This New Year thousands of people in Newton Aycliffe and surrounding areas will embark on a bid to lose weight and get fit. Slimming word Consultants are urging dieters to ditch the fad diets and chose a weight-loss plan they can sustain.
Joni who runs groups in Chilton talks of how Slimming World is the most popular and easiest plan to stick to long term. Slimming Worlds Food Optimising eating plan encourages members to satisfy their appetite on hundreds of healthy ‘Free Foods’, including lean cuts of meat, fruit, vegetables, fish, rice, pasta, eggs, potatoes, pulses, fat-free dairy, freely without the need for weighing, measuring and counting. It means they can all enjoy their favourite family meals just by making small changes to the way they shop, cook and eat.
Nicola who runs groups at the RAFA & Navy Club has lost an incredible 7.5 stone herself, says faddy diets aren’t the answer. ‘Lot’s of people start January with the best of intentions but by the end of the month so may of them have given up, defeated by hunger, boredom or the feeling of deprivation. I want people to know that losing weight doesn’t have to be that way, that not all Slimming attempts are doomed and not all ‘diets’ are the same. It’s easy to be wooed by the plans that promise the fastest loss, but it’s really important this New Year that Slimmers in Newton Aycliffe think sensibly about which plan they choose and look at which offers the most chance of long-term success. Diets based on deprivation can be very unhealthy and are almost impossible to keep up, meaning you’re bound to throw in the towel and will probably be left feeling a failure by February.
Sam who runs groups at Woodham Community Centre and the RAFA Club says the beauty of Slimming World’s plan is that it addresses the psychological needs of Slimmers “when people think about losing weight they expect to feel hungry and deprived, but since it began in 1969 Slimming World’s plan has always been about helping people to lose weight without feeling like that. Human nature means that the minute something’s forbidden you only want it more, so with Slimming World no foods, even high-fat snacks and alcohol are banned, they’re just limited. Because you can satisfy your appetite on ‘Free Foods’ you don’t ever have to feel hungry and it’s easier to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods you’re eating, so over time with the right support, this new balanced way of eating becomes second nature.”
Gordon who runs a group at the Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre believes getting support is as important as changing eating habits: “There is no denying that changing habits of a lifetime can be challenging and there will be times, perhaps when your weight loss slows down or a ‘bad week’ leads to a temporary gain, when it can be tempting to give up. That’s where getting support, week in, week out during image therapy is an integral part of a Slimmers success. At Slimming World members develop the skills and tools to overcome the psychological and emotional challenges that every slimmer faces at some point, including learning to be kind to yourself without Judgement or humiliation and get ‘back on the horse’ when you do have a blip.”
Christine who runs the Navy Club evening group proudly shared that the members in Newton Aycliffe and surrounding areas lost a staggering 2,640 stone during 2019!!
Tina who runs groups in Ferryhill urges anyone who wants to lose weight to join one of the groups locally, what I hear from many members after they join and see for themselves how flexible and generous the plan is that their biggest regret was not joining sooner.
To find details of your local group times please visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk