by Jackie | Nov 5, 2023 | Slimming World
One of the core values of Slimming World is that each consultant should always be on the lookout for new members. The new members will ensure that the consultants’ group will continue to grow, and their Slimming World Franchise business will succeed. Therefore, all consultants will continually ask members to bring visitors along. The title often referred to here is BAMGAWF – or Bring A Member, Get A Week Free – it’s easier to say Slimming World Visitor.
What isn’t commonly known is that anyone who is thinking of becoming a member has the opportunity to come to the group, sit and listen to the ‘New Member Talk’ where the plan is explained (for those unsure of the plan, you can find an explanation here), stay for a session of Image Therapy, (Image Therapy is described here) and then make an informed decision about joining a Slimming World group. Significantly, visitors are not pressured to commit to a membership. I know it can be intimidating when you first walk into a new group of people. However, I would advise anyone to consider joining a group to listen to the New Member Talk and Image Therapy and then decide. Every consultant aims to create a welcoming and understanding environment, allowing individuals to make choices that best suit their weight loss journey.
Let’s be honest about Slimming World Visitors.
When anyone embarks on a weight loss journey, their decision is massive. It signifies a desire for change, a commitment to adopting a healthier lifestyle and prioritising their health and well-being. They have decided to change their appearance, want to make some lifestyle changes and prioritise their health. This can be a big decision.
It is crucial to decide which weight loss programme to choose. There are many eating plans out there. Some are fads, some are just strange and others just bonkers. Then there are the sensible ones, who you know have a track record of working for people. Each plan will have their fans and their haters. It is down to everyone to make up their own mind.
Here’s the secret to weight loss.
I will say that if you want to lose weight, you must have a calorie deficit.
A fundamental principle underpins any successful weight loss plan – the concept of a calorie deficit. However, achieving a calorie deficit means spending more calories than you consume, creating a gap between the energy your body uses and the energy it receives from food. This is the cornerstone of every weight programme.
Now, you might wonder why a calorie deficit is so crucial. Allow me to be side-tracked for a few minutes and explain its significance (for a more comprehensive understanding, read this article).
In brief
Calories are units of energy that come from the foods and beverages we consume. Our bodies use this energy for various functions, from basic physiological processes like breathing and digestion to more energy-intensive activities like physical exercise. Everyone has a specific number of calories to maintain their current weight, known as their maintenance calories, BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).
When you consume more calories than your body spends, this excess is stored as fat, leading to weight gain. Alternatively, when you consume fewer calories than your body requires, you create a calorie deficit, which triggers your body to use its stored fat for energy, ultimately resulting in loss.
What is important is how you are going to achieve that calorie deficit. For me, it is by joining Slimming World and getting help and support from my consultant and friends in the group. Yes, it’s complex, and sometimes there is a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out). However, it works for me.
Why be a Slimming World Visitor
It’s simple: meet the consultant at any Slimming World session. If you don’t like the consultant or feel that the consultant is not for you, then you won’t get the full advantage of the group. Meet the members. Are they welcoming and friendly? I have been to groups where the consultant dismisses other Slimming World visitors, which is so sad. They should welcome everyone equally. They do not know who you know and why you are visiting the group (you can visit any group to weigh in the country if you cannot attend your own group). I have also been to groups where the consultant is welcoming, but the group is so cliquey I felt uncomfortable.
Therefore, it is essential to meet the group and try. Maybe Slimming World is not for you. That is fine, but you won’t know that until you try. This plan fits in with me as I refuse to change everything about my eating, but I will be happy to make a few changes to lose weight. Weight loss is essential and a top priority for me sometimes! But it’s not my life. I want to go to a group where I can laugh and feel passionate about myself and my weight loss when I leave the group. Nevertheless, I also want a group where I can feel part of the team. I am on my group’s social team. (for a full understanding of the role of the social team, read this article).
Members bringing a Slimming World Visitor get rewarded.
For members, there is an advantage of bringing a slimming world visitor. At certain times of the year, Slimming World makes an offer to members to bring visitors along. During this promotional period, if a member gets a visitor to Slimming World and becomes a member, the original member is entitled to a week’s free membership. If a member brings along 6 new members, then that is 6 weeks free. This is great for the members but not so good for the consultant. The consultant only gets paid for the number of paying members in the group. If you are a lucky member with a week’s free membership, the consultant will make no commission from your attendance.
