Does slimming world actually work?

what an amazing warm August day, and this is very rare for us here in the UK right now believe me, we have seen nothing but clouds and rain for months now and right in the middle of 'summer' its just down right depressing, but anyway...

Slimming or healthy eating does it actually work?

Why do people laugh snigger or say it doesn't work? Does it actually work?

 well yes it does and I'm here to tell you why.

For anyone that knows me knows I have been a 'slimming world' lover for many years now (10 actually) this by the way is not an advertising post nor have I been persuaded to write this I just genuinely believe it works IF you follow and understand the 'plan'

I never struggled with weight until I had 3 children and I love them to bits but my god they destroyed my body the little gremlins, I hold weight more easily and being a mere 5ft1 I can not carry weight well so I have to keep myself in check!

After my 3rd and final baby I knew it was time to really take care of myself, because running or waddling in my case around after 2 children whilst tending the needs of a new baby was actually kicking my arse! and I know people think well yeah, 3 kids is hard work yes it is but 3 kids and extra weight just don't cut it!

Simple things like walking up the stairs and feeling breathless, knees aching, walking around the pond and back aching, always feeling hot and uncomfortable in no matter what I put on to wear, lets not even mention looking in the mirror to see what the clothes looked like, 9 times out of 10 I would get dressed for an occasion look in the mirror feel so embarrassed and then not go, not wanting to eat in public for fear of being judged, wearing even bigger and baggier clothes to cover up the lumps and bumps, the confidence was non existent, and do you know what used to make me so mad I used to think I shouldn't be this big! all I had was toast and a chocolate bar today, or I would go the day and suddenly realise all I had had was half a pack of digestive biscuits with my tea this morning, running around with 3 kids meant most days I would forget eating and just grab a snack but yet here I was still big, I never understood it.

I would see beautiful slim girls smashing down a chocolate bar and a pack of crisps and still go on to eat a burger and chips and they sat happily in their size 6 jeans, yeah Annoying!

This is where I decided enough was enough, good for the skinny girls they can eat what they want and stay slim but my body don't allow that, so how was I to fix it?

Enter slimming world, I joined and was horrified at the amount of food we could have, Pasta? Bread? WHAT? surely not but hey I'm a fatty so what's the worst that could happen. I gave everything I had in that first week, I made the effort to eat 3 meals a day which just sounded like a lot to me but I did it and stepped on the scales and was amazed I had lost 5lb, the week after 2.5lb in two weeks I had lost half of a stone and that was it I was hooked!

So many years on down the road I have managed to hold off 5 stone sit happily in a size 10/12 clothing and have never been or felt healthier, my journey has not been perfect, there are days when I 'cant be bothered' there are days when I 'just don't want to' all completely normal but I stick to what I know works.

Why do people say it don't work?

OK, here's the thing when you start the plan you see all the food you can eat and its amazing! When your are bigger you can eat as much of that free and speed food as you want when you want but as you start dropping those lb's is it really necessary to still be using 2 large potatoes to make chips with?

Do you actually need 4 rashers of fat free bacon on the plate and a tin of beans? you must relearn and educate yourself as to what your new body needs and how much. Slimming world works because we are going back to what we should already be doing, we should already be eating a plate of food with a 3rd of fruit and veg a protein and if you want a carb, this is what we should be doing but todays society made it so easy to just 'grab a burger' order a chinese (which by the way you can actually still have) but remember it is in fact a treat and not an everyday meal that we have to survive and thrive on.

look at our apps now, uber eats, you can literally have doughnuts ice-cream cake delivered to your door, Todays society have made it so easy to have food delivered and I get it after a day of work cant be bothered to cook so just order in, I understand its tiring but you telling me you will wait 40 minutes and spend £25 on a Mc'Donald's but you cant be bothered to spend 5 minutes to make a cheese omelette (sorry vegans but some of us do still like eggs) with some spring onion and tomato thrown in, no we find an excuse for our actions and sometimes those excuses are non existent.

What's my Favourite Slimming meals?

I'm no chef so don't judge my plates but I have made lots of good healthy slimming dishes now and here are just some of my fave's to share with you.

Slimming pizza wrap, quick easy and so tasty.

I use a weight watchers wrap spread on tomato puree sprinkle some pizza seasoning on it, chop some mushrooms onion sweetcorn and peppers put cheese on the top and pop it in the oven or air fryer, put a nice big rocket and cress salad on the side, or my fave some gherkins and beetroot yum!

Pasta is just something I love and could never give up, 

pasta mushrooms (I really love mushrooms and they are a superfood so win win) broccoli and spinach in a creamy sauce, I used dairylea triangles for the sauce, I save a little of the pasta water and stir in 4 triangles and in a few minutes you have a nice creamy sauce coating your pasta, I love to add garlic too for extra flavour and we all know garlic is good for us so I usually go over board but who cares no vampires around here.

A good old Roast dinner,

mash roasters broccoli carrots sprouts peas leeks and meat of your choice, I actually am just happy with veg on my roast dinners its the one meal I always look forward to.

Little tip, boil you mash potato's in veg stock, mash it up and add an egg yolk for some yummy smooth rich mash! Part boil the roast potato's until slightly soft and shake them up in the sauce pan so they begin to smash a little then frylight salt pepper mixed herbs and garlic granules in the air fryer for 12-15 minutes they are crunchy and super tasty.

One of my favourite breakfasts,

porridge with fruits usually banana and strawberries so simple filling tasty and healthy.

Veg burgers,

These are really good if you need to just use a load of vegs up, all I do is simply boil potato's add what ever you want to it, peas sweet corn carrot, broccoli cauliflower throw everything in add an egg then make them in to burgers and fry them, add some salad and make some yummy cheese crisps for on the top, takes 15 minutes and you can prepare these in advance and pop them in the freezer to grab out for when you have a 'I cant be bothered day' 

So I guess if someone would ask me if I would recommend slimming world...? YES! 

But remember its not a quick fix, you have to work at it every day and relearn eating habits, know that not everyone's journey will be perfect accept there will be bad days, own it and move on, know that you can still enjoy you family BBQ's you can still enjoy your chocolate bar you just have to be reasonable.

Not everyone is a slimJim and stays that way I was 18 years old and a size 8, I had 3 children and ballooned to an 18! I'm now a happy size 10/12 depending on where I shop and I have remained here for a long while now, I'm 36 and can now run around as much as like walk how ever far I want happier and healthier more confident happy in my clothes and will actually attend events (well if I want I'm not a huge people person haha ) but I have been known to attend an event or 2.

Happy slimming folks and remember enjoy your food! we are allowed to.

Yours Truly

H.x