Ok, a few things I thought I’d point out before I get into this:
- I’m sorry if you’re doing well on a diet. My intention isn’t to upset you. Maybe just come back here if you ever feel like you’re failing and it’s your fault.
- I’m sure there will be people who will say that I’m bitter because slimming clubs didn’t work for me. I want to say now that yeah, they did work for me. I had lots of success. At Slimming World I lost over four stone once. A couple of times I lost over three stone, many times I lost around two stone – and pretty much every time I went, I got a stone off. I wasn’t unsuccessful.
- I don’t have all the answers. This isn’t me telling you what you’re doing is wrong, or saying you should do something else. This is just my experience of 18 years in diet clubs.
- Yeah, I know this isn’t really a money-saving blog as such… but if you were to stop dieting, you’d save yourself a fortune (and my blog, my rules.. ;).
Right, got that out of the way…
We all know diets don’t work right?
It’s something we’re told all the time. From doctors on the TV to the fact that most women in our lives have been on one their whole lives, and they don’t work. The best you can hope for is a loss, and then you put all the weight back on again (and usually more).
We all know this. At least deep down anyway. I’m no scientist – but there is plenty of research out there that says when you diet/starve yourself, your body freaks out so as soon as ‘normal’ food comes back in, it packs on all the weight again and even more. It’s protecting you (in a really bloody annoying way).
Oh – I’m putting ‘lifestyle change’ into the exact same category as a ‘diet’ by the way. At Weight Watchers and Slimming World, they’re always telling you that ‘It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet’. Well, call it what you want – it’s still restricting food and stepping on a weighing scales constantly while hating yourself if the scale says something you don’t want it to.
So why do we keep doing it? We do it because were obsessed with weight loss. We’re getting fatter and the ideal is thin. Magazines, papers, blogs, Instagrammers all make serious money from weight loss and diets (and shifting junk like weight loss tea etc). Take it from my own experience, if you write about how someone lost XX stone doing XX diet – people will click.
My dieting background
I don’t remember a time I wasn’t dieting. I joined Weight Watchers at 13 years old (I look back at photos now and I just wasn’t that fat!). From that day, my addiction to Diet Coke began, however I have now kicked the 20k habit.
Weight Watchers wrap up calorie counting and weight-loss (not health!) obsession into a neat box where you calculate points and eat awful frozen ready meals. I bought some last year thinking I could shift some pounds before a holiday, and they are just as bad as they were all those years ago!
I’ve been on all the diets, including (and I laugh now) this meal replacement one from QVC. It’s not quite like Slimfast, but you replace all your food with these chocolate bars. My mum bought me about a months worth of them – and I literally stole them all and ate them within a week. Yep, I had a months worth of calories in a week, while eating the food I normally eat.
However, the biggest dieting love of my life has been Slimming World. I’m honestly not sure how many times I’ve joined. At the very least it has been once a year since I was 13 (I’m 31 now), and I would often join two or three times in a year.
The first time I went, I couldn’t believe all the food I could eat. You could eat as many Muller Light Yogurts as you like (and I’d get through loads daily), as much fruit as I like (I’d eat a whole packet of grapes in a sitting so pleased with myself for my dieting ways), all the carbs (giant bowls of pasta were my thing) and of course… gallons of Diet Coke.
That said, I’d lose weight! like I said above, 4 stone, 3 stone… it was totally possible. All I had to do was pay £4.25 a week, buy the magazine, scran bran (or whatever its called!) and the Hifi bars.
But I wouldn’t keep going. No-one did. You’d see people dropping out of the classes whether they were doing well or not. The last time I went, I made myself stay for a whole year. There were a couple of people who were there the whole time, but 99% of the class left.
I would kick myself ‘Why did you quit idiot?’.
I used to be obsessed with The Biggest Loser. I’d watch every season, to the degree I’d watch the Australian and American one to get more in. They would inspire me. Now of course there are loads of articles about how unhealthy the process was, and that the vast majority of them gained all the weight they had lost.
Here’s a fact a bariatric surgeon told me once (and its depressing, sorry). Once you’re obese, less than 5% of people will keep the weight off they lose. The odds are stacked against you – this is a scientific fact. Which really does help the diet industry right?
Health not diets
So yeah, what do you do then eh? You can’t just stop dieting and eat what you want? I have fears about becoming so big you end up a ‘bed person’ where you almost melt into the mattress – and that would happen if I were to eat whatever I want (Maybe? I dunno – I don’t have normal thoughts about food).
For YEARS I’ve considered the calorie content of every mouthful of food that goes into my mouth. It’s exhausting.
So for a little while I was writing on the features desk of a national publication. I’d be writing up diet stories about a woman who would eat a whole Dominos Pizza every night and weighed 20 stone. She then decided she didn’t want to be fat, stopped eating the pizza and was now a size 10.
