to class for the first month, it helps you get used to a different plan. Good luck!

 

[jen3]

I was a ww girl for years and lost weight on it. But now I much prefer sw. Love the lack of weighing/counting. i found with WW I was constantly thinking of how many points I had left which of course meant I was constantly thinking of food!!

Took me a good 6 months after joining SW to stop mentally thinking "points" though.

I'm glad I did WW first though as its fab for teaching portion sizes something lacking in SW (still dont agree with the "you can eat as much pasta as you like")

I would say join a class even if its just to get your book and new member talk - you dont have to go again but at least you'll understand it

 

[sarah1991]

I have been on sw a month now and I have to say the groups help me a lot. I tried to do it at home myself and I'd stick to it for a couple of days and then eat something I know I shouldn't. Then it goes back to the 'I'll start it properly tomorrow'. The groups are good because it gives you something to aim towards. Goodluck x

 

[Slan22]

There are people in my group with very small amounts to lose, I was very dubious when I started but it really does work, you should give it a go!

 

[Dgirl]

I have been on sw a month now and I have to say the groups help me a lot. I tried to do it at home myself and I'd stick to it for a couple of days and then eat something I know I shouldn't. Then it goes back to the 'I'll start it properly tomorrow'. The groups are good because it gives you something to aim towards. Goodluck x

Your comment has just made me make up my mind to go - I tried to rejoin my local group last night and no consultant pitched up and none of the regulars knew why - so a whole group of people out in the cold for half an hour. I was so annoyed that I decided I would try to do it from home alone BUT your comment about sticking for a couple of days then caving in is SO me so I will find another group and rejoin. Thanks!!!

 

[Phoenix_Girl]

I chose to go to group as it would push me out of my comfort zone, helps me become a little bit competitive and stops me from caving in.
So far, I have been really lucky and have lost weight every week however having the WI on Mondays for me will pick me up if I had a bad weekend and dust me off for the week ahead.

In addition, I have learned a lot about a lot of recipes, offers in the supermarkets, what counts and what doesn't in terms of free, super-free etc. - I wouldn't have been aware of these if I hadn't gone to group!

Try again with another group if you want to go, it seems strange that your group would be stranded outside like that - hopefully you won't get penalised for "not turning up" when actually it was your consultant who did not turn up!

 

[hollydollystar]

I'm starting back at SW tonight, have done the diet before and lost nearly two stone, then gave up, then did we then did eat whatever I want diet!! Luckily I've only gained a few pounds since I last did SW shut need to get my motivation back!!!

 

[MaccaMarsh]

Big vote for SW from me, although admittedly I have never tried anything else as I research things beforehand and didn't feel other things would suit me. I also stay to group and get a lot out of it, although I think groups tend to be a bit "marmite". Mine is great, other aren't. Best to shop around. In the group versus doing it at home debate, personally I like the discipline that going to group gives me. I don't trust myself to stick with it without that check-point each week.

Just a reference to an earlier poster who indicated that "you can eat as much pasta as you want", as this is not what SW teaches. Instead, it's "you can eat as much pasta as you need to satisfy your appetite", which is rather different. The portion control in SW comes from listening to your body, not changing the size of your plate. It doesn't work for everyone, but personally I enjoy the freedom! Good luck to you hun!

 

[Snozzberry]

I've done both and lost 2 stone with WW years ago but I don't like the new format. For me the constant "visual" of how many weekly points I had left was off putting. I am the type of person who lets a bad day become a bad week, plus I don't like being hungry, so I frequently ate into my weeklies massively at the beginning of the week, would see I didn't have many left and then think sod it, I'll start again next week. I like that with SW if I have a bad day (which hasn't happened yet as I'm never hungry) at least I can draw a line and start afresh the next day without the sodding online food diary highlighting everything I've done wrong and sneering at me from the top of the screen lol.

I'm only two months into my SW journey but I don't feel like I'm on a diet and it already feels like I could eat this way for life and never feel deprived.

 

[shellbell2005]

I've been on weight watchers in the past but did not like it so last year i decided that the only way i would succeed is to be involved with a slimming world class and get an accurate wiegh in each week. Since joining in April last year i have lost a total of 1st1.5lbs, this has fluctuated a lot and because of medical issues i find it harder to lose wieght. However the class i attend is very supportive and i feel it helps if you have queries or just want to see how other people are succeeding. The only downfall i find is that it can be a bit disheartening if you see other people loosing a lot of weight each week if you're not but that usually makes me go away from class feeling more determined to try harder that week. It is also good to chat to these people and ask how they have done so well that week.