A Consultant View of Slimming World Visitors
As many of you may know, my friend is the consultant of the group I attend, and I get most of my information from her and watching the group. My friend loves to have new members. She is so cheerful and pleased to give her members a free session. She often overrides back membership fees and knows times are hard for everyone. The only issue is that her takings are very low. If there is a room of 40 people and only 30 are paying, she often goes home with an income below minimum wage. Check out this article for how much a Slimming World Consultant earns. It’s just not very much.
My Slimming World Journey
As for my Slimming World journey, I remain committed and motivated, striving to adhere to the plan. My major challenge lies in the evening, mainly between 7 pm and 9 pm. I diligently maintain a balanced approach to my meals throughout the day, but the evenings are tricky. To curb my cravings, I’ve incorporated a nightly ritual of enjoying a hot chocolate and adding a dash of Bailey’s for that extra kick. It adds up to four syns but is a delightful and worthwhile indulgence.
My goal for the week is to achieve a one-pound loss, although I initially aspired to shed two pounds. Weight loss remains a priority for me, albeit not an all-consuming one. I seek a balance, allowing me to take part in a group where laughter is common. I aim for a sense of passion for self-improvement that accompanies me after each group session. Furthermore, I appreciate the importance of feeling like part of a team and actively engaging as a social team member within my group. You can find more information about the social team here.
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by Jackie | Oct 28, 2023 | Slimming World
The Banana Debate is one of the many arrows often thrown at Slimming World. I have been putting this off as it annoys me beyond despair. So, let’s start at the beginning. On day one (link here), we discussed what Slimming World is and what the plan is all about. I introduced how the plan works, what foods are, and how Slimming World categorise them. I comprehensively explained the plan without breaking any rules or regulations. In this post, I am going to do the same thing. I will be genuine and honest and never sugar-coat what I think or say here. This is my understanding of the Slimming World plan and how it has been explained.
The Arrow Brigade with Slimming World and the Banana Debate
I can’t think of another way to phrase the attacks Slimming World gets. The Arrow Brigade is my chosen term. It’s aimed at those who don’t enjoy Slimming World and always discuss bananas. To be fair, there are so many other things they could attack Slimming World on, but this issue is ridiculous and shows that they do not understand what Slimming World is trying to say. From my research, the Arrow Brigade have also been members of Slimming World and have lost a lot of weight. Some have put the weight back on, in which case they didn’t work the plan. They went on a DIET. Those who kept most of their weight off are now on a different DIET or selling their nutritional programme or gym/workout plans.
Let’s begin
Within the eating plan of Slimming World, you eat whatever you want. And I mean whatever you want. NO foods are banned. No foods are demonised. Despite what the new nutrition coaches selling their own nutritional or fitness classes.
If you ask any slimming World Consultant, they will all tell you that eating a fresh banana is one of our free foods. No one disagrees with that. Go and enjoy your banana. Now, once you manipulate that banana, by this, we mean mashing it with a fork. It becomes a syn. But hold on, there is more to this than meets the eye, so let me begin.
Portion Control
Those same 20/30 something will also tell you that Slimming World doesn’t teach portion control. The Banana debate is the perfect example of this. Portion Control is monitoring the amount of a particular type of food that you eat. A Portion generally is much smaller than you would think. A whole banana is a perfect portion of a fruit, just like a fresh orange or an apple.
When you mash a banana, you reduce the size of the banana visual. Additionally, instead of taking a few minutes to eat a whole fresh banana, when it is mashed, the time you take to eat that banana is seconds. This is where it gets a little technical, and I need to introduce you to two hormones: Leptin and Ghrelin.
Leptin – Slimming World and the Banana
Eating a fresh banana releases the hormone Leptin.
“Leptin is a hormone your adipose tissue (body fat) releases that helps your body maintain your normal weight on a long-term basis. It does this by regulating hunger by providing the sensation of satiety (feeling full). Quote from the National Library of Medicine“
Leptin’s main function is to help regulate the long-term balance between your body’s food intake and energy use (expenditure). Leptin helps inhibit (prevent) hunger and regulates energy balance so that your body doesn’t trigger a hunger response when it doesn’t need energy (calories).