I used to think ‘That’s SO unfair. I don’t eat anything like that. I’m not obsessed with something full of calories making me gain weight.’ while sloshing down 2L of Diet Coke.
So after doing some maths, I realised I spent 20k on Diet Coke and was thoroughly addicted so decided to quit. First off I realised that as soon as I stopped with Diet Coke, I no longer craved the sugar I did before.
I realised that all these years I didn’t care about my health at all. I had done some awful things to my body in the pursuit of thinness. Health was never a factor.
Talking to a nutritionist
My Diet Coke article went pretty viral online. I had hundreds of people tell me how they were addicted to Diet Coke too. Then out of a blue a nutritionist called Claudia Le Feuvre got in touch with me about my article. (I’ll write a whole blog about Claudia in a couple of weeks – she’s amazing – but you can follow her on Facebook where she does free weekly Facebook live’s on certain topics).
Claudia got in touch when I was sure it was no longer possible for me to lose weight. I had given up sugar for a few weeks since quitting Diet Coke and had lost nothing – and I couldn’t be bothered to try any more. It didn’t work.
I’m also very sceptical of this kind of thing. I saw an NHS Dietician years ago when I wanted to lose weight and it was THE WORST experience. If you’re telling me that my chocolate bar has calories and you need to switch with carrots, we have a problem. Fat people KNOW the calorie content of things.
I got to 30 and my body started to hate me
Here is something no-one tells young people – the older you get, the less food your body is going to tolerate. Whether its dairy, wheat, spices, fat… seriously. I was starting to get IBS after eating certain foods as well as constant heartburn.
So Claudia and I decided to look at what I was eating, and how it was affecting me. Again, I promise to go through all of this properly in another blog – because there is a lot to talk about. However, it started off with ‘clean eating’ for 10 days. No sugar, dairy or wheat. I also had to shift around when and how I ate.
Then after the 10 days, I had a wheat day. I was excited about this, and had a baguette and a giant bowl of pasta and felt totally fine after it. Then the next day hit and omg… THE STOMACH PAIN. THE HEARTBURN. I don’t know if because I was clean eating and all the symptoms had gone, this felt worse – but I realised, without anyone telling me, that wheat hurts me. I’ve now cut it out, not for weight loss reasons or because someone is telling me to, because I know what it does. And its easy. And trust me, I love giant bowls of pasta. But once you see it in a different way, I’m not sure you can go back.
I tried the same with dairy a couple of weeks later, and I was ok… I had a bit of heartburn, but it wasn’t awful. So now I cut most of it out – but if I want a bit of cheese, I will.
I also noticed how my energy levels had changed. Before, I didn’t really think about energy levels. I know this sounds odd, but I wasn’t in touch with my body. You know how people say ‘I felt so bloated’, well – I didn’t know what that feeling was (I now know its because I was bloated all the time!).
However, I’m not hungry and shaking all the time. I used to not have breakfast, maybe a sandwich and then a giant bowl of pasta for dinner (all Slimming World approved by the way!). I’d be starving by the time I’d get to eating, but now I’m at a constantly at a nice level.
What I’m trying to say is…
I know this is a bit of a rambling blog, but what I think I’m trying to say (and it maybe obvious to some of you) is that diets (including these slimming clubs) don’t work because you aren’t fixing your problems. You aren’t coming at it at a health point of view, just a weight loss one. Oh, and the money you’re spending on them is ridiculous too!
Seriously – just look at Muller yogurts, which Slimming World very much advocates. A DIET Muller Light Banana and Custard yogurt (which is rubbish by the way – can we all stop pretending they’re fine), which has the word ‘LIGHT’ taking up 90% of the packaging has 13.5 sugar in its 175g pot.
The NHS says we shouldn’t have more than 30g of added sugar a day – because it is unhealthy for your body to have more.
Slimming World says you can have an UNLIMITED amount of these every day. That means just TWO pots of these just about reaches your sugar limit for the day. That yogurt, full of sugar and chemicals is just not good for you. You’d be better off with a full fat, sugar free one with some fruit.
We need to start thinking about what is good for us. I remember freaking out in Slimming World because I ate an avocado assuming it would be fine, to find it was 40 points! Because if we focus on health and not weight-loss, maybe we can break that horrible 5% statistic.
I’m going to try doing things a new way, because this dieting stuff just doesn’t work.
Tell me where you are with dieting? Still going for it? How long have you been doing it? Give me your thoughts!
Want some freebies?
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……and there are plenty of free hypnosis tapes, diet advice, recipes and excercise vids on youtube!!
Well, not sure following diets from people on YouTube is much better! The hypnosis is interesting though… have you tried it?
