Video: Slimming World and calorie counting

When you’ve got a weight reduction purpose (or have tried to reduce weight beforehand), it’s doubtless that you simply’re very aware of energy, and should have tried counting them to decrease your consumption. 

At Slimming World, we perceive that the underside line of reducing weight is being in a calorie deficit (utilizing extra energy than we absorb). Nonetheless, counting or monitoring energy generally is a time-consuming and complicated job – making it a weight reduction methodology that’s troublesome to stay to in the long run.

Our versatile wholesome consuming plan, Meals Optimising, has been developed to do the onerous work for us – liberating us from calorie counting and making it straightforward to observe a wholesome, balanced weight loss program and reduce weight with out ever feeling hungry. Registered nutritionist, Dr Sarah Bennett, explains…  

How does the Slimming World plan work? 

Meals Optimising is predicated across the idea of Free Meals, that are the meals lowest in energy per gram and essentially the most satiating, in order that they fill us up for fewer energy and hold us feeling fuller for longer. There’s an enormous number of Slimming World Free Meals to select from, together with wholesome staples like lean meat (and a few meat replacements), fish, eggs, rice, pasta, potatoes, beans, lentils, fruit and greens. 

There’s no must weigh, rely or measure Free Meals – you possibly can eat as a lot as you wish to fulfill your urge for food. In addition they play an vital psychological function, as you by no means want to fret about feeling hungry, disadvantaged or responsible about what you’re consuming. 

Wholesome Extras are one other important a part of the Slimming World plan. These are measured quantities of meals that help our consumption of calcium, fibre and different vital vitamins, to make sure a wholesome, balanced and sustainable weight loss program. We encourage you to make scrumptious meals from Free Meals and your measured Wholesome Additional decisions first, after which, if you happen to want them, your Syns.

Meals with a Syn worth are greater in energy, so should be fastidiously counted. They’re there so that you can get pleasure from as you select – with out worrying about understanding the energy per portion. In addition they take away the burden of ever feeling disadvantaged, and add flexibility and freedom to your each day weight loss program. 

Carolyn Pallister, registered dietitian and Slimming World’s head of diet, analysis and well being, says: “Whereas counting energy can work for some folks within the brief time period, it will probably rapidly develop into limiting, and depart us feeling hungry. 

From a well being perspective and to help weight reduction, it’s vital to consider the varieties of meals we eat, not simply the variety of energy. Selecting much less energy-dense, extra satiating meals which are excessive in protein and fibre will assist to maintain us fuller for longer. In growing Meals Optimising, Slimming World has completed this considering ‘behind the scenes’, to make it as straightforward as potential for slimmers to observe.” 

Behaviour change help for lasting outcomes 

At Slimming World, we additionally perceive that reducing weight – after which sustaining that weight reduction – is way extra sophisticated than simply energy in versus energy out. It’s additionally about mindset and behavior change, forming wholesome new habits and having the precise help to beat these inevitable challenges alongside the best way. 

James Stubbs, professor of urge for food and power steadiness on the College of Leeds, says: “The very best proof for efficient, sustainable weight reduction is to make use of methods to self-manage meals consumption, bodily exercise and lapses in weight reduction that all of us expertise throughout a slimming journey – and to make use of evidence-based behaviour change approaches which are extra doubtless to assist us change our habits round meals.” 

Carolyn agrees: “A key a part of profitable long-term weight administration is giving folks the know-how and help to vary their habits round buying and cooking. Members of our community-based teams be taught to plan meals round meals which are naturally low in energy and can fill them up and hold them glad for longer – having fun with their favorite meals with out having to measure each mouthful.” 

Hear extra from James and Carolyn within the Slimming World Podcast episode Let’s Speak Energy. 

Learn our analysis into energy and weight reduction – and uncover what our members say about their experiences of calorie counting in comparison with the Slimming World plan.