Back in group for the first time in eight months
Wow, has it really been EIGHT months since I stepped through the doors of a Slimming World group? Yes, it has, and it’s so good to be back, especially as I got a loss – even with my shoes on!
My week (eight days)
- Average Syns per day: 17.8
- Average Speed foods per day: 8.1
- SP days: 5
- Body Magic days: 5
- Result: -1lb
- Total loss: -4st 9lbs
When I returned to physical group after the first lockdown, I put on 3lbs, mostly because I’d been weighing naked in the morning and then had to don clothes and face the scales in the evening, when I’m heavier.
This time, I fared far better, even though I had to wear my shoes for weigh-in – because everyone knows that Coronavirus is spread through the soles of the feet, even if wearing socks. Not! 😉
Despite going a teeny bit over my Syns in the past week (well, eight days), I did five SP days and absolutely loads of Body Magic, including a long walk and a six-hour session of smashing up firewood for the winter. Just call me Good Queen Wenceslas.
My original plan had been to start my new Saturday morning group this week, so I should really be weighing in tomorrow.
However, as I’m off work this week and I fancy a few beers while watching England v Scotland in Euro 2020 tonight, I thought I’d weigh in at another local group this morning instead. Weighing in with a hangover wouldn’t have been fun.
Warm welcome from the consultant
Group was quite a small one – only ten of us there, plus the lovely consultant, Sally, who I’ve only ever met in virtual groups on Zoom before. She gave me a really nice, warm welcome.
After a bit of jiggery-pokery involving my account and getting a new card, I faced the scales and then went to sit down, taking sips of coffee while moving my mask up and down.
Not sure how it’s OK to go maskless, once sitting down, in a pub – and yet we have to wear in them in group, but I’m not complaining.
After sitting down, I got chatting to a chap, Andy, I know from the football – he’d just rejoined. And it turned out the mum of another chap I know from the football was there.
It was a really nice group – some lovely members and a really fab consultant. And it was just so good to be back among fellow members again. Even though I only knew one of them, it felt like I was back home.
So good to be back in group
I know Slimming World is pushing the online membership side of things. But I hope that’s not at the expense of physical groups, because they’re where the magic happens.
Despite loads of people gaining loads of weight during the pandemic, numbers are way down nationally. I wonder if the 20% price increase is to blame. Or maybe loads of members ditching the plan in favour of calorie counting.
Whatever, the folks at the Sparkly Castle need to do something to inject some new life into groups, for the sake of the remaining members and the consultants who need bums on seats to make a living.
It’s all about the support
Back to today, and some members had done really well – Andy won Slimmer of the Week with a 3½lbs loss. Others had gained and were there to draw that famous Slimming World line.
We all supported each other – and that’s something you’ll not get as an online member, even more so now the Zoom groups have ended. Sally even gave my Syn-free cheeseboard a mention in dispatches.
So there you go – great to be back, and I’m looking forward to joining my new group a week tomorrow, hopefully even closer to Target than I am now.
Andie Darlington
After seven years of playing at Slimming World, I finally got my head into gear and hit Target, losing 5½st. Since then, I've featured in Slimming World Magazine and won Woman of the Year twice. Not bad for a trans girl!