I’m using a hypnosis app, Easy Loss VGB and I’ve lost 40lb in 21 weeks. I love it, feel totally different then I ever have in regards to ‘diets’ I’m the lightest I’ve been in 15 years
I do VGB too 🙂 have lost 50 kgs (110lbs) in 12 months. Love it and no food restrictions you eat what you want.
what does vgb mean please
It’s virtual gastric band Sarah. X
Interesting! What kind of foods are you eating now then?
So wheat is out (though can have rice) and I try and switch potatos with sweet potatoes. Basically, lots of fish, chicken, eggs and vegetables!
I really enjoyed reading this it can be so true all of the points above. I have lost 4 st on slimming world and have been a target member for 2 years i still go and weigh at least once every 8 weeks but its a vicious circle of binge eating and a massive gain then working hard to get the gain back off and its exausting. I feel like all i think about is food and the numbers on the scales x
When I turned 40, I was told by the doctor to go on high blood pressure pills but I asked if I could try to sort my diet out first. I’ve cut out loads of salt, most sugar, my blood pressure is normal, I lost 4st, & im the fittest I’ve ever been. And 5 years on, I’ve not put the weight back. I still have days where I need to eat ALL the bad things but I never beat myself up over it. I’ve also trained & qualified as a nutritionist, purely so I was properly informed as there’s so much conflicting information out there!!
This is a great post. I am with Slimming World and it has made a big difference to my life. Weight is coming off slowly. However, yes it is a lifestyle choice but sometimes there are occasions when being on plan is not possible. We are always advised to make the best choices in these instances.
I too have tried the faddy diets – you name it I must have tried it but finding Slimming World is the one that works for me.
For being being ina group with like minded people is very helpful. Yes some people do seem to put the weight (or some of it back on) but the fact is they are there once a week and thinking about how they can improve their health.
The Muller Lites and the HI fi bars – I could live on them alone!
I would say that not many people leave our group due to the fact we have a fantastic consultant who is so passionate (without over selling) and cares for each and everyone of us.
Of course diet clubs are not for everyone – some people feel embarrased at actually having to admit to themselves they have a weight problem.
I used to eat at least 4 choc bars a day before SW. So I think that even though I am paying £4.95 per week I am actually saving money by not buying rubbish all the time. Yes I still have chocolate either the Hi Fi Bars or even a whole bar of chocolate which I know is within my Syns.
I still have the Diet Coke problem and that now needs to be tackled!!
I’m glad you’re enjoying it and getting something out of it. 🙂 Seriously though, quitting the Diet Coke was the best thing I ever did! x
I joined sw September 15 as I was getting married the following September. I lost 3st 9,1/5 lbs and I felt amazing and happy, but as soon as our honeymoon was over I continued to go to class but now I have put quite a bit back on and this makes me sad. I have a wedding in Spain next week and I thought that would inspire me to loose the weight again but it hasn’t, I’m even scared to try on my bikini as I know it is not going to fit. I have my step daughters wedding next September and I really want to look good and be happy but at the minute I just feel like I’m sabotaging everything I have done so far, I know next week I won’t be thinking about syns and calories as I am going to have a great time….I just wish I knew how to get started again.
It’s such a horrible cycle to be in. I think maybe just try and look after your body rather than try and make it thin for a while. Only eating stuff that it likes etc. Follow Claudia (the nutritionist) on Facebook. She’ll always giving good tips. x
I used weight watchers about 5 years ago to lose a stone. I have since put it back on but my figure is entirely different now thanks to powerlifting. I use my fitness pal to keep a track of my macros and calories and I have a Fitbit which gives me an accurate calorie burn. All diets are useless if you don’t understand why they work and how to replicate it or how to sustain it.
Both WW and SW are brilliant business models because they show you great results without really educating you on the process so once you go off plan you eventually put the weight back on and have to sign up again!
I know this is a stupid question but is Pepsi Max as bad for you, I drink about 2 cans a day!
Pepsi Max is my downfall as well.. I drink about six cans a day!
Just stopped going to SW like you this has been my favourite on and off. I am at target as I have been before but this time I want to stay there. But I also want a healthier way I didn’t buy all the rubbish I just needed the discipline. I have all the quit sugar books and clean eating i.i Hensley and ella so am going to try and keep at this weight with clean food. I thank SW for the support but now I need to go solo some of it was good but I can’t have that fear every week and plan my social life around weigh day. I never had that much to lose about a stone and 3/4 was 11 9 now 10 2 at 5ft 5. Only drink diet coke in an emergency ie when nothing else and I want more than water and avoid all other sweeteners. Love almond milk now actually don’t like dairy milk any more.