Ghrelin – Slimming World and the Banana
The other hormone you should know is Leptin, opposite, Ghrelin.
‘Ghrelin is a multifaceted gut hormone which activates its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Ghrelin’s hallmark functions are its stimulatory effects on food intake, fat deposition and growth hormone release. Ghrelin is famously known as the “hunger hormone”. Quote from the National Library of Medicine
In short, Leptin tells you that you are full so that you should stop eating, and Ghrelin tells you that you are still hungry.
Let’s get back to Slimming World and the banana debate. If you eat a fresh banana, your body releases Leptin, and one banana can be satisfying. If you mash a banana, you eat it in seconds. Your body doesn’t release Leptin but will still have Ghrelin running around telling you-you are hungry. As a result, you could potentially eat two, three, or even four bananas in one sitting.
Stated another way, one medium banana has 96 calories. If you have two or three bananas because one mashed banana has not satisfied your hunger, you are eating 288 calories. I want to remind you of our discussion about calories in this blog (link here).
Having said the above, if you decide to have a banana sandwich and mash the banana up to go between your two slices of bread or in a wrap, you wouldn’t syn that banana as you only have one banana, portion control. You have to have some common sense about this.
To the 20/30 something’s, if you didn’t understand this in your group, then I would suggest that you didn’t understand the philosophy of Slimming World, you didn’t take the time to talk to your consultant about why, and your misunderstanding is your own and not everyone else.
Back to me Now
So, leaving the Slimming World and the banana debate behind, how am I going with my plan? I am still looking forward to my weigh-ins. I have tried to stick to the plan as best as possible, but honestly, I haven’t been as good as I should have been. My addiction is sugar. If it’s in chocolate, cake or Haribo. I’m there. I wish it wasn’t, but I am trying to control it. I have eaten so much fruit this week to get that sugar fix, and I feel slightly bloated.
I enjoy the plan and love it when I have planned my meals and know I don’t have to think about food all the time. Work has been running away with me this week, so some of my lunches have been grab-and-go. This week, I will tell the truth.
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by Jackie | Oct 26, 2023 | Slimming World
As an organisation, Slimming World is passionate about its members. They want each member to feel special, supported, and welcomed. All the consultants I have met also feel the same way. They want their members to have a wonderful time when in the group. Slimming World Consultants want their members to achieve their target and have the body they dream of. This is why I was shocked when I met a Slimming World Member dislikes her group.
Uphill struggle when a Slimming World Member dislikes her group
I was helping my friend in a different group this week. This meant I got up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday after working 65 hours at my regular job and helped her run this cover group. The drive was about 20 miles, in the next town, as a local group had lost their regular consultant a few months ago. All the consultants in the area are rallying around to help support the members to ensure they still have a group to go to. To help members stay focused on their weight loss journey and offer guidance.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not after praise. I offered to help my friend as she helps me in so many other ways. And she is a friend and that’s what friends do.
It’s an early start to support Members
Normally, when you arrive at a venue, the Social Team will usually help the covering consultant set up and pack things away. It makes life so much easier, and the volunteers on the Social Team are indeed sent from heaven for their help and support. Without them, the group would not run as smoothly. That’s me, sent from heaven!
With this group, as it is such an early start, the doors open at 8 a.m., means the Slimming World Consultant needs to be there at 7 a.m. to set up. We did all the heavy lifting together. We got 30 chairs, tables, the kit, set up the kitchen and prepared the hall for a warm welcome. The first member arrived at about 7:50 a.m. To be fair, she did help set up the remaining chairs and signs.
This was a double session, meaning the first group would arrive at 8 a.m. and the next at 9:30 a.m.
Members in the First group were a dream. They laughed and enjoyed the meeting, and four members came up after the group to thank my friend and said they now feel inspired and are looking forward to the week ahead. I was slightly chuffed for her and gave her a pat on the back. I won’t repeat what she said to me, but I am sure you can guess.
