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Home » How to lose weight safely » Slimming World and Weight Watchers compared – cosmopolitan.com

If, like many, you've marked 2020 out as the year you're definitely, probably, absolutely going to start eating a better diet and shed some pounds, then it's possible you've wondered what the differences are between popular eating plans Slimming World and Weight Watchers (now known simply as myWW). Wonder no more: we compared the two, and had esteemed Harley Street qualified nutritionist, Kim Pearson, chime in with her thoughts.

Slimming World

Anything (in moderation), but the basis of the plan is filling up on low calorie foods that keep you full (like rice or potatoes), with treats sprinkled in along the way: you can munch on as many 'Free Foods' as you like, a number of measured Healthy Extras' and 5-15 'Syns' per day.

"By filling up on low energy, dense foods (foods that have fewer calories per gram), people can eat a larger amount and feel more satisfied while losing weight," says Dr Jacquie Lavin, Head of Nutrition at Slimming World. "Our members can eat freely from a long list of foods like lean meat, fish, fruit and veg, eggs, pasta, rice and potatoes (known as Free Food) without restriction." Expected weight loss is around 1 to 2lbs a week.

Higher energy dense foods, like chocolate, wine and alcohol are referred to as Syns. For example, a teaspoon of oil might be 2 Syns, whereas a chocolate bar could be 12. These are foods which need to be measured, unlike the Free Foods. Healthy Extras are split into two groups: one being a list of foods to help your dairy intake, like milk and cheese, the other a list of foods to ensure you're eating fibre-rich foods, like cereals.

There is it features recipe inspiration and success stories. You can also track your weight loss (or gains) each week and use the app to find your nearest Slimming World club.

If the idea of going solo on a weight loss journey is daunting, meetings could be a good way to keep you motivated. Lead by a trained Consultant (who has used the Slimming World plan themselves to shed the pounds), they offer support, practical advice and strategies. If you request for your weight to be kept quiet, then the Consultant has to respect your wishes, but will announce any weight loss numbers to the group.

As part of Slimming World's programme, members are encouraged to get active with their Body Magic activity scheme. "Members choose to do anything that gets them a little out of breath for 30 minutes a day, including some muscle strengthening activity, at least five times a week," explains Jenny Caven, Slimming World's Head of External Affairs. "They may choose to walk or swim, dance or cycle, or join an exercise class. Its about finding things youll want to do again and again."

Weight Watchers

Anything and everything, in moderation. "No foods are forbidden on the programme, but you are encouraged to make healthier choices the focus is on educating our members about what they're eating and portion sizes," says Julia Westgarth, myWW's Head of Innovation. The idea is that members slowly and steadily lose weight (around 1 - 2lbs a week), while building healthy lifelong habits.

Basically, all foods are assigned a SmartPoint value the higher the calories, saturated fat and sugar content in them, the higher the number will be (for example, a Starbucks Croissant is worth 10 points, whereas a banana or fat-free Greek yoghurt are worth 0 points). Foods that are high in protein also have a lower number. When you join myWW, you're given the choice of three different plans to follow: green, blue or purple, all of which have a list of "zero point" foods. These are foods you can have as much as like of there are over 100 on green, more than 200 on blue and 300+ on purple, typically they include eggs, Quorn pieces, lean proteins (such as turkey breast or fish), vegetables, Hartley's jelly and fruit.

You'll be given a personalised SmartPoint budget to spend every day and the aim is to keep within that number (e.g. for a 5 ft 5 woman, weighing 12.5 stone, the budget would be 23 points per day, with an extra 35 bonus weekly points for treats). The myWW app is super helpful for keeping track of points and does all the adding up and working out for you (thank God).

Oui and it's simple to use, too. Alongside the usual weight tracking tools, it comes with a built-in barcode scanner, meaning that when you're doing a quick run to Tesco Express for dinner, you can scan the back of all the ready meals or potential ingredients on offer and see which has the lowest SmartPoints. As well as providing tonnes of recipes, the app will also help you work out the points in a whole host of restaurants, including Nando's, Pizza Express, Wagamama and McDonald's. It's a pretty nifty feature, which takes away the stress of any calorie counting.

Also, the more you use the WW app, the more 'Wellness Wins' you'll get (these are little pats on the back for recording what you ate or what you did in the gym) which you can eventually trade in for prizes such as headphones, socks or a gym bag. The app also has a chat function, where you can message a myWW Coach for support or with any questions, 24/7, and a sharing section, kind of like an Instagram for myWW members to show off their recipes, transformations and chat.

Known as a workshop, new and long-time members will meet with a WW Coach (who has been a weight loss journey themselves) to discuss new recipes, keep motivated and if they'd like to, be weighed. It's not compulsory to weigh yourself in front of other people though. MyWW products, ranging from low SmartPoint cookies to sauces, are also on sale. Not all members go along to meetings though, some manage quite happily just using the app.

You're encouraged to, yep. Different exercises (from spin classes, to weight-lifting to dancing) and daily activities (including walking the dog and doing housework) are all worth a certain number of 'FitPoints'. You're encouraged to set and hit a different FitPoints target to get moving each week. The app also includes free workout videos and a subscription to Headspace, a meditation programme, to help you look after your mind, as well as your body.

Having carefully examined both plans, Kim Pearson, a Harley Street nutritionist who specialises in weight loss solutions says she'd recommend myWW over Slimming World. "While theres nothing about either of these dietary approaches that makes them unsafe to follow in the short term, for most healthy people, successful weight loss is about much more than simply what you are or arent eating I like that myWW also have a focus on mindset."

Kim also makes the point that on the Slimming World plan, a number of Free Foods include grains, potatoes and pasta, which are starchy, carbohydrate-rich foods. "These foods break down into simple sugars and, which unless they're being used immediately (eg. if youre about to exercise), are likely to be stored for later use one of the bodys storage methods being fat. Basing meals around carbohydrates like this should be avoided in favour of meals focussed on quality protein and plenty of vegetables, as encouraged on myWW."

However, it's good to keep in mind that certain fruits like bananas are fairly high in sugar, albeit natural sugar. "As a general rule, I recommend focussing mostly on vegetables and limiting fruit to a maximum of two portions per day."

Two final points to note, says Kim, is that both myWW and Slimming World meetings are run by individuals who although have been trained by the companies themselves are unlikely to have any recognised healthcare or nutrition training. Equally, although both plans say they encourage a focus on healthy foods, in theory you could still use your 'SmartPoints' or Free Foods to load up on nutrient devoid meals or snacks, that are neither supportive of weight loss or general health. "If you have concerns about any aspect of your health or diet, always consult your doctor."

For more information on Slimming World, visit the website or download the app. For more information on WW, visit the website or download the app. Currently, they're offering 50% off your first three months.

Follow Jennifer on Instagram and Twitter.

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Slimming World and Weight Watchers compared - cosmopolitan.com

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Home » How to lose weight safely » Slimming World and Weight Watchers compared – cosmopolitan.com