Slimming World Secrets

Weigh Day joy – but sadness as our group is to close

It’s been another loss, another new PB and back-to-back Slimmer of the Week awards – but the joy is tinged with sadness tonight as our wonderful group is to close.

My week

• Average Syns per day: 15.4
• Average Speed foods per day: 11.4
• SP days: 4
• Body Magic days: 5
• Result: -1½lbs
• Total loss: -4st 8½lbs

First, the weight loss, and it wasn’t a bad day on the scales at all. Despite going just over my Syns with an average of 15.4 per day, I had plenty of Speed foods, did four consecutive SP Days and kept my Body Magic efforts high, with step aerobics and walking. I’m trying to push myself that bit harder to get me over the finish line to Target – just 5½lbs away.

I appreciate that back-to-back losses of -½lb and -1½lbs aren’t massive – and that, in a normal week, they’d not be deserving of Slimmer of the Week awards. But that’s what’s happened, so I’m taking those certificates and shinies, and running with them!

Above and beyond from our consultant

Every time I get something through the door from our consultant, Jackie, I get a little buzz. The “Happy Post inside” sticker and handwritten personal message on a Slimming World postcard give me that extra push.

And that encouragement is working. So far this year, I’ve had 17 losses and just two gains (both ½lb). I’ve won Slimmer of the Week four times, Slimmer of the Month twice, and I’ve achieved my 4st and 4½st awards.

Jackie was my first consultant back in 2014, and she’s always been my favourite. This is her fourth spell in charge of our group, which we nickname the Night Owls. I guess that makes her our own Brown Owl, to use Brownies lingo.

She’s kind, she’s patient and she always pushes you to do your very best. If you do well, you’re chuffed because she’s chuffed for you. She also goes above and beyond to always be there if you get stuck, frequently answering queries at stupid o’clock.

End of an era for the Night Owls

But all good things must come to an end and, sadly, it appears that our funny, random and downright weird group will soon be no more.

After our previous consultant stood down at the end of last year, Slimming World decided to close the group once and for all – partly due to falling numbers and partly due to the pandemic. It was only thanks to Jackie that it survived virtually, via weekly Zoom sessions.

But that arrangement was only ever going to last as long as Slimming World held groups online. Now that they are returning to physical venues, albeit with rules over masks and social distancing, our group will close on June 10. The stay of execution is almost up.

I’m super grateful to Jackie for keeping things going during lockdown, but I’m really sad that our group is one of many victims locally. I know of several others which have closed down as consultants have had to leave behind their Slimming World passions and get other jobs just to pay the bills.

I don’t blame them either. With falling numbers of members during the pandemic as weight loss became less of a priority for many people, it must have been hard to continue as a consultant without that regular income.

I know of consultants becoming cleaners, bakers and Amazon delivery drivers. All worthy jobs, of course, but I really hope that Slimming World has their backs and that they can return to the magic of groups soon.

Same religion, new church

I’ve often said that Slimming World has become something of a religion for me. And, if Slimming World is a religion, group is my church, the consultant is my vicar and the members are the congregation.

I could never be an online member – I need that physical group. We Night Owls support each other. When I came out to them as transgender back in 2018, I received so much support (and shoes!) and then they voted me Woman of the Year a couple of weeks later. I was blown away by the kindness.

These people are some of the loveliest, fluffiest, shiniest people I’ve ever met. I turn up every Thursday not only to get weighed and measured but to support – and be supported by – them. I’ve made some amazing friends over the years.

As well as the good times – the taster nights, the awards and the members getting to Target – there have been tough times, too, such as several members who were diagnosed with cancer. Epic personal battles followed. Group was there for them – and they all came through.

I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve seen members break down in tears because they’ve been struggling – either with their weight loss or for other reasons. Group was there for them – and they all came through.

From a personal perspective, I don’t think I could have come out as trans without the Night Owls. After telling close friends and family, group was the very first place I came out, in terms of facing “the rest of the world”. Without the members, I don’t think I could have done it, and I’d still be miserable in the closet.

Looking to the future

So now we all look to find a new groups. I have one in my sights, as do other members, but it seems, sadly, that we can’t all make the same group due to work and family commitments.

So here’s to you, Night Owls, all the hundreds of members who’ve walked through those doors over the past seven years. Those who’ve stayed the distance, and those who’ve left – and rejoined – and left again – and rejoined again!

I shall always treasure my Night Owls mascot from Jen, one of the members who used to hand-knit these cute little creatures and present them to us in old Oxo boxes. Target members went on to receive a version made with golden thread.

It’s been one hell of a ride. I didn’t quite make Target with this group, but I’m not far away now. Hopefully I can begin my next chapter in a new group by getting there at last – and staying there.

Finally, Jen, if you’re reading this, I still want one of your hand-knitted golden Target Owls, when the time comes. Because getting to Target without one of those beauties just doesn’t count!