I have, one or two issues with the diet industry. A lot of them offer support, while taking your cash, when there a lots of free ways for you to find the same support elsewhere (just type ‘free weight loss support groups’ into Google).
There are pushy group leaders out there who try to get you to buy their own brand products (90% of which taste like polystyrene) and personally I’d rather only have half a normal cupcake than a full ‘diet’ one that tastes of nothing.
And to be honest, any industry that preys on the insecurities of a person just downright pisses me off. If you’re fat and happy, then stay fat and happy. But if you’re unhappy, being slim won’t necessarily fix it.
I know though, that there are those for whom it works, which is great and I’m glad you’ve lost the weight and kept it off. But there are still those (particularly like my friend S who would eat badly until 2 days before her weigh in and then starve herself and wonder why the weight didn’t stay off) for whom it doesn’t. Attitude is everything. Probably why I waffled on about Anti-Diet and Uncle Bulls**t so much.
So when this invitation landed in my inbox, I immediately replied with two paragraphs to this effect declining the invitation.
Then those words appeared in my inbox… ‘let us try to change your mind’.
Dammit. I like to give anyone a second chance, so despite my misgivings. I dragged Keeley with me to London for this introduction to Weight Watchers’ new 2014 plan launch and to meet the celebrity fronting the campaign.
First, the blurb:
As you know Weight Watchers is launching a new 2014 healthy eating-plan called Simple Start, comprised of simple nutritious recipes using natural ingredients. The plan is designed for those who want to launch themselves into a healthy eating plan and feel slightly over-whelmed by counting points. There is no portion control here so for those of you who prefer a slightly more laid back approach to eating, this is your calling.
So far, so good. I don’t understand points. If I want to count, I’ll do a calorie controlled diet, which is effectively what the points system is, but to my mind easier. I’m doing a calorie controlled diet, at 1300 calories a day, balanced by exercise. And though I have an account with My Fitness Pal (a free online app), I know what I can and can’t eat well enough, to not have to count too often. So a relaxed, non-counting plan sounds ideal.
You start with two weeks of the Simple Start plan. There is a list of items that you can eat as much as you like of during a day. These range from wholemeal pasta to broccoli, from brown rice. You then get as many ‘flavour enhancers’ as you like, such as Marmite, herbs and spices and you get two ‘treats’ a day such as avocado and cashew nuts.
Then after those initial two weeks, you slip into the Pro Points plan. This is unfortunately where I got very turned off by the whole thing. At the moment, I can eat healthily and still be a bit ‘naughty’ without counting a darned thing. And that just comes with practice.
But still I’m conflicted.
The Simple Start eating plan advocate is Shelina Parmelloo (2012 Masterchef winner). She’s downright lovely. The recipes we cooked during the blogger cook-off are great – healthy, light, and full of flavour. I’ll be cooking them at home again and again.
But I can’t feel good about something I don’t believe in. An industry I hate because it spent years, alongside the media and the fashion industry making me feel bad because I was a fat kid. A fat teenager. A fat adult. And maybe that is unfair of me, but I can’t see that opinion changing.
It’s not for me – it might be for you, but whether you use Weight Watchers, Slimming World or plain old will power and a calculator, the truth is, all of this has to come from you. From inside.
Don’t make it a new years resolution, because it’s not. This is a wholesale change of lifestyle. You can’t skip the exercise bit, there’s no quick fix, you can’t cheat, you have to be honest with yourself about what you eat and drink.
Whatever route you choose, please, do it for the right reasons and the right way.