It’s the scale’s fault
The second group of members arrived, and the first few ladies were lovely. They came in and weighed. Chatted and welcomed us to their group. One lady sat at the weigh station and took care of all the weighs, and we had a good chat. Then things went downhill. One member arrived and just kicked off. She got on the scales, promptly got off, and said,
‘The scales are wrong again; I have been perfect on plan, and they are showing I have put on 3 pounds. That’s not right. I am fed up with coming to the group with different consultants who bring different scales each week. They put them in different places, and they always weigh differently. At home, I lost this week.
She continued:
‘It’s not what I pay my money for, and quite frankly, I want a better consultant’.
I have to be honest; that floored me for a few seconds. I had said hello to her moments before and she was very pleasant. This reaction was unexpected and a little over the top. I felt so bad for my friend. She smiled and tried to engage her in conversation about her week and what she had done. She wasn’t having any of it.
I over heard one of the other ladies in the group approached her, as I was dealing with another member and asked what she meant by that, and she replied that it’s not fair that we get different consultants all the time, and the scales are different each time. This knight in shining armour suggested that she think about what she has just said and that maybe she should reword her comments. She then changed what she said to the real meaning of her statement.
I am fed up with coming to the group and not being supported by a permanent Slimming World Consultant.
Slimming World Member dislikes her group and I understand why
I understand this. If it were me, I would be upset as a member if I had different consultants each week. This showed me that a Slimming World group is more than just a consultant standing up in front of everyone, asking how they are. It’s about creating a community. A place of safety where we can discuss our issues. This lady felt overwhelmed by the number displayed on the scale, but in reality, she was overwhelmed by the situation. My friend works so hard to ensure all her group members are heard all the time.
Life is hard, and what she is looking for is stability. This lady wants a place where she can go to, and be herself, where she is not a wife, a mother, a sister, or a daughter. She is an individual, and she wants to be recognised for her successes and wins. If she does put on weight, she wants to discuss it with a friend who won’t judge her and will support her. This is what a Slimming World group is all about. There is never any judgement within group. It is a place to be yourself; if you have a bad week, you can tell everyone they will be there for you.
When she left the group, she was smiling and accepted some tools my friend gave her. She had a plan in place and was looking forward to the week. I will see her next week if she turns up.
A New Consultant
There was also a discussion in the group about not having a permanent consultant, and she needed to hear an explanation from my friend, a Slimming World representative. She wanted to hear that she understood her frustrations and that although she was a good consultant, my friend is not her consultant. Which makes a massive difference. This group will get their consultant in a few weeks. She is currently on her training courses with Slimming World, so this matter shouldn’t arise again.
When we got in the car, I asked her about the situation; she was kind to the woman. She said that she was just frustrated with her weight increase, had gone off plan and was hitting out at the nearest obstacle. In this case, it was her, and she doesn’t take it personally.
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by Jackie | Oct 24, 2023 | Slimming World
Slimming World Collaboration with the NHS: Health, Well-being, and Slimming World for Free
One of the most remarkable features of Slimming World, which has long resonated with me and is one reason I returned to Slimming World, is its collaboration with the National Health Service (NHS). These two organisations offer a cost-effective weight loss program to those who need and want to lose weight. This incredible initiative, known as “Slimming World on Referral” (SWOR), offers the opportunity to those who satisfy the criteria, usually a recommendation from their doctors to lose some weight, to get 12 weeks of Slimming World for free. You read that correctly you can join your local Slimming World group for free.
The SWOR program presents a 12-week free membership with Slimming World, available to individuals across the United Kingdom. During these 12 weeks, participants can potentially achieve a remarkable transformation, with the potential to lose up to 10% of their body weight when they actively follow the plan (depending on your starting weight).
How you can access Slimming World for Free
To access the Slimming World for free program, you only need a referral from your local doctor’s. Alternatively a designated organisation within your county. This ensures that your weight loss journey is well-suited to your specific health goals and requirements. The initial assessment may involve questions about your weight, health status, and aspirations for weight loss.
In some areas of the country, you can bypass the doctor’s Surgery and go directly to the umbrella organisation running the SWOR programme on behalf of the NHS and Slimming World. (Just type in Slimming World for free and your county in Google or any other browser). You will be issued a passcode once you have met the criteria.
