One determined woman who takes on Slimming World … that changed her life! Bernice, 56 shares her story.
Bernice went from 20 stone to 11 stone just attending Slimming World sessions. She states in an interview with Rejuvage, “ I was inspired to use Slimming World as I needed to have a hip replacement and my doctor said that he wouldn’t operate on me unless I lose some weight and if I didn’t lose any weight I would be in a wheelchair”.
“In October 2014, I attended an appointment at St Georges Hospital and my doctor advised me to have a gastric bypass, they needed me to prove that I could lose weight before giving me the band, they said I needed to lose 5% of my bodyweight.”
“So I decided to cut out bread, this meant that I also would cut out butter, cheese, spreads (high-density fat foods) I did this until January and I lost 2 ½ stone. So I went back to St Georges Hospital and they said I could go ahead with the gastric band surgery. I then decided I could do this alone. I joined Slimming World in Cobham and lost 6 ½ stone in 15 months.”
Bernice explains why joining Slimming World was such a success. “You can eat a normal diet! They allow you an amount of ‘syns’ each syn amounts to 20 calories, these can be used however you like as long as the things you eat adds up to 20 calories per syn. The syns depend on your weight. The heavier you are, the less you can have.”
What is Slimming World?
Slimming World is a UK-based weight loss organisation that provides lifestyle weight management programmes.
How does it work?
Fill up on Free Food. Free Food is the key to your success! Free Food is everyday food like lean meat, eggs, fish, pasta, potatoes, fruit and vegetables. They’re filling and low in calories for their weight – so you can eat as much as you like without counting or weighing.
Syns is shorthand for synergy – Slimming World believes it’s the synergy between the three components of the plan, ie. Free Foods, Healthy Extras and Syns, that makes Food Optimising effective at enabling weight loss. Nevertheless, many of the Syns are effectively what other diet plans would call ‘treats’.
Why is Slimming World so popular?
It’s more focused on eating mainly lower-calorie foods, Slimming World claims that its Food Optimising diet lets you eat as much ‘free food’ as you like. You only have to count Syns in restricted foods rather than counting the calories for everything you eat. This means there’s less weighing and measuring.
You can fill yourself up on “free foods” or foods high in protein or speed foods (low in calorie, but high in density: fruit, veg) pasta, rice, potato, you can eat any carbs.
“Imagine your plate being 25% full of speed foods, 50% free foods and 25% carbs. You could make a lovely vegetable soup; try slow cooking your meals. Try not to snack during the day and between meals, if you get peckish then Sushi is a great snack!’ She says. “You must plan; if you don’t plan you will fail. You will need to cook for a week ahead, so be prepared.” Bernice says.
She adds, “If you go wrong or slip out of the routine, don’t let it stop you. Don’t give up if you are having a bad day. I followed the diet 80% of the time otherwise, it can take over your life and you will get bored. Drink plenty of fluids. Porridge is a great breakfast as it keeps you going.”
After her impressive transformation, Bernice went on to win Slimming World’s Women of the Year. She explains, “ I won Women of the Year because I have a dark sense of humour and I am inspirational… “I took in my size 26 trousers to show everyone, they hang on my wardrobe and they remind me not to give up, I did get down to a size 12 although people did think I was scrawny, I am probably a natural size 14”.
“It’s all about who your leader is and how good they are to keep you on track. I found an inspirational leader the second time around and have bonded with her. I have had 2 ectopic pregnancies and a hernia, so my stomach is a bit of a mess!” Good Luck everyone!
So if you are overweight, we really recommend that you speak to your doctor or dietitian for more advice or if you are feeling confident enough simply get yourself signed up to Slimming World and feel free to share your results and stories in the comments below. We would love to hear from you!
