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Free not free at all?

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Slimming World

' Forum started by lynnconnolly, Oct 12th, 2016 at 08:21 AM.
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Oct 12th, 2016, 08:21 AM  
lynnconnolly
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3

Free not free at all?

Hi all I'm new here so hope I'm posting in the right place...

Anyway, I wondered if anyone else feels a tad annoyed that 'free' foods are, in reality not free?

I've gained 4lbs in my second week - lost 2lbs in first week - but have stuck to the plan and averaged less than 10 syns per day.

But I've seen on various Facebook forums that people experiencing weight gain are advised to cut back on muller yoghurts and fruit. A lot.

I've been practically living on muller yogs and fruit because they are supposed to be free, therefore should be ok to consume any amount.

For instance on an average day, I can have maybe 6 muller lights, 3 bananas and a punnet of grapes as well as an apple and 2 satsumas across the day.

So I'm demotivated and I feel cheated that evidently, free food is not free at all!

Anyone else feel the same?

Thanks, Lynn
 
Oct 12th, 2016, 09:44 AM  
kaybird296
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Posts: 778

Hi Lynn, and welcome to Social Slimmers.

The reason you've put on weight is because you're not eating enough speed foods, or really, having any sort of real balance in your diet. The point of Slimming World is to properly balance your meals and eat whole, healthy, low-fat foods. You haven't mentioned eating any vegetables, or proteins--which are the things that fill you up and keep you feeling full for longer.

Foods that are free on the Slimming World plan are foods that are low enough in calories/fat content to be okay to consume at any time--in moderation. Eating six Muller Lights a day is not going to do you (or your bank balance) any good.

Sorry to go all 'tough love' on you, but you're not following the plan at all.

I would recommend having a sit-down with your consultant about this and asking her to show you a few sample meal plans. I know that there's actually a 7-day sample menu on the SW website, which will give you a better indication of how to balance your day and get the most out of the plan. You could also take a look at some of the dieting journals on here--there's a few of us following the SW plan, and it may give you a better idea of how to structure your days.

I'm sorry that you're feeling demotivated and cheated. For anyone following any sort of diet or lifestyle change program, that's one of the most difficult things to overcome. However, do some more research and definitely read your Food Optimising book, as these things will give you a better understanding of the plan and get you seeing better losses.
 
 
Oct 12th, 2016, 11:20 AM  
lynnconnolly
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3

Hi Kay and thank you so much for your reply.

It was the free foods aspect that made me choose sw because I have a hectic work schedule so rarely cook.

That said I do make tuna pasta and baked potatos and use free foods such as beans, rice daily too.

I also have wholemeal bread, milk etc as healthy extras.

But I'm way too tired to cook at the end of the day, and too busy at the start of it too, hence why I've been relying on the free foods so much.

It's just annoying that this, for me, is effectively not 'free' food at all; it's 'in moderation' food which is entirely different 😟

But anyway thank you again for your reply, I appreciate it.

Lynn
 
Oct 12th, 2016, 11:42 AM  
kaybird296
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Posts: 778

You're very welcome Lynn, and I totally get where you're coming from! It's a shame that SW don't put the caveat more explicitly in the books, because I've seen a few people make the same mistake. It's almost like being given a free pass to eat as much of something as you can, when it's actually that old 'in moderation as part of a balanced diet' chestnut.

Have you considered batch cooking big meals and freezing them on your days off? I do this once a month on a weekend day. I spend about three hours in the kitchen with my slave--oops, I mean boyfriend--chopping and washing up etc., and I usually end up cooking four or five big meals then freezing all of it. Then when I get home after work, I whip one out of the freezer, heat it up in the microwave and within a maximum of ten minutes, I'm eating.

The beauty (and curse, depending on how you look at it) of the SW plan is that you really can tailor it to suit you and your schedule. The curse aspect comes in when you don't know how best to tailor it! It took me quite a while to figure out that batch cooking works best for me. It may not for you, but all of us here have different ways of following the plan so I'm sure that others can chime in with some great advice for you.

Best of luck, Lynn--we're always here to provide extra support where needed, and the other foods you're eating all look to be on plan. More of that, and you should be seeing great losses.
 
 
Oct 12th, 2016, 12:28 PM  
sarahc4536
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Manchester
Posts: 3,876

I do agree that SW should advise that although it is free food, it should be eaten in moderation for this reason in particular - 6 mullers a day can't be good for anyone, no matter how syn free they are.
It's the same rule with pasta, rice and potatoes I find. Any of them not eaten in moderation isn't the best idea. Ideally they want
But they key to losing weight is to up your speed foods.
From what you said, you're eating lots of free foods, but little speed foods (I really wish bananas and grapes were speed foods ) How about changing a couple of bananas for pears, or melon? Or another speed fruit you like - just make sure it's speed rather than just the free ones.
And a punnet of grapes a day? How are you not on the toilet all the time?

As an alternative suggestion, I've been having the Arla Protein in a morning with some fruit and because the Arla is essentially Quark (if you've not used it before, it's basically an extremely bland soft cheese) except this is fruit flavoured, but because it's so high in protein, it keeps you full for ages!
I've been having the strawberry one with various berries or other speed fruits and it's rare that I need to eat anything between 8.30-9am and 1pm!

Batch cooking is always essential for me too. Unless it's a quick recipe that takes less than 30 minutes (including prep!) I want it batch cooked and ready to grab and zap when I walk in the door.
What about getting/using a slow cooker? You just need to throw everything in before you leave for work, switch it on and it's ready when you get home?
Or just sit down of a weekend and plan your weeks menu, and cook as much as you can in advance so you don't have to think about actually cooking when you get home? Even just prepping things can make a huge difference. Once it's all chopped, etc. it just needs cooking, which depending on your meal, can be 5 minutes


I really hope you don't feel too demotivated for long, because SW really is a great plan (in my opinion at least!) and once you get your head around the best way to work it to your needs and plans.
 
Oct 12th, 2016, 12:33 PM  
lynnconnolly
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3

Hi both thank you so much for your replies and all your suggestions are really helpful 😀 I will for sure by using many of them but I've decided I'm going to cancel my sw subscription. I honestly feel it's actually deceiving their customers so I'm going to request a refund when I lodge a complaint.

Many thanks again, Lynn
 
 
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