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Slimming World
Slimming World is a long-established UK company which operates a very successful weight-loss program as a weekly class for members, based on its diet plan “Food Optimising”.
Food Optimising Diet
The Slimming World Food Optimising Diet promotes weight-loss through calorie restriction in the diet. Members are encouraged to be active, but exercise is not a formal part of the Slimming World plan. The diet is based on these principles:
- Nutritious or filling foods having a low calorie content are termed “free foods” (that is, the quantity consumed is unrestricted).
- Higher-calorie foods containing plenty of minerals, vitamins or fiber are termed “healthy extras”, and are recommended to be eaten in 4 small servings daily.
- Other foods are measured against a daily allowance based on their “syn values” (coined by Slimming World and short for synergy). A total of between 5-15 syns per day is permitted, depending on your goals - 1 glass of wine comes in at 5 syns. Syn values for individual foods are calculated by a proprietary method based on calories, and the values for thousands of foods can be checked on the Slimmers World website by members of the program.
Red Days and Green Days
Each day of the weekly diet under the Food Optimising plan is termed an Original (or Red) day or a Green day. Foods may be classified differently depending on which day they are to be consumed.
- Red day “free foods” include most fruits and vegetables, white fish, lean meats and eggs. Milk, cheese, bread, grains, beans, potatoes and dried fruits are restricted “healthy extras”.
- Green day “free foods” include fruit and vegetables, grains, beans, pulses, pasta, rice, tofu, and eggs. “Healthy extras” include milk, cheese, bread, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, meat, and fish.
Participants choose either the Green or Original (Red) option for the day and stick to it all day. With either option, members can eat plenty of healthy, highly satisfying foods, while the intake of energy dense, fatty and sugary foods is controlled.
The recent addition of two further choices, Mix2Max and Success Express, gives more flexibility to the Food Optimising diet plan, and more options for slimmers.
- Mix2Max gives flexibility by allowing a mix of Green and Original the same day, choosing at each meal time instead of each day, and still allowing snacking through the day from a long list of foods.
- Success Express gives participants a super boost to their weight loss when needed, by allowing Green and Original Free Food on the same plate, without counting. One third of the plate is filled by free choice from Green or Original Free Food lists. The other two thirds is filled with so-called Superfree Foods (super healthy, super low in energy-density) such as vegetables and salad. There is still a long list of foods that can be snacked on throughout the day.
Sample Meal Plan
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Breakfast
1oz muesli and fat free vanilla yoghurt.
Snack
Skinny latte and 1 banana.
Lunch
Canned mackerel in brine, shredded chicken breast, 1/2 tub 1% fat cottage cheese and large green salad.
Dinner
Mild cheese and broccoli, pasta made with 125ml skimmed milk, with 113g chicken breast, steamed green peas and carrots.
1 strawberry fat-free yoghurt.
Syns: 0
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Healthy extras
227g baked apple with 1tbs mincemeat, and 7 high fiber crackerbreads.
Main meal
On a Green day - Spicy chicken and spinach with pasta and a green salad.
- Stir fry in a wok, about 120g chicken, marinated in (fat-free) yoghurt and curry paste (2 syns) .
- Add spinach until wilted.
- Add steamed green beans.
- Add cooked pasta and half a small pot of fat-free natural yoghurt.
Sample Alternatives:
On a Green day, for a tasty and very filling spaghetti bolognese use a measured serving of lean mince in tomato sauce with plenty of pasta.
On an Original day, for a very satisfying lunch have a jacket potato, mounded with low-fat chicken curry.
Last modified: April 3, 2008
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You’ll find two 7-day Slimming World menus - one for vegetarians and one for people who eat meat - at the website: http://www.slimmingworld.com/healthy_eating/free_trial_menu.aspx
I cannot see how this diet can work,when told you can eat as many bananas as you like.If I were to eat say 8bananas and my meals as well,would I lose weight? That would take me over the amopunt of calories my body needs in one day in order to lose weight. Can you explain?
Pebs
Hi Pebs, basically you have to throw away all your ideas about what “dieting” is, the SW plan is based on a lot of things, not just calories or fat content and believe me it does work, I’ve lost 2stone in 3 months on it and have friends who’ve lost a lot more.
Basically it is a sound plan which teaches you how to eat well, but you MUST stick to what is allowed on your day whether you’ve chosen green or red i.e. eating loads of baked beans on a green day is fine but eating loads on red is not.
this diet has so worked for me
I have been a memeber of slimming world for two years now, i am a target member which means i no longer have to pay and i can still go to groups and get weighed.
I am currently keepin off just under 4 stone in weight. This diet was laughed at and ridiculed by many of my friends and family, but since losing all of the weight around 6 of those have now joined and are on their way to reaching their target weights.
Gemma
Hi people
Just want to say that I started SW three weeks ago, I have stuck to the plan, I mainly have red days as I am a big meat eater but in three weeks with a steady weight loss I have lost 1/2 stone not once have I ever felt hungry and never have I come across a way of eating that allows me to loose weight and still have some of those naughty extras we all cant live without.
I am a converted SW fan and if this kind of weight loss continues I will be over a stone lighter for my Wedding day on 3rd August and back in my size 10 jeans by Christmas.
I find the diet very complicated. Im not really sure what I should be eating on which days. Plus it is very expensive as the things you are supposed to eat are not foods that I would normally eat.
hi iam rejoining and looking forward to it just hope iam as successful as a few years ago when i lost 3 stone in 4 mths
i used ot be a member wheni lived int he uk, now livingin vancouver i miss the slimming world plan so much. can anyone send me the new inf and some food diaries please. And is white rice still a free food? i would so love some one to help me get started. ninab37@hotmail.com.
this is the most amazing diet ive ever been on.
the reason its so good is because you arnt restricted to ANYTHING like mostly every other diet out there.
you are able to eat chocolate, crisps, fatty foods (in moderation of course) and not feel bad about it.
this is what keeps me going on this diet because every week after i get weighed i have my bar of chocolate, and its fine!
ive even had chinese takeaway one night and lost 1 1/2lb the week after!
but is it worth it
hi there,
i like the idea of slimming world. i am a vegetarian so will be doing all green days. i wanted to know if white rice, potatoes, and regular pasta is allowed or does it all have to be wholemeal?
Hello, I used to do the slimming world doet a few years back and at that time the food optimising book said you sohould have one healthy extra A per day and two healthy extra b’s. Is this still the case?? As the website seema to indicate otherwise and i’m confused!!!! thanks
I rejoined SW for the second time this year and I’ve just become a target member after losing just over a stone. It’s a really good diet because it doesn’t restrict you from eating ‘naughty food’! Anyone thinking of doing it - do! xx