[Sticks]

It is being suggested I go with either one of these slimming groups.

I went to one meeting of Slimming World (SW) as a visitor, but as I had been diagnosed with Impaired Glucose tollerance, they were not happy to sign me up until I was cleared by a dietician, which I am seeing today.

The people there seemed quite evangelical about it?

I have also been told be someone at work I would be better on Weight Watchers (WW)

Has anyone here got experience of both?

The one turn off for me on SW is the Red Days / Green Days thing which seems very much like the fad of food combining, for which I have not yet seen a convincing scientific explanation as to how it works (If there is a scientific explanation) Just to say it works, is not good enough, we need to know why?

Many years ago it was said pain could be alleviated by chewing white willow bark. (Well it worked!) then they studied it and discovered aspirin and from that developed the various derivatives, so we don't have to have a mouth load of wood every time we have a headache - but I digress.

So SW or WW?

[Z]

Well both my parents signed up for Weight Watchers and found it very easy to adjust to the healthier lifestyle and they both lost a lot of weight by dieting, complemented by a long walk at the weekends, and I didn't really pay much attention to their diet/weight loss, so one morning I kind of took a step back and realised my parents were actually ridiculously thin!

I don't know anything about Slimming World, but from what I gather, Weight Watchers is good!

[Lauren]

I've had direct experience of none Sticks, so try not to take my word for it completely. I have, however, had friends and relatives in both and have heard their experiences.

SW
Pros:
- Control every aspect of your diet so you can't put a foot wrong by following it
- Prizes for "slimmer of the week"
- Weight is NEVER mentioned - it's always measured by loss/gain
- No "quotas" to meet that put pressure on you
- Suggested food is not only measured on low calories - but necessary amounts of vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy.


Cons:
- Despite being controlling of your diet - they allow you "cheats".
- It's run like a business, at each meeting they have a stall of "special food" to buy which makes the whole thing seem like a fad.
- Exercise isn't part of it, at all. Not for both active members, or disabled members.
- They call some foods "sin foods" which can include treats etc, the name puts pressure on people.

WW
Pros:
- More welcoming. There is not a strict "weight" allowed for members, so those not considered overweight can join, as can those obese.
- Once target goal is received, they even implement a "maintenance period" to keep it the same.
- There's an online version to pick up advice if you can't attend a meeting.
- Takes into consideration BMI, and also other factors like age, height etc to give you a "personalised" plan.
- Get a number of "tools" for you to measure weight loss, and points.

Cons:
- Have to pay "fines" for missing weigh-ins!
- Quite easy to not follow to diet as some high fat food is allowed if you measure them in points - meaning you form a unhealthy diet of trying to "save" points.
- Run like a business.




Overall, I'd say go to WW. They have a better plan, and from what I've heard it's a friendlier atmosphere and easier to lose weight from casually rather than being completely controlled.

[30stone]

I see them as both pretty pointles..

Its easier just to go to a gym

And if you have the money a personal trainer from that gym would be cheaper than a private one.

they will give you a dietary schedule and one for what exercises.

my opinion of course.. but then that probs coz im a gym rat..

[Sticks]

The dietician was very sceptical about the green and red days of SW and in her opinion there is no science behind it.

When I asked about WW, it seems that the reason people loose weight is because they think they are on a programme they eat less.