What a great blog – everything you say is true. I know I can’t tolerate (a lot of) wheat and probably dairy – but its such an easy go to food! I have been trying to “diet” for 30 years without much success – so maybe a little of what you fancy is OK (day out in London etc) but then try and eat “clean” most of the time and dont beat yourself up … maybe the weight will start to drop – thanks for the post
So so true! I have so much healthier outlook and relationship with food since cutting out Diet Coke and things with added sugar and sweeteners… And slimming world is the biggest con going!
Yes, Pepsi Max is just as bad. I’m on 3-4 cans a day and know I need to quit.
I’ve decided that I’m going to try a keto diet. It seems like a much healthier way of eating. Lowering the carbs and sugar and having a bloody avacado! Good fat :). I’m starting up a blog to help support myself through it. Everything in my life is changing just over the next month. Partner moving in with me, finding new place together, graduation, new job… and hopefully I can finally kick the takeaway habit. We shall see. And yeah *looks at bottle of diet coke* I’ve managed to replace 90% of my diet coke addiction with sparkling water instead. Almost full 100%! Good luck!
I did the Keto diet a while back and lost 20kg in 6 months! Was a really great plan because you eat all sorts. But then I slowly started eating carbs and BOOM put 10kg back on. It is something you have to stick to for the rest of your life. I felt amazing and energised and my skin and hair was amazing during so if you’ve got the will power to stick to it, go for it!! All the best 🙂
I find trying to diet extremely difficult, tried Slimming World but I’m so fussy with food that there is awful lot that I don’t like and won’t eat. I also have a terrible addiction to normal Pepsi, I have tried cutting down but failed miserably, I also hate the taste of sweetners, so diet drinks taste revolting. Being overweight makes me feel so depressed, which makes me comfort eat a lot 🙁
I was also a huge lover of slimming world so much so I was a consultant for 2yr after stopping being one and taking a back seat and looking at it spesh the yogs i was like OMG! And i always had that huge blaoted geeling too. Love this blog and defo a eye opener
Great post. Looking forward to the rest of them. Like you I have tried many diets, including slimming world, and am heavier than ever! As have many of my friends. Only 2 have kept the weight off, and one of those eats virtually nothing at all!
I don’t follow slimming world or weight watchers, I have started to eat healthier home cooked meals rather than processded meals, I’ve cut back on the 2l of cola a day to 500ml (with the intention of cutting it out altogether eventually); I’ve also cut back on the sweets and crisps I eat. Yes I am counting my calories each day but I am still having things that I like and am not missing out on anything so I don’t class it as a diet I class it as eating healthier now and being sensible.
Oh I’m just sick to death of failing tbh .. I try time and time again including SW WW VGB shakes bars juice and just can’t seem to get anything right. I think I’m an ’emotional’ eater whatever that means, only because eating makes me emotional..in that I want to cry because I’m eating! I believe we all have our own magic wand ..mines invisible so I can’t find it .. So what do I do..i know I have an hourglass body somewhere in there..because it use to be me..but after menopause, stress, yo-yo diets etc..im so lost inside I really don’t recognise myself any more..helllllppppp
I’m a fan of slimming world … I’ve lost near 4 stone and kept it off for a while now . It makes me eat a lot healthier than I was before! I never used to weigh and just got bigger and bigger and bigger. I like having somebody else weigh me every week instead of doing it at home, I need that. I’ve tried lighter life , herbal life and they were bloody terrible. Lost the weight but put it straight back on when I was eating ‘normal’ because they were basically liquid diets at the time when I did them, not sure if they are still like that!!! I still have a couple more stone to go but I seem to have hit a plateau/ not so worried about my weight
You story is very similar to mine, lost count of the number of times I have joined slimming world and I have always struggled with the amount of sugary products they promote. Thanks for writing now I’m going to check out Claudia!
First of all I’m glad that having a personally nutritionist has helped you find a way to manage your weight. In reality this is not achievable for most people. For those people who need to lose weight because they have a high BMI, weight loss classes are scientifically proven to help them lose weight which in turn has healthy benefits that can last for up to 10 years, even if they put the weight back on again. Re-gaining weight is not such a bad thing as long as it’s monitored and further action taken when necessary. Again this is scientifically proven. It is possible to be referred to a weight loss class in some places for free (although this is disappearing) . For references to the science I mention please reply and I will share.
Hey Sarah, I was under the impression yo-yo dieting was incredibly bad for you. I’d love to see some references about that (because at the least it would make me feel better about what I’ve done to my body over the years – well, you know… ignoring the psychological toll of dieting and gaining weight over and over again).
high i did try slimming world i did lose the weight but could not cope with the sins
other than that the diet and recipes were okay but i am a bit puzzled as to why it is that 6 people
that i know have put weight on since leaving sw. i think that you should go on a diet that suits you
and one that has a long term weight lose. trish