This unique and forward-thinking collaboration between the NHS and Slimming World stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of addressing weight-related health concerns. It offers an exemplary model for enhancing overall well-being through personalised weight management programs, nurturing empowerment, and promoting a healthier, happier life.
Once you have your Code
The patient must pass this passcode to the consultant when they arrive at the group. From then on, no one will ever mention your participation in the SWOR program again. Patients who are nervous about the members finding out about the referral need not worry. No one ever knows about the referral. The consultant will enter the code on their payment tablet. The patient, now a member, gets complete access to all Slimming World tools and the support of the group and consultant.
Shall we talk about money concerning Slimming World for Free?
As this is a referral, the consultant will receive a percentage of the fee directly from Slimming World (the percentage rate will depend on the number of paying members you have in your group; check out this post for more information here). Slimming World receives a fee directly from the NHS for the member. The consultant will not get paid if the member does not attend the group. Payment for a consultant with 40 members for a member on referral is circa £2.68 per person per meeting. If they only turn up for one session, the consultant will only receive £2.68. if the member turns up for 8 meetings, they will receive £21.44. (To check out the percentages a Slimming World Consultant earns, you may be interested in this article Weight Loss with a Slimming World Consultant and Empowering Women with Food Optimising).
Many people who join the Slimming World for free are dedicated to their weight loss and turn up regularly and have great success. However, a few people will turn up for the first week or two and then will sporadically turn up and become disappointed when their 12 weeks are up, and they can no longer come to Slimming World. It is explained to them that they need to come every week and cannot select which 12 weeks they want to come.
What happens after the 12-weeks of Slimming World for Free?
Then when the referral period ends, the member can change to become a regular member. All payment options, paying weekly or buying a 6 or 12-week countdown, will be available to them. Slimming World on referral is an excellent way for people to start their weight loss journey and get help, support and encouragement from their consultant and community.
A Difficult Conversation
Today I have had to make a business decision about my weight loss journey. Unfortunately, it is a financial and time decision. Unfortunately, the new group meeting I joined is on a Friday. After two weeks, I have discovered that this is not working for me. I’ve got too many clients asking for help and support. I have too many commitments on a Friday. My day starts at 5:30 a.m. on Friday with business networking and client work. That means I can’t stay in the group. The whole idea of going to a different group was that I could state image therapy. I could turn my phone off, but I find that more distracting. Probably a bit of FOMO.
I had to tell my friend that I can’t join her Friday group and what’s more, step down as a member of her Social Team. Not to worry she said, come to my Tuesday evening group. It’s closer to where you live. You can stay on the Social Team as I was looking for a new Pay Person anyway. What could I say…
Tuesday – My weight loss journey – Week Two
I went to an evening group and weighed in. I didn’t want to go to an evening group because I will be out 4 evenings a week. My original idea for an early morning group is still sound. It’s just impractical at the moment with my lifestyle and commitments. I have said that I will make this my regular group, become an active member, and stay to IMAGE therapy (more here about image therapy). In addition, I will also be on her social team. (More about Social Teams here). I also lost 2 lbs. Very happy
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by Jackie | Oct 20, 2023 | Slimming World
Running My Group
My friend runs two groups, a Tuesday is when she runs her first of my group. With Slimming World, you have to update the databases on your computer to be ready for the week ahead. The consultant can weigh in for free once you have done the update (a Handshake). The computer will only tell you how much you weigh. It won’t record the weight anywhere; you can only do this once weekly. Unlike a member, once you have weighed in, you cannot re-enter the card and try again.
I weigh in at home on my home scales. Primarily because I want to ensure that I am prepared for the number I am going to see on the computer. I generally weigh about two hours before the group. This will give me enough time to prepare myself. It’s a lovely little ritual and sets me up for the start of my Slimming World visit. As I have just renewed my membership with another group, I am comfortable with this little ritual.
Disappointed at my Weight Loss – but not too much
I can’t tell you how disappointed at my Weight Loss I was when I stepped on the scales and it said that I had put on 2 pounds. Let’s remember a few days ago, I had lost 3 pounds. I am trying to stay optimistic about this as it’s only a test weight. However, 2 pounds mid-week weigh.
