If you’re completely new to Slimming World, you’re likely to have lots of questions. We feel like ‘how does Slimming World work?’ is a good place to start. Read on to discover the ‘1, 2, 3’ of our expert weight loss plan, and how it can work for you.
1. A healthy no-hunger plan
The first thing to know about Slimming World is that you’ll never feel hungry. Our delicious eating plan, Food Optimising, has been expertly designed to be flexible, fuss-free and to work for all dietary requirements and preferences. At the heart of Food Optimising is a focus on Free Food – healthy, satisfying food that you can eat in unlimited amounts.
Slimming World Free Food
There’s a long list of Slimming World Free Food that you can eat to your heart’s (or stomach’s) content. Fill up on:
- lean meat and poultry
- fish
- eggs
- dried pasta
- rice
- potatoes
- fruit
- veg
- some fat-free dairy products
- some meat replacements (like plain Quorn and tofu)
As long they’re cooked without fat or oil, you can eat Free Foods until you feel satisfied, with no weighing, no measuring and no limits.
Many store-cupboard staples are also Free, making it easy to cook up a storm in the kitchen without worrying about it affecting your weight loss. Slimming World members will find more than 750 completely Free dishes in our online recipe collection, and that’s on top of lots of tasty Free recipes shared in group. We’re also full of ideas for how to make your foodie favourites completely Free, so you can have that roast dinner or cooked breakfast and still see the results that you want on the scales.
MORE ON THE BLOG: Fall in love with Slimming World Free Foods
Slimming World Healthy Extras
To help provide a essential balance of nutrients, Slimming World members are encouraged to enjoy Healthy Extras every day. Healthy Extras are measured amounts of foods that are important for a balanced diet:
2 Healthy Extra ‘a’ choices to provide calcium – so milk and cheese (including dairy and non-dairy options)
1 Healthy Extra ‘b’ choice to provide fibre and other essential nutrients – so bread, cereals, crispbreads, nuts and seeds, and dried, canned and cooked fruit
Slimming World members have access to tools that let them search for and find the portion size for thousands of Healthy Extras. It’s not guesswork – it’s Food Optimising science!
MORE ON THE BLOG: Discover the science behind Food Optimising
Slimming World Syns
Another fantastic thing about Food Optimising is that no food is banned. The key is moderation, which is why alcohol and foods that are high in fat or sugar have a Syn value. Slimming World members are encouraged to plan 5-15 Syns a day to keep their weight loss on track, without feeling like they’re missing out.
Slimming World members can use our Food Search tool (online and on the Slimming World app), and the Food Optimising book in the new member pack, to find out the Syn values of thousands of different foods and drinks. That way, they can make informed choices about what they’re eating and drinking – Slimming World is all about choice power!
2. More ‘magical’ movement
Alongside Food Optimising, Slimming World members are encouraged to get active – something we call Body Magic. It’s no secret that an active lifestyle brings lots of benefits (alongside giving weight loss a boost!), so building more movement into your day is a brilliant step towards a happier, healthier you. There are loads of different activities that count towards Body Magic – from walking and gardening to karate – and our Body Magic activity programme will help you get active at your own pace, in a way that fits in with your lifestyle, and, importantly, in a way that you enjoy.
MORE ON THE BLOG: Find out more about Body Magic here
3. Unbeatable Slimming World support
This is where the Slimming World difference really shines through. It’s more than a weight loss plan – it’s also an incredible support network of like-minded slimmers, all helping and encouraging one another to reach their individual weight loss dreams. If you asked a Slimming World member ‘how does Slimming World work?’, we’re sure that this slimming family would be a big part of their answer.
When you join a Slimming World group, you’re greeted by a friendly Consultant who’s been in your shoes and knows the challenges that weight loss brings. You’ll also be warmly welcomed by your fellow members, who’ll become your very own slimming cheer-squad. Your supportive group will meet weekly for IMAGE Therapy – a sharing of strategies, ideas, triumphs and challenges to help you achieve your personal goals.You’ll also have access to a unique Motivational Toolkit, to help you overcome any obstacles along the way.
Alongside the support in group, members will also find a world of inspirational, motivational and practical features on the exclusive member website and app – including recipes, real-life success stories, useful articles and much more.
We also offer a digital-only service, Slimming World Online. Slimming World Online members can chat to each other in the vibrant Community area on the website – so that supportive network of new friends is still there, even if you can’t get to a group.
Find your nearest Slimming World group here
Find out more about Slimming World Online here
Will Slimming World work for me?
With a plan grounded in science and expertise, and more than 50 years’ experience of helping people lose weight, we know that our plan works – and that it can work for everyone.
Hopefully we’ve answered the question ‘how does Slimming World work?’, in a nutshell, but you’ll find lots more information about what you can eat and how the plan works at slimmingworld.co.uk.
If you’re still feeling unsure about whether Slimming World will work for you, you can also read the real-life stories of hundreds of members who once had the same worries. Many of them felt that weight loss was an impossible task before they found Slimming World, and all of them have transformed their lifestyles to look and feel amazing. You can do the same! Start your journey with Slimming World and we’ll support you all the way.
Find out more about joining Slimming World here
