Good morning. Please do skip past this first bit if you want - I'm thinking out loud.
As I've mentioned before, I follow a number of weight loss vlogs on YouTube with considerable enjoyment. Most of them are/were SW related but recently there's been a trend away from SW and on to pure calorie counting.
I've considered this, as you know, and calories are the bottom line but am sticking with Slimming World for several reasons.
- The main reason is the structure. On the vlogs, when they change over, people are tending toward making what I think are less healthy choices (my opinion only, I'm not 'judging') and are going for even more snack type food and sugar laden stuff than before while cutting down on fruit and veg intake considerably, simply because now they can.
Generally, following the structure, I know I have a good range of foods within a very healthy plan. I need that assurance. - Generally, SW is simple. There's not a lot of weighing and measuring and, with exceptions, their free food is sensible. As you know, I don't agree with their policy of unlimited refined carbs such as white rice/pasta but just because one can have it, it doesn't mean one has to and I'm sticking with measured amounts of the wholegrain kind. Generally, a good application of common sense makes it simple.
Calorie counting can get complicated, especially after the first enthusiasm has died down, even with the apps that are around that scan items in and do the calculating for you. It tends to lead you towards ready meals and other processed type stuff that gives you the total calories rather than working with own cooked meals. - SW is supported. Obviously, it can't be face to face right now but my consultant, Jen, is always only a FB message away and tends not to come back to you with just the SW approved response but with genuinely helpful messages. The website and the app are very helpful too. To be fair, other systems also have similar support too.
- I find SW flexible. Yes, I know that I bend rules right, left and centre, think some minor elements are downright silly and ignore them and generally don't always walk the SW line, but that's what makes it work for me. I think the fact that I can build in some flexibility, rule bending, etc, and still feel I am following the spirit of the structure, means a lot to me.
- SW is healthy. Yes, it is. If you genuinely follow the spirit of the whole thing, you find yourself eating a range of fruit and veg, lean protein, limited sugary, fatty things and (in my case, anyway) wholegrains. Syns are a limit, after all, not a target. You don't HAVE to have all fifteen (or whatever your limit is); I like to use syns to enhance my meals anyway, rather than as snacks.
SW is one choice among many. They all work, if you follow them; they can all cause problems in certain situations; they can all feel like freedom or prison. Ideally, everyone would be healthy eaters naturally but we know that doesn't happen and, from what I've seen, those who strongly criticise slimming clubs (which don't always work, I agree) almost always offer another regime instead.
Personally, I am happy on SW. It lets me indulge in a favourite activity - cooking - and, for me, it works. Yes, last night, I went off plan, but that's OK.
I will have days, maybe weeks, when I don't do SW. I may treat myself to box meals from time to time and I will certainly have calorie days or weeks occasionally. However, SW suits me, suits my likes and dislikes and steers me in a healthy direction and that's what I need and appreciate. We all need systems and structures in our life.
What do you think?
Yesterday's food photos:
Today's meal plans:
B: I'm skipping breakfast but before you say anything, it is partly because I'm not hungry at all and mostly because I have a dental appointment early afternoon so I'm going to eat at around twelve thirty, sort of merging the two meals together.
L: tomato soup, cheesy beans on toast; yogurt
I made the soup yesterday, using some tomatoes that were going manky, a bit of onion, a carrot, some home made concentrated chicken stock, tomato puree and seasonings. It hasn't quite got the wow that a soup made with home grown tomatoes would have but it's still very nice. The beans are left over from yesterday's lunch.
The yogurt will be 0% with some skinny syrup. Skinny syrup is a rule bender as SW says, I believe, half a syn for one tbsp while the info on the bottle says calorie free. I guess it's a restriction thing but I couldn't bear more than one tbsp anyway - too sickly sweet. I usually have less but when I have more, I don't syn it.
SW: one healthy extra A and half a B for one slice of toast as I don't have enough beans for two slices. Also one syn for spread, either lower fat butter or spready cheese. The rest is speed, free or protein
D: potato topped savoury mince pie, parsnip, cauliflower, carrots; yogurt
I already have some portions of cooked mince in the freezer and I will boil some potato, mash it with an egg or maybe just the yolk, add the other 30g cheese for my second A choice, top the mince and let it brown in the oven.
I've got yesterday's beef but, as I'm having a tooth out this afternoon, I'm staying off chewy food for the rest of the day. I'll put it in a pot, add the beef stock that came off the original mini joint and freeze it.
And write it down on my list!
SW: One A for the grated cheese, the mince is half a syn and the yogurt is either free as above or half a syn if I use a Mullerlight
Body Magic: probably a walking video on YouTube
Summary:
one or two healthy extra As
half a B
two syns
edited to say I treated myself to another 30g of cheese so that's now eight syns rather than two.
I think you take a very sensible approach, Joy. Let's face it, any diet will work, so long as we stick to it for the most part. Pretty much all diets work on the principle of reducing calories, however they approach it, and it's the calorie reduction that makes us lose weight. We could eat just 3 bacon sandwiches a day and still lose weight (as one would normally eat lots of other things as well), but other than losing weight, it wouldn't do our guts or general health much good! So a diet, to work well for us, has to be nutritionally balanced AND enjoyable and sustainable. Erm, I sound like a lecturer, sorry about that! But you know what I mean, Joy - if it works for you, which it plainly does, then that's all that matters. Xx
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, Sooze. Thanks very much. For me it has to be my perception of nutritionally sound and healthy for it to work on mopre than one level.
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I simply enjoy reading your posts and seeing what you will be eating. It inspires me enormously and you've done all the hard work for me Joy :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Cherie. I know that quite a lot of people read but there aren't many comments so I really appreciate the ones I do get.
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You are always an inspiration with your meal planning, variety and sheer steadfastness. My head isn't in it at the moment but I did weigh myself and I've put on 5lb. I will practice mindful eating until my determination and head are on the same planet.
ReplyDeleteI think mindful eating is the most important thing, to be honest, so good for you. Five pounds over a festive time is pretty good, isn't it?
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Totally agree Joy, Slimming World is the most flexible and realistic plan. Some 'diets' concentrate on low calories but are not very well balanced in terms of protein, fibre etc. I'm the first to admit that I'm not always very good at following it, but as an aim and a plan that underpins what I do, it's great.
ReplyDeleteCommon sense application of what is a good structure works for me too. When I first joined, I never thought it would but I was very surprised. It's always good to have something to work towards, I think.
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