I know that weighing yourself every day or more than once a week can be counterproductive. It can send you off in a whirlwind of emotions, take you off plan, and lead to an unhealthy obsession with the number on the scale. I will not let that happen. I will not allow any weight gain to contribute to a damaging emotional addiction with the number and then put any psychological pressure on me to forget the plan. Planning works, it works for me. So, sitting down and thinking about it, here are my top thirteen reasons you should avoid more than one weigh-in daily a week.
My Top 13 Reasons
- Weight Fluctuations are normal: Our weight naturally fluctuates from day to day. Factors that can affect our weight are numerous. Still, factors like hydration, food intake, sodium intake, menstrual cycles (for women), recent meals, hormones, and more will affect the number. These factors don’t reflect changes in body fat or overall health. When individuals see temporary weight gain, they may assume it’s fat gain, leading to unnecessary worry and potentially harmful dietary restrictions. Therefore, daily weigh-ins are misleading and cause undue stress.
- Creating an obsession with the scale: This is one I have overcome. I used to weigh daily if not twice a day. To see the difference, this started an unhealthy fixation on the number. It never leads to an eating disorder or poor body image issues, just fascination, but I can see how it would.
- Scales have Inaccuracies: Some scales can be imprecise, and weighing yourself at different times or on different scales can yield inconsistent results. How many times have you weighed yourself, then moved the scales for them to give you another number.
- Misinterpretation of Trends: Daily weight fluctuations might be misinterpreted as weight gain or loss, leading to unnecessary dietary changes. It can also lead to you forgoing your healthy eating plan and finding solous in high-fat high sugar foods. Daily fluctuations are typically just noise in the data. They don’t necessarily reflect your long-term progress or the effectiveness of your efforts to eat healthily or exercise regularly. When people fixate on daily weigh-ins, they might fail to see the broader picture and mistakenly think they’re failing their weight management goals.
- Discouragement: Seeing small daily fluctuations, or even temporary weight gain, can discourage individuals and undermine their motivation.
- Psychological Impact: Weight is often closely tied to an individual’s self-esteem and body image. Seeing the number on the scale go up, even temporarily, can trigger negative emotions such as frustration, disappointment, or anxiety. These emotions can be powerful enough to overshadow any positive progress that may have occurred over time.
- Increased Stress: The stress associated with daily weigh-ins can release cortisol. This stress hormone may actually hinder weight loss efforts. Elevated stress levels can lead to overeating or making unhealthy food choices as a way to cope with emotional distress.
- Negative Self-Image: Frequent fluctuations can contribute to a negative self-image. Individuals may start to view themselves solely through the lens of their daily weight, forgetting about other important aspects of their health and well-being.
- Emotional Impact: For some, daily weigh-ins can negatively affect self-esteem and mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, or a distorted self-image.
- Focus on health, not just weight: Health encompasses more than just your weight. Focusing solely on weight might lead you to overlook other important aspects of your well-being, like nutrition, physical activity, and mental health.
- Slow progress: Healthy weight loss or fitness improvements are often gradual. Daily weigh-ins can make it difficult to see long-term progress, which can be discouraging.
- Body composition: Weight doesn’t accurately reflect changes in body composition (e.g., muscle gain, fat loss). You might be getting healthier even if the scale doesn’t budge.
- Sustainability: Daily weigh-ins can be hard to maintain over the long term. Developing sustainable, healthy habits that focus on overall well-being is essential rather than just a number on the scale.
Conclusion in why I am disappointed at my Weight Loss
There you go, a few reasons why you shouldn’t weigh yourself daily or twice a week.
To avoid these negative consequences, it’s often recommended to focus on broader measures of health and progress, such as improvements in energy levels, fitness, dietary choices, and overall well-being. If tracking your weight is essential, consider weighing yourself less frequently (e.g., weekly or monthly) to better reflect meaningful trends and reduce the psychological toll of daily fluctuations.
My official weight will be with the new group and my friend the consultant. There you go, decision made, and I don’t feel stressed about the situation. In fact, I feel really relaxed about the whole thing as I’m not as disappointed at my Weight Loss as I have a plan of action.
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